Project Management Skills Research Articles

The feasibility of a novel national Quality Improvement programme for Tobacco Dependency Treatment Pathways in acute UK hospitals.

The prevalence of smoking remains stubbornly high in the UK despite comprehensive tobacco control measures. A national quality improvement (QI) approach to enhance the treatment of an estimated one million annual hospital admissions of tobacco smokers, could provide a new opportunity to improve population health and reduce healthcare demand. Barriers to QI include knowledge, costs and competing demands. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a national QI programme hosted by the British Thoracic Society, focused on improving NHS tobacco dependency treatment in acute hospitals. The programme utilised the Model for Improvement as its QI framework and was delivered over a six month period. 25 teams from across the UK were upskilled through a series of webinars and coaching sessions and undertook QI projects focused on specific areas of their local tobacco dependency treatment pathways. Results of the programme demonstrated improvements across the treatment pathway including screening for smoking status, rapid provision of nicotine replacement therapy to prevent nicotine withdrawal, referrals to inpatient tobacco dependency treatment teams and transfers of care to community services. Other programme outcomes included increases in QI knowledge, confidence, and attitudes along with enhanced project management skills. This novel, national, online QI programme supported participating multidisciplinary teams in acute trusts across the UK to deliver tobacco dependency treatment pathway improvements using QI tools and methodology. This programme demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of delivering a national QI programme, at low cost using a microsystems approach applied to an important area of clinical medicine.

Optimizing Efficiency: A Comparative Analysis of Project Management Tools with a Business Case Study of Trello Implementation

This paper provides functionality, usability, and suitability for various business environments of several well- known project management software are all thoroughly compared in this study. This review aims to highlight each tool's advantages and disadvantages while providing useful advice for companies looking to streamline their project management processes. The paper includes a business case study that focuses on the use of Trello in a digital marketingcompany in addition to comparative analysis. The company used Trello to improve its project management skills after encountering difficulties with task tracking, communication, and project deadlines. The installation of Trello is described in depth in the paper, from initial setup and customization to staff acceptance and training, including the incorporation of key performance indicators (KPIs) to gauge the tool's effectiveness. Task completion rate, project delivery time, customer happiness, teamwork, and campaign success indicators are among the KPIs considered in this study. The results show that task management and teamwork have significantly improved, leading to better project outcomes. Nevertheless, difficulties including early staff reluctance, a learning curve, and Trello's constrained reporting features were also faced and resolved. Ultimately, this paper addresses the challenges and solutions that come up during the implementation process and shows how choosing the appropriate project management tool may change company processes, increase team productivity, and deliver measurable advantages. Keywords: Project Management, stakeholders, Project management tools and techniques (PMTT), Planning Methods, Project scheduling

Knowledge and Skills of Senior Architectural Design Students in China: A Channel for Enhancing Future Career Readiness

This chapter presents the findings of the study regarding the assessments of senior architectural design students' knowledge and skills from the perspectives of both the students and employers. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the respondents’ evaluations in various domains critical to architectural education and practice. This paper adopts descriptive quantitative with qualitative data to study the knowledge and skills of architectural design students from different perspectives of architectural design students and design firms (employers) to address deficiencies in key areas of architectural education and practice. In terms of knowledge level evaluation, architectural design students and architectural design companies (employers) evaluate key areas such as design skills, technical knowledge, theoretical understanding, sustainable development awareness and communication skills, and their degree is at a medium level (I). In terms of skill level assessment, architectural design students and architectural design companies (employers) evaluated specific abilities in design skills and creativity, technical ability, project management, sustainable design, and communication and presentation skills, and their levels were at the proficient level (P). evaluate the knowledge and skills level of Chinese architectural design students and develop a corresponding professional improvement plan.

Styles, strategies, and challenges of PA leaders nationally: An exploratory qualitative study.

To identify the leadership styles, strengths, strategies, and key factors of PA leaders in healthcare executive, clinical, and academic settings. An exploratory, qualitative study was completed through the American Academy of Physician Associates 2023 Practice Survey to answer seven qualitative questions. Of the 1,423 PAs who responded to the survey invitation, 348 PA leaders in formal and informal roles chose to answer, for a 24.4% response rate. For PA leaders' styles and strengths, collaborative and emotional intelligence emerged as themes. For key factors of PA leadership, balancing expectations and giving and receiving critical feedback emerged as themes. For skills or qualities PA leaders wish they had before starting to lead, project management skills and increased confidence emerged as themes. Leadership development training needs to be in the didactic and clinical curriculum of PA programs for the future of PA leadership. Leadership pathways for PA leaders in healthcare executive, clinical, and academic settings need to be created and established more widely.

