Traditional Project Research Articles

Teaching strategies for cultivating preschoolers’ sharing behavior based on gender roles in Chinese culture

<span lang="EN-US">Chinese boys and girls manifest distinct sharing behavior compared with children of other nationalities following different cross-national pathways. Undoubtedly, the Chinese traditional culture projects distinct expectations of female and male roles. Kindergarten teachers are responsible for delivering cultural norm knowledge to children and shaping their behaviors and beliefs. This study aims to provide an insight into how kindergarten teachers cultivate preschoolers’ sharing behavior considering the traditional gender-role culture in China. This study adopted the multiple case study approach and involved six participants working in a Chinese public provincial kindergarten in Hebei Province. The data collection techniques used comprise semi-structured interviews and document analysis. This study’s findings showed teachers develop both boys’ and girls’ sharing awareness through an other-oriented strategy. They also elicit sharing practices through benefits-oriented and habits-forming strategies. However, different treatments of boys and girls could be observed in some respects. These findings demonstrate that children’s sharing behaviors are shaped through the same strategy with a subtle gender bias. They further imply that the gender-role knowledge of Chinese kindergarten teachers impacts how they cultivate preschoolers’ sharing behavior.</span>

Enhancing acidification efficiency of vegetable wastes through heat shock pretreatment and initial pH regulation.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) technology is a practical approach to alleviate severe environmental issues caused by vegetable wastes (VWs). However, its primary product is methane-rich biogas converted from the precursors (mainly volatile fatty acids, VFAs) after long fermentation periods, making traditional AD projects of low economic profits. Intervening in the methanogenesis stage artificially to produce high value-added VFAs can shorten the reaction time of the AD process and significantly improve profits, posing a promising alternative for treating VWs. Given this, this study applied heat shock (HS) pretreatment to inoculum to prevent methane production during AD and systemically investigated the effects of HS pretreatment and initial pH regulation on VFA production from VWs. The results showed that appropriate HS pretreatment effectively inhibited methane generation but promoted VFA accumulation, and VFA production was further enhanced by adjusting the initial pH to 8.0 and 9.0. The highest total VFA concentration of 14,883 mg/L witha VFA yield of 496.1 mg/gVS, 26.98% higher than that of the untreated group, was achieved at an initial pH 8.0 with HS pretreatment of 80 °C for 1 h. Moreover, pH regulation influenced the metabolic pathway of VFA production from VWs during AD, as butyrate was the dominant product at an initial pH of 6.0, while the increased initial pH improved the acetate proportion.

Contemporary Issues in Project Management: The Burj Khalifa Project

This research delves into the pivotal analysis of diverse, globally dispersed project teams operating remotely, presenting a comprehensive examination of the evolving landscape of project management. In the contemporary era of remote work, project managers and team members face unprecedented challenges necessitating a reassessment of skill sets. The paradigm shift towards remote collaboration underscores the significance of understanding cultural nuances, communication technologies, and virtual team dynamics. Drawing on research by Dinsmore and Cabanis-Brewin (2019), the paper highlights the critical role of navigating cultural diversity and fostering effective virtual communication for project success in globally dispersed teams. Furthermore, the study explores the evolving requirements for project managers and team members, emphasizing skills beyond traditional project management. Referencing the work of Hidalgo (2019), the paper accentuates the importance of adaptability, digital literacy, and proficiency in collaborative technologies. As remote work becomes standard practice, project professionals must cultivate skills in virtual leadership, conflict resolution in virtual settings, and leveraging technology for seamless collaboration. This academic exploration underscores the imperative for project management professionals to continually develop a diverse skill set aligned with the demands of contemporary, globally dispersed project teams operating in remote environments.

INNOVATION IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT: LESSONS LEARNED FROM SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES

Ruslan Sayed
 E-mail: ruslan.Sayed@gmail.com
 Sc in Management GfK Company Riyadh
 Saudi Arabia
 https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3854-394X
 
