Project management is the process of initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing the project to meet the project requirements. A project manager is someone who has the responsibility of overseeing a project. They are responsible for initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing the process. A Project Management Officer is someone who has the responsibility of overseeing a project. They are responsible for initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing the process.
Key Takeaways
- A project manager oversees all aspects of an organization’s projects while a project management officer oversees a certain part of an organization’s projects
- The PMO reports to the head of the project and in many organizations, a project management officer reports to the project manager
- The position of a project manager is higher than a project management officer in the management hierarchy
- You will need 5 – 7 years of experience to become a project manager compared to 1 – 3 years of experience to become a project management officer
The Differences
The following are some of the key differences between a Project Manager vs Project Management Officer.
1) A Project Manager is an individual with generalist skills who oversees all aspects of an organization’s projects.
2) A Project Management Officer has specific skills in project management and is devoted to overseeing a certain part of an organization’s projects.
3) The PMO usually has more responsibility for overseeing or managing projects for organizations rather than managing them directly.
4) A Project Manager handles different types of projects while a PMO usually handles one type of project at a time, which can be related to marketing or operations for instance.
5) A project manager is responsible for the success of the project while a project management officer is responsible for the success of the team.
6) Project management officers are part of an organization’s leadership team and provide guidance to employees.
7) The project manager provides input into an organization’s strategic plan, while the Project Management Officer doesn’t need to do this to be assigned projects by management.
8) Project managers get more of their experience managing projects on an executive level, while project management officers get more of their experience managing projects on an operational level.
9) The work responsibilities of a project manager and a project management officer are different: A project manager is often in charge of planning, budgeting, staffing, and executing the work necessary to meet an organizational goal. A project management officer is typically more involved in managing projects, such as providing direction to staff and subcontractors on such matters as how much time should be spent on each phase of the work.
10) The educational requirements for a PMO or PM are different: Educational requirements for a PMO or PM typically include an undergraduate degree with concentrations in fields such as engineering, business administration, or computer science. Project managers may have degrees in any field but usually require at least some training in the areas mentioned above.
Educational Requirement Differences Between Project Manager VS Project Management Officer
The project management profession is a complex and challenging field. There are a number of different educational routes one can take to enter the profession, some of which are more rigorous than others.
In some cases, the only education requirement needed for those looking to become a project manager is an undergraduate degree from any major. However, this route does not always guarantee success in the field. For many companies, this is often not enough training for their level of responsibility or corporate culture.
Is PMO Higher Than Project Manager In Management Hierarchy?
The Project Manager is a key member of any organization and is considered as the Drive-wheel of the organization.
The PMO reports to the head of the project. The head of the project can be a Project Manager, a team leader, or an Executive.
A Project Manager (PM) can be considered as higher than a Project Management Officer (PMO) in the management hierarchy because it has more responsibility and it’s connected to more stakeholders from across different departments. It also takes care of administrative tasks that could be tedious for the PMO to do, such as creating work instructions, assigning resources, etc.
References:
1. https://www.simplilearn.com/project-management-officer-article
2. https://blog.masterofproject.com/project-management-officer/
Last Updated on November 8, 2022 by Magalie D.
Magalie D. is a Diploma holder in Public Administration & Management from McGill University of Canada. She shares management tips here in MGTBlog when she has nothing to do and gets some free time after working in a multinational company at Toronto.
