PM World Today Editorial - October 2006
Project Management Research - What?
What do we mean when we talk about Project Management “Research”? What is involved in the process? What PM topics are researched today, and what subjects deserve more attention from project management researchers? Who conducts or sponsors (or finances) PM research? What are current trends and directions in project management research? How are the results of PM research presented to the world, or made available to the world of PM? These are some of the topics that I want to explore this month. I believe that the role of PM research in developing PM as a profession deserves more attention, more investment, more respect and more support. I believe it is more important than many realize.
Where to start?
Last month I presented a “model” for the “World of Project Management.” During September some valuable feedback on this model came from some of the leading authorities on the subject, including Russ Archibald, Eric Jenett and Max Wideman (see letters to the editor this month). They all suggested ways to improve the model, additional issues to consider, or different perspectives. Nevertheless, that model offers a useful set of topic areas for this paper.
The first major element in my World of PM model is what I termed PM “R&D”. I defined it as follows: R&D of various PM applications, concepts, methods, models, processes and theories, carried out by both individuals and organizations; the source of new ideas, information and knowledge, as in any field of science or industry; conducted by individuals for academic or professional reasons, and by organizations to develop new information, products or services, or for other commercial purposes. Now I want to explore this topic in more detail.
Read the full text of:
Project Management Research - What?
About the Managing Editor:
David L. Pells
Managing Editor, pmforum.org
David L. Pells is the Managing Editor of PM World Today and www.pmforum.org. He is also the President and CEO of iWorld Projects & Systems, Inc., the parent company of pmforum.org. David is an internationally recognized leader in the field of professional project management, with over thirty years’ experience in project management related activities and positions. His professional experience includes a wide variety of programs and projects, including engineering, construction, transit, defense and high technology, and project sizes ranging from several thousand to ten billion dollars. He is a former member of the board of directors of the Project Management Institute (PMI®), and was awarded PMI’s person of the year award in 1998 and Fellow Award in 1999.
David can be contacted at: editor@pmforum.org
Express your views on any PM World Today matter
with a Letter
to the Editor.
Letters to the Editor are readers comments and observations on the Editorial, Viewpoint Columns, articles, papers or other notices of PM happenings appearing in the monthly issues of the Project Management World Today.
Send a Letter to the Editor!
Editorial Policy: The PMFORUM® has no connection to any national or international project management organization nor does it reflect the policy of any project management professional or commercial organization. The PMFORUM® maintains an objective and impartial view of project management affairs. In the interests of advancing professional project management the PMFORUM® will publish contending and objective views on issues that reflect collegial differences and perspectives