Project Management Association Research Articles

Some insights on the future of project management in public administration

Public project management, as in other sectors, will develop intensively due to the general tendency to projectification of many areas of the organization's activity. In deciding on the implementation of public sector projects, the influence of interested communities should increase to the detriment of politicians. The role of governments should change: from concluding contracts and enforcing their implementation on an arms-length basis, organizations will be created to support contractors in carrying out their work, and especially in solving the problems they encounter. Public projects will be implemented for ever smaller groups of recipients, even for individual citizens. Project management communities and associations will be more focused on the needs of public administration, which will result in the creation of specialized methodologies and standards for the public sector. The project management community will take a more significant account of cross-sectoral differences in its research. As a result, knowledge about project management will be popularized in the public administration environment, which in turn will contribute to more effective implementation of public projects for the benefit of their individuals, communities, and whole societies.

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.

FEATURES OF COMMUNICATION DURING PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION BASED ON THE PMI PMBOK STANDARD

In current conditions, the issue of reducing the potential negative impacts on project stakeholders, improving efficiency, and increasing satisfaction from participating in project work remains relevant in project communications management.
 The article aims to study the problems of defining and using the most effective communication channels in project stakeholder management. The theoretical and methodological basis of the work is a set of principles and methods of scientific research: the principle of systematization and theoretical generalization, methods of grouping and ranking.
 According to the goal, the task was set to substantiate the effectiveness of communication channels depending on the degree of remoteness of the project stakeholders. Based on the study, the concept of a project was clarified, which, according to the PMBOK Project Management Standard, is understood as a temporary activity aimed at creating a unique product, service, or result and is part of the value delivery system. The contextual factors of the internal and external environment of the organization, which influence the project's results, were studied. The basis for the analysis was the scientific works of domestic and foreign scientists on the mentioned issues, materials, and data from the official website of the Ukrainian Project Management Association.
 The theoretical and methodological basis of the work is a set of principles and methods of scientific research: the principle of systematization and theoretical generalization, methods of grouping and ranking. As a result of the study, the sphere of execution, "Stakeholders," which is one of the eight spheres of project implementation, was considered. The definition of communication as a vital part of the value supply system by the sphere of execution of the "Stakeholders" project was recorded, and the dependence of the effectiveness of communication methods on the used communication channels was determined according to the model of the effectiveness of communication channels by Alistair Cockburn. It has been proven that applying this model can have a beneficial effect on increasing communication effectiveness during project implementation. A matrix of the effectiveness of communication channels was built, which details the consequences of stakeholder communication methods depending on their remoteness.

РОЗВИТОК СТАНДАРТІВ З УПРАВЛІННЯ ПРОЄКТАМИ: МІЖНАРОДНИЙ ДОСВІД

The article examines the main international standards for quality management and configuration management in projects. The most widespread standards were analyzed, namely: PMBOK (A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge) – a body of knowledge on project management, developed by the Project Management Institute (PMI); ISO standards (ISO 10006:1997 Quality management – Guidelines to quality in project management – standard for quality in project management, ISO 21500:2012 Guidance on project management – standard for project management, ISO 21500:2021 Project, program and portfolio management – Context and concepts – the main profile standard, which is a comprehensive guide to the use of the ISO 21500 series of standards); Prince 2 and PRINCE 2 Agile – a standard method of effective project management developed by the CCTA (Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency); IPMA - standards of the International Project Management Association. International Project Management Association; OPM 3 (Organization Project Management Maturity Model) – a model of Organizational Project Management Maturity; P2M (from Project and Program Management for Enterprise Innovation) is a Japanese approach to managing complex projects of implementing innovative technologies at the enterprise level in an unstable environment. An analysis of the evolution of PMBOK international standards from the 1st edition of 1996 to the 7th edition of 2021 was carried out, which was characterized in detail and presented the relationship between project management principles and areas of project effectiveness according to PMBOK 7th edition. ISO standards are considered and the main ones related to project management are characterized. The standard method of effective management of Prince 2 and PRINCE 2 Agile projects is studied and the main principles on which they are based are given. The main evolutionary transformations of the IPMA standard from 1965 to 2015 are characterized. Appropriate conclusions have been drawn.

