Project management is as much art as it is science. Competence of project managers is
receiving increasing interest as more organisations accept that project performance has an
impact on organisational performance. Scholars and practitioners of project management
tend to agree that while the technical aspects of project management are important, it is the
behavioural competencies, or soft skills, of project managers that are required for success ?
now and in the future. This study set out to explore the expected evolution of the
behavioural skills and competencies of the project manager over the next decade.
Secondary objectives of the study were to establish if perceptions differ amongst the
respective demographic groups, the importance of leadership skills and how identified future
behavioural competencies are addressed in current job profiles for project managers.
The research study began in the literature where projects and project management was
introduced followed by an exploration of some of the trends and perceptions expected to
impact on project management in the future. Projects of the future will be strongly influenced
by technology with complexity and uncertainty as common themes. Leadership and
flexibility will be key for project managers to survive in such a dynamic, hyper–connected
environment.
A thorough literature study was conducted into the behavioural competencies of project
managers especially with respect to the most widely used project management bodies of
knowledge. The concept of competency was defined and a number of models of
competency were presented. Soft skills relating to project managers were discussed
including emotional intelligence which has received much attention recently. A comparison
was made of the behavioural competencies of project managers as addressed in the IPMA
International Competence Baseline 3.0, the APM Body of Knowledge and the PMI Body of
knowledge. Concluding the literature study, the fifteen behavioural competencies from the
IPMA International Competence Baseline were discussed drawing on insight from the
literature.
An empirical study was completed with the aid of a new questionnaire designed using the
behavioural competencies contained in the IPMA International Competence Baseline 3.0 as
constructs. The questionnaire survey explored the perceptions of members in a South
African project management organisation regarding the evolution of the importance given to
the identified behavioural competencies. Analysis of the responses showed the
questionnaire to be reliable and valid. Respondents indicated that they expect the following
project manager behavioural constructs to grow in importance in the future: Efficiency,
Leadership, Creativity, Openness and Engagement and Motivation. Respondents
expect the following behavioural constructs to be less important in the future: Ethics, Values
Appreciation, Reliability, Conflict and Crisis and Self–control.
Structured interviews conducted to validate the survey results highlighted only that
Leadership is an area that is expected to take on more importance for project managers in
future. The interviews produced similar expectations to the literature regarding the future
challenges for project management regarding complexity, uncertainty and the rate of
change.
A review of Project Manager job profiles yielded that generally behavioural competencies for
project managers are not comprehensively addressed with more attention required and to
utilise research as a basis. Proficiency requirements and assessment of proficiencies
remains a major challenge that must be addressed by organisations in future.
Conclusions regarding the findings of the research study were presented and
recommendations for organisations and interested parties given. The research study was
evaluated opposite the primary and secondary objectives with the conclusion that both were
achieved. Finally, recommendations for further research into the behavioural competencies
and related topics were proposed. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/7279 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Semple, Keven John |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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