Balancing enjoyment and learning in teaching software project management with game-based learning

Despite advancements in project management education, project failures remain common, often due to insufficient experience and skills. Games offer a valuable platform for teaching practical project management skills, allowing players to learn from mistakes without significant economic costs. However, many serious games in this field lack focus on engagement and motivation. The "Software Project Management Game" introduced in this article addresses these issues by incorporating motivational game design principles, drawing inspiration from entertainment games like Game Dev Tycoon and The Sims. The game ensures a smooth flow without unnecessary interruptions, putting players in control. Players progress through five projects of increasing complexity, gradually developing their skills and learning soft skills and task dependencies. This article details the design, implementation, and evaluation of the game, focusing on gameflow, intrinsic motivation, perceived learning, and usability. The results indicate that the game successfully balances enjoyment and learning, making it an effective tool for teaching core project management skills.

Development and Evaluation of Project Management Training for Cancer Research in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Globally, there were 19.3 million new cancer cases and 10 million cancer deaths, with the African continent contributing approximately 1.1 million new cases and over 700,000 deaths to the global cancer burden in 2020. High quality research is required to understand the etiology and risk factors for common cancers in the region to develop context specific strategies aimed at minimizing the future cancer burden in Africa. Our study addresses a significant gap in the knowledge and resources available for training a project management (PM) workforce for cancer research in Africa. We developed and evaluated a training program to strengthen the research capacity of project managers involved in cancer research in Africa. This workshop was held in collaboration with the Men of African Descent and Carcinoma of the Prostate (MADCaP) Consortium. The PM working group of the MADCaP Consortium had previously developed a project manager toolkit to provide a structured approach to PM for cancer research in Africa. We implemented and evaluated this training toolkit in a hybrid workshop in Nigeria. Among 29 participants from 10 African institutions, PM skills improved after training by 16.6% compared with pretraining levels. In a 1-year follow-up survey, training skills remained better (80.8%) than before the training (70.8%). The training program successfully upskilled the trainees with a significant improvement in knowledge of PM practices including planning, execution, monitoring, and evaluation of projects. The majority (80%) reported an excellent training experience. PM skills training can be successfully implemented in Africa with long-term retention of knowledge geared toward developing a workforce critical for the implementation of cancer research in the region.

Fostering Excellence through Mentorship: A Study of Professional Growth in Data Engineering

This article examines the critical role of mentorship in developing data engineering skills and fostering professional growth within the field. Through a comprehensive analysis of mentorship programs in data engineering organizations, we investigate the impact on both technical proficiency and soft skill development. Our findings reveal that structured mentorship significantly enhances mentees' capabilities in areas such as programming, data modeling, and ETL processes, while also improving their communication and project management skills. The article highlights the mutual benefits for mentors and mentees, including accelerated learning curves, increased job satisfaction, and improved retention rates. We identify key elements of successful mentorship programs, including clear goal-setting, regular feedback mechanisms, and alignment with organizational objectives. The article also addresses common challenges in implementing mentorship initiatives and proposes best practices for overcoming these obstacles. Our results underscore the importance of mentorship as a strategic tool for talent development in the rapidly evolving field of data engineering, providing valuable insights for both practitioners and organizations seeking to cultivate expertise and drive innovation in this domain

Analysis of The Effectiveness of Project Management Skill of Human Resources At PT. Ecart Webportal Indonesia

Analysis of The Effectiveness of Project Management Skill of Human Resources At PT. Ecart Webportal Indonesia

Role of Engineering Project Management in Successful Project Completion Globally

In the globalization era, the radical progress in technical and digital system are causing rapid progress of public and private organizations as well as the structural complexity of managing projects in the engineering field. The present study focuses to review the role of engineering project management skills in managing a project for successful completion. Various literature related to the study topic has been reviewed systematically. The various factors responsible for successful completion of a project are framed as a model which would be useful for the engineers as well as other project managers or leaders as well as other stakeholders for understanding the systematic way of project management practices with the aim to successfully complete a project. The model highlighted the top three factors were project planning with stakeholders, time, budget and quality and leadership style and practices.