 Abstract: In the ever-evolving landscape of project management, the imperative to innovate stands as a cornerstone for organizations seeking sustained success and competitive advantage. This research presents a comprehensive exploration into the intricacies of innovation within project management frameworks, focusing on deriving lessons from successful business development initiatives spanning diverse industries and regions. By unraveling the multifaceted dynamics that underpin these successes, the study transcends traditional project management paradigms.
 The research objectives encompass a nuanced analysis of sector-specific innovation drivers, the impact of cross-functional collaboration, the efficacy of risk management strategies, quantification of financial outcomes and temporal efficiency, and a deep understanding of stakeholder satisfaction. Through a meticulous examination of initiatives in technology, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and South America, the study provides actionable insights for organizations navigating the unique challenges of their respective industries.
 Practically, this research offers organizations a roadmap for tailoring project management strategies to industry-specific demands. It emphasizes cross-functional collaboration as a transformative catalyst for innovation and advocates for adaptive risk management strategies in dynamic project environments. Quantifiable benchmarks for financial success and temporal efficiency, coupled with an exploration of qualitative dimensions in stakeholder satisfaction, provide a holistic framework for project evaluation and optimization.
 Theoretical contributions include challenging existing frameworks with sector-specific analyses, enriching the understanding of collaboration dynamics, advocating for adaptive risk management, and contributing to the discourse on the symbiotic relationship between financial success and project timelines. Future research possibilities include longitudinal studies, in-depth examinations of collaborative tools, and investigations into industry-specific innovation ecosystems. This research not only illuminates the current state of project management excellence but also guides future strategies and contributes substantively to the ongoing discourse on organizational innovation

Metaheuristics for the bi-objective resource-constrained project scheduling problem with time-dependent resource costs: An experimental comparison

The bi-objective resource-constrained project scheduling problem with time-dependent resource costs was recently introduced and consists of scheduling a set of activities subject to precedence and resource constraints, minimizing the makespan and the total cost for resource usage. Precisely, costs are determined by the resource being considered together with the time it is used. Although this generalization of the traditional resource-constrained project scheduling problem is rather recent, it has garnered substantial interest as it succeeds in meeting a wide range of real-world demands. In such a multi-objective context, solving the aforementioned problem poses a challenge, as both objectives conflict with each other, giving rise to a set of trade-off optimal solutions, commonly known as the Pareto front (PF). Given that many medium or large-sized instances of this problem cannot be solved by exact methods, the development of metaheuristics to find the PF is necessary. So far, only one metaheuristic had been developed to solve this problem. In this work we have implemented six additional multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs), representing different paradigms, and subsequently, an exhaustive comparison of their performance has been carried out. In particular, all the compared MOEAs share the same encoding and main operators, focusing the comparison on the general algorithm framework rather than specific versions. Metaheuristic algorithms typically yield an approximation of the optimal PF, prompting the question of how to assess the quality of the obtained approximations. To this end, a computational and statistically supported study is conducted, choosing a benchmark of bi-criteria resource-constrained project scheduling problems and applying a set of performance measures to the solution sets obtained by each methodology. The results show that there are significant differences among the performance of the metaheuristics evaluated.

Alienation and authenticity in intangible cultural heritage tourism

Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) has the potential to enhance tourism supply and activate tourism resources. This study constructs an alienation and host authenticity model to analyze the attitudes of ICH performers towards support for tourism. Specifically, it investigates the views of giant puppet show performers at the Mount E’mei Scenic Area in China, which is a nationally recognized and first-selected representative traditional drama project of ICH. By employing an asymmetric configuration modeling approach within qualitative comparative analysis, the study identifies six dimensions of ICH performers’ alienation (powerlessness, meaninglessness, normlessness, isolation, self-estrangement, and cultural alienation) and three aspects of their host authenticity (personal value, interpersonal value, and ICH value). Based on these findings, the study confirms the impact of ICH performers’ alienation, host authenticity, and demographic characteristics on their support for tourism. This understanding is crucial for the development, growth, and continuity of a tourist destination. Specifically, this study contributes to a new comprehension of the combined model of alienation and host authenticity, as well as the support for tourism by a host community as represented by ICH performers, thereby making a significant contribution to the understanding of the impact of ICH.

Application analysis and evaluation of BIM in engineering design and construction stages

With the development of modern engineering technology, more attention is paid to the aid of digitization and information in the process of engineering project design and construction. Building Information Model (BIM) realizes the transformation from traditional building project to modern building project. At the same time, it also greatly promotes the digital development of construction projects. BIM technology as a modern information technology in the application of construction engineering, has a variety of benefits. For example, it can improve the quality of projects. In addition, the application of BIM technology in the whole process of construction projects can reduce costs and improve efficiency. However, there are many risks associated with using BIM in construction projects. This paper analyzes the advantages of BIM technology in visualization and coordination, and the application of BIM in design, construction, management and other aspects. Then, the risks and countermeasures in BIM application are discussed. The research results are of great significance to improve the informatization level of construction projects.

