International Journal of Project Organisation and Management (12 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• A Framework for Drivers of Stakeholder Mis-Management in Construction Projects  
  by Lahiru Kushan Gunawardena, Amir Hossein Ghapanchi 
  Abstract: This paper discusses stakeholder mismanagement in construction projects and identifies the factors that lead to it. This empirical study adopts a secondary data analysis method. Six main themes were identified for stakeholder mismanagement, namely: poor communication and stakeholder relationships, unethical practices and corruption, lack of skills and experience, regulatory issues and complexity, poor organisational and project practices, and inadequate implementation of project management processes. The qualitative analysis undertaken shows that unethical practices and corruption play a significant role in stakeholder mismanagement, and they have ripple effects on many aspects within projects. The drivers found herein will allow practitioners to identify stakeholder mismanagement early in the project and maintain project integrity.
  Keywords: project management; stakeholder management; construction project; stakeholder mismanagement.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2024.10056278
   
  
• Managing Stakeholder Engagement in Australian Not-for-Profit Projects: Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic  
  by Stephanie Lim, Samer Skaik 
  Abstract: This study aims to identify and prioritise the critical success factors (CSFs) that enable stakeholder engagement in Australian not-for-profit (NFP) projects and investigate the extent to which COVID-19 has impacted these CSFs. A comprehensive literature review of relevant journal articles identified eight factors crucial for stakeholder engagement in NFP projects. To obtain empirical data, a questionnaire survey was administered to NFP project practitioners across Australia. The results of the study indicate a shared perception among different activity groups regarding the significance of the identified CSFs. The study also reveals that the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted stakeholder engagement in NFP projects. The implications of these findings suggest that NFP projects in Australia should prioritise effective communication, stakeholder identification and understanding, and clear project objectives to overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic and enable successful stakeholder engagement.
  Keywords: Australia; COVID-19; critical success factors; CSFs; not-for-profit; NFP; stakeholder engagement.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2024.10060715
   
  
• Competency Diagnosis Models according to Project Typology  
  by Nelson Rosamilha, Luciano Ferreira Da Silva, Renato Penha 
  Abstract: In response to the competitive and dynamic business landscape, organisations must enhance their activities by developing competencies, a critical success factor in project management. This article proposes a competency diagnosis model for project professionals based on project typology, drawing insights from academic and practitioner sources. The exploratory descriptive study comprises three stages: 1) a systematic literature review of 18 articles from Scopus and Web of Sciences; 2) mapping of grey literature; 3) analysis of 57 patents from Espacenet. The model facilitates competency diagnosis, comparison, and evaluation within project typologies, enabling organisations to identify gaps and select professionals aligned with project requirements. This contribution supports universities in adapting educational programs to meet competency demands for both the workforce and research pursuits.
  Keywords: competency; project professional; projects; project management; competency diagnosis; project typology.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2024.10061352
   
  
• Self-managed project teams consist of three key factors that influence their effectiveness: trust, understanding, and power  
  by Simon Krause, Hana Stojanova, Viktoria Behrens, Johannes Hangl 
  Abstract: This paper explores the factors that impact trust, understanding, and power in self-managed teams. It utilises 15 expert interviews to confirm that these three factors are the primary influencing factors in self-managed teams and that there are no other factors. The study found that trust has the most substantial influence at 82.67%, followed by power at 81.33% and understanding at 80.67%. The interviewees' other influencing factors could be categorised under these three factors. Experts were selected based on their experience in the IT industry and with self-managed project teams. As a result, the study's findings can be generalised to the IT industry. The paper aims to provide insight into how these factors can be developed and enhanced to support self-managed teams.
  Keywords: self-management; self-managed project teams; influence factors; trust; understanding; power; expert interviews.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2024.10063265
   