Impact of AEC project organizational design on the mental health of project management practitioners (PMPs) in Australia

PurposeDesign of architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) project organizations expose project management practitioners (PMPs) to poor mental health due to the influence of project organization designs on project management activities assigned to the PMPs. The AEC project organization design comprises the integration of permanent organization, project organization and external environment layers. In spite of the link between project organization design and mental health, limited studies have examined the impact of permanent organization factors, project organization factors and external environmental factors on mental health management practices. Therefore, this study aims to examine the interactive relationships between permanent organization factors, project organization factors, external environment factors and mental health management indicators.Design/methodology/approachFour organizational theories: institutional theory, agency theory and resource-based theory were integrated to develop a theoretical model guiding the aim of the study. Eighty-two survey data were collected from PMPs in AEC firms in Australia. Structural equation modelling was used to test the relationships between the constructs.FindingsThe study found that mental health management indicators are predicted by the interactive and direct effects of permanent organizational factors, project organizational factors and external environmental factors. The results of the interactive effects of the factors and mental health management indicators revealed that 20 of 26 proposed hypotheses were supported. Based on the established hypotheses, economic factors, technological factors, environmental factors, legal factors and organizational culture positively correlated with mental health management indicators. Likewise, human resources management (HRM), corporate governance, project governance and integrated project delivery (IPD) positively impact mental health management indicators. However, political factors, social factors, knowledge management and project management skills negatively impact mental health management indicators. Moreover, political factors, economic factors, technological factors, environmental factors, legal factors and organizational culture are positively related to corporate governance. Additionally, organizational culture positively impacts corporate governance, project governance and HRM, whereas project governance positively correlated with IPD and knowledge management.Originality/valueThe findings provide guidelines to AEC firms on achieving positive mental health management indicators through concentration on project organization design.

The Essential Soft Skills of Project Managers and Project Success

The Essential Soft Skills of Project Managers and Project Success

Project Management theories and Corporate Governance: Towards Effective Management of Small Farming Cooperative Projects

Project management is defined as the process of applying project knowledge, skills, tools and processes to the established tasks of a project to fulfil the objectives of the project. The planning, execution, controlling, monitoring and closure processes are guided by domains of expertise such as integration, scope, budget, schedule, quality, procurement, communication, human resources, stakeholder management and risk management. This paper sought to analyze theories of project management and corporate governance for effective management of small farming cooperatives. The study adopted a conceptual approach to demonstrate the managerial processes of the theories of project management and corporate governance and how they relate to one another. In the process the literature has revealed that project management is seen by organizations as new methods to plan and manage changes. These planned activities, if not properly coordinated using project management skills, may lead to an unsuccessful project. Project success depends on number of factors ranging from project efficiency, impact on the customer, impact on the project team impact and business or organizational success. The Corporate governance (CG) has been increasingly prevalent in organizations in recent years, and its significance is now acknowledged on a global scale. It has even been adopted by countries where regulations governing the use of CG in organizations have yet to be implemented. The reason for CG's universal appeal is that it serves as the cornerstone of an organization’s operational structure. The article concludes with the relevance of these theories towards effective management of small farming cooperatives.

Towards Developing Empathetic Engineers for The Rural Road Project Management

Education of empathetic engineering for the rural road project management and professional excellence for young engineers is very important as the end product can highly impact the rural community. The current research focused on the analysis of the concept from the explicit meaning of empathy of recent literature from five publishers through an advanced computer search. The goal of this paper is to provide a theoretical framework from a holistic list of empathy perceptions affecting the engineer in managing projects. Two research questions were addressed: first, what does empathy mean when the element of engineering is the centre of the study? and; secondly, from what perspective of project management construction stages does empathy influences engineer? Factors contributing to project failure can be categorized into three major factors namely physical and financial constraints, other minor issues, and empathy issues. Empathy issues are the combination of empathy keywords and empathetic perspectives that could be developed and incorporated in the management of rural roads during the feasibility study, planning, design, and construction stage of the project. Towards developing empathetic engineers and further reducing project failures, intervention through empathy training is a viable option for the enhancement of emotional intelligence and project management skill.