Assessment of Project Management Maturity Models Strengths and Weaknesses

The purpose of this article is to analyze the most popular maturity models in order to identify their strengths and weaknesses. Research conducted by international project management communities such as Software Engineering Institute (SEI), Project Management Institute (PMI), International Project Management Association (IPMA), Office of Government Commerce (OGC) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) showed that organizations with high managerial maturity are more likely to achieve their planned project goals than those that do not identify and standardize their best management practices. This circumstance has encouraged scientists from all over the world to start developing various models that can measure and evaluate managerial maturity in projects. Nowadays, the variety of models created has led to considerable difficulty in understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each model. To solve this problem, the article authors conducted a critical analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the most popular project management maturity models. The results obtained will be of interest to project managers, members of project teams, heads of organizations, project offices and everyone involved in the development of project activities. Based on the analysis, it was found that the most developed maturity models are based on international codes of knowledge of project management. Most maturity models ignore the presence of structural and infrastructural elements, such as a workplace, the necessary equipment and software, the availability of professional standards, instructions, regulations, etc. It was also revealed that there are no processes for assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of using the best practices in the maturity models.

Rubric’s Development Process for Assessment of Project Management Competences

Assessment rubrics are recognized for their positive effects, being defined as an evaluative instrument that establishes assessment criteria and performance levels. In this sense, assessment rubrics can be associated with professional practices for more authentic assessment processes. In the context of Project Management, the International Project Management Association (IPMA) has developed a framework that establishes the individual competences for professionals working in the area, the Individual Competence Baseline (ICB). The objective of this study is to propose a process of rubric development for competence assessment in Project Management. A rubric for Leadership competence was developed to show the applicability and relevance of the proposed process. The research methodology adopted in the study was Design Science Research. The application and evaluation of this rubric in a pilot study show that the rubric development process allowed the creation of a specific rubric for the assessment of leadership competence. This paper guides those who need to develop and assess project management competences, and it is intended to propose a replicable process for the other ICB competences.

Evaluating the Management of Critical Success Factors of Residential Complex’s Projects and their impact on Cost, Time, and Quality in Erbil Governorate

Background: The characteristics of any project require a specific type of management. Companies and project management associations all over the world started to develop and follow these standards. Best practices in project management, if followed, may increase the chances of success in achieving goals when dealing with projects. Many studies and researchers worked earlier on critical success factors (CSF). Each type of project has its own CSF that should be considered during construction. Objective: This study focuses on covering the notion of residential complex projects (RCP) success according to two fundamental components (success criteria and critical success factors by identifying the critical success factors (CSF) on the basis of their large impact on the golden triangle (cost, time, and quality), and calculating the degree of actual practicing of each factor. Methods: A questionnaire survey has been adopted and distributed to a sample of 142 stakeholders involved in the construction of residential complex projects to calculate their impact on time, cost, and quality. Moreover, a case study for 20 constructed projects has been adopted to evaluate the average fulfilments of 8 identified management success criteria and 8 identified project success criteria using a questionnaire survey. Finally, the degree of management success and project success for each project has been calculated. Results: The results reveal 17 CSF ranging between large and very large impact on managing residential complex projects. The highest rank is realistic cost estimate and projects completed within the budget, adequate risk identification and management procedures, adequate project management tools, techniques, and standards. The study revealed that project success criteria differ from one project to another and the relative priorities among critical success factors may change for different projects even if they are of same type not only among different types of projects. The results show that management success doesn’t guarantee project success because success means different things to different people. User’s satisfaction is essential for project success. Conclusion: A scientific base should be used to identify CSF with a significant impact on the golden triangle and combine it with project success criteria. That is the classic answer for the measurement success, because it could be easily applied and normally gathers consensus within stakeholders. This study will contribute an improvement to the existing management system.

The Influence of Knowledge on Managing Risk for the Success in Complex Construction Projects: The IPMA Approach

Organizations undertaking construction projects often deal with uncertainty and complexity. Risks include a wide range of occurrences that can lead to project failure. However, these difficulties may be minimized if risks are properly managed. In addition, knowledge management may emerge as a key element in facing unforeseen events and detecting the actions that are working well in other projects. In this context, this study intends to demonstrate the influence of managing organizational knowledge on risk management and the impact of both on the success of projects and associated businesses. To this end, a questionnaire was distributed among construction technicians, practitioners and managers in order to assess the importance of factors managing knowledge and risk and of success criteria. Thanks to the participation of almost four hundred respondents, cause-and-effect relationships are characterized by means of structural equation modeling, statistically confirming them. The specific links between the knowledge-management projects and the skills and abilities to face risks provided by the International Project Management Association (IPMA) standards, with a relation of 0.892 out of 1, justify the 75.1% of the success of the venture. These findings prove that the application of IPMA proposals enhances the required knowledge that leads to improved completion and delivery of complex construction projects in risky environments.