Organizing projects with blockchain through a decentralized autonomous organization

Blockchain and its related concept of decentral autonomous organization (DAO) is starting to influence project management. But how might project management supported by blockchain technology look like? And how would such a new form change and affect traditional project management? Not many concepts have been designed or even implemented yet. We chose an experimental framework to answer the first aspects of these questions. We developed a Decentralized Autonomous Project Organization (DAPO) and conducted an experiment to study the impact of blockchain on traditional project management. We show that such a blockchain-based approach can support the management of simple projects. Further, a fair and clear incentive scheme seems crucial and influences the way team members engage in the work. Also, more decentralized project management increases the importance of social aspects-related project management principles such as teamwork, self-organization, and cultural aspects, while principles related to budget, objectives, and schedule remain unchanged.

Ride the wind or go nuclear? A private investment analysis

This study presents a comprehensive investment analysis framework comparing onshore and offshore wind projects with traditional and modular nuclear projects. We assess investment potential excluding and including government financial support, akin to the system implemented in France. Results demonstrate that onshore wind projects rank as the most appealing investment option without government support, followed by offshore wind projects. In specific circumstances, modular nuclear projects prove more attractive based on specific metrics. Surprisingly, French government support tilts the scales, favoring offshore wind projects over onshore wind projects. To achieve investment parity with the most attractive wind project, modular nuclear power plants must receive a feed-in premium similar to that offered to offshore wind projects, leveraging their advantage of shorter construction times over wind projects.

Applying building information modelling from a project lifecycle perspective

Currently, the perspective on the traditional project life cycle and legal regulations governing the sequence of construction investment implementation do not explicitly mention operation and maintenance. Through examining the project life cycle and regulations regarding the sequence of construction investment implementation, this study emphasizes the imperative of applying building information modelling (BIM). Furthermore, the study provides insightful recommendations aimed at regulations, encompassing the sequence of construction investment implementation and the establishment of standardized cost estimation guidelines for construction works within investment projects.

Applying building information modelling from a project lifecycle perspective

Currently, the perspective on the traditional project life cycle and legal regulations governing the sequence of construction investment implementation do not explicitly mention operation and maintenance. Through examining the project life cycle and regulations regarding the sequence of construction investment implementation, this study emphasizes the imperative of applying building information modelling (BIM). Furthermore, the study provides insightful recommendations aimed at regulations, encompassing the sequence of construction investment implementation and the establishment of standardized cost estimation guidelines for construction works within investment projects.

Problems of selection and usage of innovative tools for international projects management in the context of foreign economic relations expanding

Introduction. Today, international project management trends are reflected in the increasing importance and significance of resource and process planning, as a well-thought-out and well-founded plan that can take into account all potential risks and challenges makes it possible to respond to them in a timely manner in the process of implementing a business idea. The most important factors that influence the choice of innovative management tools by the management of international projects are their understanding of the functionality of this tool, the appropriateness of its application in the project, and the cost of such an innovation. Having studied the works of scientists, it can be argued that such innovative tools are currently reengineering, benchmarking, outsourcing, crowdsourcing and the ICO or initial coin offering technology The purpose of the paper is to highlight the problems of selection and usage of innovative tools for international projects management at company in the context of foreign economic relations expanding and development of recommendations for their solution. Results. As a result of the research, the current problems of the selection and use of innovative international project management tools of company in the conditions of the expansion of foreign economic relations were identified, such as traditional international project management tools characterized by low efficiency in the conditions of the expansion of foreign economic relations and the dependence of financing on international projects from one investor narrows the possibilities of using innovative international project management tools in the conditions of expanding foreign economic relations. As a result of the study, recommended ways to solve problems were given, namely, the use of a crowdsourcing platform to search for and analyze information and technologies for the implementation of international projects of company and the implementation of ICO technology to attract investors to finance international projects. Conclusion. The use of innovative management tools will help the company better implement its project strategy, but too few tools or their incorrect selection, which do not correspond to the expected result of the implementation of the business idea, can negatively affect the company's activities. The involvement of additional tools and their combination with each other allow to analyze projects in more detail and to use less risky solutions by the management of the enterprise. Implementation of these tools allows the company to save basic resources, such as time and money, and effectively implement international projects.

