The growing penetration of projects as a way of organising work in many organisations has created a shortcoming between what companies expect in terms of project delivery and the way in which their project managers execute projects. The constantly changing demands have created a need for project managers to manage the people in their projects more effectively to meet these expectations. A review of the general and project management literature has revealed that a shortcoming exists and the nature of this shortcoming. What used to be appropriate skills in working with people are no longer adequate now that working practices are changing in response to increases in pressures to achieve better results. This thesis has developed a competence and behaviour model for skills in working with people for project managers that provides the means to fill the shortcoming.
The exploration to develop this model has taken place mainly through interviews with project managers from the community of practice in United Kingdom organisations, supplemented by the participatory research observations of the researcher as a practising project management professional. The research focus was on the impact humans make in the activities of project management, within a socially constructed world. The research considered competences and behaviours of skills in working with people for project managers and, therefore, had to deal with the meaning that people put on their observations. As a consequence, their descriptions have been collected, analysed and interpreted by applying a constructivist interpretivist approach within a phenomenological research paradigm. The results from this study are of interest to both academics and the community of practice in project management. The new competence and behaviour model of skills in working with people for project managers can be incorporated in future editions of bodies of knowledge such as those promoted by the PMI, APM or IPMA, and other people competence models in the area of general management.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
- 1.1 Context of this Research
- 1.2 The Purpose of the Research and its Aims and Objectives
- 1.3 The Research Process
- 1.4 The Research Scope
- CHAPTER 2: FRAMEWORK FOR THESIS
- 2.1 Introduction
- 2.2 Definitions of Competence, Competency, Competencies, Attitudes and Behaviours
- 2.3 Does a Change in Attitude lead to a Change in Behaviour?
- 2.4 Overview of APM BOK (2000, 2006) Competence Model 1
- 2.5 Other Frameworks
- 2.6 Review of Links: APM (2000, 2006), IPMA (1999), PMI (2004) and Crawford (2000)
- CHAPTER 3: LITERATURE REVIEWS
- 3.1 Introduction
- 3.2 The Nature of a General and Project Management Literature Review
- 3.3 Management Books and Journals Pre-1990
- 3.4 Project Management Books and Journals Pre-1990
- 3.5 Other Related Research Contributions
- 3.6 Conclusions
- CHAPTER 4: METHODOLOGY AND RESEARCH DESIGN
- 4.1 Introduction
- 4.2 The Research Paradigms of Positivism and Phenomenology
- 4.3 The Ontological and Epistemological Positions of the Researcher
- 4.4 Research Questions
- 4.5 Research Design
- 4.6 Research Methods
- 4.7 Conclusions
- CHAPTER 5: INTERVIEWS
- 5.1 Introduction
- 5.2 Critical Review of Data from Interviews
- 5.3 Conclusions from Interviews and Competence and Behaviour Model 3
- CHAPTER 6: FOCUS GROUP
- 6.1 Introduction
- 6.2 Critical Review of Data from Focus Group Meeting
- 6.3 Focus Group Conclusions and Triangulation of Data (Model 4)
- CHAPTER 7: CONFIRMATION OF COMPETENCE AND BEHAVIOUR MODEL 5
- 7.1 Introduction
- 7.2 Results of Critical Review of Model 4 with Community of Practice
- 7.3 Conclusions from Critical Review Meeting (Model 5)
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This thesis aims to address a gap between expectations of project delivery and the execution practices of project managers, focusing on improving their people management skills. It seeks to develop a new competence and behavior model for project managers' skills in working with people. The research utilizes a constructivist interpretivist approach within a phenomenological research paradigm, drawing on interviews and focus groups with UK-based project managers.
- Development of a competence and behavior model for project managers' people skills.
- Exploration of the gap between project management expectations and practice.
- Analysis of the impact of human factors on project management activities.
- Application of a constructivist interpretivist research approach.
- Contribution to existing project management bodies of knowledge.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION: This chapter sets the stage for the research by outlining the context of the study, which focuses on the increasing reliance on projects as a method of organizing work and the resulting need for project managers to improve their people-management skills. It then clearly defines the research's purpose, aims, objectives, scope and process, providing a roadmap for the entire thesis. The introduction emphasizes the evolving nature of project management and the inadequacy of traditional skills in navigating modern work pressures, highlighting the need for a more effective approach to managing people within projects.
CHAPTER 2: FRAMEWORK FOR THESIS: This chapter establishes the theoretical foundation for the research by defining key concepts such as competence, competency, and behavior. It explores the relationship between attitudes and behaviors and provides an overview of existing competence models in project management, particularly the APM Body of Knowledge. The chapter critically examines these frameworks, comparing and contrasting them to identify gaps and inform the development of the new model proposed in the thesis. This lays a solid groundwork for the subsequent methodological and empirical chapters.