An institutional theory perspective on the role of project management associations for projectification of society: the case of Germany

PurposeThis paper aims to provide insights into the role of project management associations for the projectification of society from an institutional theory perspective.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on a mixed methods approach. It draws on the research propositions of a recently conducted qualitative study and builds on them by analyzing the empirical data of a quantitative case study.FindingsThe results indicate that the projectification of society in Germany is well advanced and continues growing. The economy plays a leading role, which resonates with other sectors of society. The actions of project management associations have only an indirect influence on the projectification of society, which cultural–cognitive institutions are mediating. Both findings are novel compared to the literature.Practical implicationsTaking an overall view of the findings, project management associations gain a better understanding of the projectification process and important guidance on their role.Social implicationsThe results offer all people interested intriguing insights into the contemporary phenomenon of the projectification of society, along with its current state and future evolution.Originality/valueThe application of institutional theory to the projectification of society in the framework of this case study enables an in-depth analysis of the underlying social processes and interactions between the regulative, normative and cultural–cognitive activities of project management associations on the one hand, and institutions on the other hand, at the societal level. This opens up new and promising perspectives for further research.

Application of the PM² Methodology in the Project Management of the Portuguese Project Management Observatory Creation – Initiating Phase

The Portuguese Project Management Association (APOGEP) launched in September 2020 the project of implementation of the Portuguese Project Management Observatory (PPMO), a non-profit organization with a focus on the status and evolution of project management in Portugal. The project is being managed using the PM² methodology, developed by the European Commission (EC) that has been available, since 2016, free of charge to the general public. The methodology has few scientific references, so this project was used to contribute to filling this gap. The methodology incorporates best practices from other bodies of knowledge, can be easily applied and allows for customization. The initiating phase has been completed and the details of its implementation are focused on in this paper. The client involvement from an early stage was crucial and it was necessary to use more artefacts than those mentioned for this phase. Therefore, this paper presents the tailoring of the PM² methodology to the PPMO project, for the initiating phase.

The influence of project management associations on projectification of society – An institutional perspective

While projectification of society has received attention in research, little has been done to exemplify underlying processes and actors involved. By applying institutional theory, we offer an explanatory avenue. Our explorative research advances the understanding of how project management associations influence the projectification of society. To answer this question, we drew on available insights, interviewed international experts and conducted a case study on institutional work of the German Project Management Association.Project management associations have so far focused primarily on the corporate world and have done little for the projectification of society overall. Especially in times of disruption and major challenges for society, the support of project management associations becomes necessary. The application of institutional theory opens promising perspectives for future research on the projectification of society. Our findings on project management associations are not only relevant for researchers, but also for decision-makers in all areas of the society.

COMPETENCE APPROACH IN AGILE TRANSFORMATION OF EDUCATION ESTABLISHMENT

The subject of the article is development of project, programs and project portfolios management systems with drivers of innovation in Agile transformation of Education Establishment is considered. Substantial changes in the environment require further research into the effectiveness of the application of existing agile methodologies, knowledge systems and competencies of project managers and their leadership. The foundations of environmental change lie in changing the decision-making paradigm in innovation project and programs management in Agile transformation of Education Establishment. The goal is to explore modern approaches to leadership formation when applying agile methodologies of its specificity from the point of view of decision-making processes in project management. The problems of leadership creation and development in the application of agile project management methodologies for the implementation of information and communication systems are considered. The results of studies were conducted on the basis of a competency-based approach modelled by the International Project Management Association. The content model of competency of the leader applying agile management is presented. Conclusion: The Agile leadership and leadership behaviour patterns are formed in a project management behavioural competency system based on agile technology methods and tools. These competencies included: Self-reflection and self-management, Personal integrity and reliability, Personal communication, Relationships and interaction, Leadership, Teamwork, Conflicts and crises, Inventiveness, Reconciliation, and Orientation to results. The patterns of project managers' behaviour as agile leaders in project product creation and agile project management are explored. The differences in the behaviour patterns of leaders and agile leaders were examined by behavioural competencies within the identified key competency indicators. Such patterns allowed the authors to identify bottlenecks in the application of agile project management methodologies in the context of the development of innovative products of innovation systems.

