Best practices in implementing a project management office: a systematic review of the literature

Abstract

Highlights: Project management office (PMO) is structurally configured in a particular way to adapt to the peculiarities of each organization and its strategic objectives, in order to promote project management practices. The purpose of this article is to explore the best practices for project management office implementation. A systematic literature review was conducted using 104 documents published between 2000 and 2018. The research allowed the identification of PMO's data, such as functions, models, best practices in implementation, challenges to implementation, and success factors.Goal: The purpose of this article is to explore the best practices for project management office implementation.Design/Methodology/Approach: A systematic literature review was conducted using 104 documents published between 2000 and 2018.Results: The research allowed the identification of PMO's data, such as functions, models, best practices in implementation, challenges to implementation, and success factors.Limitations of the investigation: Other factors related to PMO, such as the implementation phases, maturity models, process groups, and organizational variables that affect PMO.Practical implications: It is observed that there are relevant issues in PMO implementation structuring that are not consolidated, making it difficult for organizations to base their implementation on the available theoretical frameworks.Originality/value: As a result, it became evident that there is a lack of standardization of those characteristics related to the PMO; and that the so-called "best practices" require more academic studies before they can be established.