Management Of Development Projects Research Articles

IMPACT OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGY ON PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUCCESS IN THE SRI LANKAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

The main objective of this study is to assess the impact of project management methodology (PMM) on project management success (PMS) of the construction industry in Sri Lanka by developing a new model to the existing body of knowledge and to contribute some practical aspects to the project management practitioners. Accordingly, the conceptual framework was developed with the theoretical support of the Contingency theory. The researcher-administrated questionnaires were distributed under a one-time survey strategy and 381 respondents were used for analysis. According to the nature of the study, the widely used Structural Equation Modelling technique (SEM) was used to analyze the data, and SmartPLS Version 3 was used as the tool found that all three project methodologies are impacting significantly on Project Management Success with Standard Project Management Methodology (SPMM) being the strongest followed by Customized Project Management Methodology (CPMM) and Inhouse Developed Project Management Methodologies (IPMM). The findings of this study show that 39% of the variation in project management success is explained by the project management methodologies.

A survey of the training experiences and needs on Wellcome Trust PhD programmes

Background Training for PhD researchers was previously identified by the Wellcome Trust funded Emerging Research Cultures project as an area for further investigation to ensure an inclusive culture which enables PhD students to become well-rounded researchers. Methods The Taskforce on Training conducted a survey of 36 Wellcome Trust-funded PhD students and 10 programme administrators to evaluate the provision of training in eight key areas. This survey examined a number of issues, such as availability and knowledge of training, potential gaps in training, and the perceived usefulness of training. Results PhD students reported that training was generally useful and viewed as important; technical training in particular was highly valued. However, the survey identified that students desired additional training in project management and personal development. A survey of programme administrators highlighted the wide variety in training availability for students across several Wellcome Trust programmes currently run in the UK. Conclusion In response to these findings, a number of recommendations were made. These included: promotion of peer mentoring for PhD students, and alternative methods for delivery of well-being training. However, this report only explores the views of a limited number of Wellcome Trust funded PhD students and would benefit from further research into the experiences of PhD students, programme administrators, and PhD supervisors.

Time Effort Prediction Of Agile Software Development Using Machine Learning Techniques

To run a software development project, an effective and efficient project management mechanism is needed to coordinate the activities carried out. The agile method was developed because there are several weaknesses in the classic method that can interfere with the course of the software development process according to user desires. However, in applying agile methods, time effort estimation cannot be done properly. This can cause project managers to have difficulty preparing resources in software development in scrum projects. For this reason, this research aims to predict the time effort of agile software development using Machine Learning techniques, namely the Decision Tree, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, and AdaBoost algorithms, as well as the use of feature selection in the form of RRelieff and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to improve prediction accuracy. The best-performing algorithm uses Gradient Boosting k-fold validation with PCA with an MSE value of 2.895, RMSE 1.701, MAE 0.898, and R2 0.951.

The effect of humble leadership on the success of international development projects: the mediating role of organizational learning

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of humble leadership on project success. In addition, we examine the mediating effect of organisational learning on the relationship between humble leadership and the success of international development projects.Design/methodology/approachThis study adopted a quantitative research methodology based on questionnaire data collected from 80 international development project managers from different sectors in Senegal (West Africa). The variance-based structural equation method, following the partial least squares approach, was used to test the research hypotheses.FindingsThe results showed that humble leadership is positively related to project success. Furthermore, organizational learning mediates the relationship between humble leadership and project success.Research limitations/implicationsThis research has several limitations. The authors did not examine the role of organizational culture as a moderating variable. However, the authors believe that the cultural variable can have an impact on project success and team building, and future studies should consider this aspect as well. In the African context, each country has its own culture, which may affect the behaviour of the project manager. Also, the authors admit that the sample size is relatively small, which greatly reduces the generalizability of the results.Practical implicationsThese findings have important implications. First, because a project leader’s humility enhances project success, it is critical for development projects to select leaders who demonstrate modest conduct in the workplace. The perfect selection of a humble leader depends heavily on judgements about the characteristics of a humble leader from new project manager candidates.Originality/valueDrawing on conservation of resources theory, this study found that humble leadership is important for project success, thus extending the utility of the concept of humble leadership to the project literature.

