Why External Expertise is Your Strategic Advantage
THE PMO SERIES #2
The Hidden Cost of DIY PMO Implementation
Dokainish & Company has implemented numerous PMOs across various industries, for capital projects of all sizes. We’ve saved clients millions of dollars by delivering projects ahead of schedule. If you missed the first post of this series, read our analysis on what makes a PMO truly successful.
Some of our clients have come to us only after they attempted building a PMO on their own. Based on our analysis of PMO performance, implementing a PMO without expert guidance presents significant organizational risks and measurable financial impacts.
Organizations implementing PMOs internally typically save on upfront costs but face a higher risk of PMO failure. When factoring in remediation costs, failed implementations result in millions of dollars in extra costs and project delays.
The Experience Gap Reality
Consider this sobering statistic: 75% of PMOs fail within their first five years according to the Project Management Institute. The primary reason? Not technology. Not process. Not even executive support. The leading cause is inexperience in PMO design and implementation. Organizations often underestimate the complexity of building a PMO that delivers real strategic value.
Modern PMOs built to last must:
- Navigate hybrid delivery environments
- Optimize portfolios worth hundreds of millions
- Enable strategic decision-making
- Drive measurable business outcomes
- Accelerate digital transformation
Without deep expertise in modern PMO design, organizations risk building yesterday’s PMO for tomorrow’s challenges.
The Acceleration Advantage
Speed to Value
- Experienced PMO consultants bring proven frameworks that accelerate implementation
- Pre-built toolkits and templates eliminate months of trial and error
- Best practices are implemented from day one, not learned through painful experience
Risk Mitigation
- Avoid common pitfalls that doom most PMO implementations
- Navigate political challenges with proven change management approaches
- Leverage lessons learned from hundreds of implementations
Cost Optimization
- Eliminate expensive experimentation and rework
- Focus resources on value delivery rather than framework development
- Achieve faster ROI through accelerated maturity
The Bottom Line
In an environment where capital efficiency can make or break organizational success, the question isn’t whether you need PMO expertise — it’s whether you can afford to go without it.
Consider these questions:
- Can your organization afford the learning curve of DIY implementation?
- What’s the cost of delayed value realization?
- How much risk are you willing to accept?
- What’s the opportunity cost of a sub-optimal PMO?
Your Next Steps:
- Assess your current PMO maturity
- Identify critical capability gaps
- Evaluate potential expertise partners
- Develop a transformation roadmap
- Build your business case for acceleration
The Path Forward
The most successful organizations understand that PMO excellence requires careful planning. External expertise isn’t just about getting there faster; it’s about getting there with certainty.
Ready to accelerate your PMO journey?
Get in Touch
Want to learn more about how leading organizations are transforming their project delivery through external expertise? Contact our team of project intelligence experts at Dokainish & Company.
About Dokainish & Company
The capital project landscape is impacted with billions of dollars lost from cost overruns. Dokainish & Company stands out with a track record of building award-winning PMOs and lowering cost overages up to 200% on projects in energy, infrastructure, mining, construction, defense, and more. We are the category leaders in project controls and technology consulting. We are ISO 9001:2015 certified, minority owned, and maintain a 97% rate of client retention. We provide integrated project controls, project management, and change management services. Learn more at dokainish.com and follow @Dokainish&Company.