How to conduct successful business process automation projects? An analysis of key factors in the context of robotic process automation

PurposeIn recent years, the robotic process automation (RPA) technology, a software-based method to automate routine tasks in business processes, has gained significant interest and adoption. However, many implementation projects fail and current literature lacks a synthesis and comprehensive overview of factors that challenge the implementation of RPA, have an impact on success or failure of projects, or, play an enabling role in an RPA project. Hence, the purpose of this research is to identify key factors that should be considered by organizations when conducting an RPA project.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopts a qualitative methodology based on data collected in a systematic literature review (SLR) and interviews with 10 RPA experts. Using inductive coding, an integrated framework of key factors is developed.FindingsThe results suggest that the key factors for a successful RPA introduction can be divided into human, organizational and technical factors. Important aspects include for example project management techniques, capabilities and skills of employees, as well as data security considerations.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to knowledge by synthesizing previously dispersed knowledge into an integrated framework, as well as by complementing previous results with new qualitative, empirical data. Additionally, the RPA-specific factors are put into the perspective of persistent problems in information systems development.

The interplay of competencies and governance settings in dealing with uncertainty: A comparison of mobility as a service in the Netherlands and Australia

Actors experience considerable uncertainty when developing and realizing mobility innovations that can contribute in the transition to a sustainable transport system. Although the role of uncertainty and its handling is mentioned as important in the literature on transitions and innovations, there is a lack of understanding how uncertainty affects decision-making processes and actors themselves. This paper investigates the interplay of uncertainty competencies and governance settings in four innovation cases of Mobility as a Service (MaaS). Our findings demonstrate it is difficult to sustain MaaS beyond a research trial, because actors experience too much uncertainty about governance questions of long-term responsibilities and role distribution. Although individual actors possess effective project management skills and willingness to innovate in a trial context, they are unable to bring MaaS to a next level because MaaS is not seen as a part of a larger design quest in which stakeholders experiment and play with uncertainty through different institutional configurations.

Product Innovation Using Agile Practices in Supply Chain Management Curriculum

The dynamic business landscape demands supply chain professionals with Agile project management skills. This study introduces a novel course project simulating a new product launch for a Fortune 500 company. We designed a theoretical multi-phase student team-based Agile project as part of an undergraduate Supply Chain Management course. This article describes implementing a project where teams are guided through the "Agile Way" using scaffolding of the Scrum framework. The project is designed using team-based learning of Agile methodologies. Agile methodologies often emphasize collaboration and open communication, which can foster psychological safety in teams. Using Agile frameworks and the designed templates, student teams work through theoretical Agile product innovation phases for a Fortune 500 company throughout the semester. Students simulate a product launch and apply Agile practices. A validated Agile survey assessed student learning outcomes across two semesters. Statistical analysis revealed a significant positive impact of using Agile templates on student understanding of Agile practices, team collaboration, and continuous improvement. This project offers a practical and adaptable framework and provides insights into using Agile management in the classroom. This study contributes to understanding student learning processes and outcomes using Agile project management and outlines teaching methods for a Supply Chain Management class that successfully implements Agile management projects.

Project Management Competencies in AI-Driven Environments: A Qualitative Assessment

The objective of this paper is to provide an evaluation of project management skills and competence in AI-driven environments as an essential scope due to their pivotal role in producing effective outcomes in the fast-paced world of rapidly evolving technology. This study employs a cross-sectional research design and qualitative survey methodology to examine project management in the context of AI integration. The study involved a broad base, which includes players from various sectors like technology, finance, health, and manufacturing, so its findings and recommendations are all-encompassing. This study achieves this by utilizing datasets obtained from industry-leading AI companies, academic research institutions, and governmental agencies. These datasets comprise project management metrics, AI implementation case studies, and surveys conducted among project managers and stakeholders in AI-driven industries in addition to literature sources, using sophisticated statistical techniques. The findings show and present the changes that the practice of project management faces in the era of AI and provide the most helpful guidance for project managers, stakeholders, and organisations that strive to cope with this dynamic and changing environment. The research result shows that by emphasising skill-based development programmes, cultivating an innovation- friendly culture, and adopting AI-driven technologies, organisations can be at the forefront of technological growth, gaining a competitive advantage in the highly dynamic business environment. The research shows that in the future, the enhanced use of AI technologies will keep changing the project management landscape. This research strengthens the theoretical underpinnings of project management in AI-powered projects and ensures the enhancement of project management's actual efficacy in response to technological advancements. This will aid project managers deliver the most important skills necessary for effective project management in AI-driven environments.

