A PMO professional for an engineering company was contacted by a newly hired project manager...

In the context of the PMI-PMOCP® Governance domain, one of the critical functions of the PMO professional is toprovide proactive support and guidanceto project managers, especially when urgent changes are needed in critical projects. Although organizational process assets (OPAs) and governance models provide important frameworks and tools, the PMO’s role extends beyond simply pointing to these resources. The PMO professional should actively assist the project manager in preparing the change request to ensure it is correctly documented and aligned with organizational standards, reducing risk and delays.

According to PMI’s PMO practice guides and the PMI-PMOCP® exam content outline, the Governance domain emphasizesoversight, adherence to processes, and facilitation. Helping the project manager navigate the change management process embodies good governance and improves project outcomes. This approach supports organizational strategy by enabling timely decision-making and maintaining project control.

Furthermore, while training is important, it is not an immediate solution for urgent requests. Telling the project manager to self-serve through OPAs (Option A) or simply directing them to follow governance models (Option B) without hands-on assistance risks delays and misunderstandings, particularly for new PMs.