IPMA introduces a new standard – IPMA ICB Reference Guide for PMO. This standard is dedicated to the structures that support projects, programmes and portfolios to run them effectively and efficiently. These structures are called PMO – Project Management Offices.
A PMO is defined as an organisational unit responsible for the administrative and specialists’ support of the responsible management in their management of a (set of) project(s), programme(s) or portfolio(s). PMO plays a very important role in designing, performing, monitoring and reporting activities. Specialists are working in PMO together with the Head of PMO who is leading the unit towards its goals and objectives.
The new standard defines the competences for the individuals working in PMO. All the competences are aligned with the IPMA ICB that is used by all the project, programme or portfolio managers in their everyday activities.
IPMA Reference Guide ICB for PMO will be useful for the professionals who work in PMO, for project, programme or portfolio managers, for the TOP managers as well as HR people for recruiting, assessing and developing personnel in the organisations. It is also good to have this standard as a tool for certification of the individuals working in PMO. IPMA defines four levels of competence for the individuals working in PMO:
IPMA Level A – Certified PMO Director
IPMA Level B – Certified PMO Senior Manager
IPMA Level C – Certified PMO Manager
IPMA Level D – Certified PMO Specialist

We warmly thank the team members from the Netherlands who developed this
standard, and the associations that have been sounding, piloting and approving
the IPMA Reference Guide ICB for PMO. We believe that this standard will help
professionals all over the world to achieve great results in their projects, programmes
and portfolios by using the standard in their everyday lives.