Building world class universities through innovative teaching governance

There is a growing interest in educational innovation in universities at a global level, as a tool designed to create strategic changes in order to improve quality. This study evaluates the global improvement in universities as a result of educational innovation governance, as a pillar of the so-called world-class research universities and as a tool for continuous improvement in higher education. The methodology has been designed by different educational innovation groups from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Universidad de Cádiz, and the International Project Management Association Spanish Board, and includes an analysis of 67 universities from 20 countries. The study is based on 32 universities in Spain, as well as 35 other international universities that carry out educational innovation activity. The results show that universities that have a more mature educational innovation governance in place, both in Spain as well as in other countries, are higher in the ranking of universities (Webometrics). These universities demonstrate a tendency to work on educational innovation projects, which are contributing to strategic changes that will permanently revitalise teaching, whilst also improving research and its links to society.

Impact of project management certification on project performance

In general, certified project management professionals are perceived to enhance project performance. However, this narrative has quite often been challenged in previous literature. We investigate this controversy by including professionalism and psychological capital as intervening variables. The research is based on an empirical survey of certified project managers in the region of Rawalpindi/Islamabad. 373 data samples were collected and further analyzed on the basis of critical success factor theory. The impact of project management certification along with intervening variables were hypothesized and validated to have direct and indirect relationships with project performance. Responses from certified project management professionals in the region of Rawalpindi/Islamabad support the perception but reflect that professionalism plays a supporting role between certification and performance. However, the study dismisses the role of psychological capital between professionalism and performance. We conclude that project management institutes and associations should ensure professionalism in the certification process to actually enhance project performance. The findings contribute to the body of knowledge in predicting improved project management performance by employing certified project managers with strong professional skills. Consequently, the research will help professional institutes to review the conformity of the required professional skills rather than just focusing on just passing an exam.

Competences of the Executive Secretariat in project management

Abstract: This study aimed to analyze the perception of the project manager regarding the Executive Secretary’s contribution in project management. The pursuit of competitive advantage has led organizations to be concerned with project management and the communication difficulties and a lack of leadership during the process are cited among the reasons that compromise project success. In order to relate the powers of the Executive Secretary with the competences of the project team, was used the Brazilian Curriculum Guidelines of the Executive Secretariat Course and the skill set proposed by the International Project Management Association, for the construction of a theoretical model, which was analyzed by structural equation modeling. The results showed that the Executive Secretary is a contributive member of the project management team who enables efficient management of projects. With this result, we found that project managers may seek Executive Secretariat support to achieve project success.

Project management and entrepreneurship competences

AbstractCompetence frameworks are increasingly used in several practice fields and have been an object of research. A typical development trend has been encapsulation into a particular field, not considering the developments in related fields. Similarly, in research, learning from neighbouring disciplines has been rare. Yet, during the past decade, there have been several attempts at linking essentially related disciplines in practice, such as entrepreneurship and project management. This is a reaction to the trends in the labour market – a growing demand for people with diverse competences. In this context, converging different fields via competences deserves more attention. This paper compares the competences required for project managers and entrepreneurs; in addition, it explores the possibilities for mutual enrichment, contributing to further linking of project management and entrepreneurship conceptually. The cross-examination of competences for entrepreneurs (The Entrepreneurship Competence Framework or EntreComp) and for project managers (International Project Management Association's Individual Competence Baseline [IPMA-ICB]) reveals some quite significant, but also weak, correlations. The linguistic approach used has natural limitations, as different terms have been used to convey the same concepts. Thus, a relational linguistic analysis and conceptual analysis have also been applied. The main implication is the recommendation to integrate core project management competences into competence models for entrepreneurs. A natural progression of this work is to build a common competence model for entrepreneurs and project managers.

AGILE TRANSFORMATION BY ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

The organisationl development of project, programs and project portfolios management systems with drivers of agile transformation is considered. Fust changes in the environment require further research into the effectiveness of the application of existing agile methodologies, knowledge systems and competencies of project managers and their leadership. The foundations of environmental change lie in changing the decision-making paradigm in agile project and programs management. The article explores modern approaches to leadership formation when applying agile methodologies of its specificity from decision-making processes in project management. The problems of leadership creation and development in the application of agile project management methodologies for the implementation of Agile transformation of organisation are considered. The studies were conducted based on a competency-based approach modelled by the International Project Management Association. The content model of competency of the leader applying agile management is presented. The Agile leadership and leadership behaviour patterns are formed in a project management behavioural competency system based on agile technology methods and tools. These competencies included: Self-reflection and self-management, Personal integrity and reliability, Personal communication, Relationships and interaction, Leadership, Teamwork, Conflicts and Crises, Resourcefulness, Negotiation, and Orientation to results. The patterns of project managers' behaviour as agile leaders in project product creation and agile project management are explored. The differences in the behaviour patterns of leaders and agile leaders were examined by behavioural competencies within the identified key competency indicators. Such patterns allowed the authors to identify bottlenecks in the application of agile project management methodologies in the context of the development for Agile transformation of organization.

