--- title: "Daily Buzz: Taking the Next Step of Project Management" id: "50709" type: "post" slug: "daily-buzz-taking-the-next-step-of-project-management" published_at: "2020-08-07T20:53:55+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-17T03:49:16+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2020/08/07/daily-buzz-taking-the-next-step-of-project-management/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2020/08/07/daily-buzz-taking-the-next-step-of-project-management.md" excerpt: "A Project Management Office might be a fit for your association. Also: The art of the love letter." taxonomy_category: - "Marketing / Communications" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Data Organization" - "Project Management" - "Strategic Planning" - "Workplace" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Director" - "Executive Team" - "Manager" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Daily Buzz: Taking the Next Step of Project Management You probably use project management principles already, even if you don’t use that term. But if you want to take your association’s initiatives to the next level, you may want to consider establishing a project management office. According to the [Project Management Institute (opens in a new tab)](https://www.pmi.org/) (PMI), a PMO is “an organizational structure that standardizes the project-related [and/or program-related] governance processes and facilitates the sharing of resources, methodologies, tools and techniques.” As [Stephanie Lovett of FusionSpan points out (opens in a new tab)](https://www.fusionspan.com/blog/how-associations-can-leverage-a-project-management-office/) , that’s a loaded definition—but that doesn’t mean it’s just jargon for getting things done. PMI says that companies that develop a PMO that lines up to their strategy had 38 percent more projects meet their goals compared with businesses that did not, and saw 33 percent fewer project failures. So, how does this apply to associations? Adopting a PMO framework known as a supportive model grants associations flexibility while still giving core project-management tools. “[The supportive model] is the easiest to implement and there should be fewer challenges associated with buy-in,” Lovett says. “A Supportive PMO can be especially beneficial for associations that frequently need to share resources, as it allows for standardization and additional resources to ease stress on busy staff.” In this model, association staff collaborates with the PMO to determine goals, with the PMO figuring out how to get there. “[A] required element is strong support from an association’s leadership to encourage buy-in and successful adoption,” Lovett says. ### Could Your Content Use a Love Letter? > What is a “love letter” and who should be using them? > > Let’s have a conversation, and creatively work together to see what stories we can write that reflect your brand and messaging, today.[#eventprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/eventprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#meetingprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/meetingprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#tourism (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/tourism?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#hospitality (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/hospitality?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#associations (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/associations?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#c (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/c?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > …[https://t.co/jS0hcRUgI8 (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/jS0hcRUgI8) > > — Jillian Cardinal (@JillianInMTL) [August 6, 2020 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/JillianInMTL/status/1291457640053317638?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **The craft of storytelling** has gotten [plenty](https://associationsnow.com/2017/10/association-start-storytelling/) [of](https://associationsnow.com/2018/04/associations-can-become-expert-storytellers/) [attention](https://associationsnow.com/2017/11/go-deeper-with-member-storytelling/) . What sets it apart from a love letter? “Every single word is filled with passion and emotion,” says Jillian Cardinal, whose [video missive (opens in a new tab)](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:ugcPost:6697222834722258944/) prompts associations to write a “love letter” to their members or the public at large. Just like the tale of Romeo and Juliet, a good love letter benefits from a plot twist, and we’ve got a major one in our midst. “We can look at your origin story, why you chose to begin in the past—but then what would be really interesting is looking at the plot twist of what we’re faced with today,” Cardinal says. “So who are you today? … The stories and the marketing and the messaging that we were using in the past doesn’t really apply as much anymore because we are in a ‘new normal.’” Approaching content with the love letter ethos can paint a picture for members of the current moment, and of what’s to come. (Just keep it PG-rated, OK?) ### Other Links of Note **With all the talk of digital events,** there’s been little data attached. [This infographic (opens in a new tab)](https://nucleusanalytics.com/virtual_event_benchmarks_82020/) from Nucleus Analytics course-corrects and gives a benchmark of where virtual meetings stand. **If you’re looking for a solid excuse** to step out of “production mode” for a moment, follow [the advice at Smooth the Path (opens in a new tab)](http://www.smooththepath.net/2020/08/06/soon-it-will-be-time-for-association-leaders-to-envision-the-future/) , take a breath, and consider the future. **Your talent pool may have grown**by a few billion people since March. [CMSWire (opens in a new tab)](https://www.cmswire.com/digital-workplace/is-the-talent-pool-now-global-by-default/) looks at how remote work opens up recruitment possibilities globally. (ribkhan/iStock/Getty Images Plus) [Autumn Whitefield-Madrano](https://associationsnow.com/author/autumn-whitefield-madrano/) Autumn Whitefield-Madrano is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/autumn-whitefield-madrano/) Tags: [#Data Organization](https://associationsnow.com/tag/data-organization/) [#Project Management](https://associationsnow.com/tag/project-management/) [#Strategic Planning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/strategic-planning/) [#Workplace](https://associationsnow.com/tag/workplace/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: More Than Marketing: The Power of Strategic CommunicationsJuly 30, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/07/30/associations-now-presents-more-than-marketing-the-power-of-strategic-communications/) - [ArticleReport: Boards Need More Time for StrategyOctober 27, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/27/report-nonprofit-boards-need-more-time-for-strategy/) - [ArticleHow Much Foresight Should a Board Do?October 23, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/23/how-much-foresight-should-a-board-do/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Why Slower Marketing Can Drive Stronger Member Engagement (Episode 27)June 25, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/06/25/associations-now-presents-why-slower-marketing-can-drive-stronger-member-engagement-episode-27/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2020%2F08%2F07%2Fdaily-buzz-taking-the-next-step-of-project-management%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !