research topics on project planning and management

Project Management Research Topics: Breaking New Ground

research topics on project planning and management

According to a study by the Project Management Institute (PMI), a significant 11.4% of business investments go to waste due to subpar project performance.

That’s why students need to study project management in college - to move the progress further and empower businesses to perform better. It is crucial for students as it equips them with essential skills, including organization, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership, which are highly transferable and sought after in the professional world. It enhances their career prospects, teaches adaptability, and fosters a global perspective, preparing them for success in a diverse and rapidly evolving job market.

In this article, you will learn the definition of a project management research paper, discover 120 excellent topics and ideas, as well as receive pro tips regarding how to cope with such an assignment up to par. 

Definition of What is Project Management

Project management is the practice of planning, executing, controlling, and closing a specific project to achieve well-defined goals and meet specific success criteria. It involves efficiently allocating resources, including time, budget, and personnel, to ensure that a project is completed on time, within scope, and within budget while delivering the intended results or deliverables. 

Project management encompasses various methodologies, tools, and techniques to ensure that projects are successfully initiated, planned, executed, monitored, and completed in an organized and systematic manner.

Students can learn project management in colleges and universities, online courses, professional associations, specialized schools, and continuing education programs. Despite the type of institution, most students rely on an essay writing service to ensure their academic progress is positive.  

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What Is a Project Management Research Paper?

Project management research papers are academic documents that explore various aspects of project management as a field of study. These papers typically delve into specific topics, issues, or questions related to project management and aim to contribute new knowledge or insights to the discipline. Project management research papers often involve rigorous analysis, empirical research, and critical evaluation of existing theories or practices within the field.

Key elements of a project management research paper include:

project management research

  • Research Question or Problem: Clearly defines the research question, problem, or topic the paper aims to address.
  • Literature Review: A comprehensive review of existing literature, theories, and relevant studies related to the chosen topic.
  • Methodology: Describing the research methods, such as surveys, case studies, interviews, or data analysis techniques.
  • Data Collection and Analysis: If applicable, presenting and analyzing data to support the research findings.
  • Discussion: An in-depth discussion of the research findings and their implications for the field of project management.
  • Conclusion: Summarizing the key findings, their significance, and potential future research directions.

Project management research papers can cover various topics, from best practices in project management to emerging trends, challenges, and innovations in the field. They are a valuable resource for both academics and practitioners, offering insights that can inform project management practices and decision-making.

Project Management Research Topics Selection Tips

Selecting an appropriate topic for a project management research paper is crucial for the success of your research. Here are some tips to help you choose the right research topic:

  • Start by considering your own interests and passion within the field of project management. 
  • Choose a topic that has practical applications and can contribute to the discipline.
  • Avoid overly broad topics. Instead, narrow down your focus to a specific aspect or issue within project management. 
  • Seek guidance from your professors, academic advisors, or mentors. 
  • Conduct a preliminary literature review to see what research has already been done in your area of interest. 
  • Aim for originality by proposing a research topic or question that hasn't been extensively explored in the existing literature.
  • Consider the feasibility of your research. Ensure your research is practical and achievable within your constraints.
  • Clearly define your research questions or objectives. 
  • Think about the practical applications of your research. 
  • Ensure that your research topic and methodology adhere to ethical standards. 
  • Think about the research methods you will use to investigate your topic. 
  • Consider involving stakeholders from the industry, as their insights can provide practical relevance to your research.
  • Keep in mind that your research may evolve as you delve deeper into the topic. 
  • Be open to adapting your research questions and methodology if necessary.

By following these tips, you can select a project management research topic that is not only relevant and original but also feasible and well-aligned with your academic and career goals. Sounds challenging and time-consuming? Simply type ‘ write an essay for me ,’ and our experts will help you settle the matter. 

Best Project Management Research Topics and Ideas

Here is a list of the 50 best topics for a project management paper. These topics cover many project management areas, from traditional project management methodologies to emerging trends and challenges in the field. You can further refine and tailor these topics to match your specific research interests and objectives.

  • Agile Project Management in Non-IT Industries.
  • Risk Management Strategies for Large-Scale Projects.
  • The Role of Leadership in Project Success.
  • Sustainability Integration in Project Management.
  • Challenges in Virtual Project Management.
  • The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Project Management.
  • Project Management Best Practices in Healthcare.
  • Lean Project Management Principles.
  • Project Portfolio Management in Multinational Corporations.
  •  The Use of Blockchain in Project Management.
  •  Cultural Diversity and Its Effects on Global Project Teams.
  •  Managing Scope Creep in Project Management.
  •  Project Management in Crisis Situations.
  •  Agile vs. Waterfall: A Comparative Analysis.
  •  Project Governance and Compliance.
  •  Critical Success Factors in Public Sector Projects.
  •  Benefits Realization Management in Project Management.
  •  Agile Transformation in Traditional Organizations.
  •  Project Management in the Digital Age.
  •  Sustainable Project Procurement Practices.
  •  The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Project Leadership.
  •  Project Management in the Healthcare Industry.
  •  Effective Communication in Virtual Project Teams.
  •  Agile Project Management in Software Development.
  •  The Impact of Project Management Offices (PMOs).
  •  Project Management in the Construction Industry.
  •  Project Risk Assessment and Mitigation.
  •  IT Project Management Challenges and Solutions.
  •  Project Management in Startups and Entrepreneurship.
  •  Lean Six Sigma in Project Management.
  •  Project Management Software Tools and Trends.
  •  The Role of Change Management in Project Success.
  •  Conflict Resolution in Project Teams.
  •  Project Management in the Pharmaceutical Industry.
  •  Scrum vs. Kanban: A Comparative Study. 
  •  Managing Cross-Cultural Teams in International Projects.
  •  The Future of Project Management: Trends and Forecasts.
  •  Effective Resource Allocation in Project Management.
  •  Project Procurement and Vendor Management.
  •  Quality Assurance in Project Management.
  •  Risk Assessment in IT Project Management.
  •  Benefits and Challenges of Hybrid Project Management Models.
  •  Agile Transformation in Large Organizations.
  •  The Role of Data Analytics in Project Management.
  •  Project Management for Non-Profit Organizations.
  •  Continuous Improvement in Project Management.
  •  The Impact of COVID-19 on Project Management Practices.
  •  The Role of Project Management in Innovation.
  •  Project Management in the Aerospace Industry.
  •  The Influence of Project Management on Organizational Performance.

Simple Project Management Research Ideas

Here are 10 simple project management research ideas that can serve as a foundation for more in-depth research:

The Impact of Effective Communication on Project Success: Investigate how clear and efficient communication within project teams influences project outcomes.

Project Management Software Adoption and Its Effects: Examine the adoption of project management software tools and their impact on project efficiency and collaboration.

Factors Affecting Scope Creep in Project Management: Identify the key factors contributing to scope creep and explore strategies to prevent it.

The Role of Project Management Offices (PMOs) in Organizational Performance: Analyze the performance, improving project success rates and enhancing overall project management maturity.

Agile Project Management in Non-Software Industries: Study how Agile project management principles can be adapted and applied effectively in non-IT industries, such as manufacturing, healthcare, or construction.

Project Risk Management Strategies: Investigate the best practices and strategies for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks in project management.

Stakeholder Engagement in Project Success: Explore the significance of stakeholder engagement and its impact on project outcomes, including scope, quality, and stakeholder satisfaction.

Project Management in Small Businesses: Analyze the unique challenges and opportunities of project management in small businesses and startups, considering resource constraints and growth objectives.

Sustainability Practices in Project Management: Investigate how project managers can integrate sustainability principles into project planning and execution, with a focus on environmental and social responsibility.

Change Management in Project Transitions: Examine the role of change management in ensuring smooth transitions between project phases or methodologies, such as moving from Waterfall to Agile.

Interesting Project Management Research Paper Topics

These research paper topics offer opportunities to explore diverse aspects of project management, from leadership and ethics to emerging technologies and global project dynamics.

  • The Impact of Effective Communication on Project Success.
  • Project Management Software Adoption and Its Effects.
  • Factors Affecting Scope Creep in Project Management.
  • The Role of Project Management Offices (PMOs) in Organizational Performance.
  • Agile Project Management in Non-Software Industries.
  • Project Risk Management Strategies.
  • Stakeholder Engagement in Project Success.
  • Project Management in Small Businesses and Startups.
  • Sustainability Practices in Project Management.
  •  Change Management in Project Transitions.

Still can’t find an interesting topic? Maybe you’re in writer’s block. But we have a solution to this, too - a research paper writing service from real academic professionals! 

Research Project Topics in Business Management

Here are ten research project topics in business management. They encompass various aspects of business management, from leadership and diversity to sustainability and emerging trends in the business world.

  • The Impact of Leadership Styles on Employee Motivation and Productivity.
  • Strategies for Enhancing Workplace Diversity and Inclusion.
  • The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Effective Leadership.
  • Sustainable Business Practices and Their Effects on Corporate Social Responsibility.
  • Innovation and Technology Adoption in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs).
  • Financial Management Strategies for Small Businesses and Startups.
  • Effective Marketing Strategies in the Digital Age.
  • The Challenges and Opportunities of Global Expansion for Multinational Corporations.
  • Supply Chain Management in a Post-Pandemic World: Resilience and Adaptability.
  •  Consumer Behavior and Market Trends in E-Commerce.

Software Project Management Dissertation Topics

These dissertation topics cover a range of critical issues and strategies in software project management, from risk management to AI integration and agile methodologies.

  • Effective Software Project Risk Management Strategies.
  • Agile vs. Waterfall: Comparative Analysis in Software Project Management.
  • Requirements Management in Software Development Projects.
  • The Role of DevOps in Accelerating Software Project Delivery.
  • Software Project Management Challenges in Distributed and Remote Teams.
  • Quality Assurance and Testing Practices in Software Project Management.
  • Managing Scope Changes and Requirements Volatility in Software Projects.
  • Vendor Management in Outsourced Software Development Projects.
  • Project Portfolio Management in Software Organizations.
  •  The Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Software Project Management.

Remember that research paper topics might also be used to write a dissertation. Check them out as well!

Ten Construction Project Management Research Topics

Offering you ten research topics in construction project management, which delve into various aspects of construction project management, from sustainability and safety to technology adoption and stakeholder engagement.

  • Optimizing Construction Project Scheduling and Time Management.
  • Risk Assessment and Mitigation in Large-Scale Construction Projects.
  • Green Building Practices and Sustainable Construction Management.
  • The Role of Technology in Improving Construction Project Efficiency.
  • Safety Management and Accident Prevention in Construction.
  • Contract Management in Public Infrastructure Projects.
  • Resource Allocation and Cost Control in Construction Project Management.
  • The Impact of Lean Construction Principles on Project Delivery.
  • Innovations in Prefabrication and Modular Construction Methods.
  •  Stakeholder Collaboration and Communication in Complex Construction Projects.

Ten Outstanding Project Administration Ideas for Research Paper

Let’s gain insights into the key aspects and focus areas of each research paper topic in project administration. Researchers can further refine these 10 topics to address specific research questions and objectives. 

Innovative Strategies for Effective Project Communication and Collaboration: This topic explores innovative communication and collaboration methods that enhance project team coordination and overall project success. It may include the use of technology, virtual tools, or novel approaches to foster effective communication.

Integrating Sustainability into Project Management Practices: This research examines how project managers can incorporate sustainability principles into project planning, execution, and decision-making, contributing to environmentally and socially responsible project outcomes.

The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Project Leadership and Team Dynamics: This topic delves into the significance of emotional intelligence in project leadership, focusing on how emotional intelligence influences team dynamics, motivation, and project performance.

Agile Project Management in Non-Traditional Industries: Opportunities and Challenges: It explores adopting Agile project management methodologies outside the software development domain, discussing the opportunities and challenges of applying Agile in industries like healthcare, manufacturing, or construction.

Crisis Management and Resilience in Project Administration: This topic investigates crisis management strategies and the development of project resilience to navigate unexpected disruptions, disasters, and unexpected events affecting project progress.

The Impact of Change Management in Successful Project Implementation: It examines the critical role of change management in ensuring smooth transitions between project phases, methodologies, or organizational changes, contributing to project success.

Ethical Decision-Making in Project Management: Balancing Objectives and Integrity: This research delves into the ethical dilemmas and decision-making processes project managers face and explores frameworks for ethical behavior in project management.

Technology Integration and Digital Transformation in Project Administration: It discusses how the integration of technology, such as AI, IoT, and automation, is transforming project administration practices and improving efficiency and project outcomes.

Risk Management and Contingency Planning in Large-Scale Projects: This topic focuses on risk management strategies and the development of effective contingency plans to mitigate risks in complex, large-scale projects.

Project Governance and the Influence of Regulatory Compliance: It explores project governance structures, including the impact of regulatory compliance on project management, risk management, and decision-making processes. In case you need aid with complex senior year papers, consult capstone project writing services . 

Ten Healthcare Project Management Research Topics

These research topics address various aspects of healthcare project management, from facility construction and technology implementation to quality improvement and crisis management. Researchers can explore these topics to contribute to the improvement of healthcare project outcomes and patient care.