Prioritization of Injury Prevention and Management Programs and Research and Development (R&D) Projects: Survey Using the Delphi Technique and Analytic Hierarchy Process.

We prioritized injury prevention and management programs, and research and development (R&D) projects using the Delphi method and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) for national plan. We summarized 21 programs and 31 R&D projects based on opinions collected in the opinion survey and brainstorming. Expert panel evaluated program and project relevance in the two Delphi rounds to make consensus. Total scores were calculated by adding criterion weights calculated through the AHP multiplied by the average of scores for each program and project. The top three programs were "Integrated Management System for Injury Data," "Comprehensive Injury Surveillance System," and "Transport System Improvement Program for Major Trauma." The top three R&D projects were researches on "Identification of Vulnerable Workers Injuries to Strengthen Protections," "Data Integration on Injury and Disability," and "Using Public Health Big Data to Identify Injury Status and Risk Factors." Experts highly rated the programs to improve injury surveillance system.

Project Management as a Tool For Effective Formation of Innovative Library Media Space

The purpose of the work is to study the role of project management as a key tool in the process of forming an innovative media space in libraries. The research is aimed at revealing methods, techniques and best practices in the application of project management for the successful development of the media space of the library, in particular at studying the processes of planning, implementation and evaluation of projects in the context of innovative initiatives. The research methodology is based on a set of general scientific methods of generalisation, systematisation and forecasting. In order to identify approaches to the forms and content of project management components in modern libraries, an aspect-by-aspect analysis of specialised literature was applied. The method of information diagnostics was used to study the state of the media space of libraries and innovative projects that have already been implemented or are planned in the library field. Scientific novelty. Emphasis is placed on changes in library practice in the context of growing demands for digital library services, and the need to integrate project management as a key tool for solving the problems of innovative library development and improving the quality of user service is actualised. Conclusions. It was found that the application of the project management methodology in libraries is due to the innovativeness, integration and complexity of tasks related to the introduction of modern digital technologies, the dynamic external environment of the modern library, the need to coordinate various types of resources (financial, time, professional) and to meet deadlines project. The necessity of integrating project management into library practice for effective formation of innovative media space in libraries, implementation of new digital initiatives for further development of the user service sphere was considered and proved. The methods, techniques and best practices of applying project management for the successful development of the media space of the library have been determined. General scientific methods of generalisation, systematisation and forecasting are used for the analysis and generalisation of specialised literature. Keywords. Innovative media space of the library, project management, digital library projects, digital transformations of the library, competencies of library specialists.

A new taxonomy of global software development best practices using prioritization based on a fuzzy system

AbstractEffective management of development projects is crucial to delivering high‐quality software within time and budget constraints. However, organizing geographically distributed software development activities presents unique challenges, including difficulties in face‐to‐face interaction and coordination. To assist the global software development community in updating and developing new project management techniques, identifying and prioritizing best practices is essential. This study aims to develop a taxonomy based on the prioritization of management practices for software development, drawing from empirical data. Fifty‐five best practices associated with the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) fields were identified from the existing literature. The study also empirically examines the acceptability and relevance of these practices within the industry. An analytic hierarchy process within a fuzzy system is employed to prioritize these practices based on their importance in managing global software development.

