Red Cross Project Management Office

The project management office is a crucial docket in any organization as it purposefully supports managers and teams towards attaining better success rates in diverse projects and activities. The Red Cross is one of the most renowned organizations when it comes to the improvement of vulnerable populations through resource mobilization across the world. The organization is guided by fundamental principles that focus n provision of quick and immediate assistance to all who need it regardless of location, race, social status or culture (Cormier, 2005). Behind the achievements of the Red Cross organization, the project management office functions tirelessly to improve outcomes and minimize failure rates. Red Cross, therefore, has in place a well-established project management office that ensures the smooth running of its projects including disaster services, international programs, first aid, water safety, and violence as well as abuse prevention services.

Functions of the PMO

According to Cormier, (2005), the Red Cross project management office was established with the objective to ensure the monitoring and reporting of activities as well as developing a standardized project management strategy, tools and templates. Additionally, the PMO functions in providing the much-needed support and training to the various project managers and sponsors to ensure that the operations take place smoothly. Furthermore, Red Cross’s PMO works towards the development of a project-centric culture within the organization.

What the PMO does Well

The practical implementation of every project requires the application of change management processes. As such change management is one of the roles that the office undertakes exemplarily. This process encompasses in-depth preparation such as developing the communication plan, assessment of stakeholders and also creating risk management plans. On top of that, the PMO ensures change management by ensuring that involved parties comprehend the organization’s culture coupled with adapting to the culture, communication relationship and most of all, service orientation (Cormier, 2005).

Supporting the Project Management Function

The project management function generally involves improving project success rates and the Red Cross project management office endorses the role by building relationships that enhance working with integrity and encouraging effective communication including the communication of success. The PMO also supports the project management function by maintaining support from stakeholders, adding value to activities and even keeping staff complement and budgets minimal to ensure efficiency while simultaneously avoiding extravagance (Cormier, 2005).

Activities of Red Cross PMO to Enhance Project Management

The PMO in this organization undertakes a variety of activities including the development of project inventories to ascertain project wellness, stakeholder satisfaction analysis, and existing project management activities. From the stock, the PMO is thus able to recommend new functions and services including the redirection of focus to organizational functions, portfolio management, and assessment of project maturity. Secondly, the PMO enhances project management through risk assessment, hiring, training, and coaching of critical staff and project managers. Thirdly, the PMO links the organization’s projects to the strategic plans by expanding portfolio management, maintaining project processes, expanding awareness regarding the project methodologies and also enhancing the return on investment evaluation (Cormier, 2005).

Team Member Skill Set different from Project Managers

The Red Cross has many team members who are devoted to the mission and humanitarian work of the organization. These individuals are not only hard-working, frugal and dedicated but also competent. An in-depth outlook on the desirable skillset that cut across all team members in addition to excellent educational certification includes proven experience in project management, strong oral and written communication skills and excellent analytical skills. Other capacities include personal drive and initiative, active listening and interpersonal skills, the ability to assimilate information and most of all, decision-making capacity (Canadian Red Cross, 2013).

References

Canadian Red Cross. (2013). Opportunities in Canada. Retrieved from Canadian Red Cross: https://trr.tbe.taleo.net/trr01/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=CRCS&cws=62&rid=3239

Cormier, R. (2005). Building a project management office in a disaster services environment: the Canadian Red Cross Society. PMI® Global Congress (pp. 1-8). Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Project Management Institute.