logo
The Case For Moving Capability Building From HR To PMO

The Case For Moving Capability Building From HR To PMO

Forbes26-06-2025
Peter Beven, CEO of iEC Professional and a leader at the intersection of education, technology innovation and organizational transformation.
This may upset some human resources HR leaders, but I believe that for too long, capability building has been miscategorized as an HR function. Because of this, it often ends up sitting quietly in the corner of the organization, far from the action. It gets packaged as employee retention, training plans, learning management system (LMS) completions—training programs that tick boxes but don't shift performance.
But here's the uncomfortable truth I have come to realize: In project-based organizations where execution speed, delivery performance and adaptability are everything, this model of HR-run capability building isn't just outdated—it may be holding you back.
Shifting From HR To PMO
If capability is the engine of delivery, why isn't it embedded where delivery actually happens—the project management office (PMO)? My underlying rationale for this argument is that HR is designed for consistency, whereas the PMO is designed for performance.
This isn't a dig at HR. HR plays a vital role in managing workforce systems, policies and employee life cycle processes that support organizational stability, compliance and culture. But let's be honest: HR is geared for consistency and control. It's designed to support the employee life cycle, not the delivery life cycle.
The PMO, on the other hand, is designed for movement, for execution, for impact. It works at the sharp edge of strategy: turning ambition into reality through coordinated delivery. It sees firsthand where the capability bottlenecks are, which tools are underutilized and which teams are underperforming.
Capability As Both A Delivery And A Development Issue
Projects fail when skills don't match the work to be done. In complex project environments, this issue can become even more profound. In my experience, many missed milestones and blown budgets come down to one thing: The team didn't have the right capability at the right time.
And yet we still treat capability building as something separate from delivery. Teams wait for annual training plans, generic courses or slow approval processes. Meanwhile, the work keeps moving.
I believe capability building needs to be in the hands of the PMO because they are already embedded in project planning, performance tracking, milestone reviews and delivery risk management. PMO typically finds out, faster and more clearly than HR, where capability gaps are emerging and what's needed to close them.
Shifting capability building from HR to PMO may not work for everyone, but I highly recommend it if your organization is heavily tech-centric or has high digital maturity. I have found through working with my own company that embedding capability building into the PMO of a project-based organization can lead to teams being more agile, responsive and equipped with the vital skills needed for productivity transformation—particularly in increasingly complex environments. This can help you consistently deliver projects and services on time, on budget and with outcomes that matter.
Five Steps To Make The Shift For Project-Based Organizations
1. Reframe capability as a delivery asset. Stop talking about training plans and start talking about delivery enablement. Position capability as a lever for delivery excellence and not as an HR 'initiative.'
2. Relocate or co-locate the capability function. Move the capability function into the PMO. Create a dual operating model where the PMO drives delivery-focused capability while HR supports foundational and enterprise-wide needs.
3. Measure what matters. Put performance over participation: Adopt a capability measurement model that links skill growth to project performance and productivity metrics, including timelines, quality, cost and customer outcomes.
4. Build just-in-time, embedded learning infrastructure. Replace generic training with project-embedded, microcredential learning that is aligned to priority competencies. Build content libraries, enable expert coaching and create systems that deliver learning in the flow of work.
5. Build a competency-based workforce. Redesign your jobs based on the skills needed for each role, and align all roles, skills and development to clearly defined capabilities.
Utilizing AI For Just-In-Time Capability Building
AI can be one of the biggest enablers for shifting capability-building duties from HR to PMO. Forget the narrative of self-styled gurus that say AI is just the copilot to jobs; it can do so much more. It stands to totally transform jobs, not just at the periphery but across the board.
For example, earlier this year, Moderna announced its move to merge technology and HR into a single function under the CIO office to align with changes brought on by AI technology. This is just one of the latest signs that artificial intelligence is bringing big changes to the workforce.
Here are several ways you can utilize AI to help your PMO deliver in capability building:
• Use project delivery analytics for real-time capability gap detection.
• Develop and deliver role-specific expert learning content, on demand and derived from industry best practices.
• Verify and validate skills in all training and by all providers.
• Enable dynamic skills mapping and personalized learning-pathway generation, especially for capability uplift.
• Embed AI coaching within project management tools.
• Use project metrics and performance data to drive learning.
• Implement workforce capability forecasting and delivery-readiness simulation.
Final Thoughts
Let's be clear: This shift may ruffle feathers. Traditional HR and L&D leaders may see this as a land grab.
It's not. It's about recognizing that transformational capability building shouldn't be managed as a support function anymore—not when delivery is on the line. This is a call to elevate capability, not sideline HR. I believe the future is collaborative, but it's also urgent. In project-based environments, capability should be owned by those closest to the work, the performance and the results.
This shift is about repositioning capability as a strategic, embedded and responsive engine of delivery excellence. And that requires bold change. The PMO has evolved from a governance body to a strategic powerhouse. It's time to go further and make it the beating heart of organizational capability.
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

FlexGen Expands Global Battery Energy Storage Leadership with Court Approval of Powin Assets Acquisition
FlexGen Expands Global Battery Energy Storage Leadership with Court Approval of Powin Assets Acquisition

