The role of the Project Management Office (PMO) in knowledge management and transfer: A systematic literature review and future research agenda

The Project Management Office (PMO) has evolved to become central in addressing challenges related to communication, control, competence, and culture within project-based organisations (PBOs). This paper presents a systematic literature review aimed at synthesising current research on the specific role of the PMO in knowledge management and transfer (KM/KT). Fueled by three major academic databases, 55 peer-reviewed articles from the past decade are analysed. The review identifies key themes, including PMO implementation and maturity, governance and stakeholder management, and the mechanisms of knowledge management. Findings reveal the fragmented nature of existing literature and highlight the strategic importance of the PMO in facilitating knowledge flow and managing project uncertainty. The paper identifies gaps in current research, particularly regarding PMO maturity measurement, governance in Agile contexts, and adoptive culture, and proposes directions for future studies to enhance the PMO's role in diverse organisational settings.