CELEBRATING

EXCELLENCE IN PMOs


The largest and most prestigious global award for PMOs and PMO professionals.

 
2022 PMO Global Awards Ceremony:
November 3rd, 2022, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

 

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RULES AND PROCEDURES

 

Overview


The PMI PMO Awards recognize PMOs demonstrating performance, leadership, and value delivery within organizations. We highlight PMOs that advance project, program, and portfolio management practices, driving strategic alignment and generating effective value for their organizations.

Presented annually, these prestigious PMI awards stand as a global benchmark for excellence, celebrating groundbreaking innovations, a dedication to driving business impact, and promoting project success across diverse industries worldwide.

The PMI PMO Awards represent recognition by a distinguished group of high-level professionals and peers from the global PMO community. Being acknowledged in these awards signifies that your organization's work is admired and celebrated worldwide, reflecting real-world excellence in the PMO domain. 

The PMI PMO Awards are more than a celebration—they are a legacy of impact, innovation, and collaboration within the PMO community. By uniting the best minds in project management, these awards drive excellence, inspire innovation, and honor the achievements shaping the future of global PMOs and project management. 

A total of six awards will be presented to the best PMOs in 2025, as outlined below:

  1. PMI World PMO of the Year Award.
  2. PMI Africa PMO of the Year Award.
  3. PMI Asia-Pacific PMO of the Year Award.
  4. PMI Europe PMO of the Year Award.
  5. PMI Middle East PMO of the Year Award.
  6. PMI The Americas PMO of the Year Award.

Application


  • Step 1: Designate the Lead Nominator

    To start the application process for the PMI PMO Awards, the first step is to designate a Lead Nominator. This individual must be the PMO Leader (Director, Manager, Coordinator) of the nominated organization and will act as the primary point of contact for all communications regarding the nomination.

    The Lead Nominator must be an official representative of the PMO, and their email address must be associated with the nominated organization’s domain. This requirement ensures that the nomination is formally recognized and submitted by an authorized individual capable of accurately representing the organization's interests.


  • Step 2: Submit the One-Page Application Form 

    Organizations must complete and submit a one-page application form to initiate the application process. This form requires essential details about the nominee, including: 

    • Organization Name
    • Contact Email Addresses
    • Industry
    • City and Country where the nominated PMO is located 
    • Website
    • Organization’s LinkedIn Profile 
    • High-Quality Logo
    • Lead Nominator Information 
    • PMO Sponsor Information 

Within three business days of submitting the one-page application form, the PMI PMO Awards team will review the information provided and send an email confirming the nominee's eligibility.

It is important to note that by submitting the application form, your organization commits to participating in the competition, even if the required video has not yet been sent. Therefore, submit the form only when you are sure of your organization’s commitment to compete.

Failure to submit the video or withdrawing from the competition after submitting the form will result in your organization being listed as one of the nominees but automatically forfeiting all matches in the group stage. This could negatively impact your PMO’s reputation. Furthermore, your organization will be disqualified from participating in the subsequent two editions of the PMI PMO Awards.

Submitting the application form represents a serious commitment to PMI and your peers from other organizations. Withdrawal during the group stage can disrupt the competition and reflect poorly on your organization. It is essential to fully understand the implications of this commitment before submitting the application form.


  • Step 3: Submit a Video Presentation

    Each organization must submit a video presentation as part of the application process. This video is a critical component of the PMI PMO Awards as it provides the Judging Committee with essential insights, clarifications, and a deeper understanding of the PMO for thorough evaluation.

     
    • Presentation Style: The video should resemble a presentation you might deliver in a virtual conference setting. Professional production or high-cost investment is not required. The focus is on the content rather than production quality or sophistication. 
    • Duration: The video must be between 30 to 40 minutes, with a tolerance of +/- 5 minutes. Videos that do not adhere to this time frame will be rejected.
    • Video Design: The format can include PowerPoint-style presentations with voiceover or other creative approaches that effectively convey the required information. The presenter does not need to be the Lead Nominator, and a voiceover narration is acceptable.
    • Language Requirements: The video must be in Business English to ensure comprehension by an international Judging Committee. Avoid using acronyms or terms unique to your organization, industry, or country unless explained clearly.
    • Technical Considerations: There is no specific template, but for readability, using a sans-serif font with a minimum size of 14 points is recommended. The applicant is solely responsible for recording and producing the video. PMI does not provide technical support or cover any costs related to video preparation.
    • Video Guidelines: Check the section below on the Video Guideline.
    • Video Content: Check the section below on the Video Content.