  • Optimizing Healthcare Facility Construction and Renovation Projects.
  • Effective Implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHR) in Hospitals.
  • Managing Change in Healthcare Organizations: A Project Management Perspective.
  • Telemedicine Project Management and its Impact on Healthcare Delivery.
  • Healthcare Project Risk Management: A Case Study Analysis.
  • Patient-Centered Care Initiatives and Project Management Best Practices.
  • Quality Improvement Projects in Healthcare: Challenges and Success Factors.
  • Healthcare Supply Chain Management and Project Efficiency.
  • The Role of Project Management in Healthcare Crisis Response (e.g., Pandemics).
  •  Measuring the Impact of Lean Six Sigma in Healthcare Process Improvement Projects.

When you find a topic - what’s next? Check out this guide on how to research a topic !

Project management is a dynamic and ever-evolving discipline, offering a rich landscape for research and exploration. Whether you are a student seeking captivating project management research topics or a seasoned professional looking to address real-world challenges, our list of topics provides a valuable starting point. 

The key to successful research in project management lies in identifying a topic that aligns with your interests and objectives, allowing you to make meaningful contributions to the field while addressing the pressing issues of today and tomorrow. If you need support executing your research or project, you might consider the convenience of our online services. Simply request " do my project for me " and connect with experts ready to assist you in navigating the complexities of your project management tasks.

So, delve into these research topics, choose the one that resonates with your passion, and embark on a journey of discovery and advancement in the world of project management. If you feel stressed or overwhelmed with the workload at some point, pay for a research paper to gain a competitive edge and save valuable time. 

Elevate Your Project Management Research

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research topics on project planning and management

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Top 150 Project Management Dissertation Topics [Updated]

Project Management Dissertation Topics

Project management is like the conductor of an orchestra, harmonizing various elements to achieve a masterpiece. Dissertation topics in this field are crucial as they delve into the heart of managing projects effectively. Whether you’re a budding project manager or a seasoned professional looking to deepen your understanding, choosing the right project management dissertation topic is paramount. Let’s embark on a journey to explore some intriguing project management dissertation topics that could spark your interest and contribute to this dynamic field.

How To Pick A Dissertation Topic?

Table of Contents

Picking what you’ll study for your big research project (dissertation) is a really important choice. Take your time and think about it carefully. Here are some steps to help you pick the right topic:

  • Reflect on your interests: Consider topics that genuinely interest you and align with your passion and expertise. Your enthusiasm will sustain you through the research process.
  • Review existing literature: Conduct a thorough review of literature in your field to identify gaps, unanswered questions, or emerging trends that could form the basis of your research.
  • Consider practical relevance: Choose a topic that has practical relevance and real-world implications for your field, industry, or community. Aim to address pressing issues or challenges faced by practitioners or organizations.
  • Consult with advisors and peers: Seek feedback from your academic advisors, mentors, or peers to get their perspectives on potential topics. They can give you good advice and assist you in making your ideas better.
  • Narrow down your focus: Once you have a broad topic in mind, narrow it down to a specific research question or area of investigation. Make sure your topic is manageable within the scope of your dissertation and aligns with the available resources and timeline.
  • Evaluate feasibility: Figure out if your topic is doable by checking if you can find enough information, if you have the right tools to study it, if it’s morally okay, and if there are any real-life limits that might get in the way. Ensure that you have access to the necessary resources and support to conduct your research effectively.
  • Stay flexible: Stay ready to change or improve your topic as you learn more during your research and find out new things. Your dissertation topic might change as you go, so it’s important to be open to that and be able to adjust along the way.
  • Consider your long-term goals: Think about how your dissertation topic aligns with your long-term academic or career goals. Choose a topic that will allow you to develop valuable skills, make meaningful contributions to your field, and position yourself for future opportunities.

150 Project Management Dissertation Topics: Category Wise

Traditional vs. agile methodologies.

  • A comparative analysis of traditional waterfall and agile project management methodologies.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of agile methodologies in software development projects.
  • Implementing agile practices in non-IT industries: challenges and opportunities.
  • The role of project management maturity models in transitioning from traditional to agile methodologies.
  • Agile project management in dynamic and uncertain environments: case studies from various industries.
  • Integrating hybrid project management approaches: combining elements of traditional and agile methodologies.
  • Assessing the impact of agile project management on team dynamics and collaboration.
  • Agile project management in large-scale and complex projects: lessons learned and best practices.
  • Overcoming resistance to agile adoption: strategies for organizational change management.
  • The future of project management: trends and innovations in agile methodologies.

Project Management Tools and Software

  • Evaluating the effectiveness of project management software in improving project outcomes.
  • Adoption and implementation of project management tools: a case study approach.
  • Comparing different project management software solutions: features, benefits, and limitations.
  • Customization vs. out-of-the-box implementation: factors influencing the choice of project management software.
  • The impact of cloud-based project management tools on remote team collaboration.
  • Enhancing project management efficiency through the integration of collaboration platforms and project management software.
  • Project management software usability and user experience: implications for adoption and usage.
  • Assessing the security and data privacy risks associated with project management software.
  • Trends in project management software development: artificial intelligence, automation, and predictive analytics.
  • The role of project management software vendors in driving innovation and industry standards.

Project Risk Management

  • Identifying and prioritizing project risks: a systematic approach.
  • Quantitative vs. qualitative risk analysis: comparing methods and outcomes.
  • Risk management strategies for high-risk industries: construction, aerospace, and defense.
  • The role of project risk management in achieving project success: evidence from case studies.
  • Incorporating risk management into project planning and decision-making processes.
  • Stakeholder engagement in project risk management: challenges and best practices.
  • Resilience and adaptability: building a risk-aware project culture.
  • Emerging risks in project management: cybersecurity threats, geopolitical instability, and climate change.
  • Risk management in agile projects: adapting traditional approaches to dynamic environments.
  • The future of project risk management: predictive analytics, big data, and machine learning.

Project Scheduling and Planning

  • Critical path analysis and its applications in project scheduling.
  • Resource leveling techniques for optimizing project schedules and resource allocation.
  • The role of project management offices (PMOs) in project scheduling and planning.
  • Earned value management (EVM) as a performance measurement tool in project scheduling.
  • Lean project management principles: minimizing waste and maximizing efficiency in project schedules.
  • Agile project planning techniques: iterative planning, sprint planning, and release planning.
  • Time management strategies for project managers: prioritization, delegation, and timeboxing.
  • The impact of schedule compression techniques on project duration and cost.
  • Project scheduling under uncertainty: probabilistic scheduling models and Monte Carlo simulation.
  • Real-time scheduling and adaptive planning: harnessing technology for dynamic project environments.

Leadership and Team Management

  • Transformational leadership in project management: inspiring vision and empowering teams.
  • The role of emotional intelligence in project leadership and team performance.
  • Cross-cultural leadership in multinational project teams: challenges and strategies.
  • Building high-performing project teams: recruitment, training, and team development.
  • Distributed leadership in virtual project teams: fostering collaboration and trust.
  • Conflict resolution strategies for project managers: mediation, negotiation, and arbitration.
  • Motivating project teams: rewards, recognition, and intrinsic motivation.
  • The impact of leadership styles on project outcomes: autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire.
  • Gender diversity in project teams: implications for leadership and team dynamics.
  • Team resilience and psychological safety: creating a supportive and inclusive project environment.

Project Governance and Stakeholder Management

  • Project governance frameworks: roles, responsibilities, and decision-making structures.
  • Stakeholder identification and analysis: mapping stakeholder interests, influence, and expectations.
  • Effective communication strategies for project stakeholders: stakeholder engagement plans and communication channels.
  • Managing stakeholder conflicts and competing interests in projects.
  • Make sure companies do good things for the community and talk to the people affected by their projects.
  • Look at how the big bosses of a project make decisions and handle the people involved.
  • Accountability and transparency in project governance: reporting mechanisms and performance metrics.
  • Regulatory compliance in project management: legal requirements and industry standards.
  • Balancing stakeholder interests in project decision-making: ethical considerations and social responsibility.
  • Continuous improvement in project governance: lessons learned and best practices.

Project Finance and Cost Management

  • Project budgeting and cost estimation techniques: top-down vs. bottom-up approaches.
  • Cost-benefit analysis and return on investment (ROI) in project decision-making.
  • Earned value management (EVM) as a cost control tool in project management.
  • Managing project financial risks: budget overruns, resource constraints, and market fluctuations.
  • Project procurement and contract management: negotiating contracts, vendor selection, and performance monitoring.
  • Life cycle costing in project evaluation: considering long-term costs and benefits.
  • Value engineering and value management: optimizing project value while minimizing costs.
  • Financial modeling and scenario analysis in project finance: assessing project feasibility and viability.
  • Funding sources for project financing: equity, debt, grants, and public-private partnerships.
  • Project finance in emerging markets: challenges and opportunities for investment.

Project Quality Management

  • Total quality management (TQM) principles in project management: continuous improvement and customer focus.
  • Quality planning and assurance processes: setting quality objectives and quality standards.
  • Quality control techniques in project management: inspection, testing, and quality audits.
  • Six Sigma methodology and its applications in project quality management.
  • Lean principles in project management: eliminating waste and optimizing processes.
  • Measuring project quality performance: key performance indicators (KPIs) and quality metrics.
  • Building a culture of quality excellence in project teams: training, empowerment, and recognition.
  • Supplier quality management in project procurement: ensuring supplier compliance and performance.
  • Benchmarking and best practices in project quality management.
  • Continuous improvement in project quality: feedback loops, lessons learned, and process optimization.

Project Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

  • Stakeholder engagement strategies in project management: stakeholder analysis, mapping, and engagement plans.
  • Effective communication techniques for project managers: verbal, written, and nonverbal communication.
  • Managing virtual project teams: communication tools, technologies, and best practices.
  • Conflict resolution strategies for project stakeholders: negotiation, mediation, and collaboration.
  • Stakeholder communication in crisis situations: managing stakeholder expectations and maintaining trust.
  • Building trust and credibility with project stakeholders: transparency, integrity, and responsiveness.
  • Cultural sensitivity and communication in multicultural project teams.
  • The role of project managers as communication facilitators and mediators.
  • Communication challenges in cross-functional project teams: aligning diverse perspectives and priorities.
  • Measuring stakeholder satisfaction and feedback: surveys, interviews, and feedback mechanisms.

Project Human Resource Management

  • Human resource planning in project management: resource allocation, skills assessment, and capacity planning.
  • Talent management strategies for project teams: recruitment, training, and career development.
  • Team-building techniques for project managers: icebreakers, team-building exercises, and bonding activities.
  • Performance management in project teams: setting objectives, providing feedback, and evaluating performance.
  • Conflict resolution strategies for project managers: negotiation, mediation, and conflict coaching.
  • Diversity and inclusion in project teams: fostering a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
  • Leadership development in project management: training, coaching, and mentorship programs.
  • Managing virtual project teams: communication, collaboration, and team cohesion.
  • Building resilience and well-being in project teams: managing stress, burnout, and work-life balance.

Project Procurement and Contract Management

  • Procurement planning and strategy development: make-or-buy decisions, sourcing options, and procurement methods.
  • Contract types and structures in project procurement: fixed-price, cost-reimbursable, and time-and-material contracts.
  • Supplier selection criteria and evaluation methods: vendor qualifications, bid evaluation, and supplier performance metrics.
  • Negotiation techniques for project managers: win-win negotiation, BATNA analysis, and concessions management.
  • Managing contracts and contractor relationships: contract administration, performance monitoring, and dispute resolution.
  • Outsourcing and offshoring in project procurement: risks, benefits, and best practices.
  • Legal and regulatory considerations in project procurement: compliance with procurement laws, standards, and regulations.
  • Contractual risk management: mitigating contract risks through indemnification clauses, insurance, and contingency planning.
  • Ethical considerations in project procurement: fairness, transparency, and integrity in procurement processes.
  • Continuous improvement in procurement and contract management: lessons learned, process optimization, and supplier feedback.

Project Sustainability and Social Responsibility

  • Integrating sustainability principles into project management: environmental stewardship, social equity, and economic viability.
  • Sustainable project planning and design: minimizing environmental impacts, maximizing resource efficiency, and promoting resilience.
  • Social impact assessment in project management: stakeholder engagement, community consultation, and social license to operate.
  • Sustainable procurement practices: ethical sourcing, fair trade, and supply chain transparency.
  • Green project management: reducing carbon emissions, conserving natural resources, and promoting renewable energy.
  • Corporate social responsibility (CSR) in project management: philanthropy, community development, and stakeholder engagement.
  • Sustainable infrastructure development: green buildings, sustainable transportation, and eco-friendly urban planning.
  • Environmental risk management in projects: assessing and mitigating environmental impacts and regulatory compliance.
  • Sustainable project financing: green bonds, impact investing, and sustainable finance mechanisms.
  • Sustainability reporting and disclosure: communicating project sustainability performance to stakeholders.

Project Innovation and Technology Management

  • Innovation management in project-based organizations: fostering a culture of creativity, experimentation, and learning.
  • Technology adoption and diffusion in project management: factors influencing technology acceptance and implementation.
  • Managing innovation projects: from ideation to commercialization, stage-gate processes, and innovation ecosystems.
  • Open innovation and collaborative project management: partnerships, co-creation, and knowledge sharing.
  • Digital transformation in project management: leveraging emerging technologies for project delivery and collaboration.
  • Artificial intelligence and machine learning in project management: predictive analytics, automation, and decision support systems.
  • Blockchain technology in project management: decentralized project governance, smart contracts, and supply chain transparency.
  • Virtual reality and augmented reality in project management: immersive training, visualization, and virtual collaboration.
  • Internet of Things (IoT) applications in project management: real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and asset tracking.
  • Data-driven project management: leveraging big data, analytics, and business intelligence for project insights and decision-making.

