BY
A Research Paper Submitted In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Degree of Phd in Project Management.
SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
MAREM International and ESRD Sorbonne France
Supervisor
Prof Dr. Nsom Daniel Nkwain
December 2024
ABSTRACT
This paper has established through survey studies that there are twelve important competencies that are required for managerial success in any type of business organization. Doing survey through questionnaire it was established that the three top important competencies for managerial success are trust, supportive and honesty. It was recommended that the list of the competencies in order of importance should be displayed in the manager’s office as a reminder. Recruitment of managers should take into consideration the possession of these competence by applicants.
- INTRODUCTION
- INTRODUCTION
Many business organizations that start up with heavy financial investments collapse within the first three years or five years due to lapses in project manager’s ability to deliver. This observation caused this researcher to become interested in how this state of affairs could be ameliorated. She started reading on the subject of competencies and project manager success. She came out with the impression that project manager’s success will largely depend on the competencies of the project manager.
The researcher read the work of Sahil and others. She became more interested as these researchers gave her a bigger picture of the subject under consideration. The researcher came out with the conclusion that some pertinent competencies are required for the project manager success. These competencies need to be identified and ranked.
- Statement of the problem
With the observations stated above the researcher will now formulate the problem in a concise form.
- What are the competencies needed for project manager success?
- Which of the competencies is the top number one priority?
The two questions above represent the statement of the problem. The researcher will combine the two into one. This will now be the statement of the problem under consideration. Which is the top number one competency amongst listed required competencies?
- Purpose of the study
The main objective of this study is:
To determine the top number one competency, needed for project management success.
- To come out with a list of required project manager competencies
- To rank competencies in order of the most important
- To establish the top competency from research work.
- Research questions
- Which are the most important competencies needed for project manager success?
- How can the competencies be ranked?
- Which of the competencies identified comes first in importance?
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1. Introduction
This researcher is researching on the topic, “the determination of the top three competencies needed for project managers”. To do justice to this topic the literature review will be reported in subthemes namely: project definition, ways for project success, competencies of project managers, under examinedarea, list of competencies, scanty information, competency profile, detail list of traits, leadership style and list of key competencies.
2.2. Project Definition.
It will be necessary to define the meaning of a project before we go ahead with the work.
Anantatmula (2010) said that, “projects are means with the help of which organizations across the world try to achieve their objectives. “This means that all organizations have well laid out objectives in all spheres of their work that help to give direction in which the employees should direct their efforts. Management design projects to achieve some selected objectives of the organization that are similar
2.3. Ways for Project Success.
The project manager and management are always out to find out better ways that can be used to usher in project success. It will be necessary to search for ways of project success that have been identified in project management literature. This idea has been clarified by IKA (2009) who said “As a result, project management literature often deliberates on ways to ensure project success”.
2.4. Competencies of Project Managers
It will be good for everyone to know the important determinant of project success. It has been established that leadership competencies is the most important determinant of project success. This has been confirmed by the work of Ulbrich. Ulbrich (2017) stated that, “Therefore, it is safe to suggest that an important determinant of project success is the leadership style/behaviouraltraits/competencies of project managers.
2.5. Under Examined Area
Very few researchers either at the undergraduate or postgraduate level have embarked on researching on the topic under discussion. So this area is under examined. This is in agreement with the findings of Turner and Muller. Turner and Muller (2005) stated that “the behaviouraltraits/competences of project managers remain an under examined area in project management research.
2.6. Checklist of Competencies
It will be necessary for a checklist to be developed for competencies that are necessary for project manager’s success. Sahil in 2018 came out with such a list. This list will be of utmost importance to all project managers and entrepreneurs.
2.7. Scanty Information
We have already established that the topic under discussion is under examined. This leads to scanty information being available in the literature. This is what Kirkpatrick $ Locke stated. Kirk Patrick and Locke (1991) said, “Despite conclusive evidence from the field of general management that establishes a relation between organizational success and behavioural traits of manager’s, project management literature has ignored this area.
2.8. Competency Profile
It will be necessary for a competency profile to be developed for a project manager. Muller (2005) and Ulbrich (2017) said, “As such, project management literature is replete with call for research that develops a typical competency profile of a project manager.
2.9. Detailed List of Traits
Sahil has developed a detailed list of traits/ qualities of a project manager that are crucial for project success. This list will be very necessary for all stake holders that are involve in project management success scenario