1. SHOULD YOU OUTSOURCE YOUR PROJECT MANAGEMENT? MAYBE, BUT THERE’S A NEW
KID ON THE BLOCK - INTRODUCING PMAAS
CREATED BY: DAVID COTGREAVE
For outsourced Project Management to work, to really
work, your external contractor must fit with your business
culture.
This is something that I have been evangelising about for
some time so an article published by CIO.com really
chimed with me today.
In her feature – “Should you outsource your Project
Management?” – Moira Alexander1
evaluates the pros,
the cons and the risks of outsourcing PMO and in her
closing paragraph says, “Make sure the decision fits your
company culture and that outsourcing allows all project
outcomes to effectively align with the business goals and
strategic objectives.”
Herself, a Project Manager, co-founder and director (information systems and technology advisory)
at Conture Business Advisors, Moira identifies the factors that might motivate you to think about
outsourcing Project Management, examines the benefits and shines a light on the risks. It’s a
cracking read and is worth a minute of two of your time if you are considering this as an option as it
will give you some powerful thought starters to help you make up your mind.
But does it give you all the options?
Perhaps not ... because there is a new kid on the block.
Born out the success of multisourcing (true multisourcing where your partner sits “client-side” and
acts in your best interests), comes Project Management as a Service (PmaaS).
It’s a natural evolution really and entirely consistent with the mindset shift towards the increased
commoditisation of IT and “chunking” of both supply and demand. Beyond merely outsourcing
Project Management function, which can sometimes leave you with a feeling that you’ve lost control
– you buy in a service that is thoroughly transparent, congruent with your business case, values and
overall culture, and matches appropriate talent with the right projects to ensure successful
outcomes.
It’s that cultural fit. A brilliant freelance Project Manager can do an amazing job for one organisation,
get a glowing recommendation that secures them an identical project with another company, then
crash in ignominy and fail to deliver spectacularly.
The two projects might be of the same scale, same scope, require the same skills, have to be
delivered within the same time frame, but they can deliver markedly different results. In many cases,
it's down to a cultural divide between the contractor and the organisation. Usually, the right Project
Management as a Service provider would not have given both projects to the same manager. PmaaS
is a very effective filter against the risk of poor cultural alignment!
Like multisourcing, PMaaS gives you access to the best in class talent, whose skills and experience
match your project and therefore its goals. Benefits of a PmaaS approach include more productive
and more profitable partner relationships, effective governance and control, service excellence and

2. cost savings and most impressive flexibility garnered largely through a more “on tap” approach to
accessing resources.
Flexibility is a key benefit of PMaaS that comes up in feedback time and again. Gartner states
runaway budget costs are behind 25% of Project failures, PMaaS offers predictable monthly billing
and by being able to turn up or turn down the service, as easily as you turn your gas hob from rolling
boil to gentle simmer you are in complete control.
Whether you’re suffering a short term skills shortage, seeking to improve in-house capabilities (often
with no net increase in the overall portfolio costs!), or looking for a more long term Project
Management solution - you identify your service needs with your partner and they provide it – and
for as long as you need it too, so not having contractors on retainers, or salaried PMs sitting on the
bench.
I loved Moira Alexander’s assessment of outsourcing Project Management, Project Management as
a Service addresses all the issues that she raises, and offers your organisation access to project
management staff, resources and tools at a flexible and predictable cost via a fully structured
Managed Service, underpinned by KPIs and SLAs.
Today, read Moira’s blog, make your own checklist of wants, needs and doubts and then put PMaaS
to the test.
Your business can secure consistently high-quality project delivery, without increasing internal
headcount and best of all, in my view, achieve that IT PM nirvana of business/cultural alignment.
Further details of how Stoneseed’s services can help, can be found on our website
http://www.stoneseed.co.uk/services/project-management-as-a-service
Source
1
http://www.cio.com/article/2929023/project-management/should-you-outsource-your-project-
management.html