You must submit the requested video by Mar 31st, 2025, to complete your application.

Within five business days of submitting the video, the PMI PMO Awards team will review the information provided and send an email confirming the video acceptance.

By submitting the required video, the organization agrees to grant the PMI full rights to the video, allowing it to be shared with the global project management community as part of our knowledge base.

Eligibility Criteria


  • PMOs from any industry, sector, or country are eligible to participate.
  • Enterprise, Business Unit, Departmental, Program, or Project PMOs are eligible to participate.
  • PMOs from the same global organization can represent different countries in the competition if they have offices located in those respective countries.
  • Multiple PMOs from a single organization are eligible to participate.
  • Nominations from third parties on behalf of a PMO are not accepted. Consulting, Training, or other third-party providers cannot submit nominations on behalf of an organization's PMO.
  • Current PMI staff, PMI contractors, and PMI consultants are not eligible to apply for this award.
  • PMOs that have won the World PMO of the Year award in one of the last four editions of the PMI PMO Awards or one of the Regional PMO of the Year awards in the previous two editions are not eligible to participate in the current edition.

Competition Format


  • Nominees will compete in successive rounds against each other in a one-on-one format based on the set criteria.
  • Each contest will be assessed by a group of judges assigned to select the winner according to the established criteria.
  • The outcome of each contest will be determined by the final score, which indicates the victorious PMO for that match.
  • Take, for instance, a contest between Country A and Country B with twenty judges assigned. If fifteen judges consider Country A's nominee superior in line with the criteria, while the remaining five prefer Country B's nominee, the final score would be Country A 15 X 5 Country B, leading to a victory for Country A.
  • In cases where there is a tie, the tiebreaker will involve a comparison of performances based on each criterion, beginning from the last and working towards the first. Should the tie persist, a public draw will be conducted to establish the winner of the match.

Judges Assignment Model


Judges are assigned to each match through a random selection process, considering their availability and the number of matches they have already evaluated.

Judges who either have citizenship or reside in any of the countries participating in a specific match are not eligible to be assigned to that match. This rule ensures impartiality and fairness in the judging process by avoiding potential conflicts of interest.

In the initial rounds, about ten judges are assigned to each match due to a higher number of parallel matches. In subsequent rounds, this number gradually increases and can reach nearly 500 judges in the grand world final.

Evaluation Criteria


  1. PMO's Evolution: This criterion assesses the development and growth of the PMO, focusing on its strategic approach, consistency, adaptability, leadership, and the journey that shaped its current state. This aspect carries a significance of 20% in the overall evaluation.

  2. Client Service Excellence: This aspect gauges the range and suitability of services or functions the PMO offers to its clients and stakeholders. It considers how well these services meet the needs of the given scenario and their effectiveness in fulfilling the organization's performance expectations. This criterion has a weight of 15%.

  3. Adherence to Best Practices: This criterion examines the PMO's service delivery approach, including the methodologies and techniques employed. It assesses alignment with industry best practices and the PMO's commitment to continuously improving its services. This factor contributes 15% to the overall evaluation.

  4. Innovation and Adaptability: This criterion looks at how the PMO has implemented innovative solutions to overcome challenges and the impact of these innovations on achieving tangible results for the organization. It accounts for 15% of the total assessment.

  5. Community Engagement and Culture: This aspect evaluates the PMO's role in fostering a vibrant project management community within the organization. It considers how the PMO contributes to the evolution of organizational culture and promotes sharing experiences and lessons learned. This criterion is weighted at 10%.

  6. Value Creation and Impact: This criterion assesses the tangible benefits and outcomes delivered by the PMO to its customers, stakeholders, and the wider organization. It also examines the PMO's influence on the evolution of organizational culture and maturity, as well as its role in enhancing senior management engagement and sponsorship levels. This is the most significant criterion, holding a weight of 25%.

Competition Stages

 


1) Group Stage  

The Group Stage is the first phase of the PMI PMO Awards competition, where all nominees are divided into groups and compete against one another within their assigned groups. At this stage, there are no regional divisions, creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all participants.

As per the rules of the PMI PMO Awards, each country must be represented by only one PMO in the global competition. Therefore, only the top-performing nominee from each country will advance to the Knockout Stage, ensuring fair representation and that the strongest PMO from each nation continues in the competition. 