Project Governance and Compliance

  • Regulatory compliance in project management: legal requirements, industry standards, and certification programs.
  • Ethics and integrity in project governance: code of conduct, conflict of interest policies, and whistleblowing mechanisms.
  • Corporate governance and project management: alignment with organizational objectives, risk management, and performance oversight.
  • Internal controls and assurance mechanisms in project governance: auditing, monitoring, and accountability.
  • Project portfolio governance: prioritization, resource allocation, and strategic alignment.
  • Regulatory reporting and disclosure requirements: compliance with regulatory agencies, stakeholders, and investors.
  • Project audits and reviews: evaluating project performance, compliance, and lessons learned.
  • Governance of public-private partnerships (PPPs): contractual arrangements, risk allocation, and stakeholder engagement.
  • Continuous improvement in project governance: feedback loops, lessons learned, and process optimization.

Project Resilience and Change Management

  • Building project resilience: risk management, contingency planning, and adaptive strategies.
  • Change management in project management: managing resistance, communication, and stakeholder engagement.
  • Organizational resilience and project management: lessons from crisis management, business continuity planning, and disaster recovery.
  • Agile project management and organizational agility: responsiveness to change, iterative planning, and adaptive leadership.
  • Innovation and creativity in project management: fostering a culture of experimentation, learning, and adaptation.
  • Anticipatory project management: scenario planning, risk assessment, and proactive decision-making.
  • Crisis leadership and project management: decision-making under pressure, communication, and stakeholder management .
  • Change readiness assessment in project management: organizational culture, capacity building, and change champions.
  • Learning from failure: post-mortem analysis, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement.
  • Resilience in project teams: psychological safety, emotional intelligence, and well-being.

In conclusion, selecting the right project management dissertation topics is essential for exploring new frontiers, addressing pressing challenges, and making meaningful contributions to the field. By choosing a topic that aligns with your interests, expertise, and aspirations, you can embark on a rewarding journey of discovery and innovation in project management.

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Top 30+ Project Management Research Topics To Work in 2024

Home Blog Project Management Top 30+ Project Management Research Topics To Work in 2024

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In the ever-evolving field of project management, staying ahead of the most recent research trends is essential for professionals who wish to enhance their skills and increase successful project outcomes. This article highlights the top ten project management research topics expected to impact the project management field in 2024 significantly.

Along with Project Management certification courses , this thorough list will be an invaluable tool for exploring the main research frontiers in the dynamic field of project management. Whether you are an aspiring project manager, an academic researcher, or an industry professional looking to optimize your project strategies, project management certifications will support your growth.

What is a Project Management Research Paper?

Project management research papers are academic documents that go deeply into a single topic or aspect of the field of project management. It is usually written by students, researchers, or professionals in the field of project management, and its goal is to add new knowledge, insights, or views to the field.

A research paper on project management will look at some aspects of project management, be it a theoretical framework, methodology, best practices, or case studies. It entails conducting a systematic investigation into the chosen topic, accumulating and analyzing relevant information, and drawing conclusions or making suggestions based on the findings. The study of the project management research topics 2024 will help budding project managers along with PMP certification training .

List of Project Management Research Topics and Ideas

 Here is a list of project management research topics, for writing your project research paper.

Top 10 Project Management Research Topics

The following are the top project management thesis topics in 2024. Let us look into key points and overview of each project management research proposal:

1. Impact of Global Leadership in Leading to the Success of a Project

The following are the key points covered in the thesis on project management of “Impact of global leadership in leading to the success of a project”.

  • Global Leadership in Leading Projects: Global leadership is the skill of project managers to lead and manage project teams that are from different cultures, different time zones, and different parts of the world. It means learning and adjusting to different cultural norms, ways of communicating, and ways of doing work.
  • Communication and Working Together: Good communication and working together are key to the success of a project, especially when it's a global project.
  • Team Building and Motivation: Global leaders must establish trust, develop a sense of a common goal, and provide adequate support and recognition to team members regardless of their geographic location.
  • Knowledge Transfer and Learning: The importance of knowledge transfer and learning among project teams should be highlighted by global leadership.

The influence of global leadership on the success of a project has become an increasingly vital subject of research in the discipline of project management. Project teams are becoming more diverse, multicultural, and geographically dispersed as organizations continue to expand their global operations. This trend has created an urgent need for effective global leadership to navigate the complexities and challenges of managing projects across multiple countries, cultures, and time zones.

2. Effects of Cultural Diversity on Project Performance

  • Understanding Cultural Diversity: People from other cultures bring their own unique set of values, beliefs, behaviors, and modes of communication to the table, creating a rich stew of cultural diversity.
  • Benefits of Cultural Diversity in Project Management: Cultural diversity has various advantages for project management in addition to highlighting differences.
  • Challenges of Cultural Diversity in Project Management: Even though cultural diversity can have a lot of positive effects on a project, it also poses special difficulties that project managers must overcome to ensure project success.
  • Effective Management of Culturally Diverse Teams: It can be difficult to manage a team with different cultural backgrounds, but with the correct strategy, project managers can capitalize on diversity's advantages and complete projects successfully.

This research topic, it is examined how cultural diversity affects project performance as well as how project managers may successfully lead a multicultural team to project success.

In today's globalized world, cultural diversity is more common than ever and has a big impact on project management. Project managers need to understand how cultural variations between the team, stakeholders, and clients might impact project performance.

3. Popular Leadership Style Used by Project Managers

The following are the key points discussed in the research paper “Popular leadership style used by project managers”.

  • Qualities of Effective Leadership.
  • Leadership Styles of Project Managers:
  • Democratic leadership style
  • Transformational leadership style
  • Situational leadership style
  • Comparative analysis
  • Charismatic leadership style
  • Summarizing the main findings and contributions of the research.

The paper begins by emphasizing the significance of effective project management leadership and its influence on project outcomes. It emphasizes that project managers require not only technical expertise but also the ability to inspire and lead their teams to deliver results. The purpose of this study is to identify the most prevalent leadership styles employed by project managers and cast light on their effectiveness within the context of project management.

Overall, the project management research paper offers insightful insights into the most prevalent leadership styles employed by project managers. It provides a thorough comprehension of the significance of leadership in project management and emphasizes the effectiveness of transformational leadership in motivating high-performance teams. The findings are a valuable resource for project managers and other professionals who wish to improve their leadership skills and project outcomes.

4. Evaluate PMBOK Guidelines

The following are the key points in “Evaluate the PMBOK guidelines”.

  • Introduction to PMBOK Guidelines
  • Evaluation of Strengths
  • Identification of Weaknesses
  • Areas for Improvement
  • Suggestions for Enhancements

This research paper tries to evaluate the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) guidelines, a widely accepted project management standard. The PMBOK provides a comprehensive framework and best practices for effectively managing projects. This study analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of the PMBOK guidelines, identifies areas for improvement, and proposes potential enhancements to increase its relevance and applicability in modern project management practices.

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5. Stakeholder Approach to Successful Adoption of Projects

The following are the key points discussed in the research paper “Stakeholder Approach to Successful Adoption of Projects.”

  • This paper examines the significance of stakeholder management to the successful adoption of projects.
  • Understanding Stakeholders
  • Significance of Stakeholder Management
  • Stakeholder Analysis
  • Engaging Stakeholders
  • Stakeholder Engagement Strategies
  • Managing Stakeholder Expectations
  • Overcoming Challenges
  • Benefits of the Stakeholder Approach

This research paper begins with an overview of stakeholders and their significance in project management. It emphasizes that stakeholders include individuals, groups, and organizations that can influence a project or be influenced by it. The paper emphasizes the necessity of identifying, analyzing, and ranking stakeholders based on their interests, power, and influence while acknowledging the wide variety of stakeholders involved in any given project.

The paper concludes by highlighting the importance of adopting a stakeholder-based approach to project management for attaining successful project outcomes. It prioritizes the need for project managers to recognize stakeholders as essential collaborators and engage them actively throughout the project lifecycle. By considering the interests of stakeholders, managing their expectations, and maintaining open communication channels, projects can increase their likelihood of successful adoption and long-term sustainability.

6. Effect of Change Mobilization on Companies

The following are the key points discussed in the research paper “Effects of change mobilization in Companies.”

  • Importance of Change Mobilization
  • Change Mobilization Strategies
  • Impact on Organizational Performance
  • Challenges and Barriers to Change Mobilization
  • Overcoming Challenges and Enhancing Change Mobilization

The "Effect of Change Mobilization in Companies" research paper investigates the influence of change mobilization on organizational performance and employee engagement. The study investigates the numerous strategies and approaches utilized by businesses to successfully carry out and oversee initiatives to change. The findings demonstrate a positive relationship between effective change mobilization and increased productivity, innovation, and employee satisfaction. The paper highlights the significance of leadership, communication, and employee participation in facilitating organizational change.

7. Impact of Reward System on Boosting Productivity

The following are the key points included in the project management research paper “Impact of a reward system on boosting productivity”.

  • This paper investigates the effect of a reward system on boosting productivity in a variety of contexts.
  • Importance of Rewards in Motivation.
  • Factors Affecting the Effectiveness of Reward Systems.
  • Types of Rewards
  • Case Studies and Empirical Evidence.
  • Challenges and Limitations.
  • The research paper also concludes that well-designed reward systems can have a positive impact on productivity by motivating individuals and fostering a sense of purpose and satisfaction.

The research paper investigates the effects of implementing a reward system on organizational productivity levels. The study investigates how incentives and recognition can positively impact employee motivation, engagement, and overall performance.

Overall, the research paper illuminates the significant influence of a reward system on increasing organizational productivity. It provides administrators and human resource professionals with valuable insights and recommendations that can be used to improve employee motivation and performance, leading to increased productivity and organizational success.

8. Relation Between Leadership and Change Management

The following are the key points discussed in the research paper “Relation between Leadership and Change Management”:

  • Definition of leadership and change management in the project management context.
  • Leadership's Role in Change Management.
  • Leadership Styles and Change Management.
  • Key Factors for Effective Leadership in Change Management.
  • Case Studies and Examples.
  • Challenges and Recommendations.

This project management research paper topic examines the vital connection between leadership and change management in the context of project management. It attempts to examine how effective leadership influences the success of organizational change initiatives. Examining various leadership styles and their influence on change management processes, the study identifies the important factors that contribute to effective leadership in driving successful change.

9. How to Develop Cost-effective Projects in Developed Nations?

The following are the key points discussed in the research paper “How to Develop Cost-effective Projects in Developed Nations”:

  • A survey of project management in developed countries
  • The significance of efficiency in project development.
  • Objective and methodology of research.
  • Cost-effectiveness factors in developed countries.
  • Cost-Effective Project Management Strategies.
  • Case Studies and Effective Methods.
  • Cost-Effective Project Management Framework for Developed Nations.

This research paper concentrates on the identification of strategies and methods to build cost-effective projects in developed nations. The study acknowledges the challenges project managers experience in high-cost environments and aims to provide practical insights and suggestions for achieving optimal project outcomes while minimizing costs. The paper synthesizes current research and case studies to highlight key contributors to cost-effectiveness and presents a framework for project management in developed nations.

10. Analyze the Role of Soft Skills in Project Success Rates

The following are the key points included in the research paper “Analyze the Role of soft skills in project success rates”:

  • Definition of soft skills
  • Importance of soft skills in project management
  • Relation between soft skills and project accomplishment
  • Effective communication
  • Leadership and team management
  • Resolution of disagreements and problem-solving
  • Importance of soft skills development
  • Team composition and selection
  • Integration of soft skills in project management practices

The "Analyze the Role of Soft Skills in Project Success Rates" research paper examines the significance of soft skills in determining project success rates. Soft skills are a collection of personal characteristics and interpersonal abilities that enable individuals to communicate, collaborate, and manage relationships in professional settings. This study seeks to investigate the effect of these abilities on project outcomes, shedding light on their contribution to project success.The paper begins with an introduction to the significance of soft skills in the contemporary workplace, emphasizing their increasing recognition alongside technical expertise. It emphasizes the growing complexity of initiatives and the need for effective teamwork, communication, and leadership skills to successfully navigate such complexity.

Software Project Management Research Topics

These topics cover a range of critical issues, tactics, risk management, AI integration, and agile methodologies in software project management.

  • Software Project Management Challenges in Distributed and Remote Teams.
  • Effective Software Project Risk Management Strategies.
  • The Role of DevOps in Accelerating Software Project Delivery.
  • Agile vs. Waterfall: Comparative Analysis in Software Project Management.
  • Quality Assurance and Testing Practices in Software Project Management.
  • Project Portfolio Management in Software Organizations.
  • Managing Scope Changes and Requirements Volatility in Software Projects.

Construction Project Management Research Ideas

These topics cover sustainability, safety, technology adoption, and stakeholder engagement in construction project management.

  • Risk Assessment and Mitigation in Large-Scale Construction Projects.
  • The Role of Technology in Improving Construction Project Efficiency.
  • Resource Allocation and Cost Control in Construction Methods.
  • Safety Management and Accident Prevention in Construction.
  • Optimizing Construction Project Scheduling and Time Management.
  • Green Building Practices and Sustainable Construction Projects.
  • Stakeholder Collaboration and Communication in Complex Construction Projects.
  • Impact of Lean Construction Principles on Project Delivery.

