The other side of projects: the case for critical project studies

Purpose – The purpose of this research note is to articulate the limitations that project management (PM) currently faces by outlining the PM literature's frequent neglect of political, social and ethical dimensions of PM work in order to raise a number of important themes that can be usefully integrated into mainstream PM literature. Design/methodology/approach – Extensive research note which updates us on where PM research is heading. Findings – PM is a highly complex, political and social process. The paper challenges readers, PM academics and practitioners to view PM more critically and to expand their appreciation of PM work as being more complex in its social context that merely delivering instrumentalist and mechanistic functional management processes. Originality/value – This paper triggers a debate using critical PM research to engage with all levels of the project hierarchy with the aim of initiating some transformation in how actors perceive themselves, their voice, their broad responsibility and their influence in shaping their own social place.