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Welcome to the Software Process and Measurement Cast 127!\nIn this week\u2019s Software Process and Measurement Cast I feature the first part of my essay titled, Agile is from Venus and PMOs from Mars.\xa0 I also have news from MAIN brought to us by Manfred Bundschuh. The essay begins . . .\nOver the past few years I have spent time with many organizations that been struggling with the role of PMOs in their organization as they transitioned to agile. There are a couple of important words in the last sentence.\xa0 The first critical word is struggling, struggling is important because many PMO's have become more administrative and control oriented rather than being coaches and leaders.\xa0 Agile focuses on self organization rather than control functions.\xa0 Also I suggest that combining the roles of administration and control with coaching and leading creates conflict because the goals of these roles are different.\xa0 It gets even more difficult and stressful when project managers and administrators are asked to change roles that they have invested substantial time and effort into developing capabilities. Changing a leopards spots is difficult especially when the organization has developed a taste for the control data created by a PMO. All is not lost however because I have found that a path to support both sets of goals and needs can be found if everyone can be flexible and no one is building empires. The second critical word in the first statement is the term agile itself.\xa0 It is critical because its meaning has become a bit nebulous; everyone seems to have appended the word agile to a product, process or service.\xa0 It is as if adding the word agile will magically convert an non-agile idea into something new.\xa0 Remember that\xa0 just calling graphite a diamond in the raw won't change pencil lead into something far more alluring.\nMany Software Process and Measurement Cast Listeners have purchased co-authored by Murali Chemuturi and myself and published by J. Ross Publishing.\xa0 Thank you!\xa0 If you are one of those many listeners, please consider posting a review on Amazon or one of the many online book review sites.\xa0 Reviews help sell books.\xa0 So if you agreee with Robert C. Anderson, Director, Process Development and Quality Assurance, Computer Aid, Inc that "Mastering Software Project Management is a masterpiece of clarity, organization and depth of practical knowledge" why not let the world know with a review?\nFinally do want me to sign a bookplate for your copy of the book?\xa0 Email me and include a picture of you with your copy of the book and I will send you a personalized, signed bookplate!\nContact information for the Software Process and Measurement CastEmail:\xa0 Voicemail:\xa0 +1-206-888-6111Website: Twitter: Facebook:\xa0 \nCheck out my blog and show notes for upcoming conferences and webinars!\nNext!In SPaMCAST 128 I will feature my interview with Dave Garmus, Janet Russac and Royce Edwards discussing thier book, Certified Function Point Specialist Examination Guide.