Rockwell Automation Wins PMO of the Year Award

GLEN MILLS, Pa. (June 4, 2009) — The Center for Business Practices (CBP), the research and publications arm of project management consultancy PM Solutions, announces that the Milwaukee-based Rockwell Automation’s Software Program Management Office has been selected as the 2009 PMO of the Year. The award, which distinguishes a project management office (PMO) for its success and impact within an organization’s overall business strategy, recognizes Rockwell Automation’s Software PMO specifically for its contribution toward increased predictability and productivity; faster pace of innovation; and delivery of a major release comprising 20-plus projects on time and under costs for the first time in company history.

Rockwell Automation’s Software Program Management Office was selected from a field of more than 40 applicants that included state and federal agencies, major nonprofit organizations and an impressive field of Fortune 1000 companies. Runners-up included Alcatel-Lucent’s Global Program Management Office; the Australian Securities Exchange’s enterprise-wide Project Management Office; Cisco Services’ Office of Strategy & Planning; and Regence’s Enterprise Program Management Office.

“As organizations struggle to maximize budgets and human capital resources, project management offices play an even more critical role in initiating and completing the right projects, achieving measurable organizational ROI and successfully enforcing overall business strategies,” said Jim Pennypacker, director of the CBP. “Rockwell Automation’s Software Program Management Office is a leading example of the impact that a successful PMO can have when it’s designed and implemented well.”

A program detailing the achievements of Rockwell and all the finalists is downloadable here.

About the Winner
Rockwell Automation’s formal software project management organization was founded in 2004 and expanded in 2005 when, in response to an SAP rollout, the company recognized the need for a new, common product development process based on company best practices combined with industry best practices for product development. The new PMO ramped up quickly, getting everyone PMP-certified within two months.

From there, the Rockwell Automation Software PMO began establishing processes and methodologies, establishing scorecards and metrics, and deploying tools in support of new product development and services. The company moved from a waterfall approach in driving projects to an Agile approach, driving processes from 20+ pages to fewer than five pages and moving them from notebook binders to electronic media. The PMO grew from 10 people to 22 over four years, and its reach went from North American to global. The number of projects under its direction grew from 12 to 15 to more than 50. In addition, Rockwell Automation deployed a portfolio management process in their Architecture and Software Group that linked investments to business strategy, maximized the value of the portfolio, achieved a desired balance (mix) of projects and focused the organization's efforts.

The Software PMO has been instrumental in Rockwell Automation’s quest for increased predictability, productivity and visibility. By delivering — for the first time in the business’ history — a major release that contained in excess of four programs and 20-plus projects, on time and under budget, the organization has proven its business value.

According to PMO Director James C. Brown, “If consistency, transparency and risk mitigation are important to your business, and they are for us, than we believe that a formal, well-recognized and managed project management entity is paramount. We’re pleased that our investment in our PMO has paid off for our company, and we’re honored to be recognized by the CBP for our success.”

About Rockwell Automation Inc.
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information, makes its customers more productive and the world more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., Rockwell Automation employs about 20,000 people serving customers in more than 80 countries.

About PM Solutions & The Center for Business Practices
PM Solutions is a project management firm helping organizations execute, govern and measure their portfolios to improve business performance. The Center for Business Practices is the research and publishing arm of PM Solutions, promoting effective strategy execution through research reports, books, and benchmarking events that focus on sound portfolio, program, project and performance management. For more information, visit www.pmsolutions.com.