Episode 21 of the WHySE Creatures Stories
This post first appeared on LinkedIn on 11 August 2026.
Rabbit was quick. Lightning-fast. That’s why she was the first to notice: something wasn’t quite right.
There were two pieces of paper in front of her.
Project Management. PMO.
Rabbit sat at the table with Dog. Our quick-witted project manager furrowed her brow.
“I thought Project Management ran the project,” said Rabbit.
“And the PMO too?”
Dog took a sip of coffee.
“Project management is the person who leads a specific project. Prepares decisions. Meets deadlines. Allocates tasks. Identifies risks. Talks to the technical team, partners and senior management.”
Rabbit nodded.
“So, someone who’s right at the heart of the project.”
“Exactly,” said Dog. “The PMO is something else. A Project Management Office establishes the framework. It ensures that multiple projects run according to the same logic: standardised reports, clear milestones, transparent decision-making processes, reliable data.”
Rabbit looked out of the window at the H₂ terrain.
“So the project manager is the pilot on the ship. The PMO is the port authority?”
Dog smiled. “That’s a fitting analogy.”
You need project management if
• you have a specific project.
• you want to clearly define roles, deadlines or decisions.
• someone is to take operational responsibility and be the point of contact.
You need a PMO if
• several projects are being worked on in parallel.
• projects are to run with the same structure.
• senior management or the supervisory board need to receive a clear overview on a regular basis and be able to make decisions.
• the project is large-scale, politically high-profile or relevant to funding.
• many partners are involved.
• individual projects are coming together to form a genuine programme.
Rabbit leaned back.
“So a PMO isn’t just extra bureaucracy.”
“That’s right,” said Dog. “A good PMO brings calm. It makes visible what’s already there. And it helps ensure decisions are made in good time.”
“And what does WHySE do?”
Dog looked at her with a smile.
“I can take on both: interim project management and interim PMO. Especially when there’s a lack of internal capacity, experience or a neutral structure.”
Does your H₂ project currently need leadership or structure? Let’s have a chat. 45 minutes. Focusing on your specific project.