Competencies and Capabilities for the Management of Sustainable Rural Development Projects in the Value Chain: Perception from Small and Medium-Sized Business Agents in Jauja, Peru

The guinea pig value chain in Jauja, Peru, has been developed through the application of productive projects, institutional strengthening, and implementation of the Principles of Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI). Given the smallholding conditions of the Jauja territory and the proliferation of commercial guinea pig breeding, the actors in this chain constitute a key human capital for development. To improve the performance of the actors in the sustainable rural development of the territory of Jauja, Peru, the research carried out an evaluation of the competencies and capabilities for project management in 46 actors linked to the business programme on the CFS-RAI Principles, representing 1094 people in the guinea pig value chain in Jauja, using the Working With People (WWP) model and empirical instruments based on the Octagon method, project management competence evaluation, performance evaluation carried out by experts, attitudinal evaluation. and the Business Model Canvas. The results have helped to structure the actors of the value chain, who show an intermediate mastery of project management competencies (2.73/5), institutional capabilities in development (2.89/7), and a growing organisational management performance (26.2/100). In addition, trust and proactivity have been generated among the actors in the chain, with an interest in continuing with the implementation of the CFS-RAI Principles in order to achieve sustainability in their productive projects with commercial innovation. The results have allowed us to generate the design of an innovative programme for the development of competencies, which balances the three dimensions of project management competencies (perspective, people, and practice), as defined by the International Project Management Association (IPMA), in connection with the CFS-RAI Principles. Both processes complement the strengthening of human capital in agrifood value chains through sustainable project management and contributing to sustainable development in the region.

Evaluating Compliance with Good Governance Principles by Political and Administrative Actors in Project Implementation and Management in Tanzania: A Case Study of Selected Local Government Authority Projects

Governance and government are terms used interchangeably and have been a global matter since the beginning of public administration in Europe. The application of practices such as transparency, accountability, impartiality, democracy and rule of law by all parties participating in government operations is ensured through governance, which is a fundamental component of new public management. This paper sought to examine elected and appointed officials' compliance with good governance principles in implementing and managing development projects, using Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit System (DARTS) as a case study in Dar-es-Salaam Municipalities. The study involved four municipalities where DARTS project passes. This study was based on interpretivism philosophy and implemented a phenomenology-case study design following a qualitative approach where data was collected through Key Informant Interviews (KI), Focus group discussions (FGDs) and Documentary Review (DR). Data from the study were analysed and evaluated using thematic analysis. Due to a lack of effective governance procedures, the study discovered that some of decisions related to project implementation and management were not rational as it was observed during contraction of phase one BRT bus terminal at the flood area at Jangwani. According to the study, the two sides worked closely together throughout the design phase, but when things go wrong during implementation and management, politicians would sometimes act irrationally toward the public for political advantage in order to manipulate voters for future political gains.

Features of application of project-oriented management system for activation of organizational development of the enterprise

The article examines the peculiarities, bottlenecks, and means of implementing project-oriented management in modern enterprises and organizations. The theoretical foundations of the project approach to management in general and organizational development, in particular, have been summarized. The system of the project approach is structured. The essential elements of project management are described (a focus on achieving the mission and goals, the presence of a hierarchy of goals, the consistency of the task implementation process, time constraints, the availability of resources, uniqueness, and the presence of a project manager and a team), including the description of essential features of project activity in the management of the organizational development of the enterprise: the focus of personnel policy on the development of project soft and hard skills; encouragement of staff's aspirations for orientation in the information space; encouragement, creation of conditions for self-improvement and self-development; attention to the role structure of the team; obtaining the logic of project management and principles of organizational development. The author's approach to interpreting the logic of enterprise project management and organizational development is highlighted. By considering bottlenecks in the domestic practice of implementing a project-oriented approach, the directions of its development in the modern conditions of the functioning of the business environment are outlined. Attention is paid to aspects of leadership in the system of applying the project approach to management. Such a leadership style as service leadership is considered in detail. Its advantages of application in modern realities are described to ensure the effectiveness of the organizational development of enterprises and organizations. The sphere of interest of servant leaders in personnel management is highlighted. Formed indicators of servant leader behavior: removal of obstacles, "distraction shield", encouragement, and creation of opportunities for development and autonomy. Keywords: project-oriented management, project, organizational development, staff, team, leadership, leader-servant.