For each of the five regions, up to 16 nominees with the best performance will qualify for the Knockout Stage. This ensures that the most outstanding PMOs from across the globe can progress further in the competition. 

If multiple applications are received from the same country, the nominees will compete against others in their group and within the Group Stage. The highest-performing PMO from that country will secure the spot to represent the nation in the Knockout Stage. 

In cases of a tie-in performance, a tiebreaker system will be implemented. The average performance in the final evaluation criterion will serve as the first tiebreaker, moving backward through the criteria if necessary. This approach ensures a fair, transparent, and objective method for resolving ties and determining which nominees advance to the next stage. 


2) Regional Knockout Stage

The Regional Knockout Stage is a critical phase of the competition where PMOs compete to determine the regional winners across five global regions: Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, and The Americas.  

At this stage, nominees who qualified as their country's sole representatives during the Group Stage will face one another in a series of elimination rounds. The matchups in the first round will be determined based on the nominees’ rankings from the Group Stage, ensuring a fair and structured progression. Depending on the number of participants, these rounds may include a round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and ultimately, the regional finals. 

Each region’s winner will be honored with a prestigious Regional PMO of the Year Award, recognizing their excellence and leadership within their respective regions.


3) World Final 

The World Final brings together the five regional winners, who now hold the title of World Finalists, to compete for the ultimate honor: the World PMO of the Year Award.

In this final phase, the regional champions face rigorous evaluation to determine which PMO has demonstrated the highest levels of innovation, strategic impact, and excellence on a global scale. This ultimate recognition cements the winning PMO as a global benchmark, showcasing their ability to deliver exceptional value and inspire the worldwide PMO community.

Regional Winners


If a nominee is selected as one of the regional winners and thus a finalist for the 2025 World PMO of the Year Award, it agrees to the condition of participating in the 2025 PMI Global Summit. As part of this participation, the nominee is expected to conduct a session at the summit.

Also, if a nominee is selected as one of the regional winners and thus a finalist for the 2025 World PMO of the Year Award, it agrees to produce a new 2-minute and 30-second video at their own expense. This video will be a part of the PMI PMO Awards Ceremony. The specific requirements for the video will be communicated along with the announcement of the regional winners and must be adhered to strictly. The deadline for the video submission is set at 40 days. Reference can be made to the previous PMI PMO Awards Ceremony videos for examples of videos produced by previous finalists.

Please be aware that PMI will not cover any costs related to creating materials or videos, attending the PMI Global Summit, or shipping trophies.

Confidentiality and IP Rights


Unlike traditional awards, a key to the success of the PMI PMO Awards is the innovative approach of having nominees submit a video presentation of their PMO, aligning with established criteria and structure. This method revolutionizes the evaluation process, making it more dynamic and interactive. Moreover, it facilitates a learning opportunity for the global PMO community, as these videos are made available in full after the competition concludes on the PMI PMO Awards Knowledge Base.

The rule here is simple and unequivocal: Do not include confidential information in your video. Since the video will be mandatorily made publicly available to the PMO community after the competition, it's crucial to ensure that no sensitive data is shared.

This rule is non-negotiable as it is vital for transforming the PMI PMO Awards into a true learning journey for our entire community. It ensures transparency and encourages knowledge sharing, enabling PMOs worldwide to benefit from the experiences and strategies of the nominees.

The Lead Nominator is responsible for obtaining all necessary permissions from their organization before submitting the Nomination Package.

Upon submission, the organization consents to grant PMI a non-exclusive right to use any materials provided for business-related purposes. This includes adding the submitted video to our public knowledge bases, displaying the materials on our websites, press releases, and other marketing and promotional content, such as video presentations.

Video Guidelines


  • The video is vital to your participation at the PMI PMO Awards, providing Judges with essential insights, clarifications, and a deeper understanding for thorough evaluation.

  • Please remember that the expectation for the video is that your PMO is presented like what would be done, for example, in a virtual conference. There is no requirement or expectation for professional production or any level of sophistication that would require a high investment in video production. The evaluation focuses on the content of the video rather than its production sophistication.

  • The video presentation should last strictly between 30 to 40 minutes. A tolerance of +/- 5 minutes is allowed. Videos not adhering to this time frame will not be accepted.

  • The video format can vary and might include PowerPoint-style presentations with voiceover or other effective formats. The video presenter does not need to be the lead nominee. Narration through voiceover is acceptable.

