Reckons that change tends to generate more change and projects should only be undertaken under extreme need to solve a problem — something that may stop one achieving the goals (as long as one knows what the goals are!). Believes there are 4 different types of concept underlying all projects...

States it is not enough for a project leader to be good at project management, or to be aware of the need for fluent communication. Believes a project sponsor not only initiates the project but is also the project leader’s boss. Catalogues 4 Figures that add emphasis to the article. Confirms...

Projects that even the most battle‐hardened project manager will acknowledge that manager’s mental models, their attitudes, the competences they rate, etc., all have major implications. Looks at in‐house cultures, external cultures, dysfunctional cultures and international cultures. Uses 2...

States human progress demands risk‐taking but, conversely, managing risk in projects is always critical to success. Proposes that managers must make project risk management explicit and make identification of risks a priority. Recommends that contingency plans for low impact, high probability...

Chronicles some of the reasons for project failure. Defines critical success factors, identifies causes of project success or failure — not satisfactorily explaining reasons behind the causes. Contends that people do not like to plan, thinking only of the end result. Lists out seven items that...

Organizational learning is a process that is naturally indigenous to a broad spectrum of organizations, such as tribes and extended families. In the course of history, modern organizations have often evolved in a direction that emphasizes the machine‐like qualities of organizations and...

The digital economy is based on knowledge and the ultimate objective is the reinforcement of performance. The business strategy has been shifted from the management of tangible assets to intangible resources and the traditional competitive position of business units is based on their capacity...

Innovation is the lifeblood of companies, while simultaneously being one of the most difficult and elusive processes to manage. Failure rates are high – varying between six out of ten to nine out of ten – while the need to innovate is high. Departing from a real‐life case of a company,...

Knowledge‐based competition has magnified the importance of learning alliances as a fast and effective mechanism of capability development. This case presents a technology transfer project from a university's engineering research center to a private firm to illuminate learning and...

Effective project managers are required to have both “hard” technical skills to help control the iron triangle of time, cost and functional scope as well as relationship management skills to work effectively with people and get the best out of them. This paper argues that project managers...