Using the PMO to enforce and standardize the attention of software project managers to needs of software project teams

Software project teams (SPTs) are critical stakeholders. Their contribution in successful delivery of software projects is unquestionable. However, the empirical evidence of their importance seems to exist on paper only, as software project managers (SPMs) and scholars in the project management field ignore their individual needs, and as a result, SPTs remain the most neglected stakeholder group in the software industry. In endeavoring to address the neglect of SPTs by SPMs, the authors of this study developed a model aimed at assisting SPMs to pay due consideration to the needs of this important stakeholder group. At the heart of the model’s functionality is the Project Management Office (PMO), which intends to enforce and standardize the gathering and addressing of software project team needs and interests by SPMs. The aim of the research study is to investigate how the functions of the PMO can be applied to operationalize the enforcement and standardization of the overall function of the model. Since the study is practical-oriented, the pragmatic interpretive approach was considered a suitable methodology. Through the interpretative methodology, several appropriate functions of the PMO, such as «Project management methodology, standards, and tooling», «Monitoring and controlling project performance», «Human resource management» and «Development of project management competencies» as established from project management literature were utilized to achieve the study’s purpose. Even though the interpretation process was guided by literature, the inference was also influenced, to a certain extent, by the researcher opinion as «interested observer». Therefore, the approach presents a limitation to the study. Future studies should include the validation of the feasibility of the study’s claim in a real-world project setup.

Management of sustainable development projects of non-profit organizations in a risk environment

This work is devoted to the study of the management of sustainable development projects of non-profit organizations in a risky environment. In today's world, non-profit organizations play an important role in solving social problems and achieving sustainable development, but they often face dangers and challenges. Management of sustainable development projects is an effective tool for achieving the goal and mission of non-profit organizations in conditions of risk and instability. It includes planning, implementation and control of projects aimed at achieving social goals and ensuring sustainability of results. This paper will consider models and methods of management of sustainable development projects, which help to reduce risks and maximize the positive impact of projects of non-profit organizations. Risk management strategies, use of innovative practices and stakeholder engagement will also be considered. A review and analysis of the main principles of sustainable development, such as interconnectedness, long-termism, satisfaction of needs, preservation of ecosystems, preventive approach, participation and cooperation, was carried out. Defining and understanding these principles allows organizations to implement sustainable practices, ensuring balanced development and taking into account the needs of future generations. Understanding these principles also helps organizations avoid negative impacts on the environment and society, contributing to a sustainable and prosperous environment for all. The results of this work will help to expand the understanding of project management in the context of nonprofit organizations, as well as to provide recommendations for the effective implementation of sustainable development project management in a risky environment.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) In Effective Management of Development Projects and In the Administration of Housing Companies

Building Information Modeling (BIM) can be described as a revolutionary process that has rapidly changed the way buildings are designed, constructed and operated (Hardin, 2009). Over the past few years, the term BIM has changed from a buzzword to the centerpiece of the Architecture-Engineering-Construction industry technology.

Analysis and Comparison of Waterfall Model and Agile Approach in Software Projects

Looking at the history of civilization from past to present, the concepts of project and project management are frequently encountered. Thanks to project management, businesses can work target-oriented, provide high motivation, facilitate internal control and provide a significant increase in quality. The concept of software, born with the development of technology, penetrates our lives more and more day by day. The globalizing world has brought together the concepts of software and project management and integrated them. Software projects require special management techniques because of their content. For this reason, new methods have emerged over time in the management of software projects. In this study, the concept of the project, the development of project management from its birth over the years, project management in software projects, software development life cycles, and the Waterfall Model and Agile Approach, which are two methods used in software projects, are discussed. The perception of the Waterfall Model and Agile Approach was evaluated with the survey study created with the participation of 145 employees from the software industry. Thus, it is aimed to support managers to choose an effective and efficient method at the point of deciding which method to proceed in software project management.

