A guided journey, not a resource dump

Move through the PMO lifecycle one clear step at a time.

This experience is designed to lead functional leaders through the program lifecycle in sequence. Each phase introduces only what is needed at that moment: what to decide, what to do next, which resources help, and how change management fits alongside delivery work.

Discovery
Planning
Execution
Close
Sustainment
2–4 weekstypical phase length
Yes / Nogate decision style
3starter resources surfaced
PMO optionalsupport available when needed

Discovery

Discovery frames the initiative before heavy planning begins. The goal here is not to fully solve the program, but to define enough of it that leaders can decide whether to invest in the next phase.

Phase 1 of 5
What this phase is trying to achieve
What to do now
Change management in this phase

Change work starts early so value, impact, and stakeholder implications are understood before the program gets too far downstream.

Embedded by phase
Helpful resources for this step

Phase checkpoint

At the end of Discovery, leaders should be able to articulate the problem, intended outcome, initial scope, and the resource ask needed to enter Planning.

Program Roles & Responsibilities

Explore the different roles across a strategic program, understand what each one owns, and see how responsibilities shift across the lifecycle.

When to contact PMO

Reach out if you are unsure whether the effort is truly strategic, need help shaping the narrative, or want input before socializing it with executive stakeholders.

PMO point of contact

For questions, support requests, or a quick review of your current phase, contact the PMO team DL.

Email dl BizOps PMO
PMO Lifecycle Q&A Ask about this phase, resources, change activities, or what comes next.
You are viewing Discovery. Ask things like “What do I need before Planning?” or “What change work starts here?”
Hi — I’m your PMO Lifecycle Q&A assistant. I stay open while you move through the lifecycle so you can keep asking questions without reopening me.