Strategic project management: the new framework

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to suggest a framework for a new research agenda for project management in the coming years. The idea is to focus research on the competitive potential of project management and promote deeper conceptual understanding, integrative practices, and wider-based education. Based on ideas which emerged in our previous studies, the paper deals with some strategic, cultural, organizational, and operational issues which are often neglected in the current practice and education in project management. We believe these components are needed to make project management into a major competitive weapon for industrial organizations. The research framework is built around three major concepts-style, adaptation, and learning: (1) style: style involves the following components: strategy, attitude, organization, processes, and tools; (2) adaptation: since no two projects are the same, organizations need to adapt their style to the specific type of project; and (3) continuous learning: how to develop the learning environment in project management, both for self learning and for organized educational programs.