The City of Jyväskylä hosted the 2026 meeting of the Finnish network for municipal PMO and project development professionals, bringing participants together to explore timely, insightful and practical topics they could apply directly in their organisations.
A key theme of the event was PMO development and the strategic role of the PMO. Taskmill delivered the keynote presentation and facilitated an interactive group discussion designed to turn insights into practical ideas.
An Interactive Approach to PMO Development
The session went beyond a traditional keynote by actively involving participants in exploring the topic. Through small-group discussions, participants examined how the PMO role can evolve to become more strategic and impactful across different organisations.
The discussions also highlighted a familiar challenge: projects may progress according to plan, while strategic objectives are not always achieved as expected. Organisations often run numerous development initiatives, but the overall picture can become fragmented, making prioritisation and strategic alignment increasingly difficult.
Participants assessed their current situation, identified key areas for development and explored what a more strategic PMO role could mean in their everyday work. The session provided a new perspective on the PMO as an enabler of strategy execution, while offering practical tools and concrete ideas that participants could put into practice immediately.
“We are extremely pleased with the session. Both the topic and the content really hit the mark! The feedback from participants was very positive. We hope to work together again in the future.” Sari Ropponen, Head of Administration and Development, City of Jyväskylä
The PMO Development Journey towards Strategic Partnership
The journey from a traditional PMO to a strategic PMO can be described in three stages.
In the first stage, the PMO provides operational support, focusing on project management, reporting and processes.
In the second stage, the focus expands from individual projects to portfolio management and prioritisation. This creates a shared view of development initiatives across the organisation and enables better decision-making.
In the third stage, the PMO evolves into a strategic partner that supports leadership in strategic decision-making and strategy execution, ensuring that development efforts are focused on the right priorities.
In this strategic role, the PMO does more than monitor projects. It actively helps guide direction, facilitates prioritisation and makes the business impact of development initiatives visible in relation to the organisation’s strategic goals.
Taskmill Enables Impactful Strategy Execution and Development
Taskmill helps organisations turn strategy into action and manage development initiatives for greater impact. We combine experienced experts, practical operating models and a deep understanding of both strategic priorities and operational realities.
By working closely with our clients, we help create clearer priorities, strengthen strategic alignment and ensure that development efforts deliver meaningful results.