Research Topics for Project Management in Healthcare

These topics cover various aspects of healthcare project management, facility construction, implementing technology, quality improvement, and crisis management.

  • Healthcare Supply Chain Management and Project Efficiency.
  • Managing Change in Healthcare Organizations: A Project Management Perspective.
  • Optimizing Healthcare Facility Construction and Renovation Projects.
  • Telemedicine Project Management and its Impact on Health care Delivery.
  • Healthcare Project Risk Management: A Case Study Analysis.
  • Patient-Centered Care Initiatives and Project Management Best Practices.
  • Quality Improvement Projects in Healthcare: Challenges and Success Factors.

How to Write a Project Management Research Paper?

It is suggested to get certified in PRINCE2 certification training for aspiring project managers, which will help them work on well-organized and logical project management topics for research papers. Here is a step-by-step guide to writing your research paper on project management:

  • Select a topic of project management that sparks your interest.
  • Utilize credible sources such as academic journals, books, Google research, websites, and scholarly articles to conduct extensive research on the selected topic.
  • Create a plan to organize your primary ideas and thoughts.
  • Write an appealing introduction that provides perspective and states your research question.
  • Provide a comprehensive survey of the appropriate research by summarizing existing studies and theories.
  • Clearly describe your method, including how you plan to collect and examine data.
  • Use tables, charts, or graphs as necessary to present your findings or results.
  • Consider any restrictions or limitations of your study and explain how they may have affected your findings.
  • Your paper should be proofread and edited for clarity, coherence, grammar, and spelling.
  • Format your paper according to the specific instructions provided by your institution or the journal to which you are submitting.
  • To avoid plagiarism, cite your sources using the appropriate format (e.g., APA, MLA).
  • To enhance the quality and rigor of your research paper, solicit feedback from peers or professors.

These topics for research in project management provide an excellent roadmap for project management academicians and practitioners to follow as we move forward. By focusing on these areas, we can obtain valuable insights, foster innovation, and elevate the project management discipline to new heights. The discipline of project management, such as construction project management research topics and ideas, is in a constant state of evolution, and researchers need to explore new avenues and address new challenges. Along with getting trained in these project management research proposal topics, it is suggested to enroll in KnowledgeHut Project Management courses for beginners and get globally recognized accreditations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Project management for research is the process of planning, coordinating, and carrying out research tasks in a way that helps reach certain goals within certain limits. 

The questions that a study or research project is trying to answer are the research questions. Most of the time, this question is about a problem or issue that is answered in the study's result through the analysis and interpretation of data.

The latest emerging project topics are Hybrid Project Management, Artificial Intelligence (AI) And Automation, Rise in remote working, Advanced Resource and Project Management Software, and Projects and Organizational strategy.

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125 Project Management Research Topics Ideas

125 Project Management Research Topics

Are you urgently in need of top-class project management research topics for your upcoming exam? Keep reading for exclusive writing ideas.

Those who have handled a project management thesis before can witness that this is not a smooth affair. The creativity, level of research, and critical thinking necessary for developing such a paper require a mature student. The greatest hurdle comes in when you want to develop your research topic. Our professional writers have everything you need to write an award-winning paper. Scroll down to find out how?

What Is A Project Management Research Paper?

It is an assignment that requires students to integrate the different processes to achieve a particular goal and deliverables. Project management is based on the principle that all tasks are special, and thus, you should not treat two tasks as the same.

In this type of assignment, students have to develop many coordination skills and fairness in dealing with various projects. Since various tasks differ in line with their functional procedures, you have to dig deeper to determine how each yields direct and proportional earnings in the end.

Does all these sound like rocket science to you? Well, the next few lines will make you understand this subject better.

Key Points About A Project Management Thesis

There are different steps involved in writing a project management paper. These will contribute to the body paragraphs’ overall quality, length, and depth. The various practices involved in project management include:

Initiating Planning Executing Controlling Closing the work of a team

When you bring all these processes together, you can achieve a particular goal or specific success within the set time. That brings us to a critical component of project management – time!

Every project has a given time frame within which it is complete. It is the primary challenge as time constraints are always when unexpected issues arise. However, with practice, time will not be a factor anymore; it will be the motivation for completing a particular project.

If you don’t feel those skills are important to you, you can get custom dissertation help from our expert team.

How To Write A Top-Rated Project Management Paper

For you to write a paper that will get the attention of your university teacher, there are various steps that you have to take. Remember that you have to demonstrate to your professor that you understand your topic and can significantly contribute to the topic at the end of the day.

Here is a step-by-step guide that will take you through the full process of project management writing:

  • Understand your assignment: You should carefully read the question and point out any confusing part that you may need clarity with your professor. You also set the goal, timeline, length, format, and other requirements.
  • Develop an interesting project management topic: The best way to generate a writing idea is by brainstorming. You can ask a friend tutor or get inspiration from other research papers.
  • Begin your preliminary research: You can point out arguments that seem important to your topic and find captivating angles to present them. It is advisable to consult sources such as books, journals, or reliable websites. Having research questions in this section will give you ample time.
  • Think of an exciting thesis statement: This will be your central argument that will establish your research paper’s position and purpose. Remember to include the evidence and reasoning you intend to support your answer.
  • Develop an outline for your paper: It includes the key topics, arguments, and examples that will feature in your paper. Having a structured outline helps you complete the writing process effortlessly.

Once you complete these steps, your writing will be like a walk in the park. You will express your ideas clearly and have a logical paper.

Now let’s explore some of the most sought after project management topics:

Easy Project Management Research Topics

  • How to implement capital improvement projects
  • Discuss the essence of a good project management plan before the onset
  • The role of technology and funding in implementing projects
  • Consider the effects of working from home on project management
  • How global companies manage projects across various regions
  • What is the impact of the world becoming a global village in project management?
  • Why is it necessary to segment tasks in a multi-sectorial project?
  • Discuss the process of harmonizing systems, people, and resources
  • Why is project management as a course in school necessary for the job market?
  • Discuss the challenges related to transit projects
  • Evaluate the various trends in project management in the digital age
  • The role of leadership systems in project management
  • Why time management is necessary for the completion of any task
  • How to develop achievable goals or aspirations in a project
  • The role of risk management before embarking on a project

High-Quality Project Management Topics

  • The undisputed role of administrators in any project
  • Technological systems that have made project management easier
  • Discuss the complexity in completing different projects
  • Why should every project have a project tracking instrument?
  • Steps towards developing a working budget for a project
  • Why do project managers write a proposal before embarking on the actual work?
  • How often should the project manager meet to discuss the progress of a project?
  • How to develop cost-effective projects in developed nations
  • Discuss the various sources of primary funding for projects
  • Why are communications skills necessary for any project?
  • Compare and contrast the completion rate of government projects versus private projects.
  • Discuss the authorization process of a project

Custom Project Management Research Paper Topics

  • Discuss the roles of various officers involved in the running of a project
  • What makes a particular project require a great number of resources?
  • How to develop objectives and scope of work for different projects
  • Analyze how the 24-hour economy is impacting the completing of massive projects
  • Why it is important to determine the timing of an escalation in a project
  • Should project managers remain engaged throughout the lifecycle of a project?
  • Discuss some of the leadership qualities necessary for project management
  • Why motivation is necessary for the completion of any project
  • How to point out signs of retardation in a project
  • The essence of addressing emerging issues in a project as soon as possible
  • What are the differences at the micro and macro levels of a project?
  • Steps involved in the termination process of a project

The Best Project Management Topics For Research

  • Compare and contrast the procedural and mechanical parts of a project
  • How to yield direct and proportional earnings from a project
  • Management of a project during the economic recession
  • Evaluate how COVID-19 restrictions impacted project management policies
  • The role of integrating people and machines in the completion of projects
  • Analyze the role of soft skills in project success rates
  • How does cultural diversity impact project performance in the US?
  • Why it is important to keep financial records in the implementation of a project
  • Evaluate the design and implementation of projects
  • A review of the stalled projects and why the project managers are to blame
  • An in-depth analysis of procurement procedures in project management
  • How organizational characters affect the development of a project

College Project Management Topics For Research Papers

  • Investigate the organizational characteristics that affect project completion
  • Identify cost-effective key performance indicators in a project?
  • Social network analysis tools necessary for project management
  • Discuss how emotional intelligence leads to the success of a project
  • How to develop an effective project scheduling system for large projects
  • Why standard operating procedures are necessary for effective projects
  • The role of teamwork and collaboration in project completion
  • Why quality control is necessary for any successful project
  • Effective resource management techniques for technical projects
  • Interpersonal skills that will make a project work
  • Ethics involved in project management
  • Discuss project mapping and progress reporting

Latest Research Topics For Project Management

  • Are all project problems an indicator of more trouble to come?
  • The role of identifying job descriptions in the success of projects
  • Why it is necessary to incorporate staff retention and training in projects
  • Evaluate the various project documentation processes
  • How to develop better project control and management tools
  • Discuss the differences between contractual and commercial management of projects
  • Why delays and disruptions increase the cost of projects
  • Impact of timely delivery of projects on economic development of countries
  • Effects of sanctions of global projects
  • Discuss conflict resolution practices in a particular project
  • How to develop credit risk modeling techniques for projects
  • Why appraisals and incentives are necessary for project success

Hot Research Project Topics In Business Management

  • The role of business planning in a competitive environment
  • How different business structures affect their development paradigms
  • How to develop effective customer service strategies for businesses
  • Why it is necessary to resolve employment issues before they escalate
  • Inventory control practices in business management
  • Discussing the necessity of keeping a keen eye on tax compliance in business establishments
  • The role of record-keeping in the management of business ventures
  • How to develop pricing structures that will keep the business afloat
  • Discuss the peculiarities of merchandising and packaging
  • Evaluate how insurance is necessary for any business
  • Marketing strategies that will outshine competitors in a business setting
  • How e-commerce is transforming project management in businesses

Innovative Topics For Project Management Research

  • The role of decision making and problem-solving in project management
  • Why technology and analytics are important components of successful projects
  • How to use organizational culture to the benefit of project management
  • How to manage international businesses using social media
  • Discuss the role of entrepreneurs and founders in project development
  • Effective operation strategies for developing projects
  • How to adjust and adapt to organizational change
  • Performance indicators that are necessary for competitive project management
  • The role of feedback in the development of any commercial project
  • Why personal productivity is necessary for any project management strategy
  • Reasons why health and behavioral science are important in project management
  • Discuss the effects of globalization on project management policies

Quality Research Topics In Management

  • Discuss the role of government policies and regulations in project management
  • How power and influence impact award of tenders for various projects
  • Human rights to consider in project management
  • The role of incubation hubs in project development
  • Cross-functional management in projects
  • Team member engagement in project management
  • Legal issues in project management
  • Political interference in development projects
  • Evaluate various workspaces design
  • Why should workplace health and safety be a priority in project management?
  • Virtual teams and project management
  • Why mission statements are necessary for project management

Construction Project Management Research Topics

  • Best practices in digital project management
  • How English as a language necessitates project management
  • Online technologies that offer innovative project management ideas
  • Student-centered symposiums in project management
  • Cheap project management solutions that offer quality output
  • The role of expatriates in development projects
  • Discuss the four phases of project management
  • How to manage change in a project
  • Agile innovation methods for project success
  • Quantitative tools for project management
  • The revival of the construction project economy
  • Developing sustainable construction projects
  • The impact of building information modeling
  • Collaborative work in project management

Want an Expert to Do Your Research?

Scoring top grades is no longer a wish but a reality with these topics. If you wish to hire professional dissertation writers for your project management task, type ‘do my thesis,’ Our writers will come through for you. Our writing assistance is all you need to ace your project management paper today!

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181 Project Management Research Topics: Helpful List

project management research topics

Project management is using specific knowledge, tools, techniques, and skills to deliver something valuable to people. There are different types of projects that are normally undertaken to make an impact on society.

Most projects are normally used to help make the world or society a better place. The projects are normally efforts to create value through a unique product or service that wasn’t in existence before.

How To Do Good Research For A Thesis

If you want to succeed in your thesis, research project, or dissertation, you need to put your best foot forward. However, you will first need to consult your professor to see whether your chosen topic is adequate for your thesis.

Choose A Topic: The first thing is browsing through a wide variety of topics and finding the right one for your thesis. Let’s say you want to get an ideal project management topic. You can browse through all these topics and find the best that you can use. However, remember, you need to be interested in that field so that you can feel excited while doing the research. Furthermore, try to select a topic that has also been researched before by other scholars. It doesn’t necessarily need to be the same topic but at least something similar. Search For Research Sources: Once you have known the topic you want to do. Try and search for the topic’s sources. Try and see whether you can find valuable information regarding the same. Your research needs to be based on proven facts and statistics. Hence, make use of Google Scholar, Google Books, or Microsoft Academic. You can’t miss finding something similar to what you are actively looking for. Also, remember to use numerous websites, online libraries, and much more. Remember to create short notes for the same. Create A Thesis Statement: Once you have gotten as much background information as you wish, you can now create a thesis statement. Continue adding short notes with all the new information that you are getting. The purpose of the thesis statement is to explain what the entire research paper will be dedicated to. The thesis helps to explain the subject of your research, how you will reach your goal methods to justify your point, and what you expect to obtain as a result. Also, remember, your thesis statement needs to be approved by your professor. Write A Draft: By now you should have gotten some valuable information. You can then use that to write a draft or a rough outline. This draft is equally important as the final version. The advantage is that you can add as many points as you wish and then simplify them as you go on. Know what to include and what to omit. Write The Final Version: Use all the resources and try to write the final version. Remember to have your references, sources cited, and bibliography formatted. Remember, the final version should be presentable. You wouldn’t want to repeat your thesis all over again. Give it your best shot. Also, remember to proofread to ensure that the grammar is correct. That’s it.