Yahoo

time27 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

FlexGen Expands Global Battery Energy Storage Leadership with Court Approval of Powin Assets Acquisition

The purchase will reinforce FlexGen's leadership, serving an additional 14.5 plus GWh of battery energy storage system projects. DURHAM, N.C., August 06, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FlexGen Power Systems, LLC ("FlexGen"), a leading provider of battery energy storage solutions and energy management software, today announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, the Court presiding over the Chapter 11 cases of Powin, LLC and Powin affiliates, has approved FlexGen's acquisition of a substantial portion of Powin's business, advancing FlexGen's mission to future proof global grids and growing energy demand through battery energy storage. Through the acquisition, FlexGen will own all of Powin's IP, including hardware IP, software IP and information technology systems, along with a significant spare parts inventory. Upon closing of the acquisition, FlexGen will support over 25 GWh of battery energy storage systems and 200 projects across 10 countries in its portfolio. FlexGen's Remote Operations Center (ROC) will gain system visibility to ensure continuity for Powin customers, while its FlexGen HybridOS® controls software, analytics modules and lifecycle services will be made available to provide additional insights and best-in-class system availability. "This is a significant milestone, not just for FlexGen, but for the entire industry, as storage is no longer a nice-to-have, but rather, essential to meeting global energy demand and opportunities," said FlexGen CEO, Kelcy Pegler. "With this acquisition, we will continue to deliver the reliability and intelligence the grid, data centers and communities need to thrive in a world of growing energy needs." Drawing on 15 years of integration experience with over 65 configurations from 22 global vendors, FlexGen is prepared to deliver immediate continuity and support for Powin customers. With its full suite of lifecycle services and hardware-agnostic FlexGen HybridOS® software products, FlexGen meets operators where they are today while driving an AI-centric roadmap for its analytics module and sophisticated controls software. The impact is futureproofing customer investments with maximum uptime and minimal disruption. "Our top priority is customer success and delivering immediate operational stability, maximizing the value and performance of their systems. FlexGen's proven financial strength means we're a capital-light software and services partner that will remain in business to deliver on our customer promises," added Gary Cristini, FlexGen's CFO. "We thank Powin for their early-mover role in shaping the dynamic and important grid-scale battery market and honor our commitment to carry on that legacy and deliver exceptional uptime, reliability and customer success." For more information about FlexGen and this transition, visit: If you're an existing Powin customer with questions, please reach out to: PowinSupport@ About FlexGen Power Systems, LLC. FlexGen provides industry-leading software and services for deploying, managing and optimizing battery energy storage systems. FlexGen leverages decades of software, engineering, and procurement expertise to solve today's toughest energy challenges that enable the transition to a modern electric grid. FlexGen HybridOS® energy management software seamlessly integrates with any battery OEM and offers advanced analytics and AI-driven insights that allow energy storage owners to deploy diverse power market strategies and integrate various generation forms, enhancing grid stability and economic returns. Serving more than 25 GWh and over 200 energy storage systems enabled by FlexGen, we are trusted by the most technically and commercially demanding developers, utilities, government agencies, and industrial companies in the world. View source version on Contacts Media Inquiries: flexgen@ Sign in to access your portfolio

Activist investor Starboard builds over 9% stake in Rogers
Activist investor Starboard builds over 9% stake in Rogers

Yahoo

time27 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Activist investor Starboard builds over 9% stake in Rogers

(Reuters) -Activist investor Starboard Value said on Wednesday it has built a 9.3% stake in Rogers Corp as it seeks to push for changes at the advanced materials maker. Shares of Rogers were up 10% in extended trade. However, the stock has fallen more than 30% so far this year. Rogers, which makes advanced materials used in electric and hybrid cars, automotive safety, radar systems and other industrial applications, has a market value of about $1.28 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. Reuters reported in 2023 that the activist investor was building a sizable stake in Rogers and was seeking seats on the company's board in its push for changes. The investor said it believes shares of Rogers, at the time of purchase, were undervalued and represented an attractive investment opportunity. Starboard had previously entered into an agreement with Rogers regarding the composition of its board and other matters, it said in a regulatory filing. Following the agreement, Starboard has engaged in discussions with Rogers' management and board regarding opportunities for value creation. The Wall Street Journal reported that Starboard had built a stake of over 9% in Rogers earlier on Wednesday. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Activist investor Starboard builds over 9% stake in Rogers, WSJ reports
Activist investor Starboard builds over 9% stake in Rogers, WSJ reports

Yahoo

time27 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Activist investor Starboard builds over 9% stake in Rogers, WSJ reports

(Reuters) -Activist investor Starboard Value has more than a 9% stake in Rogers Corp and plans to seek another round of changes at the engineering-materials maker to boost shares, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Rogers, which makes advanced materials used in electric and hybrid cars, automotive safety, radar systems and other industrial applications, has a market value of about $1.28 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. Reuters reported in 2023 that the activist investor was building a sizable stake in Rogers and was seeking seats on the company's board in its push for changes. Starboard Value did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Rogers declined to comment. Shares of Rogers were up 10% in extended trade. However, the stock has fallen more than 30% so far this year. The Journal report added that Starboard's position in the company is expected to be disclosed later on Wednesday in a securities filing.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store