Stop Managing Projects. Start Delivering Value.
Is your PMO a cost center or a value engine? In capital-intensive industries, the gap between operational activity and financial results is where value is won or lost. Ekton builds Value Delivery Offices (VDOs) that capture margin, accelerate delivery, and connect execution to results across any sector, from oil and gas to construction, utilities, aviation, mining, and services.
The modern need: why traditional PMOs no longer keep pace
The disconnect between project activity and business outcomes frustrates executives. Many projects appear “green” in reports, but without a corresponding improvement in KPIs. This is the illusion of benefits (outputs ≠ outcomes): a product or service is delivered, but a tangible business result fails to materialize. The problem isn’t incompetence; it’s systemic misalignment between classic PMO structures and the demands of dynamic, capital-intensive environments.
The high cost of poor governance
- Portfolio drift and “pet projects” consume resources without adequate return.
- Scope creep with uncontrolled changes causes cost and schedule overruns.
- Decision latency due to unclear roles paralyzes schedules and underutilizes expensive assets.
These risks feed each other, leading to over-allocation, change fatigue, and value destruction. Executing the wrong projects better is just failing faster.
The critical point of failure: the gap between operations and billing
Fragmented systems and processes create a weak link from operations to invoice, the primary source of value leakage. Examples include inconsistent capture of equipment and labor time, use of outdated rates, informal exceptions, and a lack of service proof linked to invoice lines. The result is chronic under-billing, prolonged disputes, and a slower cash cycle, directly eroding margin, cash flow, and customer trust.
It’s not just an accounting problem. It’s an engine for margin loss. Fixing the Operations → Invoice link is the biggest value unlocker.
The evolution of excellence: introducing the Value Delivery Office (VDO)
It’s not enough to “fix” the PMO. It must be evolved into a strategic asset. A VDO is a value engine that actively manages daily operational performance and revenue integrity. It moves from an administrative role to one with a direct impact on financial results.
VDO Philosophy: plan → execute → measure → bill → improve. The VDO closes the loop, ensuring planned benefits are realized, measured, and monetized.
Aligned with top Transformation Offices, the VDO sets a new pace for fact-based decision-making and a single source of truth. The structure centralizes Operations, Finance, and IT, creating a single point of accountability for realized value.
The Head of the VDO acts across the entire value chain, with executive sponsorship, to integrate decision-making, execution, and billing.
Operations → Invoice LinkOvercomes misaligned incentives and eliminates information transfer gaps that cause losses.
The architecture of value: our integrated VDO framework
The VDO is built on five pillars covering the full spectrum of a modern PMO: strategy and portfolio, operations and delivery, finance and revenue, data and technology, people and change.
1. Portfolio & Benefits Governance
Motto: Ensuring every dollar and hour is invested where it matters most.
Purpose: End “pet projects” and the illusion of benefits, prioritizing based on strategic value.
Components: Intake workflow and value scoring, approved portfolio register and 12-month roadmap, benefits realization register; bow-tie analysis for critical risks.
Value: Money and people focus on the highest-return work; benefits are proven in the monthly report.
2. Operations Control Tower
Motto: Replacing hindsight with foresight for real-time operational command.
Purpose: Make daily operations visible and manageable, enabling proactive decisions.
Components: Real-time dashboards for Production/Operations, Logistics/Warehouse, Field/Site, and Services/Support; predefined Exception Handbooks.
Value: Conflicts and delays are seen and resolved before they escalate, in factories, construction sites, terminals, offices, and service centers.
3. Commercial & Revenue Assurance
Motto: Systematically identifying and eliminating sources of margin leakage.
Purpose: Ensure every service is accurately billed and defended with proof.
Components: Order/Booking → Work → Time/Costs → Invoice data model; rule engines for surcharges and storage; automated proof packages.
Value: Fewer disputes and simple audits thanks to evidence per invoice line.
4. Information Management (IM)
Motto: Building the trusted foundation for automation and decision-making.
Purpose: Have reliable, current, and compliant documents and data.
Components: DMS for controlled documents (policies, tariffs, SOPs); MDM for golden records of customers, assets, orders, and equipment; data quality dashboards.
Value: Golden data prevents automation failures and billing errors.
5. Intelligence Layer
Motto: Advanced analytics and AI to predict, prescribe, and optimize.
Purpose: Provide accurate, explainable, and workflow-integrated analytics.
Components: Lead time/cycle time forecasting, Resource and capacity Optimizer, Operational Co-pilot; MLOps governance to prevent model drift.
Value: Less replanning and faster service, improving satisfaction and asset productivity.
Who the VDO is for
Applicable to public and private organizations, from field operations to central offices. We work with various types of PMOs.
Corporate PMO
Aligns strategy, portfolio, and benefits. Focus on value creation and executive-level governance.
Engineering & Construction PMO
Planning and control of works, contracts, and suppliers, with cost-schedule integration and risk management.
IT & Transformation PMO
Product and program portfolio, agile cadence, OKRs, and technology change management.
Maintenance & Reliability PMO
Backlog, scheduled shutdowns, MRO, asset availability, and operational safety.
Services & Shared Services PMO
Service levels, order-to-cash, continuous improvement, and customer experience.
Public Sector & Infrastructure PMO
Investment committee, transparency, socioeconomic KPIs, and regulatory compliance.
Implementation Methodology
We implement in phases with clear deliverables, decision cadence, and skills transfer.