Project management: hybrid approach for construction projects

This research aims to innovate in project management by demonstrating the benefits of implementing the Hybrid Project Management Methodology in construction projects. The construction industry operates in complex environments with high levels of change, making it essential to adapt management approaches accordingly. This study reveals that integrating Agile with Traditional Project Management Methodology enhances project execution by fostering flexibility, adaptation, continuous value delivery, motivation, effective Methods communications, and constant feedback throughout the project life cycle. Consequently, this integration leads to improved project outcomes and goal achievement. Furthermore, the research highlights the growing recognition among construction professionals of the importance of adopting methodologies that enhance their project management skills, demonstrating a pressing need for such approaches in the industry. Statistical validation confirms the appropriateness of applying the Hybrid Project Management Methodology in the construction sector, with a significant result of 3.903, indicating a high level of appropriateness.

Influence of Project Management Skills on Project Sustainability: A Case of Vision 2020 Umurenge Program in Burera District, Rwanda

The main purpose of this study Was to investigate the influence of project management skills on the project sustainability. This research was carried out to achieve the following specific objectives: To determine the influence of leadership skills on the sustainability of VUP in Burera district, To determine the influence of communication skills on the sustainability of VUP in Burera district, To assess the influence of problem-solving skills on the sustainability of VUP in Burera district. The study adopted the mix method research design. In data analysis the study used both descriptive (frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Pearson correlations and regression analysis). In order to select the sample size, the researcher adopted census sampling technique with 53 respondents. The data was corrected by means of questionnaire then after while analyzing data derived from questionnaire SPSS software was helpful as it helped us to have mean, standard deviation, frequency and other required items that helped us to analyze and interpret information so that the researcher can get reliable findings. The analysis revealed significant correlations between the project management skills and project sustainability outcomes: Leadership Skills: The correlation coefficient between leadership skills and project sustainability was 0.705** (p < 0.01), indicating a strong positive relationship. Higher leadership skills were associated with improved project sustainability outcomes. Communication Skills: The correlation coefficient between communication skills and project sustainability was 0.942** (p < 0.01), indicating a robust positive relationship. Greater communication skills were strongly linked to enhanced project sustainability outcomes. Problem-Solving Skills: The correlation coefficient between problem-solving skills and project sustainability was 0.683** (p < 0.01), affirming a significant positive relationship. Strong problem-solving skills were correlated with better project sustainability outcomes. These findings suggest that project managers possessing higher levels of leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills are better positioned to ensure project sustainability. The study contributes to both academia and practice by shedding light on the critical competencies that drive projects toward lasting positive impacts. Organizational decisions related to project management training and skill development can benefit from these insights, ultimately fostering more sustainable project outcomes. Based on the findings, the study recommends the government of Rwanda to invest in Leadership Development to empower project teams to navigate challenges, inspire motivation, and foster a shared vision, ultimately contributing to the sustainable success of the VUP program.

Improving project management skills by integrating a boardgame into educational paths

The increasing demand for practical project management skills makes crucial the adoption of innovative educational approaches. This study presents an experiment carefully designed to assess the effectiveness of an innovative project management educational boardgame named PMBoG. Two samples from a class of university students, enrolled in a bachelor's degree management course, participated in the experiment. One sample joined PMBoG sessions playing with and against other colleagues, the other sample did not participate in the sessions. After game sessions, both groups took a project management test to evaluate their capacity to make decisions or countermeasures based on classical project management issues. The test also included a questionnaire about game evaluations and peer feedback. Preliminary analysis using multiple statistical tests (t-test, ANOVA, Tuckey and Effect Size) indicates that participants in the experimental group demonstrated statistically significant higher performance compared to those who did not participate in the game sessions. The results suggest that the adoption of PMBoG positively impacts on increase of students' project management competencies. The study underscores the importance of incorporating experience-based and student-centered education tools in project management education, enhancing students' readiness for real-world project scenarios.