TOPIC: Free CAPM® Exam Sample Question

What is the difference between the role of project managers and a project management office (PMO)?

A. Project managers focus on achieving the project objectives, while the PMO manages the program to achieve business objectives better.
B. Project managers control the project resources, while the PMO controls the work progress and quality.
C. Project managers focus on completing the defined project activities, and the PMO focuses on coordinating between the project stakeholders.
D. The role of a project manager is to implement the project successfully, and the PMO manages project constraints.

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HINT: Project managers act within a project while PMO does not generally work on individual projects, but at the organization level.

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Answer and Explanation:
The correct answer is A.

A project management office (PMO) is a management structure that standardizes the project-related governance processes and facilitates the sharing of resources, methodologies, tools, and techniques. Although the responsibility of a PMO may vary depending on its type and structure, the main difference between the role of a PMO and a project manager is that the primary purpose of a PMO is to achieve the business objective while the project manager needs to focus on the specified project objectives.

Details for each option:

A. Project managers focus on achieving the project objectives, while the PMO manages the program to achieve business objectives better.
Correct. The roles and responsibilities of project managers are within the project and at the project-level, while a PMO often acts at a higher level of program or portfolio.

B. Project managers control the project resources, while the PMO controls the work progress and quality.
Incorrect. It is the responsibility of the project manager to manage the project resources, progress, and quality.

C. Project managers focus on completing the defined project activities, and the PMO focuses on coordinating between the project stakeholders.
Incorrect. The project manager is responsible for both the work performance and coordination with stakeholders at the project level.

D. The role of a project manager is to implement the project successfully, and the PMO manages project constraints.
Incorrect. Managing the project constraints is the role of the project manager. The role of the PMO is to manage the interdependencies among projects at the organization level.

Reference: A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge, (PMBOK^® Guide) – Sixth Edition, Project Management Institute Inc., 2017, Page(s) 10, 48-49