Three ways to build a project management structure that lasts
Each engagement is scoped to a specific starting point. You choose what fits your organisation's situation today, with a clear path forward if you need more later.
Back to HomeOur approach before recommending anything
We start every engagement by listening. Before suggesting how a project office should be structured, we want to understand how the organisation currently works — what's running well, what's creating friction and what the teams responsible for delivery actually need.
This means the first conversation is exploratory. We ask questions, take notes and form a picture of the situation. Only after that do we propose a service or a scope. The engagement type we recommend follows from what we hear, not from a standard package we need to fill.
Handover is always written. Every engagement ends with documentation your team can keep, refer to and adapt. We don't leave verbal briefings as the only record of what was agreed.
Observe first
Understand the current state before designing anything
Design to fit
Structure matched to your scale, not a standard template
Build with your team
Involve the people who will use it from the start
Hand over completely
Written materials, clear handover, no dependency created
PMO Readiness Assessment
A focused review of how projects are currently planned, tracked and reported across your organisation. We examine existing practices, speak with project leads and identify what a sensible project office could clarify. You receive a clear assessment and a short set of practical starting points.
Suited to firms juggling several projects without shared structure, or to leadership teams that sense something is unclear but aren't sure what to address first.
What's included
- Structured conversations with project leads and relevant managers
- Review of current project tracking and reporting practices
- Written assessment note with findings and observations
- Recommendations list with practical next steps
- One review session to discuss the output
How it progresses
Kickoff call to agree scope and schedule interviews
Structured conversations with project stakeholders
Review of any existing documentation or tracking tools
Delivery of written assessment and recommendations
Review session to discuss findings and next steps
PMO Design & Toolkit
A structured engagement to design a right-sized project office, with simple templates, sensible reporting and clear roles. We tailor the approach to your scale so it helps rather than burdens teams, and prepare guidance your people can adopt. The focus is practical structure, not heavy process.
Suited to organisations formalising project delivery for the first time, or to those replacing an approach that has become too cumbersome to maintain.
What's included
- PMO design document covering structure, roles and reporting
- Template toolkit — project briefs, status reports, dashboards
- Guidance notes for anyone taking on a PMO coordination role
- Team workshop to walk through what's been designed
- Post-delivery review at the close of the engagement
How it progresses
Discovery phase — interviews, document review, current-state mapping
Design phase — structure, roles and reporting format developed
Draft review — client reviews and provides feedback on all outputs
Workshop session — team walkthrough and Q&A
Handover and close — final documents, review session
PMO Advisory Retainer
An ongoing advisory arrangement supporting your project office as it settles in. We help refine reporting, coach project leads and keep the structure useful as needs change, all at a steady pace. Ownership stays with your team throughout.
Suited to firms wanting continuity across several months after setting up a project office, or to those managing an existing office that needs a periodic external perspective.
What's included
- Monthly scheduled review session with the advisory lead
- Working notes from each session, shared in writing
- Guidance between sessions on questions that come up
- Support with refining reports and templates as the office matures
- Coaching for project leads on structure and reporting habits
How the retainer runs
Opening session — agree focus areas and review schedule
Monthly sessions — structured review, working notes issued after each
Between sessions — available for questions and guidance by message
At three months — optional mid-point review of focus and scope
Close — summary note, transition to independence if ready
Which service fits your situation?
Use this as a guide. If you're unsure, get in touch and we'll help you work it out in a short conversation.
| Feature | Readiness Assessment | Design & Toolkit | Advisory Retainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written assessment report | |||
| PMO design document | |||
| Template toolkit | |||
| Team workshop | |||
| Monthly advisory sessions | |||
| Project lead coaching | |||
| Duration | 2 weeks | 4 – 6 weeks | 3 – 6 months |
| Investment | RM 600 | RM 3,000 | RM 4,650 |
Best for: Assessment
Organisations that aren't sure what's needed yet, or want a clear picture before committing to anything larger.
Best for: Design & Toolkit
Teams that know they need more structure and are ready to put a working project office in place.
Best for: Retainer
Organisations that have a project office in place and want ongoing support as it develops over several months.
What every Cindermark engagement includes
Confidentiality
All client information is treated as confidential. We formalise this at the start of each engagement and maintain it after completion.
Written agreement
Scope, deliverables, timeline and pricing are confirmed in writing before work begins. No verbal understandings as the basis for an engagement.
Direct consultants
The people you speak with at the start are the people doing the work. No handoffs to junior staff without your knowledge and agreement.
Post-engagement review
Every engagement ends with a review of what was delivered. We use this to confirm everything intended was completed and to close properly.
Fixed fees, published upfront
All prices are in Malaysian Ringgit (RM). No hidden costs. Scope is fixed in each tier — if your situation calls for something different, we discuss that before proposing anything.
Service 01
Readiness Assessment
RM 600
Per engagement · Two-week scope
- Stakeholder interviews
- Written assessment note
- Recommendations list
- One review session
Service 02 — Popular
Design & Toolkit
RM 3,000
Per engagement · Four to six weeks
- PMO design document
- Template toolkit
- Guidance notes
- Team workshop
- Post-delivery review
Service 03
Advisory Retainer
RM 4,650
Per engagement · Three to six months
- Monthly review sessions
- Working notes after each session
- Between-session guidance
- Project lead coaching
- Reporting refinement support
Not sure which service fits? Let's work that out together.
A short conversation is usually enough to identify where the most useful starting point is. We'll tell you honestly if a smaller engagement makes more sense for now.
Request a Conversation