Incorporating statistical and machine learning techniques into the optimization of correction factors for software development effort estimation

AbstractAccurate effort estimation is necessary for efficient management of software development projects, as it relates to human resource management. Ensemble methods, which employ multiple statistical and machine learning techniques, are more robust, reliable, and accurate effort estimation techniques. This study develops a stacking ensemble model based on optimization correction factors by integrating seven statistical and machine learning techniques (K‐nearest neighbor, random forest, support vector regression, multilayer perception, gradient boosting, linear regression, and decision tree). The grid search optimization method is used to obtain valid search ranges and optimal configuration values, allowing more accurate estimation. We conducted experiments to compare the proposed method with related methods, such as use case points‐based single methods, optimization correction factors‐based single methods, and ensemble methods. The estimation accuracies of the methods were evaluated using statistical tests and unbiased performance measures on a total of four datasets, thus demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method more clearly. The proposed method successfully maintained its estimation accuracy across the four experimental datasets and gave the best results in terms of the sum of squares errors, mean absolute error, root mean square error, mean balance relative error, mean inverted balance relative error, median of magnitude of relative error, and percentage of prediction (0.25). The p‐value for the t‐test showed that the proposed method is statistically superior to other methods in terms of estimation accuracy. The results show that the proposed method is a comprehensive approach for improving estimation accuracy and minimizing project risks in the early stages of software development.

Integrating Sustainability Metrics into Project and Portfolio Performance Assessment in Agile Software Development: A Data-Driven Scoring Model

In today’s rapidly evolving information technology sectors, agile methodologies have been employed by software development organizations to facilitate the large-scale, efficient, and swift development of digital products. Notably, it is a widely accepted principle that an increase in project delivery predictability results from more effective portfolio management. Despite the abundant resources within software engineering that address project management and agile development performance, the measurement of portfolio delivery performance integrating sustainability principles is under-researched. This paper aims to underline a solution to bridge this gap by proposing a data-driven scoring model explicitly designed for software firms to integrate sustainability metrics into their project and portfolio performance assessment. The model is primarily aimed at monitoring and enhancing delivery performance while also reinforcing the sustainability of the software development lifecycle. A thorough literature review was conducted to discern gaps in existing practices, followed by development of a scoring model melded with delivery and sustainability metrics seamlessly. Validated through a case study, the findings reveal that the model influences the performance and sustainability dynamics within software development entities. The insights gained from this study underscore the pivotal role of a harmonized delivery and sustainability metrics system in enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of software development undertakings.

Using Competition to Improve Students’ Learning in a Project-Based Learning Course

In this article, we presented our findings regarding an online project-based learning course, delivered to 64 students from the Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, during the COVID-19 pandemic, in the second semester of 2021. The course had the goal of teaching Project Management by means of a competition (the Data Science Olympics). Our goal was to investigate the systemic impacts of the competition on learning. Data was collected by means of a questionnaire and from comments posted on the teams’ websites. We followed a convergent parallel mixed methods approach. We analyzed the data using a causal loop diagram to connect the insights gained with quantitative and qualitative results. Our findings were as follows: 1)The use of competition in a project-based learning centered course helped the students to develop project management and data science skills, and fostered metacognition and knowledge sharing opportunities. 2)The Data Science Olympics increased the students’ intrinsic motivation to learn. 3)The project-based teaching practices (scaffolding the students’ learning, giving meaningful feedback to the students, and managing the activities) facilitated the students' learning. 4)The problems the students faced throughout the Project (dropouts, communication problems, lack of commitment, difficulty scheduling online team meetings) impacted negatively on the students' motivation.