Framework for Project Sustainability for Power Installations Using Business Intelligence Approach: A Systematic Literature Review

The growing concerns about environmental sustainability and energy conservation have led to increased interest in optimizing electricity consumption and billing processes in various projects. This research article presents a comprehensive study on the development and application of Business Intelligence (BI) frameworks for enhancing project sustainability through data-driven energy management. Through the integration of BI tools and techniques, this research investigates the analysis of electricity consumption patterns, billing accuracy, and cost-effectiveness in diverse project contexts. The article emphasizes the significance of data preprocessing, statistical analysis, and predictive modelling in uncovering valuable insights to support informed decision-making. Additionally, the review examines the concept of project sustaibility, emphasizing its significance in achieving desired outcomes, meeting stakeholder expectations, and ensuring the project’s viability in an ever-changing environment. Traditional project management approaches often fail to adequately address sustainability concerns, leading to project failures or limited long-term impact. Hence, the review highlights the growing importance of leveraging BI-driven frameworks to enhance project sustainability in various sectors, including in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) domain. The Systematic literature review (SLR) method was used involving the scooping of 230 articles from over 8 global academic databases. With the use of exclusion criteria, only 61 articles were used in the study. The analysis of the articles shows that 57% were journal articles, 39% were conference proceedings, 2% were thesis/dissertations and 2% were generic. Within the scope of this literature review, key terms and keywords were identified to provide insights into the development of a novel BI-driven framework for project sustainability. Consequently, future research directions are identified to further explore the integration of renewable energy sources, AI and machine learning applications, and behaviour-based energy management strategies within BI frameworks for sustainable project outcomes. This review lays the foundation for future research endeavours in developing innovative BI-driven frameworks that foster sustainable practices and contribute to a greener and more resilient future across diverse industries and projects.

Pengaruh Kearifan Lokal dalam Penilaian Risiko Konstruksi

One of the obstacles to construction work in Papua is delays in implementation due to obstruction byindigenous communities at the project site. Understanding the implementation of construction work in atraditional area, especially those related to local wisdom, is one of the risk knowledge which is the first step inrisk conceptualization and is the aim of this research. A qualitative approach, which will elaborate on socialand cultural meanings to explain one of the phenomena that occurs in the world of construction in Papua, anddescriptive methods, are used in analyzing research data. The characteristics of the traditional territory wherethe project location is located also influence the construction risk value of a project. Based on the topographiccharacteristics of the region, there are four large groups of Papuan indigenous people, so there are differencesin the construction risk values faced according to the socio-cultural characteristics of each traditionalcommunity. Urban areas have a high construction risk and rural areas have a lower risk. The risk value ofconstruction projects in Papua is also influenced by the type of construction project which will be related tothe required land pattern.

Instructor as Subject: An Alternative to the Self-Management Project.

Many psychology programs include a course on learning and behavior theories, and a frequent assignment used in these courses is a self-management project, where students select a behavior for change, develop strategies to change the behavior, and self-monitor the behavior across baseline and treatment conditions. This assignment has several benefits, such as effective behavior change; however, data indicate students are often dishonest about their implementation of strategies and behavioral outcomes, and the generalization of these experiences to further applications of behavior change, such as changing others' behavior, has not been evaluated. The purpose of the current project was to develop and evaluate an alternative to the self-management project. This article describes the planning, implementation, and outcomes over two iterations of an assignment where students engaged with behavior change strategies, but with the instructor as the subject rather than the self. A comparison is made to traditional self-management projects. Data indicate students enjoyed both projects and that both projects resulted in desired behavior change. Preliminary evidence suggests the alternative project is as effective as the self-management project at producing desired behavior change. Students reported similar preferences but no differences in data falsification across projects.

Enhancing US Software Companies' Competitive Edge with Agile Project Management

The primary purpose of this study was to examine how the adoption of Agile Project Management practices can help US-based software companies gain a competitive advantage in the rapidly evolving global marketplace. With ever-increasing customer demands and changing technology landscapes, it was crucial to assess whether agile methodologies could effectively address these challenges. The software industry in the USA faced challenges related to project delays, cost overruns, and difficulties in responding to changing customer requirements. Traditional project management approaches often proved inadequate in such dynamic environments. The study aimed to determine whether Agile Project Management could mitigate these issues and improve competitiveness. The research employed a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data were collected through surveys distributed to software companies implementing agile practices. Qualitative insights were gathered through in-depth interviews with industry experts. Data analysis involved statistical techniques for quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative data. The findings revealed that Agile Project Management significantly improved software development processes. Agile adoption also fostered better collaboration among cross-functional teams. Moreover, Agile practices positively impacted software quality and customer satisfaction, ultimately contributing to a competitive edge. Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that Agile Project Management has a substantial positive impact on the competitiveness of US-based software companies. To enhance competitiveness, it is recommended that US software companies consider the adoption of Agile Project Management practices. Additionally, organizations should invest in training and cultural changes to facilitate a smooth transition to agile methodologies. Continuous improvement and alignment with agile principles are essential for sustained competitiveness. Keywords. Agile Project Management, Software Development, Competitiveness, Customer-Centric, US Software Companies