CHAPTER 3: LITERATURE REVIEWS: This chapter presents a comprehensive review of the relevant literature in general management and project management, spanning pre-1990 and post-1990 publications. It systematically analyzes books and journals, examining the evolution of thought and practice related to people management within project contexts. The review identifies existing knowledge and highlights areas where further research is needed, paving the way for the development of a novel competence and behavior model to address the identified shortfalls. The chapter provides a thorough contextualization of the research problem within the broader field of management studies.
CHAPTER 4: METHODOLOGY AND RESEARCH DESIGN: This chapter details the research methodology, justifying the choice of a constructivist interpretivist approach within a phenomenological paradigm. It clearly articulates the research questions driving the study and outlines the specific research design and methods employed, including interviews and focus groups. The chapter provides a strong rationale for the chosen approach, explaining how it aligns with the research objectives and the nature of the research problem. This methodological transparency allows readers to assess the rigor and validity of the findings.
CHAPTER 5: INTERVIEWS: This chapter presents the findings from the interviews conducted with project managers. It provides a critical review of the interview data, analyzing the responses to identify key themes and patterns related to competencies and behaviors in people management. The chapter culminates in the development of a preliminary competence and behavior model (Model 3), derived directly from the interview data. The focus is on synthesizing the rich qualitative data into meaningful insights that inform the development of the central model.
CHAPTER 6: FOCUS GROUP: This chapter details the findings from a focus group meeting, complementing the data obtained from individual interviews. A critical review of the data from the focus group discussion is presented, analyzing the shared experiences and perspectives of the participants. The chapter then integrates the focus group findings with the interview data, leading to a refined competence and behavior model (Model 4). The triangulation of data from different sources strengthens the validity of the emerging model.
CHAPTER 7: CONFIRMATION OF COMPETENCE AND BEHAVIOUR MODEL 5: This chapter presents the final stage of model refinement. It describes a critical review of Model 4 with the community of practice, incorporating feedback and further refining the model based on the collective insights. This iterative process leads to the final, confirmed competence and behavior model (Model 5), ready for potential application and contribution to the field of project management.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Project management, people skills, competence model, behavior model, constructivist interpretivist approach, phenomenological research, interview, focus group, APM Body of Knowledge, community of practice, training and development.
Frequently Asked Questions about "A Comprehensive Language Preview"
What is this document?
This document is a comprehensive language preview of a thesis focusing on developing a new competence and behavior model for project managers' people skills. It includes the table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What is the main research question or objective?
The thesis aims to address the gap between expectations of project delivery and the execution practices of project managers, specifically focusing on improving their people management skills. It seeks to develop a new competence and behavior model for project managers' skills in working with people.
What methodology is used in this research?
The research utilizes a constructivist interpretivist approach within a phenomenological research paradigm. Data collection methods include interviews and focus groups with UK-based project managers.
What are the key themes explored in the thesis?
Key themes include the development of a competence and behavior model, exploration of the gap between project management expectations and practice, analysis of the impact of human factors on project management, application of a constructivist interpretivist approach, and contribution to existing project management bodies of knowledge.
What are the key chapters and their contents?
The thesis is structured as follows: Chapter 1 (Introduction): Sets the context and objectives. Chapter 2 (Framework for Thesis): Defines key concepts and reviews existing competence models. Chapter 3 (Literature Reviews): Presents a comprehensive review of relevant literature. Chapter 4 (Methodology and Research Design): Details the research approach and methods. Chapter 5 (Interviews): Presents findings from interviews with project managers. Chapter 6 (Focus Group): Presents findings from a focus group meeting. Chapter 7 (Confirmation of Competence and Behaviour Model 5): Presents the final refined model.
What types of data are used?
The research uses qualitative data gathered through interviews and focus groups with project managers.
What is the significance of the research?
The research aims to contribute to the existing project management bodies of knowledge by providing a new competence and behavior model specifically addressing people management skills. This could lead to improved project delivery and execution.
What are the keywords associated with this research?
Keywords include: Project management, people skills, competence model, behavior model, constructivist interpretivist approach, phenomenological research, interview, focus group, APM Body of Knowledge, community of practice, training and development.
What is the target audience of this document?
This document is intended for academic use, aimed at researchers and those interested in project management, specifically the area of people management skills within project contexts.
Where can I find the full thesis?
The full thesis is not included in this document. This is a preview only.
- Quote paper
- Dr Eddie Fisher (Author), 2006, Development of a new competence and behaviour model for skills in working with people for project managers, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/86849