2 to 6 weeks
Interviews, baseline data, leakage and opportunity map, business case.
2 to 4 weeks
Operating model, roles, rituals, minimum viable dashboards, and 90-day plan.
3 to 9 months
Wave-based rollout of pillars, priority automations, and portfolio governance.
4 to 8 weeks
Coaching, final documentation, skills transfer log, and continuous improvement plan.
Artifacts and accelerators
- Value scoring model and intake workflow.
- Operational exception playbooks and service catalogs.
- Rule engines for billing and proof packages per invoice.
- Taxonomies and metadata for DMS and MDM, with data quality dashboards.
- Analytics use cases and MLOps governance.
All services are quoted on a case-by-case basis.
Governance and roles
We define responsibilities to accelerate decisions and reduce rework.
Executive leadership: sets priorities, removes roadblocks, and validates benefits.
Accountable for realized value, ritual cadence, and information integrity.
Portfolio, planning, risks, changes, and cost-schedule integration.
Daily execution, billing, and data, with shared objectives and SLAs.
Summary RACI
| Activity | R | A | C | I |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intake and prioritization | PMO Lead | VDO Head | Executives | Team |
| Integrated planning | Planning | VDO Head | Operations | Finance, IT |
| Billing and proof | Finance | VDO Head | Operations | Audit |
| Data quality | Data/IM | VDO Head | IT | All |
R: Responsible, A: Accountable, C: Consulted, I: Informed.
VDO Maturity
A five-level model to guide investments and measure progress.
| Level | Description | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Initial | Ad-hoc projects and little visibility | Inventory, stabilize, and measure |
| 2. Foundational | Basic processes and minimal governance | Value-based intake and rituals |
| 3. Integrated | Portfolio, operations, and finance linked | Dashboards and execute-measure-bill cycle |
| 4. Optimized | Automation and continuous improvement | Rule engines and automatic proofs |
| 5. Predictive | Data-driven decision making and AI | Advanced use cases and MLOps |
Our services: a partnership tailored to your journey
The framework is comprehensive, but the engagement is flexible. Scalable entry points for immediate needs or full transformation.
Note: All services are quoted upon request.
| Service offering | Ideal for | Key deliverables |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Diagnostics & Maturity Assessment | Organizations that feel low performance and need a data-driven business case. | Opportunity Sprint (wks 1–6): Value Generation Tree, leakage and bottleneck heat map, baseline KPIs, VDO operating model mock-up, 12-month sequenced portfolio, benefits baseline report. |
| 2. PMO and VDO Implementation | Organizations ready for a full transformation towards a VDO. | End-to-end (months 1–12): Phased rollout of all five pillars, from governance and control towers to optimizers and co-pilots, with full handover. |
| 3. Process Development & Optimization | Teams that need to fix specific high-friction processes. | Targeted interventions: operational handbooks, revenue assurance rule engines, DMS workflows with “read and understood,” supplier governance kits with phased SOWs. |
| 4. Training & Capability Building | Organizations with the right tools but low adoption. | Capability Academy: role-based paths, microlearning, coaching on VDO rituals (daily stand-ups, weekly reviews), and adoption KPIs. |
| 5. Managed & Support Services | Needing continuous expertise to manage PMO/VDO or fractional reinforcement. | PMO-as-a-Service; fractional expertise in Data Science, Revenue Assurance, and IM; continuous improvement with quarterly maturity assessments and portfolio re-prioritization. |
Quick Cases
Industrial Operations
Before 18-day average lead time; After 15-16 days in 90 days, with dashboards and exception playbooks.
Services & Billing
Before 8 percent disputed lines; After 3-5 percent with automated proofs and billing rules.
Data & Compliance
Before duplicates and old documents; After MDM and DMS with golden records and audit trail.
The Ekton Difference: a commitment to tangible results
Focused on results, not activity. We measure success by the impact on the bottom line.
Accelerated time-to-value
We don’t start from a blank slate. We lift and shift 70–80% of Information Management assets (policies, DMS/MDM designs, and quality dashboards) to get your VDO running in weeks.
Partnership for self-sufficiency
Operating model with a client counterpart for each Ekton role. The “Embed and Transfer” phase ensures transition plans, coaching, and a final skills log.
Adoption by design
We mitigate change fatigue with visible wins in 30–60 days, empowered operational cells, and leadership narrative that solidifies new ways of working.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a PMO and a VDO?
A PMO coordinates and reports on projects. A VDO manages the execute, measure, bill, and improve chain, focusing on realized value.
How long does it take to see results?
There are typically visible gains in 30 to 60 days, with stabilization and expansion in subsequent phases.
Do we need to change systems?
Not necessarily. We start by connecting data and processes. Integrations and changes are made based on value priority.
How do you handle compliance?
Principles aligned with market standards like ISO 9001 and ISO 27001, document management, audit trails, and segregation of duties.
Start your journey to value delivery
See where your value is hidden. Every operational delay, billing dispute, and unvetted project can hide value. Schedule a complementary and confidential VDO Maturity Discussion.
The 60-minute session maps current challenges to the VDO framework and identifies the highest-impact opportunities.
Contact Us
Want to discuss your PMO’s maturity or explore Ekton’s VDO applied to your context? Send us a message.
- Email: project-analytics@ekton.us
- Phone: +244 927 764 821
All services are quoted upon request.
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