PMO, or Project Management Office, is a generic term used to describe a variety of management functions within an organisation.  Alternative names include Programme Management Office, Portfolio Management Office and Project (or Programme or Portfolio) Support Office.

The purpose of a PMO is to provide a range of reporting and support services to one or more projects, programmes or portfolios.  Its main activities may range from simply providing project management support functions to being responsible for the direct management of project and programme managers.

In a number of major organisations a corporate PMO is established which often reports directly to the executive board.  This type of PMO not only performs a similar function to  ‘solo’ PMOs, providing information, but  may also provide advice and guidance, set and maintain standards for project management within the organisation, and provide ‘leadership’ to the project profession across the organisation.