  
• Critical Factors and Intention to use Public Private Partnership in Public Projects in Ghana: The Mediating Role of Institutional Quality  
  by Agyapong Daniel, Osman Light, Francis Gyesaw 
  Abstract: The paper examines the mediating role of institutional quality in the relationship between the critical factors and the intention to use PPP in public projects in Ghana. The paper employed a quantitative approach and an explanatory design. Data was collected from a sample of 186 managerial staff among MMDAs in Ghana. Data was processed using SPSS (version 25) and SmartPLS. The analytical tool was partial least squares structural equation modelling. The paper found that financial and non-financial factors have a significant positive effect on the intention to use PPP in public projects in Ghana. The paper found that institutional quality partially mediates the relationship between financial factors and the intention to use PPP in public projects but does not mediate the relationship between non-financial factors and the intention to use PPP in public projects. The paper found that institutional quality partially mediates the relationship between financial factors and intention to use PPP in public projects, but did not mediate in the relationship between non-financial factors and intention to use PPP in public projects. Policymakers can promote the use of PPPs by prioritising financial and non-finance factors and promoting institutional quality.
  Keywords: critical factors public private partnership institutional quality intention to use.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2025.10064250
   
  
• Cross-functional Integration Case Study from Project Management Office: Impacts, Controversies and Inhibitors  
  by Felipe Ribeiro, Márcio Lopes Pimenta, Ederson Piato, Daniel Jugend, Adilson Da Silva Mello, Per Hilletofth, Olli-Pekka Hilmola 
  Abstract: This research concerns how cross-functional integration can support a project management office (PMO) in achieving its goals in the execution of investment projects. A case study was accomplished in a large state-owned Brazilian enterprise that produces and transmits electric power. The results showed several factors that generate cross-functional integration, such as communication and group spirit support. These factors can generate the following impacts: enhanced control over process development; effectiveness of processes/projects; and standardisation of processes. Research also conceptualised the role of integration inhibitors that end up negatively influencing the joint performance of functional areas, decreasing the support that cross-function integration provides for the operation of a PMO. Moreover, another concept of cross-functional integration that emerged from the case is related to controversies that are integration initiatives generating positive results in parts of the process, but generate dysfunctions in other hierarchical levels or stages of the process.
  Keywords: integration; project management office; PMO; integration failures; cross-functional teams.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2025.10065327
   
  
• A Critique of Project Management Research  
  by Bijan Jamshid-Nejad 
  Abstract: Project Management studies are predominantly conducted by inductive reasoning based on a positivist philosophy. This paper is an organized attempt to shed light on the hidden weaknesses of project management research. The weaknesses are categorized in three categories: research design, definitions and measurements, and analysis. The key weaknesses discussed in this paper include: lack of a general underlying theory, issues with positivism and statistical modeling, and dearth of explanatory models. To address these weaknesses, mixed-method research based on a critical realist philosophy is suggested. As an example, the effects of environmental complexity on projects were presented. This example demonstrates how a mixed-method approach, grounded in critical realism, can provide deeper insights and a more comprehensive understanding of the relationships between environmental factors and project performance. By embracing a critical realist perspective and employing mixed-method research, project management scholars can pave the way for more contextually-relevant and explanatory studies in this multifaceted field.
  Keywords: Project Management; Research philosophy; Critical Realism; Mixed-method Research Methodology.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2025.10065345
   
  
• Project Management Methods against Failure Factors in Complex Infrastructure Projects: The Netherlands View  
  by Cheng Qi Wang, Mahak Sharma 
  Abstract: The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between effective project management approaches and the causes of project failure in the infrastructure sector. Therefore, existing research regarding the failure factors and project management in the infrastructure are analysed. A systematic literature review is conducted, followed by detailed interviews. Based on 49 articles that were extracted using quality assessment criteria, the authors identified a detailed list of factors that barricades the success of infrastructure projects in the Netherlands. With the help of seven interviews, authors found that the main factors leading to project failure are scope changes, coordination and communication problems, and poor project structure and scheduling problems. Additionally, we also identified frequently used project management approaches by project managers. Based on this information, a matrix is established that shows which causes can be minimised using a specific project management approach. These findings will help project managers in the infrastructure industry select the most suitable project management approach that aligns with their needs.
  Keywords: project management; RACI framework; the Netherlands; infrastructure projects; systematic literature review; SLR.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2025.10066140
   