Project Management Research Topics

Are you looking for the best research topics? You can use any of these easy topics to do your research paper, project, thesis, or dissertation. They are simple and straight to the point.

  • The best technologies that can be used in project management
  • How do soft skills and practical skills help in project management?
  • How do teams impact the success of a project?
  • The approaches used in project management.
  • The effectiveness of change management.
  • Evaluate culture management.
  • Evaluate conflict management in society.
  • The importance of using project management software.
  • Analyze the principles used in project management.
  • The project management dynamics.
  • The major causes of project delays.
  • The best way to carry out project activities.
  • The factors that influence the choice of a project.
  • How to cross align business and project objectives.
  • The history of project management.
  • The impact of stress on a project manager’s performance.

Interesting Project Management Research Paper Topics

Always choose a topic that spikes interest in you. This will help to build on what you already know and what you don’t know already. This is vital. Give the best of your capability.

  • The impact of culture in a project being successful or failing.
  • The impact of the organization to project management implementation.
  • The project management trends that lead to its success.
  • The impact of agile project management on IT productivity.
  • Evaluate project risk management.
  • Evaluate the procedures used in managing innovation and entrepreneurship.
  • The impact of global leadership in leading to the success of a project.
  • The importance of project stakeholder management.
  • The impact of work and organization systems.
  • How is the project investment analysis done?
  • The best way to carry out the facility life cycle costing.
  • The contemporary approaches used in project management.
  • The challenges faced in information systems.
  • The factors that lead to sustainable project management.
  • Evaluate project procurement management.
  • Evaluate the business requirement analysis.

Top Project Management Topics For Research

Project management is an interesting course unit. However, you may get trouble finding an ideal topic. You can choose any of these and start your assignment

  • Discuss descriptive analytics and visualization.
  • Evaluate project scheduling and control.
  • How are project integration and procurement done?
  • The basics for project leadership.
  • Analyze hospital assets in the public sector.
  • The effects of keeping financial records in SMEs.
  • Evaluate the implementation of a project management API using python and blockchain.
  • The importance of soft skills in project management.
  • The effects of cultural diversity on project performance.
  • Evaluate the in-depth risk management assessment in procurement.
  • The impact of organization characters in the success of a project.
  • The importance of a great leadership role in the success of a project.
  • The effect of the planning and scheduling style in project management.
  • The most popular leadership style used by project managers.
  • The importance of the initiation stage of a project.
  • The various project management phases/stages.
  • The impact of project length on management control and quality.

Project Management Topics For Research Papers

Are you planning to start your research paper soon? Familiarize yourself with these topics before you settle on the one to do.

  • The importance of the managerial process in project management.
  • The importance of project length on management control and quality.
  • The relation between project management and project success.
  • The similarities of the project management practices.
  • The relation between green building and project management.
  • The evolution of project management over time.
  • The influence of uncertainty on project success or failure.
  • The importance of critical path analysis in project management.
  • Evaluate the PMBOK guidelines.
  • Why do project managers follow the PMBOK guidelines in their line of duty?
  • The project management software tools used to enhance efficiency.
  • Common project management risks and attitudes.
  • The major differences between Agile and Scrum approach to project management.
  • Public procurement challenges in project management.
  • The stakeholder approach to successful adoption of projects.
  • The project management best practices in Europe’s financial sector.
  • Explore the leadership qualities for successful project management.

Research Topics For Project Management

Are you looking for research topics for project management? Why not start with these! Any management assignment help should be useful, including these topics. They are ideal, straight to the point, and easy to research.

  • The major trends related to project complexity.
  • The process theory for project management knowledge accumulation.
  • The impact of project management to good utilization of resources.
  • The importance of stakeholders in various projects.
  • Evaluate the most important stages in the project management process.
  • The effect of holding virtual meetings when running different projects.
  • The major issues that affect most projects.
  • The major conflicts that arise in work teams.
  • The relation between job enrichment and employee performance.
  • The best methods used in corporate growth.
  • Change mobilization in companies.
  • Why do people fear taking risks?
  • The effect of staff productivity.
  • Procedures took in choosing the executive in a company.
  • The impacts of social responsibilities in businesses.
  • The benefit of cost-benefit analysis in project management.
  • Is space tourism a great consideration for tourists?

Research Project Topics In Business Management

Business management is diverse. Here are some of the best research project topics that you can start with. However, remember to use credible sources to collect data.

  • The impact of social responsibilities on the performance of the organization.
  • The effect of employee commitment or organizational performance.
  • The impact of a reward system on boosting productivity.
  • The role of management in motivating workers.
  • How do wages and salaries boost employees’ performance?
  • The impact of change management in the banking sector.
  • The influence of employee motivation on employee’s job performance.
  • The best employee motivations.
  • The influence of strike action on employees’ performance.
  • The impact of insurance companies on the growth of SMEs.
  • How can communication be used to enhance organizational performance?
  • The influence of knowledge management on organizational competitiveness.
  • Evaluate the capital structure and profitability of a business organization.
  • How is time management a tool for organizational survival?
  • The impact of the pricing policy on the profitability level of an organization.
  • The impact of collective bargaining in companies.
  • The impact of commercialization on public enterprises.

Topics For Project Management Research

Do you want to do qualitative or quantitative research? You can use any of these topics to do your thesis, dissertation, or research projects. However, remember to do proper research.

  • The best practices for energy efficiency in construction.
  • The implications of labor shortage in the construction industry.
  • The effectiveness of virtual teams in organizations.
  • The importance of staff motivation, as shown by Google.
  • The advantages and disadvantages of job specialization in the banking industry.
  • The effectiveness of salary bonuses on staff motivation.
  • The impact of recruiting directly from colleges.
  • The impact of effective communication on business success.
  • The tools and criteria used for assessing staff performance.
  • The strategies new companies can take to double their profits.
  • The best way to improve employee performance through training.
  • The relation between leadership and change management.
  • How do companies develop their organizational culture?
  • The relevance of the modern workplace in work efficiency.
  • The latest trends in construction automation.
  • The impact of growing up in minority cultures.
  • The effects of government subsidies for agriculture.

Research Paper Topics For Software Project Management

Are you in the software development field? Well, here are some research paper topics for software project management. They are not as complex as you would assume.

  • Evaluate the visualization of database schemes.
  • The impact of integrating debugging and software development.
  • The ethics of android employee tracking.
  • The best way to improve students’ skills in software development.
  • Are the skills acquired in college efficient for students to work in software development companies?
  • Challenges faced by new software developers on the job market.
  • The impact of regular Google updates – search engine algorithms.
  • The importance of using voice recognition systems in enhancing data security.
  • Is blockchain technology the new solution to data security threats?
  • The importance of software testing in quality assurance in the online store.
  • The critical components in software projects
  • The most critical predictions in software development.
  • The challenges of accurate project status reporting.
  • Software projects management and project escalation issues.
  • The challenges of accurate software projects status reporting.
  • The risk avoidance in bidding for software projects.
  • Evaluate the life cycle management theory.
  • Combining process and structure approaches to managing software development.

Construction Project Management Research Topics

These are some of the simplest project management research topics that you will ever stumble upon. You just need to do proper research to ensure you meet the goal of the project.

  • Evaluate the girasole as a web-based software project management tool.
  • Analyze the impact of eco-friendly consideration shown in planning construction projects.
  • The essentials needed n house construction.
  • The best door construction frames.
  • The major changes that have occurred in the construction industry over time.
  • The best way to maintain different types of houses.
  • The risks found in construction management.
  • The procedures to be undertaken before starting any construction.
  • What is construction automation?
  • The use of technology in construction.
  • The best workers’ ethics during construction.
  • The rules that govern construction worldwide.
  • The importance of business information modeling to construction companies.
  • The importance of infrastructure asset management in construction.
  • Evaluate the trade-off between project cost and schedule.
  • How is quality managed in construction projects in developing countries?
  • The role of social media in construction management.

Cost-Benefit Analysis Project Management Related Research Topics

It is important to do a cost-benefit analysis to see whether the project you want to do is viable. Otherwise, it won’t be. Here are some of the best topics that you can start with.

  • The cost and benefit of using prescription drugs.
  • The cost and benefit analysis of shifting to green energy in homes.
  • The cost and benefit of fishing restrictions.
  • The cost and benefit of using speed cameras to control traffic in towns.
  • The cost-benefit analysis of marijuana legalization.
  • The cost-benefit analysis of state-level alcohol taxes.
  • Compare the cost and benefit of investing in space explorations
  • The cost-benefit analysis of the regulatory environment in businesses.
  • The major steps in the cost-benefit analysis.
  • The major problems and solutions of the cost-benefit solutions.
  • Cost-benefit analysis in project management.
  • The main cost issues in project management.
  • The integration of e-commerce in business.
  • The smart health prediction software with data mining.
  • The importance of using budgeting tools when running tech projects.
  • The future of remote teams.
  • The modern improvements cause shifts in the remote work environment.

Agile Project Management In IT Industries

These topics are not complex. You just need to be up-to-date with the latest trends in technology to ensure you gather as much information as possible

  • Big data analysis application in the eCommerce industry.
  • Analyze the Google search engine algorithms.
  • The use of cloud storage in the banking industry.
  • Is the 5G wireless system the future of IT?
  • The risk of cryptocurrency to the traditional banking system.
  • How did cloud technology alter the data storage industry?
  • Can virtual reality substitute actual reality?
  • How did Steve Job change the world?
  • The latest IT technologies that are used in project management.
  • The software used by NASA to monitor space vehicles.
  • The most popular software used in project management.

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199+ Quantitative Project Management Research Topics

quantitative project management research topics

In the bustling world of project management, every endeavor is a story waiting to unfold. Imagine: a team, armed with ambition, embarks on a project – deadlines loom, resources teeter on edge, and success hangs in the balance. It’s within this narrative that the significance of Quantitative Project Management Research Topics comes to life.

As our tale unfolds, we delve into the quantitative realm, where data becomes the protagonist. Quantitative Project Management research becomes the guiding light, offering a strategic map to navigate complexities, anticipate challenges, and ensure triumph. Join us in this narrative, where the fusion of project management and quantitative research transforms stories of uncertainty into sagas of precision and success.

Definition of Quantitative Project Management

Table of Contents

Quantitative Project Management involves the application of measurable data and statistical methods to enhance project planning and execution. It goes beyond qualitative insights, focusing on numerical analysis for decision-making. By utilizing mathematical models, statistical tools, and data-driven approaches, Quantitative Project Management ensures a precise understanding of project dynamics. This methodology enables project managers to make informed decisions, optimize resource allocation, and improve overall project outcomes based on quantifiable evidence.

Key Components of Quantitative Project Management

Discover some key components of quantitative project management research topic:

Data Collection and Analysis

In Quantitative Project Management, data collection is pivotal for informed decision-making. Project managers gather relevant information, ranging from timelines to resource utilization. Analysis involves scrutinizing this data, identifying patterns, and extracting meaningful insights, providing a foundation for strategic project planning and execution.

Statistical Methods

Quantitative Project Management relies on statistical methods to interpret data accurately. Techniques such as regression analysis, hypothesis testing, and variance analysis empower project managers to make predictions, assess risks, and ensure that decisions are grounded in statistical validity, enhancing the overall robustness of project strategies.

Modeling Techniques

Modeling in Quantitative Project Management involves creating representations of real-world project scenarios. Utilizing mathematical and computational models, project managers simulate different conditions, allowing them to predict outcomes, evaluate potential risks, and optimize resource allocation. Modeling techniques provide a proactive approach, enabling better-informed decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

Benefits of Quantitative Project Management Research

Here are some benefits of quantitative project management research topics in 2024:

  • Informed Decision-Making: Quantitative Project Management research equips project managers with precise data, enabling informed decision-making at every stage. By relying on quantitative insights, professionals can strategically navigate challenges, allocate resources efficiently, and ensure project success.
  • Enhanced Project Planning: The application of quantitative methodologies enhances project planning by providing a systematic approach to data analysis. This, in turn, allows for more accurate forecasting, realistic timelines, and proactive risk management, ultimately contributing to the development of robust project plans.
  • Optimal Resource Allocation: Quantitative research facilitates a thorough understanding of resource utilization patterns. This insight allows project managers to optimize resource allocation, prevent bottlenecks, reduce wastage, and maximize the efficiency of project workflows.
  • Risk Mitigation: Through statistical analysis, Quantitative Project Management identifies and assesses potential risks. This proactive approach allows teams to implement mitigation strategies, minimizing the impact of uncertainties and ensuring a smoother project execution.
  • Improved Project Outcomes: By incorporating quantitative data into decision-making processes, project managers can fine-tune strategies, respond to evolving project dynamics, and, ultimately, enhance the overall outcomes of their projects. The benefits of quantitative research extend beyond individual projects, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement within project management practices.

