# Adding Projects to the PMO

This guide explains how to add new projects to the Project Management Office (PMO) system.

## Overview

The PMO system provides centralized visibility into all projects, enabling effective management and coordination. Adding a project to the PMO involves creating a project registry entry and updating the dashboard.

## Prerequisites

Before adding a project to the PMO, ensure you have:

1. A clear project name and unique identifier
2. An understanding of the project scope and objectives
3. A project-specific tracking system set up (GitHub repo, Trello board, etc.)
4. An estimate of the project timeline and milestones

## Step-by-Step Process

### Step 1: Prepare Project Information

Gather the following information for your project:

- **Name**: Human-readable project name
- **ID**: Unique identifier (e.g., PROJ-001, FEAT-002)
- **Status**: Active, On Hold, Completed, or Planned
- **Priority**: Critical, High, Medium, or Low
- **Health**: Green (Healthy), Yellow (Caution), or Red (At Risk)
- **Tracking URL**: Link to your project-specific tracking system
- **Owner**: Project owner (for future multi-person projects)
- **Dependencies**: Other projects this project depends on (if any)
- **Due Date**: Key milestone or completion date
- **Progress**: Current completion percentage (0-100%)
- **Next Milestone**: The next major milestone to achieve

### Step 2: Create Project Entry

1. Navigate to the `pmo/artifacts/projects/` directory
2. Choose your preferred format:
   - For human-readable format: Use the `.md` template
   - For AI processing: Use the `.json` template
3. Copy the appropriate template file:
   - `PROJECT_TEMPLATE.md` for Markdown format
   - `project-template.json` for JSON format
4. Rename the file using the convention: `{PROJECT_ID}_{PROJECT_NAME}.{md|json}`
   - Example: `PROJ-001_EcommercePlatform.md`
5. Fill in all the project details gathered in Step 1

### Step 3: Complete Project Details

Fill out all sections of the project entry:

- **Description**: Provide a detailed explanation of the project
- **Objectives**: List the main objectives to be achieved
- **Milestones**: Define key milestones with target dates and status
- **Resources**: List team members, budget, and tools
- **Risks**: Identify potential risks with mitigation strategies
- **Notes**: Add any additional relevant information

### Step 4: Update the Dashboard

1. Navigate to `pmo/artifacts/dashboard/`
2. Update the `DASHBOARD_TEMPLATE.md` or create a current dashboard file:
   - Add the project to the "Project Overview" table
   - Update the "Status Distribution", "Priority Distribution", and "Health Indicators" counts
   - Add the project to the "Priority Queue" if appropriate
   - Include any recent activity in the "Recent Activity" table
   - Update the "Summary Statistics"
3. Update the "Last Updated" timestamp
4. Consider the project's timeline in the "Timeline View"

### Step 5: Review and Validate

1. Ensure all required fields are filled out correctly
2. Verify that the tracking URL is accessible
3. Double-check dates and percentages for accuracy
4. Confirm the project priority and health status are appropriate
5. Ensure the next milestone is clearly defined

## Best Practices

- **Be Consistent**: Use consistent terminology and formatting across all projects
- **Keep It Current**: Regularly update project status and progress
- **Link Don't Duplicate**: Provide links to detailed tracking systems rather than duplicating information
- **Prioritize Accuracy**: Ensure health and priority indicators accurately reflect project status
- **Use Clear IDs**: Use meaningful project IDs that help identify the project type
- **Update Regularly**: Update the dashboard when project status changes

## AI Agent Integration

If you're using AI agents to manage projects:

- Use the JSON format for better machine readability
- Maintain consistent field values to enable automated processing
- Update the `last_updated` field whenever changes are made
- Follow the established schema to ensure compatibility

## Example

For a reference implementation, see the sample project:
`pmo/artifacts/projects/SAMPLE-001_DemoProject.md`

## Troubleshooting

**Problem**: Not sure what priority to assign?
**Solution**: Use this guide:
- Critical: Project blocks other work or has immediate business impact
- High: Important project with near-term deadlines
- Medium: Standard project with moderate importance
- Low: Nice-to-have or long-term project

**Problem**: Not sure what health status to assign?
**Solution**: Use this guide:
- Green: Project is on track, no significant issues
- Yellow: Project has some concerns, monitoring needed
- Red: Project has significant issues requiring immediate attention

## Maintenance

- Review project statuses regularly (weekly recommended)
- Archive completed projects to a separate directory
- Update dependencies when they change
- Clean up outdated information periodically