Don't let your company run off the rails. A company spread across multiple internal organizations, projects, and time zones can be a little like a train without a conductor- moving, but prone to confusion, communication gaps, and at risk of veering off the rails. If your organization is beset by competing deadlines, inexpert strategies, and missed milestones, it's time to invest in your own business conductor: a program management office. In this essential field guide to building, staffing, and running a top-notch PMO, software industry executive and program management specialist Paula Dieli shares essential tools, insights, and real-life case studies from major companies such as Zendesk, Adobe, and Macromedia. Aimed at both business leaders and program managers, you'll learn everything you need to know about setting up a PMO-from creating schedules and managing issues, to running effective meetings, to building relationships and people skills. If you're serious about meeting corporate objectives and creating an environment of continued success and achievement, a PMO isn't just a no-brainer: it's a critical component in ensuring you stay on track and hit your strategic goals-reliably, on time, and with finesse.