Project management regarded as a driver of sustainable development

The article is devoted to the issues of combination of the most important components of the theory of sustainable development and the principles of project management. The current state of the problem has been analyzed, the lack of knowledge on the corresponding issues in national literature and practice has been indicated, the rare use of sustainable development elements in project management has been identified. The prerequisites for the involvement of sustainable development objectives in the components of project management have been examined. Achieving the defined purpose is possible through the implementation of projects that aim to take into account the interests of sustainable development, as well as through the implementation of other projects that include the objectives of sustainable development. Critical inconsistencies in methodological approaches to the accomplishment of the objectives of sustainable development and project management have been identified. Thus, a more profound specification of the project's priorities and objectives, as well as the elaboration of time scheduling and scope of work are needed. The objectives for minimization of the identified inconsistencies as well as for rationale for the principles of corporate social responsibility provision have been defined. The assessment of the current regulatory documents in the field of project management with the focus on the involvement of sustainable development objectives has been conducted. It is pointed out that the corresponding aspects are poorly elaborated in the most well-known regulatory documents, namely, Individual Competence Baselinet (ICB), International Project Management Association (IPMA), Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), Project Management Institute (PMI), A Guidebook of Project and Program Management for Enterprise Innovation (P2M), etc. Methodological approach to the integration of management decisions into the project management, the main components of which must be the integration of the regulations of PM into the main stages of SD, the broadening of time and geography of the project indicators, the identification of the correlations between the life-cycle of the project and product, as well as the expenses on the implementation of these projects and products and significant extension of the requirements of the project manager.

AGILE LEADERSHIP OF MANAGING INNOVATION PROJECTS

The subject of the article is development of project, programs and project portfolios management systems with drivers of innovation is considered. Substantial changes in the environment require further research into the effectiveness of the application of existing agile methodologies, knowledge systems and competencies of project managers and their leadership. The foundations of environmental change lie in changing the decision-making paradigm in innovation project and programs management. The goal is to explore modern approaches to leadership formation when applying agile methodologies of its specificity from the point of view of decision-making processes in project management. The problems of leadership creation and development in the application of agile project management methodologies for the implementation of information and communication systems are considered. The results of studies were conducted on the basis of a competency-based approach modelled by the International Project Management Association. The content model of competency of the leader applying agile management is presented. Conclusion : The Agile leadership and leadership behaviour patterns are formed in a project management behavioural competency system based on agile technology methods and tools. These competencies included: Self-reflection and self-management, Personal integrity and reliability, Personal communication, Relationships and interaction, Leadership, Teamwork, Conflicts and crises, Inventiveness, Reconciliation, and Orientation to results. The patterns of project managers' behaviour as agile leaders in project product creation and agile project management are explored. The differences in the behaviour patterns of leaders and agile leaders were examined by behavioural competencies within the identified key competency indicators. Such patterns allowed the authors to identify bottlenecks in the application of agile project management methodologies in the context of the development of innovative products of innovation systems.

The Evolution of Project Management in Iceland: The Path to a Profession - Paper 1 of 3

The birth of project management as discipline during the mid 20th century was not the birth of a profession, but rather an important enhancement of planning techniques to tackle temporary and timelimited endeavors. Project management has since evolved and matured to be currently recognized as an important international profession with unique accredited procedures, international standards, best practice references and theoretical platforms. Iceland is an interesting example of how the path to a profession is paved in a developed Western society. Entrepreneurs channeled international development into business-driven projects, and the academia followed the suit. Iceland currently has a thriving forum for project management as a professional discipline. This development is arguably best displayed by some impressive educational programs that were developed by path-finding consultants, within universities and post-graduate study lines, and in the increasing demand for professional project managers in most areas of public and private sectors. However, it is also noteworthy that in one specific domain Iceland is atypical among countries often seen as international benchmarks, e.g. Norway, the UK and Sweden, and that is the fractional public project governance framework, which might also explain why the Icelandic Project Management Association has not yet fully actualized its full potential as a professional leader for project management in Iceland.