  
• Managing Critical Factors and Criteria Success in Projects: a Systematic Literature Review  
  by Lincoln Sposito, Luciano F. Da Silva 
  Abstract: The project's success has been discussed and evaluated for a long time, however, despite these efforts there is still no consensus regarding its definition. In this context, this article aims to identify how critical factors and success criteria can be managed within different project contexts. To this end, a qualitative approach was adopted based on a systematic literature review. After collecting and processing data, 135 articles were considered to carry out for a deep analysis. As a cut-off criterion, only quantitative studies were considered, published in specialised project management journals, which used a project success scale. From this perspective, it was possible to group factors and criteria that influence success in projects for different organisations. As result, this article classifies the criteria and success factors identified by context and type of project. The findings allow a better understanding of how to improve success in a project, taking account the context.
  Keywords: project success; success criteria; critical success factors; project context.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2025.10066555
   
  
• Exploring Project Manager Commitment using Machine Learning on Fuzzy Big Data  
  by Kenneth David Strang, Narasimha Rao Vajjhala 
  Abstract: This study addresses two critical organisational challenges: retaining human talent and reducing high project failure rates. Our approach diverges from traditional methods by employing machine learning (ML) to analyse retrospective big data. This study's innovation lies in utilising secondary, unstructured data to derive predictive factors of a project manager's (PM) commitment, moving away from the speculative nature and limited impact of survey-based perceptions. We developed a new conceptual framework that focuses on actual behaviour rather than espoused theories to identify fuzzy predictors of organisational commitment. Based on three distinct ML models, our findings reveal that one model showed a notable 25% effect size, highlighting various features connected to a PM's tenure and organisational commitment. These insights have broad implications, offering valuable global knowledge for stakeholders in projects and programs. This study underscores the significance of non-traditional data sources in understanding and predicting critical human resource metrics, opening new avenues for organisational research and decision-making.
  Keywords: project management; big data analysis; talent retention; project failure rates; predictive modelling; unstructured data; behavioural analysis.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2025.10066556
   
  
• Influences of Project Management Tools and Techniques on the Success of Information Systems Projects  
  by João Varajão, Sérgio Guerreiro, Rui Pedro Marques, Carlos Pinto 
  Abstract: This article studies the influence of project management (PM) tools and techniques on the success of information systems (IS) projects, addressing a gap in the literature. An international survey of IS professionals was carried out to collect data. The data analysis uses descriptive and inferential statistics, showing that higher success levels are associated with the use of several project management tools and techniques. Of the tools and techniques considered, it was found that about 64% of them influence the overall success of IS projects. On the contrary, nearly 25% do not directly influence any success perspective (scope, time, and cost). The findings contribute to theory and practice by empirically showing that the use of a rich set of PM tools and techniques positively influences IS project success.
  Keywords: information systems; project management; PM; project success; techniques; tools; success.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2025.10066844
   
  
• Evaluating Methodologies-in-Action: A Cognitive Approach  
  by John Drake, Ravi Paul 
  Abstract: Organisations' Information Systems Development Methodologies (ISDM) vary in how they implement best practices, often creating their own methodology-in-action. These variations in ISDM practices sometimes improve the decision making throughout the process and sometimes hinder the decision making. However, we lack clarity on how to evaluate methodologies-in-action based on the cognitive bias or lack thereof, in the embedded practices. Building off of theory in ISDM debiasing and pedagogical debiasing, we propose an evaluative technique that analyses the practices of a methodologies-in-action at the project level. Proof of concept that the technique works is provided in a case study within a methodology-in-action at a Fortune 500 firm.
  Keywords: information systems development; methodology-in-action; evaluation; bias; debias; case study; scrum.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2024.10067830