  • There is no specific template for the presentation, but using a sans-serif font of at least 14-point size is recommended for readability.

  • Your video must be in Business English. This is crucial as they will be evaluated by an international Judging Committee that may not be familiar with unique acronyms and terms specific to your organization, industry, or country.

  • Pay special attention to the quality of audio capture for clear and intelligible narration.

  • The applicant is fully responsible for recording and producing the video presentation. PMI does not offer technical support for this task.

  • Please be aware that PMI will not cover any costs for preparing the video.

  • The process to submit your video presentation for the PMI PMO Awards requires that a download link is provided. This link should be sent to the email address [email protected] by the deadline of Mar 31st, 2025. It's essential to adhere to this deadline to ensure your entry is considered.

  • When preparing to send the link, please keep in mind the following:

    a) Video Format and Hosting: Ensure that your video is in a compatible format and hosted on a reliable platform that allows for easy downloading. Formats like MP4 or AVI are generally preferred for their wide compatibility.
    b) File Size and Quality: Check the file size and video quality before sending the link. The video should be of high quality, both in terms of audio and visual elements, but also manageable in size for easy download and access.
    c) Verification of Link: Before submitting, verify that the link works correctly and that the video is accessible for download without any issues.
    d) Backup Option: It’s advisable to have a backup copy of the video. You can quickly provide an alternative if there are any issues with the link or file.
    e) Email Confirmation: After submitting your email, you can expect to receive a confirmation of receipt from the PMI PMO Awards team within five days. This confirmation email will acknowledge that your submission has been successfully received.

Video Content


The nominee's video must comprehensively address the following topics:

  • PMO Overview: Provide a detailed snapshot of the PMO, including its organizational context and scope of operations. This section establishes the foundation for understanding the PMO's role and impact.
    • Industry: Clearly state the industry sector (e.g., Finance, Healthcare, IT, Education, Government, etc.) and how it influences the PMO's focus and priorities.
    • Organization Size: Provide the number of full-time employees to give context to the scale of the organization.
    • Annual Revenue in USD: Categorize the organization as Small (< $100M), Medium ($100M-$1B), or Large (> $1B).
    • PMO Leader (Name & Title): Highlight their leadership background or experience that aligns with the PMO's mission.
    • PMO Team: Number of full-time employees within the PMO.
    • Annual operating budget (approximate USD): Reflecting the financial investment in the PMO.
    • Scope Coverage: Describe the scope of coverage, such as whether the PMO operates at the Enterprise, IT, R&D, Single Program or Project, or other levels.
    • PMO Age: Include the number of years in operation to set the context for its maturity level.
    • PMO Organization Chart: Provide a visual representation of the PMO's structure and reporting lines.
    • Projects Managed: Highlight the number and total value of projects managed to showcase the PMO's capacity and scale.

 

  • PMO Evolution: Focus on the PMO's journey and its transformational milestones, highlighting growth, adaptability, and strategic decisions that shaped its current state.
    • Key Milestones: Provide a timeline of significant events or decisions, such as its establishment, reorganization, or expansion of services.
    • Strategic Shifts: Discuss how the PMO adapted to organizational or industry changes (e.g., adopting new methodologies, expanding its scope, or transitioning to an agile approach).
    • Leadership Impact: Highlight how leadership changes or vision influenced the PMO's direction and effectiveness.
    • Consistency and Growth: Explain how the PMO maintained alignment with organizational goals while scaling its services or improving its maturity level.

 

  • PMO Customer Service Excellence: Demonstrate how the PMO delivers value to its customers and aligns with organizational performance expectations.
    • PMO Customer Identification: Specify the primary customers or stakeholders the PMO serves (e.g., business units, senior leadership, external clients).
    • Services and Functions: Detail the range of services provided (e.g., governance, resource management, portfolio optimization, training).
    • Relevance: Explain how these services address organizational needs, pain points, or strategic priorities.
    • Performance Alignment: Describe how the PMO ensures its services contribute to key organizational outcomes, such as cost savings, improved delivery timelines, or enhanced project quality.

 

  • Strategic Impact: Detail the PMO's role in driving strategic initiatives and aligning its functions with the organization's broader goals.
    • Alignment with Strategy: Discuss how the PMO supports the organization's mission and vision through its portfolio and program management efforts.
    • Enabling Business Goals: Highlight specific examples of how the PMO has delivered outcomes that align with the company's strategic objectives.
    • Executive Sponsorship: Showcase how the PMO engages senior leadership to drive decision-making and support organizational priorities.
    • Long-Term Value: Demonstrate how the PMO contributes to sustainable business growth and continuous value delivery.