List of Quantitative Project Management Research Topics

Sure, here are quantitative project management research topics for students:

Project Planning and Scheduling

  • Comparative analysis of traditional and agile project scheduling methods.
  • The impact of resource allocation on project timelines.
  • Enhancing project planning through machine learning algorithms.
  • Critical path analysis in large-scale construction projects.
  • Optimizing project schedules for resource-constrained environments.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of predictive scheduling models.
  • The role of artificial intelligence in dynamic project planning.
  • Investigating the influence of project scope changes on scheduling accuracy.
  • Time-cost trade-off analysis in project management.
  • Analyzing the impact of schedule compression techniques on project outcomes.

Risk Management

  • Quantitative assessment of risks in IT project management.
  • The relationship between project complexity and risk management effectiveness.
  • Analyzing the impact of risk response strategies on project success.
  • Developing a quantitative risk assessment framework for construction projects.
  • Predictive modeling for identifying and mitigating project risks.
  • The role of data analytics in proactive risk management.
  • Integrating uncertainty into project risk models.
  • Investigating the effectiveness of risk transfer strategies in project management.
  • Quantifying the impact of external factors on project risk.
  • Comparative analysis of traditional and agile risk management approaches.

Cost Estimation and Control

  • Accuracy of cost estimation methods in construction projects.
  • Evaluating the impact of cost overruns on project success.
  • The relationship between project size and cost estimation accuracy.
  • Quantitative analysis of earned value management in project control.
  • Cost-benefit analysis of implementing project cost control measures.
  • Predictive modeling for cost estimation in software development projects.
  • Analyzing the factors influencing cost escalation in projects.
  • The effectiveness of cost contingency planning in project management.
  • Investigating the impact of inflation on project cost estimates.
  • Quantifying the benefits of adopting value engineering in project cost management.

Quality Management

  • Statistical process control in project quality management.
  • Quantifying the impact of quality management on project performance.
  • The role of Six Sigma in improving project quality outcomes.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of quality assurance in IT projects.
  • Statistical analysis of customer satisfaction in project delivery.
  • The relationship between project complexity and quality management challenges.
  • Measuring the impact of rework on project quality and cost.
  • Implementing statistical quality control in manufacturing projects.
  • Quantitative analysis of the cost of poor project quality.
  • Comparative study of quality management practices in various industries.

Stakeholder Management

  • Quantitative analysis of stakeholder engagement strategies in project management.
  • Evaluating the impact of stakeholder communication on project success.
  • Stakeholder influence mapping in large-scale construction projects.
  • The role of social network analysis in stakeholder management.
  • Measuring stakeholder satisfaction with project outcomes.
  • Analyzing the impact of stakeholder involvement on project decision-making.
  • Quantifying the influence of project sponsors on project success.
  • The relationship between stakeholder engagement and project risk.
  • Stakeholder management in multicultural project environments.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of stakeholder feedback mechanisms.

Performance Measurement and Metrics

  • Development of key performance indicators (KPIs) for project management.
  • Measuring project success using quantitative performance metrics.
  • The impact of performance measurement on project team motivation.
  • Comparative analysis of project success metrics in different industries.
  • Quantifying the benefits of implementing balanced scorecards in project management.
  • The role of data analytics in project performance measurement.
  • Investigating the relationship between project performance and organizational success.
  • Measuring the impact of project management maturity on performance.
  • Developing a comprehensive performance measurement framework for projects.
  • Quantitative analysis of the relationship between project performance and customer satisfaction.

Communication and Collaboration

  • The impact of communication technologies on project team collaboration.
  • Quantifying the effects of communication breakdowns on project outcomes.
  • Social network analysis of communication patterns in project teams.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of virtual collaboration tools in project management.
  • The role of communication in managing global project teams.
  • Quantitative analysis of the impact of communication styles on project success.
  • Measuring the influence of project leadership on team communication.
  • Analyzing the effectiveness of project communication plans.
  • The relationship between communication and conflict resolution in projects.
  • Quantifying the benefits of knowledge sharing in project teams.

Decision-Making

  • Quantitative analysis of decision-making biases in project management.
  • The role of decision support systems in project decision-making.
  • Decision analysis for selecting project delivery methods.
  • Evaluating the impact of uncertainty on project decision quality.
  • Quantifying the influence of cognitive biases on project risk assessment.
  • The effectiveness of decision-making in agile project environments.
  • Decision trees for project risk management.
  • Analyzing the impact of group decision-making on project outcomes.
  • Measuring the success of project decisions using quantitative criteria.
  • Comparative analysis of decision-making models in project management.

Agile Project Management

  • Quantitative analysis of project success in agile vs. traditional approaches.
  • The impact of agile methodologies on project team productivity.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of agile project management in large organizations.
  • Quantifying the benefits of continuous delivery in agile projects.
  • Measuring the impact of agile practices on project adaptability.
  • The relationship between team size and agile project success.
  • Comparative analysis of agile and waterfall project management in IT.
  • Analyzing the influence of organizational culture on agile adoption.
  • Agile project management in regulated industries: A quantitative study.
  • The role of metrics in assessing agile project performance.

Innovation in Project Management

  • Quantifying the impact of innovation on project success.
  • The role of technology adoption in project innovation.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of innovation management in project teams.
  • Measuring the influence of organizational culture on project innovation.
  • Innovation metrics for assessing project performance.
  • The relationship between project innovation and competitive advantage.
  • Quantitative analysis of the barriers to innovation in project management.
  • Innovation diffusion in project organizations: A comparative study.
  • The impact of open innovation on project outcomes.
  • Assessing the role of project leaders in fostering a culture of innovation.

Sustainability in Project Management

  • Quantifying the environmental impact of construction projects.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of sustainable project management practices.
  • The role of life cycle assessment in sustainable project development.
  • Measuring the social and economic sustainability of projects.
  • Quantitative analysis of sustainable procurement in project management.
  • The influence of green project management on stakeholder perceptions.
  • Sustainable project management in the context of emerging markets.
  • Assessing the impact of sustainable practices on project costs.
  • The relationship between project sustainability and corporate social responsibility.
  • Comparative analysis of sustainability standards in project management.

Technology and Innovation

  • Design and implementation of a smart office space using IoT devices.
  • Development of a virtual reality-based training program for project managers.
  • Creation of a blockchain-based project management platform.
  • Applying machine learning algorithms to optimize project resource allocation.
  • Development of a mobile app for real-time project collaboration and communication.
  • Designing an automated project risk assessment tool using artificial intelligence.
  • Implementation of a drone-based project monitoring system for construction projects.
  • Integration of augmented reality in project presentations and status reporting.
  • Creating a predictive analytics model for identifying potential project delays.
  • Development of a chatbot for project management inquiries and support.

Sustainability and Green Projects

  • Evaluation of the environmental impact of renewable energy projects.
  • Designing a sustainable waste management system for construction projects.
  • Implementing green building practices in large-scale construction projects.
  • Developing a carbon footprint calculator for project-related activities.
  • Analysis of the economic benefits of sustainable project management practices.
  • Creating a sustainability rating system for project materials and suppliers.
  • Integration of eco-friendly technologies in project delivery processes.
  • Designing a project evaluation framework based on social sustainability criteria.
  • Development of a sustainable procurement strategy for project organizations.
  • Investigating the impact of green project management on overall project success.

Healthcare Projects

  • Implementation of a patient management system for healthcare projects.
  • Designing a telemedicine platform for remote healthcare project consultations.
  • Evaluation of the effectiveness of project management in healthcare IT implementations.
  • Developing a predictive analytics model for patient flow in hospital projects.
  • Integration of lean principles in healthcare project management.
  • Designing a project to improve medical equipment procurement processes.
  • Implementation of a healthcare project quality management system.
  • Investigating the impact of project management on patient satisfaction in healthcare.
  • Creating a mobile app for project managers in healthcare settings.
  • Evaluation of project management methodologies in healthcare facility construction.

Education and Learning Projects

  • Development of a gamified project management training program.
  • Implementation of a learning management system for project management courses.
  • Designing an e-learning platform for project management professionals.
  • Investigating the impact of project-based learning on student success.
  • Creating a project management curriculum for high school students.
  • Development of a virtual internship program for project management students.
  • Analysis of the effectiveness of online project management certifications.
  • Integration of project management principles in primary and secondary education.
  • Designing a project to assess the impact of project management education on career success.
  • Implementation of a mentorship program for aspiring project managers.

Social Impact Projects

  • Development of a project to address community infrastructure needs.
  • Implementation of a social impact assessment tool for project proposals.
  • Designing a project to improve access to education in underserved communities.
  • Investigation of the impact of projects on social equity.
  • Creation of a community-based project management support network.
  • Developing a project to enhance disaster preparedness in vulnerable communities.
  • Implementation of a project to address water and sanitation issues in a community.
  • Designing a project to promote social entrepreneurship and innovation.
  • Evaluation of the social and economic impact of community development projects.
  • Creation of a project to address mental health issues in the community.

Data Analytics and Business Intelligence

  • Development of a business intelligence dashboard for project performance monitoring.
  • Implementation of a data-driven decision-making framework for project managers.
  • Designing a project to analyze the impact of data quality on project outcomes.
  • Investigation of the role of data analytics in predicting project success.
  • Creation of a project to optimize project portfolio management through data analysis.
  • Developing a predictive modeling tool for identifying project risks using historical data.
  • Implementation of a data-driven project resource allocation strategy.
  • Designing a project to assess the impact of data-driven communication on project teams.
  • Integration of machine learning algorithms in project data analysis.
  • Evaluation of the effectiveness of data analytics in agile project management.

Marketing and Product Development

  • Development of a project to launch a new product in the market.
  • Implementation of a marketing campaign effectiveness measurement project.
  • Designing a project to analyze consumer behavior in product development.
  • Investigation of the impact of project management on product innovation.
  • Creation of a project to optimize the product development lifecycle.
  • Developing a project to assess the success of marketing projects using KPIs.
  • Implementation of a social media analytics project for marketing campaigns.
  • Designing a project to analyze the impact of branding on project outcomes.
  • Integration of project management principles in new product introduction projects.
  • Evaluation of the role of project managers in product development teams.

Supply Chain and Logistics Projects

  • Development of a project to optimize supply chain processes using data analytics.
  • Implementation of a blockchain-based supply chain management system.
  • Designing a project to assess the impact of project management on logistics efficiency.
  • Investigation of the role of project management in reducing supply chain risks.
  • Creation of a project to enhance collaboration among supply chain partners.
  • Developing a project to assess the environmental impact of supply chain activities.
  • Implementation of a project to improve inventory management processes.
  • Designing a project to analyze the impact of global disruptions on supply chain projects.
  • Integration of lean principles in supply chain project management.
  • Evaluation of the effectiveness of project management in reverse logistics.

Construction and Infrastructure Projects

  • Development of a project to optimize construction project schedules using BIM .
  • Implementation of a project to assess the impact of lean construction practices.
  • Designing a project to enhance safety practices in construction projects.
  • Investigation of the role of project management in reducing construction project delays.
  • Creation of a project to analyze the economic impact of infrastructure projects.
  • Developing a project to improve stakeholder engagement in construction projects.
  • Implementation of a project to assess the environmental impact of construction projects.
  • Designing a project to optimize resource allocation in large-scale construction projects.
  • Integration of project management principles in sustainable construction projects.
  • Evaluation of the impact of technology adoption on construction project outcomes.

These topics cover a broad range of quantitative research areas within project management. Depending on your specific interests and objectives, you can further refine or combine these topics.

Tips for Choosing a Research Topic

Let’s dive into the important tips for choosing quantitative project management research topics for beginners:

Relevance to Industry Needs:

Select a research topic that directly addresses current challenges or opportunities within your industry. Aligning your research with industry needs ensures practical applications and relevance, making your findings valuable to professionals and organizations.

Personal Interest and Expertise

Choose a topic that aligns with your personal interests and expertise. A genuine passion for the subject will fuel your motivation, making the research process more enjoyable and likely to yield meaningful insights. Leveraging your expertise enhances the credibility and depth of your research.

Contribution to Existing Knowledge

Before finalizing a topic, assess its potential contribution to existing knowledge in the field. Aim to fill gaps, challenge assumptions, or offer innovative perspectives. A research topic with the potential to contribute to the broader understanding of your subject area ensures its significance and impact within the academic and professional communities.

In conclusion, Quantitative Project Management Research topics stand as a cornerstone for achieving precision and success in project endeavors. By harnessing the power of data-driven insights, statistical methods, and modeling techniques, project managers can navigate complexities, make informed decisions, and optimize resource allocation. The benefits extend beyond individual projects, contributing to industry-wide advancements. 

As we continue to explore and innovate, the fusion of project management and quantitative research emerges as a driving force, propelling the field toward continuous improvement and excellence in project outcomes. Embrace the quantitative journey, where data transforms challenges into opportunities, ensuring a path to triumphant project delivery.

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Project Management Dissertation Topics

Published by Alvin Nicolas at January 10th, 2023 , Revised On May 17, 2024

Are you looking to select the best project management dissertation topic for your dissertation? To help you get started with brainstorming for project management topics, we have developed a list of the latest project management dissertation topics that can be used for writing your project management or operations management  dissertation.

These topics have been developed by PhD-qualified writers on our team , so you can trust them to use them when drafting your dissertation. If you have used one of the project management dissertation ideas provided on our website and want that removed from this page, please contact us via live chat, email or telecom.

Project management is an important area of study because the success of any business is largely dependent on successful project management. At ResearchProspect, we have many project management experts who can help you with topic selection, proposal writing and full dissertation writing.

Review the step-by-step guide on how to write your own dissertation here. Check our complete list of dissertation topics .