PRACTICE-ORIENTED APPROACH TO PROJECT MANAGEMENT OF ENTERPRISE CREATIVE POTENTIAL

The article is dedicated to the current issues of accelerating the innovative development of organizations based on the utilization of practice-oriented project management technologies in fostering the development of the creative potential across various business sectors and the widespread integration of digital technologies. The research explores existing scientific approaches and practical experiences within project management. Their advantages and limitations for implementing creative projects and managing them are identified. It is clarified that the increasing complexity of an organization's operational environment is accompanied by the emergence of new demands and challenges that necessitate the adoption of new project management technologies. It is substantiated that the main tasks of the new practice-oriented methodology of project management for organizational creative potential development and the implementation of creative projects should align with the principles of sustainable development rooted in a system of societal values. Crucially, business activities are required to adhere to universally recognized obligations in human rights, labor, environmental conservation, and anti-corruption efforts. The article identifies that the latest technological advancements are paralleled by the digitization of economic and managerial spheres. In these processes, digitalization of project management takes the lead, embracing open innovations and mechanisms for their promotion, the amalgamation of strategic management and project management technologies, and leadership under extremely volatile conditions. It is argued that a significant aspect of project management in the creative and innovative realms for enterprises involves knowledge management and the enhancement of managerial personnel's competencies. The mechanism of realizing of each project, especially those of the creative nature, is quite specific and requires essential professional competencies from all the participants at each stage. A systematic approach is proposed for determining key competencies of managerial personnel and their cultivation at various levels: individual, intra-organizational, organizational, inter-organizational, regional, and national. It is argued that strategic management of an enterprise’s creative potential within the context of a digital economy demands a new approach and adaptation to contemporary challenges and opportunities.

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT MANAGEMENT BASED ON WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE AND ODOO ERP

Software Development Project Management is the most important part of the Software Development Life Cycle process. The stages in project development include Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring and Controlling, and Closing. This research uses the Work Breakdown Structure approach, which is a method used in project management to break down complex work into smaller and more manageable parts. Work Breakdown Structure helps in organizing, classifying, and describing the work to be done in a project. Odoo ERP is part of the tools that can be used for project management. Testing the project module using Blackbox Testing. The test scenario includes functional testing of the project management module. Application testing shows good results and is following existing needs. The results show that software project management using the Work Breakdown Structure approach can be implemented properly with Odoo ERP tools.

Application of SWAT and WEAP Models for Sustainable Management of Water Resources in the Two Rivers Dam Catchment, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

Kaptagat Forest, the main source of the Ellegerini River, which feeds the Ellegerini Dam and Two Rivers Dam, is under threat of extinction due to human activity. The Two Rivers Dam catchment that has over the years been a source of water in Uasin Gishu County is slowly depleting and urgent measures are required to restore it. Activities including commercial logging, charcoal burning and firewood harvesting have exerted a lot of pressure on the catchment, posing a great threat to the livelihoods of the people of Eldoret town who depend on the reservoirs for water supply. The main objective of this study was to customise SWAT and WEAP models for the sustainable management of water resources in the Two Rivers Dam catchment. The specific objectives were to set up and apply the SWAT model to generate simulated river flows draining to the Two Rivers and Ellegerini Reservoirs as an input to the WEAP model to determine the impact of land use change on the hydrological function of the Two Rivers Dam catchment, to set up, calibrate and validate a WEAP model for the Two Rivers Dam catchment and to apply the WEAP model in analyses of various management and infrastructural development projects scenarios to enhance river flow and water storage in the Two Rivers and Ellegerini Reservoirs. The goodness of fit SWAT model statistical evaluation indices attained during the calibration period was R2 = 0.854, NSE = 0.822 and Bias = 0.392. Additionally, for the validation period, the R2 = 0.786, NSE = 0.815 and Bias = 0.381. The modelled results indicate that the land use change resulted in decreased baseflow and increased surface runoff hence the high fluctuations of water levels in the Two Rivers and Ellegerini reservoirs. The WEAP model results for actual and simulated water demand in the calibration period of 2019, the R2 = 0.88, while during the validation period in the year 2020, the R2 = 0.85. The results of the model simulation indicated that the management option that had the most impact on all the scenarios was the reduction of unaccounted-for water, while the one with the least impact was increased water use efficiency. It was concluded that the models were able to simulate the observed conditions reasonably well and can therefore be used to effectively manage water resources and assist the relevant stakeholders in decision-making. The study recommended that forested areas need to be properly conserved in order to restore the hydrological function of the catchment.