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Acquisition Archetypes: PMO versus Contractor Hostility

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Compares relationships between PMOs and contractors to a marriage, detailing common issues and outlining methods to stop the dynamic.
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Software Engineering Institute

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Abstract

From the Acquisition Support Program, one in a series of short papers on acquisition patterns of failure.

Acquisition Archetype: PMO versus Contractor Hostility

Everyone intends the best in project-driven marriages of PMOs and contractors, but good intentions can't overcome the hostility generated by loss of trust and squabbles in poorly developed relationships.

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Patterns of Failure: Acquisition Archetypes
Cite This SEI Report

Software Engineering Institute (2008, March 1). Acquisition Archetypes: PMO versus Contractor Hostility. Retrieved August 19, 2026, from https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/acquisition-archetypes-pmo-versus-contractor-hostility/.

@techreport{Citekey_2008,
author={Software Engineering Institute},
title={Acquisition Archetypes: PMO versus Contractor Hostility},
month={Mar},
year={2008},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
url={https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/acquisition-archetypes-pmo-versus-contractor-hostility/},
note={Accessed: 2026-Aug-19}
}

Software Engineering Institute. "Acquisition Archetypes: PMO versus Contractor Hostility." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, March 1, 2008. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/acquisition-archetypes-pmo-versus-contractor-hostility/.

Software Engineering Institute, "Acquisition Archetypes: PMO versus Contractor Hostility," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, 1-Mar-2008 [Online]. Available: https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/acquisition-archetypes-pmo-versus-contractor-hostility/. [Accessed: 19-Aug-2026].

Software Engineering Institute. "Acquisition Archetypes: PMO versus Contractor Hostility." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 1 Mar. 2008. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/acquisition-archetypes-pmo-versus-contractor-hostility/. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

Software Engineering Institute. Acquisition Archetypes: PMO versus Contractor Hostility. Software Engineering Institute. 2008. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/acquisition-archetypes-pmo-versus-contractor-hostility/

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