What is a project management office and what types exist?

A project management office, or PMO, is an organizational structure that standardizes project governance, provides shared resources, methodologies, tools, and techniques across projects. Three types exist based on their level of control. A supportive PMO provides templates, best practices, training, and lessons learned in a consultative role with low control. A controlling PMO requires compliance with specific frameworks, forms, and methodologies with moderate control. A directive PMO directly manages projects, assigns project managers, and has high control over execution. ---