 

  • Best Practices and Competence Development: Demonstrate how the PMO aligns with industry standards and fosters the development of skills and competencies to support organizational success.
    • Frameworks and Standards: Highlight the PMO’s alignment with established frameworks.
    • Practical Implementation: Detail how these best practices are integrated into the PMO’s daily operations to enhance efficiency, consistency, and performance.
    • Competence Development: Showcase initiatives to build and strengthen the skills and capabilities of the PMO team and its stakeholders.
    • Continuous Improvement: Discuss how the PMO stays current with industry trends and continually improves its processes.
    • Customization and Adaptation: Provide examples of how the PMO tailors global best practices to fit the specific needs, challenges, and goals of the organization.

 

  • Innovation and Adaptability: Illustrate how the PMO uses innovative approaches to overcome challenges and create impactful solutions.
    • Innovative Initiatives: Share examples of creative strategies or technologies the PMO has adopted (e.g., automation tools, predictive analytics, AI integration).
    • Problem-Solving: Explain how the PMO addressed specific challenges or disruptions, such as market changes, technological shifts, or internal restructuring.
    • Adaptability: Highlight how the PMO responded to evolving organizational priorities or external pressures.

 

  • Community Engagement and Culture: Explain the PMO's role in fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and cultural evolution within the organization.
    • Engagement Strategies: Detail how the PMO builds an engaged project management community.
    • Cultural Contributions: Describe how the PMO promotes a culture of collaboration, transparency, and accountability.
    • Organizational Impact: Highlight how these efforts contribute to a more unified and project-driven organizational culture.

 

  • Value Creation and Impact: Present the tangible results achieved by the PMO and its contribution to organizational success.
    • Measurable Outcomes: Provide quantitative data, such as ROI, cost savings, delivery timelines, or quality improvements.
    • Stakeholder Benefits: Highlight how the PMO's efforts have positively impacted stakeholders and customers.
    • Organizational Cultural and Maturity Growth: Discuss how the PMO has influenced the organization's culture, improved maturity levels, and fostered senior management engagement.
    • PMO Milestones and Learnings: Focus specifically on the key milestones and lessons learned throughout the PMO's journey.
    • Major Achievements: Highlight the most significant accomplishments of the PMO since its establishment.
    • Lessons Learned: Reflect on challenges faced, what the PMO learned from them, and how these lessons influenced its evolution.
    • Continuous Learning: Discuss how the PMO uses past experiences to refine processes, improve services, and enhance stakeholder relationships.
    • Cross-Functional Impact: Show how the PMO's journey has contributed to broader organizational improvements, such as fostering collaboration across departments or driving enterprise-wide initiatives.

 

  • PMO Vision and Future Plans: Highlight the PMO’s aspirations and strategic goals for the future, emphasizing its role in driving continuous value for the organization.
    • PMO Strategic Objectives: Outline the PMO's primary goals for the coming years, such as expanding its service portfolio, adopting new methodologies, or enhancing alignment with the organization’s long-term strategy.
    • PMO Innovation Roadmap: Discuss planned initiatives to implement innovative tools, processes, or approaches to address emerging challenges and opportunities.
    • PMO Capability Development: Describe plans for improving the PMO’s maturity level, developing team competencies, and fostering leadership within the organization.
    • PMO Collaboration and Influence: Highlight efforts to strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders, improve cross-departmental collaboration, and elevate the PMO’s influence within the organization.
    • PMO Scaling Impact: Explain how the PMO intends to scale its services to accommodate organizational growth or shifts in priorities, such as global expansions or new business lines.
    • PMO Sustainability and Adaptability: Detail how the PMO plans to remain agile and responsive to dynamic business environments, ensuring long-term relevance and effectiveness.

General Rules


  • PMI holds the right to disqualify any participant at any time up to the award presentation if they are deemed ineligible.

  • PMI also reserves the right to accept or reject applications and videos, make or cancel awards, or change deadlines as necessary to uphold the quality of the PMI PMO Awards and benefit the global PMO community.

  • If any submitted information is found to be false or misleading, PMI reserves the right to rescind an award.

  • Participants, finalists, and winners will receive publicity through PMI communication channels and external media. Participants may also collaborate with PMI for additional publicity.

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