Insights of project managers into the problems in project management

Peter Vincent Livesey

doi:10.5130/ajceb.v16i1.4600

Peter Vincent Livesey

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5130/ajceb.v16i1.4600

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Abstract

A Delphi study using project managers who had managed projects in excess of $500 million was used to confirm the significance and frequency of problems resulting from the nature of projects. Using the results obtained from the Delphi study a ranking of the problems experienced in these projects was obtained by calculating a Relative Importance Index. Additionally, the Delphi panel members were asked their views concerning the need for traditional project management skills (hard skills) and team management skills (soft skills) as project size increased from below $50 million to over $500 million. A substantial increase in the need for both skills was indicated with the increase in the need for soft skills being the most significant.

Highlights

IntroductionAn alternative definition is “a set of diversely skilled people working together on a complex task over a limited time period” (Goodman and Goodman 1976, p.494)
A common definition of a project is “a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique product, service or result” (Project Management Project Management Institute (2013))
The results of the Delphi study show practising project managers regard the importance of team management skills and PMBoK skills increases as project size increases, and that the rise in the importance of the need for soft skills is more pronounced than the rise in the need for hard skills

Summary

Introduction

An alternative definition is “a set of diversely skilled people working together on a complex task over a limited time period” (Goodman and Goodman 1976, p.494). This latter definition has the advantage of emphasising that a team of individuals is involved in the joint endeavour. Suppliers of key components are often located in different countries or continents. This geographic dispersion can introduce its own problems

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Conclusion