Rockwell Automation Wins PMO of the Year Award

Rockwell`s Project Management Office Demonstrates Significant Business Value
GLEN MILLS, Pa.--(Business Wire)--
The Center for Business Practices (CBP), the research and publications arm of
project management consultancy PM Solutions, announces that the Milwaukee-based
Rockwell Automation`s Software Program Management Office has been selected as
the 2009 PMO of the Year. The award, which distinguishes a project management
office (PMO) for its success and impact within an organization`s overall
business strategy, recognizes Rockwell Automation`s Software PMO specifically
for its contribution toward increased predictability and productivity; faster
pace of innovation; and delivery of a major release comprising 20-plus projects
on time and under costs for the first time in company history.

Rockwell Automation`s Software Program Management Office was selected from a
field of more than 40 applicants that included state and federal agencies, major
nonprofit organizations and an impressive field of Fortune 1000 companies.
Runners-up included Alcatel-Lucent`s Global Program Management Office; the
Australian Securities Exchange`s enterprise-wide Project Management Office;
Cisco Services` Office of Strategy & Planning; and Regence`s Enterprise Program
Management Office.

"As organizations struggle to maximize budgets and human capital resources,
project management offices play an even more critical role in initiating and
completing the right projects, achieving measurable organizational ROI and
successfully enforcing overall business strategies," said Jim Pennypacker,
director of the CBP. "Rockwell Automation`s Software Program Management Office
is a leading example of the impact that a successful PMO can have when it`s
designed and implemented well."

A program detailing the achievements of Rockwell and all the finalists is
downloadable from the CBP Web site at
www.cbponline.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/2009%20pmo%20of%20the%20year%20booklet.pdf

About the Winner

Rockwell Automation`s formal software project management organization was
founded in 2004 and expanded in 2005 when, in response to an SAP rollout, the
company recognized the need for a new, common product development process based
on company best practices combined with industry best practices for product
development. The new PMO ramped up quickly, getting everyone PMP-certified
within two months.

From there, the Rockwell Automation Software PMO began establishing processes
and methodologies, establishing scorecards and metrics, and deploying tools in
support of new product development and services. The company moved from a
waterfall approach in driving projects to an Agile approach, driving processes
from 20+ pages to fewer than five pages and moving them from notebook binders to
electronic media. The PMO grew from 10 people to 22 over four years, and its
reach went from North American to global. The number of projects under its
direction grew from 12 to 15 to more than 50. In addition, Rockwell Automation
deployed a portfolio management process in their Architecture and Software Group
that linked investments to business strategy, maximized the value of the
portfolio, achieved a desired balance (mix) of projects and focused the
organization's efforts.

The Software PMO has been instrumental in Rockwell Automation`s quest for
increased predictability, productivity and visibility. By delivering - for the
first time in the business` history - a major release that contained in excess
of four programs and 20-plus projects, on time and under budget, the
organization has proven its business value.

According to PMO Director James C. Brown, "If consistency, transparency and risk
mitigation are important to your business, and they are for us, than we believe
that a formal, well-recognized and managed project management entity is
paramount. We`re pleased that our investment in our PMO has paid off for our
company, and we`re honored to be recognized by the CBP for our success."

About Rockwell Automation Inc.

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE:ROK), the world`s largest company dedicated to
industrial automation and information, makes its customers more productive and
the world more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., Rockwell
Automation employs about 20,000 people serving customers in more than 80
countries.

About PM Solutions & The Center for Business Practices

PM Solutions is a project management firm helping organizations execute, govern
and measure their portfolios to improve business performance. The Center for
Business Practices is the research and publishing arm of PM Solutions, promoting
effective strategy execution through research reports, books, and benchmarking
events that focus on sound portfolio, program, project and performance
management.

For PM Solutions
Schubert Communications
Lorena Crowley
Public Relations Executive
610-269-2100, ext. 237
lcrowley@schubert.com

PM Solutions
Mary Yanocha
Director, Marketing & Communications
484-450-0102
myanocha@pmsolutions.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009