Project Portfolio Management: A View From The Management Trenches

12.3. COMMUNICATION: MAKING SURE EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE

Effective communication is a key success factor in any endeavor, and maintaining PPM is no exception. This is a critical part of the change management process and will determine how well the organization responds to and embraces the new processes and framework. Communication is a two-way street—to work effectively, it has to be from the top down and from the bottom up. Since the PMO sits in the middle, it has a critical role in facilitating this communication flow. There are essentially three levels to these communications:

1. The business leadership delivers communications to support and facilitate the changes in the organization. They can do this in a number of ways:

   • Enable general communications to the organization supporting the changes being implemented, articulating how it will positively affect the organization's—and by extension its peoples'—future.

   • Offer active support of PPM by participation in the tollgate review meetings, demonstrating continuous interest, seeking updates and information, and promulgating and rewarding success stories.

   • Promote the success of PPM to business partners and other external stakeholders by highlighting the continuous improvement in the organization.

2. The Project Management Office (PMO) acts as the communications hub:

   • Communicate all process and procedural best-practices and updates across the organization.

   • Promote and support continual training on processes and tools.

   • Facilitate process ...