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Latest Project Management Research Topics

Management quality and control- assessing the role of project length in the uk construction sector..

Research Aim: The construction industry is one of the most significant contributors to the country’s economy. This study investigates the role of project length on management control and quality in the UK’s construction sector. Also, the research will analyse the connection between project length and quality control, considering the moderating impact of management quality control on a project’s success.

Sustainable Construction and Project Management- A review from literature.

Research Aim: The main aim of this study is to analyse the role of sustainability and sustainable construction in project management, focusing on the existing literature on sustainability, sustainable practices, and how it has impacted the project’s success within the construction industry. We will investigate how to achieve sustainability and its benefits to the construction industry.

Project Management- Evolution and Development from the past twenty years.

Research Aim: This study will examine the development and evolution of project management over the past twenty years taking account of how things have changed due to technological advancements, updated skills, and new trends. The paper will discuss theories and various aspects contributing to the changes and latest project management developments. Project management involves operation, risk, dynamics, and several other fields. This study will give you a proper understanding of how it has developed and evolved within these twenty years.

Visit our topics database to view 100s of dissertation topics in your research area.

Investigating the Challenges in Public Procurement for Project Management- A case study of UK's IT sector.

Research Aim: In many countries, public procurement estimates for a considerable market section can be essential in inspiring communities and achieving governmental objectives. Keeping this in mind, the government has set rules to regulate public procurement. This research will investigate the challenges faced in public procurement for project management in the UK’s IT sector, highlighting different socioeconomic factors national factors, balancing dynamic pressures, satisfying the requirements, and keeping an ultimate goal of maximising competition in mind.

Assessing the Impact of the Coronavirus Crisis on Project Delays and Digitalization - A case of the European Construction industry.

Research Aim: The COVID -19 pandemic has forced the countries to confront a new reality; the method adopted to prevent the spread has included social distancing and isolation and complete lockdowns, which caused several problems for the project managers and companies, and also resulted in indefinite delays. This study will examine the impact of the covid-19 crisis on the European construction industry, digitalisation’s role in reducing the negative consequences, and how the industry deals with the situation. a qualitative and quantitive research study will be conducted to get significant results for this study.

The Impact of Knowledge Management Practices on Organisational Performance in Private Sector

Research Aim: This research investigates the relationship between knowledge management practices and organizational performance within the private sector. It explores how various knowledge management strategies and initiatives influence these four key performance indicators: productivity, innovation, competitiveness, and financial outcomes.

The Mediating Role of Artificial Intelligence in Exploring the Impact of Leadership on Employee Performance

Research Aim: This study examines the mediating role of artificial intelligence in explaining the relationship between leadership styles and employee performance. It investigates how AI-enabled leadership practices influence employee productivity, engagement, satisfaction, and overall organisational effectiveness.

Investigating the Project Management Best Practices in the Healthcare Industry

Research Aim: This research explores project management best practices within the healthcare industry. It aims to identify key strategies and approaches that contribute to successful project execution, resource optimization, stakeholder satisfaction, and ultimately, improved healthcare outcomes.

The Role of Blockchain Technology in Improving Project Performance

Research Aim: The study investigates the role of blockchain technology in improving project performance across various industries. It examines its impact on project transparency, security, efficiency, and collaboration. The research aims to identify the key mechanisms through which blockchain technology can optimise project management processes and contribute to the achievement of project goals and objectives.

The Impact of Project Management Offices (PMO) on Company Management

Research Aim: This research examines the impact of Project Management Offices (PMOs) on company management practices. It focuses on how the establishment and operation of PMOs influence organisational decision-making, resource allocation, strategic alignment, project success rates, and overall business performance.

Exploring the Sustainability Practices in Project Management

Research Aim: This study explores sustainability practices within project management. It investigates how organisations integrate environmental, social, and economic considerations into project planning, execution, and evaluation. The research aims to identify best practices, challenges, and opportunities associated with sustainable project management.

The Role of Project Management in the Changing Consumer Behaviour and Market Trends in E-commerce

Research Aim: The research examines the role of project management in adapting to changing consumer behaviour and market trends within the e-commerce industry. The research aims to explore how project management methodologies and tools facilitate the identification, analysis, and implementation of initiatives that respond to evolving consumer preferences.

An Analysis of the Project Management Challenges in Dealing With Remote Teams

This study analyses the project management challenges associated with managing remote teams. It investigates the unique obstacles, communication barriers, coordination issues, and productivity concerns in distributed work environments. The research aims to identify effective techniques for overcoming these challenges and enhancing the success of projects conducted with remote teams.

Adopting Agile Project Management in Non-Traditional Industries

This study explores the process and outcomes of adopting Agile project management methodologies in non-traditional industries. It examines the challenges and implications of implementing Agile practices in sectors not conventionally associated with Agile approaches.

COVID -19 Project Management Research Topics

What lessons can we learn from the covid-19 (coronavirus) crisis.

Research Aim: The coronavirus outbreak is a major concern for the health of potentially hundreds of thousands of people. It also impacts the global economy with tourism, aviation, and hospitality, which were the hardest-hit industries initially. This research aims to identify the strategies that would enable us to minimise the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the efficiency of organisations. ndemic as notified by the World Health Organisation has had a significant impact on busines

How to Minimise the Impact of the COVID-19 Virus on an Organisation?

Research Aim: The coronavirus outbreak is a major concern for the health of potentially hundreds of thousands of people. It also impacts the global economy with tourism, aviation, and hospitality the initially hardest-hit industries. This research aims to identify the strategies that would enable us to minimise the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the efficiency of organisations.

Project Management and COVID-19: How to Manage an Extraordinary Crisis?

Research Aim: While we’re still early days into the crisis, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that COVID-19 is a black swan event. You couldn’t have predicted it, nor could you have anticipated its impact. Conventional rules go out the window during such a crisis. There is no standard risk management playbook for dealing with a worldwide epidemic; you have to improvise and adapt on the fly. This research will discuss this extraordinary event, how to deal with it, and minimise its impact on your organisation.

Project Management in the Times of COVID-19

Research Aim: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as notified by the World Health Organisation has had a significant impact on businesses the world over. More and more countries are being impacted every day with substantial loss of life and business. This study will investigate how business organisations around the world have been proactive in minimising the COVID-19 impact for their customers, and at the same time, helped their customers to run and deliver efficient services for their customers.

How the UK Government is Supporting Businesses with Project Management (PMO) and Governance During COVID-19?

Research Aim: The main aim of the research will be to focus on identifying the strategies and policies implemented by the UK government to support businesses with project management and governance during the Covid-19 crisis.

Should Project Risk Management Take the Pandemic into Consideration?

Research Aim: Considering the world has endured pandemics before, this is, in theory, a known risk. But you likely did not include it in your project risk register, as it is very unlikely. In this case, the risk is unknown to you because you and your team didn’t identify this risk. Whether we agree or not, no one in the world was able to assess the impact of COVID-19 before it happened accurately—and there is still uncertainty about its implications moving forward. Consequently, this may not be part of project risk management. This research explores what we can do in such a scenario.

COVID-19 Challenges and Response: How Procurement Underpins the World Bank’s Response to the Pandemic?

Research Aim: The World Bank Group is committed to providing a fast, flexible response to the coronavirus pandemic. It offers financing, policy advice, and technical assistance in every region, from healthcare and education to trade and technology. In this research study, we explore how different teams around the World Bank Group are responding to the challenges ahead.

How to Win a New Project in the Times of COVID-19?

Research Aim: COVID-19 might have derailed project plans for many organisations, but it’s worth considering what might still be possible remotely. There might be more to salvage than we think, which this research study will explore.

Communication Through Crisis: Keeping Project Management Effective in the Wake of COVID-19

Research Aim: The evolution of managing projects is taking a turn during this COVID-19 crisis. Instead of holding a conference call for a few locations where groups of people are in the same room, we are now facilitating sessions where everyone is in a separate location. Think about that for a minute. You are promoting a meeting with ten people, and no one is in the same room. Can we be successful in this new environment? This research aims to identify the communication tools and policies that would enable organisations to respond to the challenges posed by the Covid-10 crisis effectively.

Preventive Measures for Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Research Aim: Employers and occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals have a vital role to play in preventing the spread of coronavirus. To mitigate the spread of the disease, an increasing number of employers are making efforts to modify working patterns, including encouraging staff to work from home if they develop any of the symptoms. This research will investigate the preventive measures taken by business organisations to deal with the Covid-19 crisis.

Considerations for Business and Risk Managers During the Coronavirus/COVID-19 Outbreak

Research Aim: The situation for businesses and risk managers is changing rapidly after the outbreak of COVID-19. Alongside the obvious risks to human health, we also see severe disruption-related impacts on organisations arising from travel and opening restrictions, event cancellations, workforce issues, supply chain disruptions, financial and market volatility, and cash flow problems. This research study will talk about the considerations for business and risk managers during the Coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak.

Coping with Coronavirus: Strategies to Mitigate Business Risks

Research Aim: What would happen to your organisation if illness led to a sudden reduction of more than 40% of the workforce? In this research, the researcher will use a mixed research method to uncover the strategies businesses can adopt to cope with coronavirus and mitigate business risks.

Dissertation Topics in Project Management Dynamics and Influences

Correlation between brand dominance and influencer marketing: a case study of lux.

Research Aim: This study is based on the correlation between the dominance of brands via influencer marketing. The main objective is to determine the positive or negative impact of the correlation between brand dominancy via influencer marketing.

Analysis of Strategies to Incorporate Innovative Services into Consumer Lives

Research Aim:  This research will analyse the best strategies that need the contemporary life model of consumers and are essentially required to be addressed to meet the modern era’s current requirements.

Factors that Influence Customers Satisfaction on Brand Success: A Case Study of Young Adults

Research Aim:  This study will investigate how brand success relies on customer satisfaction. Identifying determinants of customer satisfaction will be the key objective of this work.

Impacts of Artificial Intelligence on Project Management

Research Aim:  This research aims to identify the Impacts of Artificial Intelligence on Project Management. It will also address the advantages and disadvantages of Artificial Intelligence using the existing literature.

Importance of Soft Skills in Project Management

Research Aim:  This research aims to identify the importance of Soft skills in Project Management. Students may use any example project as the base of the research.

The Role of Digital and Remote Teams in Project Management

Research Aim:  This research aims to address the role of Digital and Remote teams in Project Management. It will be a comparative study of both types of team that covers and assess their advantages and disadvantages.

The Importance of Soft Skills in Project Management-Case Study

Research Aim: This research aims to address the importance of Soft skills in Project Management. A case study will evaluate project managers’ soft skills and their association with teammates in the workplace. It will also suggest ways to improve the soft skills of all the employees in an organisation.

Hybrid Project Management Approaches

Research Aim:  This research aims to address the role of Hybrid Project Management approaches and their growing popularity.

Importance of Change Management

Research Aim: Change Management is an important skill that a project manager needs to possess to meet organisational transitions’ challenges. This research aims to highlight the importance of change management and its implementation in the working environment.

Culture and Conflict Management

Research Aim:  This research focuses on culture and conflict management in the workplace, addresses the issues of concern, and suggests possible solutions.

Dissertation Topics in Project Management Dynamics and Organizational Success

Is project management software worth the cost.

Research Aim:  Project management, as an individual academic subject, has flourished in recent decades. With it has come companies and software development firms that churn out what they consider project management tools most focused on scheduling time, cost, and team. The research will analyse different project management software to conclude if they increase productivity and lead to project success.

Team Conflict Dynamic Model & Project Success Written by Ruskin Bond

Research Aim:  The research will use the team conflict dynamics model to analyse different conflict types and team conflict profiles to produce resolutions that can improve or lead to project success.

Research Aim:  The research will examine how the cultures of project managers may influence their methods of conflict resolution. How does a project manager’s culture affect how they name, frame, blame and try to tame conflict in their project? Learn more about  Conflict Management.

Analysing the Impact of Project Management Principles and System Dynamics on Humanitarian Logistics

Research Aim:  Recent environmental disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis have increased the need for humanitarian logistics around the world as such events have claimed the lives of millions while also causing millions in infrastructure damage. To reduce these damages improvements, need to be made to logistics operations. The research paper will analyse System Dynamics (SD) in collaboration with humanitarian logistics, which factors in stakeholders, responses, flows in the supply chain, and its interactions. The study aims to recommend adaptations to project management theories to modify them as a tool for planning processes of humanitarian operations.

Analysing the Project Delay Causes and How Global Construction Companies Are Coping with It

Research Aim: The main aim of the research will be to identify the leading causes and symptoms of project delays and how they impact the project life cycle. The second phase of the project will be focused on how global construction companies have devised different strategies to cope with this issue.

Assessing the Importance of Communication in Maintaining Quality and Timely Delivery of Project Activities

Research Aim: This research will be focus re, through the mediation of i on analysing the significance of communication between the project organisation and its stakeholders (both internal and external) and how this efficient communication helps the organisation in maintaining quality and timely delivery of project activities.

Identifying the Factors of Project Selection: Does a Drastic Shift in Project Benefits Approach Towards Customer-Centricity?

Research Aim:  The primary purpose of this research paper is to identify the most critical factors that help in selecting a project. This paper will specifically be focusing on analysing the shift of the project benefits approach towards customer-centricity. Project benefits are focused more on attaining tangible things such as high sales, more revenue, faster call handling times, etc.; whereas customer centricity approach is focused more on selecting those clients who are easy to work with, having high brand value, etc.