Optimization of semi-continuous dry anaerobic digestion process and biogas yield of dry yellow corn straw: Based on “gradient anaerobic digestion reactor”

In China, the problem of low biogas yield of traditional biogas projects has become increasingly prominent. This study investigated the effects of different hydraulic retention times (HRTs) on the biogas production efficiency and microbial community under pilot conditions. The results show that the “Gradient anaerobic digestion reactor” can stably carry out semi-continuous dry anaerobic digestion and improve biogas yield. The highest volatile solids (VS) biogas yield (413.73 L/kg VS and 221.61 L CH4/kg VS) and VS degradation rate (48.41%) were observed at an HRT of 25 days. When the HRT was 15 days, the volumetric biogas yield was the highest (2.73 L/L/d, 1.43 L CH4/L/d), but the VS biogas yield and degradation rate were significantly decreased. Microbial analysis showed that HRT significantly affected microbial community. It provides basic data support for the development of a new anaerobic digestion process and the practical application of the straw biogas project in China.

Artificial Intelligence in Project Management & Its Future

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a disruptive force, transforming industries and revolutionizing business processes. Among the domains significantly impacted, project management holds immense potential for transformation. AI’s integration promises intelligent automation, data-driven decision-making, and predictive capabilities, addressing challenges in traditional project management methodologies. Successful AI implementations have revolutionized project management, improving forecasting, resource allocation, and risk assessment. Despite the benefits, challenges hinder AI adoption, including data quality, investment uncertainties, workforce readiness, and change management. However, AI’s potential to address gaps in project management is substantial, enabling data-driven decisions, real-time monitoring, resource optimization, and enhanced agility. This research examines AI’s evolution, successful implementations, challenges, and potential implications, providing insights for effective AI integration in project management. Key Takeaways: • Project management is one domain that stands out as highly impacted by artificial intelligence, offering immense potential for transformation through AI integration. • AI-driven solutions in project management promise intelligent automation, data-driven decision-making, and enhanced predictive capabilities, addressing traditional methodological limitations. • Despite challenges, AI holds substantial potential to address existing gaps in project management practices.

Motivation in Project Management: Systematic Review of the Literature

Motivation plays a critical role in project management as it affects team performance, project success, and organizational outcomes. The purpose of the review: to study the impact of motivation on the effectiveness of the project, to determine the main factors influencing the motivation in project management and the types of motivation of the project team, as well as methods for managing motivation in project activities. The review covered 44 articles published between January 2019 and February 2023 in the Scopus database, Web of Science and Google Scholar. Articles were selected based on their relevance to the topic and analyzed through a predetermined set of criteria. The results obtained show that project management motivation is a complex and multifaceted process that includes various levels of analysis, including individual, team and organizational factors. Project managers should focus on creating a motivating environment for team members to increase project success. Moreover, intrinsic motivation is a better predictor of task performance than extrinsic motivation. The conducted systematic review contributes to the understanding of motivation in project management and provides a basis for further research on this topic. The results of this review have important implications for project managers, who can use this knowledge to motivate team members and improve project success. Moreover, more research is needed on the motivation behind traditional and agile project teams.

Theoretical Fundamentals of Scaled Business Agility and Project Portfolio Management at Automotive Manufacturers

This study has the aim to explain the theoretical fundamentals of scaled agile business structures and of the traditional project portfolio management before laying out the discrepancies of agility with project portfolio management at large enterprises such as automotive manufacturers.
 For the exploration of the scarcely addressed topic of agility at portfolio level, current journals were mainly consulted. Further, for the theoretical exposition of project portfolio management, current journals and textbooks about business strategies and project management were used as well as journals for information about portfolio management.
 As a result of this paper, it was found that the difference of agile delivery to the traditional organization is the focus on small work packages instead of detailed long -term planning. When focusing on smaller work packages, portfolio planning becomes more iterative and bottom-up ideas have a higher impact on program level. 
 For other industries then automotive manufacturers, other company sizes, or even other automotive manufacturers, which are built from the ground up to be more agile, the findings of this paper are not relevant.