Analysing the Impact of Project Misalignment with Business Objectives on the Overall Project Performance

Research Aim:  COVID-19 might have derailed project plans for many organisations, but it’s worth considering what might still be possible remotely. There might be more to salvage than we think, which this research study will explore.

Assessing the Importance of Project Management Soft Skills in the Context of Project Success Rates

Research Aim:  This research will conduct a detailed critical analysis of project management soft skills, including its benefits and cost and how it helps the project in achieving the desired result and outcome.

Analysing the Impact of Psychosocial Stressors on Project Manager Performance. The Mediating Effect of Organisational Culture

Research Aim:  Using a research model, the impact of psychosocial stressors (health & well-being, work individual interface, work environment, etc.) is tested on project managers’ performance using dimensions of performance. Project managers are asked to complete a questionnaire that will be the basis of collecting empirical data. The data is then analysed using Smart PLS.

Analysing the Impact of Culture on Project Performance in the IT Industry

Research Aim: The research aims to analyse the causes of delay and failure due to cultural factors. The research model investigates the impact of national culture and organisational culture, through the mediation of interpersonal conflict, on project performance which is measured through various dimensions.

Examining the Impact of Organization to Implementation of Project Management Practices

Research Aim:  In this research, the researcher will use mixed methods research techniques to undercover the informal people-focused project management practices that are implemented in SMEs. Using interviews and surveys, firms from a specific industry will be selected to collect data to examine the firm’s perceived size and how it impacts project management practices.

Examining Project Management Research Trends that Influence Project Success

Research Aim: The researcher will use systematic literature review techniques to identify and analyse project management research trends. Then using comparative analysis, a plausible relationship between project management research trends and social and economic trends is analysed.

Analysing the Impact of Project Management Maturity Factors on Project Success in Large Enterprises

Research Aim:  The role of projects has significantly increased worldwide due to more improved international standards and training in the field. Many studies still identify that the number of successful projects hasn’t changed. This research aims to study the possible relationship between project performance/success factors and organisational project management maturity.

The Impact of Agile Project Management on Productivity in the IT Industry

Research Aim:  The research will use quantitative research techniques to analyse the impact on productivity in companies working in the IT industry. Mainly, productivity will be measured using the dimension of customer satisfaction, improvement of productivity, and job satisfaction. Empirical hypothesis testing methods will be used to analyse and report the outputs of the data.

Agile-Scrum for Healthcare Project Management

Research Aim:  Agile-scrum project management was developed originally for the IT industry; however, it has unlimited potential to bring benefits to other sectors, including the healthcare industry. The research will attempt to show how it may be applied in the healthcare industry to develop frameworks to improve quality, timeliness, and overall value for delivering healthcare in a large-scale patient setting.  Learn about creating the best environment for research and writing your project.

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Research-Based Project Management Dissertation Topics

Investigating project management success for project-oriented business organisations from the perspective of technical capacity, organisation structure, and leadership.

Research Aim: This research will talk about the different ways a high-achieving, project-oriented firm utilises project management to enhance its organisational structure and leadership. The study will also analyse the technical capacity of organisations based on the implementation and success of project management techniques.

Understanding The Role Of Project Management Soft Skills To Increase Project Success Rates – Review Of Statistically Meaningful And Documented Evidence

Research Aim: This research aims to analyse the impact of project management soft skills on the success of the project. This will be done using statistical data and evidence.

Understanding The Role Of Project Management Methodologies To Increase Project Success Rates – Review Of Statistically Meaningful And Documented Evidence

Research Aim:  This research will evaluate the role of project management methodologies and the impact it has on project success. Statistical data and evidence will be used for this research.

The Impact of Project Manager’s Optimism and Stress Management on IT Project Success

Research Aim:  The research aims to uncover how soft competencies of IT project management affect project success. The study will focus on optimism and stress’s impact on IT project success. The study will be conducted using empirical research methods using a survey or questionnaire distributed to managers. The study’s data is proposed to be analysed using structural equation modelling.

Analysing Critical Success Factors of Project Management on Global Software Development

Research Aim:  The study will use quantitative research methods to identify critical success factors related to project management in global software development (GSD). The study will analyse the variation of essential success factors with respect to project type and size and company type and size. The data will be analysed using inferential statistics.

Analysing the Impact of Strategic Roles in Project Management Office on Business Ecosystems

Research Aim: The study will examine seven project management office roles for the achievement of strategic planning in large public sector organisations in the UK. The proposed research will use a questionnaire survey to collect data from project managers in public organisations that have project management office (PMO) units. The data collected will then be analysed using multiple regression.

Examining Project Stakeholder Management (PSM) using Fuzzy Cognitive Map Modeling

Research Aim:  The research paper aims to analyse current methodologies related to the support of PSM. The study aims to improve the practice of project stakeholder management methodologies using Fuzzy Cognitive Map modelling. The data will be collected using a case study of a public organisation in the UK.

Examining the Impact of Risk Management Use on Information Systems Project Success

Research Aim:  The proposed study will analyse the impact of risk management practices on information systems projects to address the continued industry practice of geographically separated teams. The data for the study will be collected using a survey of information systems project managers. The study will attempt to establish a relationship between risk management practices and successful outcomes. The data collected will be analysed using correlation analysis.

Improving Project Management Model – Implementing Support Factors into Earned Value Management (EVM)

Research Aim: The study proposes to integrate supporting factors into the Earned Value Management (EVM) model such as earned schedule, quality management, and risk management. The purpose of the study is to integrate these factors to examine the weaknesses and limitations of the current EVM model. The model will be tested on a small sample project. Numerical data will be collected and analysed using the model to validate its performance.

Examining The Differences Between Process Groups And Project Life Cycle – Potential Problems For PM Practitioners

Research Aim:  The proposed research analyses the differences in phases of a project life cycle and process groups. The study aims to examine how both methods are practically implemented in a project environment. The data will be collected using questionnaires sampled from project managers in the UK across various sectors. The questionnaire data will then be analysed using inferential statistics.

Analysing the Importance of Project Management in Law Firms

Research Aim: The study will explore the concepts of legal project management, its definition, application, and advantages. The research will examine various law firms in the UK that have implemented legal project management to improve their performance. The data will be collected using surveys of law firms in the UK and analysed using inferential statistics.

Examining Factors for Project Success in the UK

Research Aim: The methodologies of project management are not limited to construction and national defence projects, and they extend to many other industries. The proposed study will analyse to what extent project management tools and methodologies are effective in these industries in the UK. The research will survey project managers in the UK across various industries and sectors, focusing on project risks, project management methodology, organisational support, and project management tool usage.

Analysing the Role of Project Management Practices in Private Organisations

Research Aim:  The study aims to identify and analyse the project management practices that are commonly used in private organisations generally and sectors of activity. The research also examines practitioners’ characteristics when choosing between project management practices and their use in groups. The study will be conducted using a mixed-methods research methodology, using surveys and interviews to collect data.

Examining the Impact of Cost Salience and Information Asymmetry on Incentive Contract and Project Manager’s Profit

Research Aim: The study will analyse the impact of subjective assessments of cost salience and project variability using the framework of uncertainty theory and principal agency theory. The study will examine the effect of these variables on a project manager’s profit. The research will be conducted using case study methodology, explicitly focusing on cases where project managers pay contractors over a menu of deadline-based incentive contracts to undertake a project broken into two sequential tasks.

Examining the Impact of Employment Background and Social Media Usage on Project Management and Communication

Research Aim:  The proposed research looks to examine the use of social media on project work. The study aims to analyse social media features, preferences, and opinions within projects. The data will be collected using a random sampling of individuals across the UK who are actively involved or participating in projects. The data collection instrument will be a questionnaire survey that gathers information on variables of social media preferences, opinions, and usage of social media for project purposes.

Examining the Agile Management Approach to Develop a Risk Management Framework in Construction Projects

Research Aim: The study will propose an agile management concept that uses a risk management framework that races alignments and discovers connections between Agile and traditional project management concepts. The purpose of the research is to deal with risk in construction projects that are built based on the Agile management concept.

Also Read:  Construction Engineering Dissertation Topics Why is engineering management critical?

Dissertation Topics on Project Management in Construction Industry

The impact of inter-organisational projects (iops) on project delivery methods.

Research Aim:  The purpose of the research is to examine how actors use relational, institutional work (IOPs) to activate key stakeholders from coupled subfields to institutionalise new project delivery methods. The study will be cross-sectional and be based on the UK construction industry. The study will use mixed methods research.

Proposing a Multi-Methods Framework of Project Management Operations and Total Building Performance- Towards a Low Carbon Construction Industry

Research Aim:  The research will develop a new multi-methodology framework to analyse the effects of the building development project process that includes operations management, building energy consumption, carbon emissions, and indoor environmental quality (IEQ).

Analysing Practices, Needs, & Delivery Benefits of Small to Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) of Project Management in the Construction Industry

Research Aim:  The research will examine the nature of SMEs in the construction industry that allows them to adopt informal practices of project management and explore its comparative costs and benefits. The research will use mixed methods research techniques to collect and analyse data.

Examining Causes and Effects of Poor Communication in the Construction Industry

Research Aim:  The research will examine the identification of causes and effects that may result in poor communication in the construction industry of the UK. The research will use mixed methods research to conduct a study to compare current and past factors that may result in poor communication through the project life cycle of construction projects.

Analysing Risk Management in Procurement Options in the Construction Industry

Research Aim:  The purpose of the study is to analyse the various risk management factors according to procurement options – design-bid-build, design-build, and collaborative forming contracts. The research will use mixed methods research to collect and analyse data.

The Impact of Organisational Characters on Construction Project Performance

Research Aim: The research will examine the relationship between project performance and organisational characteristics in construction companies. The study will use key performance indicators (KPIs) to collect data on project performance. The study will also document organisational aspects using social network analysis tools. The study will be conducted using quantitative research techniques.

Also Read: Construction Engineering Dissertation Topics

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Dissertation Topics on Different Project Management Knowledge Areas

Conflict management/resolution, the role of the project manager in internal and external relationship management – a study on new project management.

Research Aim:  The study will use mixed methods research to identify the roles of project managers in internal relationship management and external relationship management. The analysis will both recognise and categorise the role groups to provide evidence for understanding the change from traditional project management to new project management.

Examining the relationship between Project’s Added Value and Trust-Conflict Interaction among Project Teams – A Study on Calculative and Relational Trust

Research Aim: The research aims to investigate the impact of trust-conflict interactions on project teams and project-added value. The research will use calculative and relational trust dimensions to study its influence on project-added values with the dimensions of project conflict, task conflict, and relationship conflict. The proposed study will be using structural equation modelling for data analysis.

Topics in Leadership

The mediating role of leadership styles in the relationship between emotional intelligence and collaboration satisfaction – perspectives from emotional intelligence.

Research Aim: The research will examine the relationship between the emotional intelligence of project leaders and satisfaction outcomes perceived by team members under the dimensions of performance contribution satisfaction, efficiency satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, and interest satisfaction. The study will analyse this relationship through the mediation factor of various leadership styles using structural equation modelling.

A Framework for Balancing Person-Centered Leadership and Team-centered Leadership in Project Managers – Examining Archer's Realist Social Theory

Research Aim:  The research will use Archer’s Realist Social theory to develop a framework for comprehending the project manager interaction between person-centred leadership and team-centred leadership. The study will be conducted using mixed methods research for data collection and analysis.

Topics in Scheduling (Time)

Project scheduling for construction of renewable energy plants using critical path method – application of planning and scheduling.

Research Aim: The proposed study will analyse the construction project demands of various coordinated activities with differing durations and dependencies in a large-scale biogas plant. The study will focus on applications of planning and scheduling to analyse a biogas plant construction project using the critical path method.

Setting Effective Target Benefits using Project Benefits Management – A Research using Goal Setting Theory

Research Aim:  The research will use goal-setting theory to present case studies to validate the scale of practical target benefits. To verify the scale, empirical research techniques will be used to analyse the dimensions of specificity, attainability, and comprehensiveness.

Topics in Quality Management

Improving quality using multi-project strategies – new competence-based theories.

Research Aim: The research aims to analyse the differences in traditional approaches and new competence-based approaches to improving quality. The research will use variables of variety and innovation, project scope, and property of specifications to analyse the impacts on quality. The study is conducted using empirical techniques.

Analysing the Impact of Cultural Heritage on Project Appraisal and Quality Assurance in Major Public Investments – A Case Study

Research Aim:  The proposed research will examine the methods with which cultural heritage values are handled in early phase evaluations of major public investment projects in the UK. The research will use a case study document analysis to analyse how cultural heritage issues are addressed in early project phases.

Topics in HR Management

Adopting dynamic capability among human resource-related quality management practices – improving product development.

Research Aim:  The research study will use a theoretical framework to investigate the relationships among human resources related to quality management practices, new product development as a dynamic capability, strategic flexibility, and knowledge integration. The data collected and analysis will be conducted using structural equation modelling.

Allocation of Human Resources to Projects in Service Units – A Comparative Study

Research Aim: The research looks to identify resource allocation issues and practices in service units whose responsibility is both project and non-project activities. The research will portray mechanisms of top-down resource allocation that need to be supplemented or replaced with those that provide greater flexibility. The research techniques used will be empirical.

Also Read: HRM Dissertation Topics

Topics in Communication

The impact of national and organisational culture on communication in projects.

Research Aim: The research will use independent variables of national and organisational culture under Hofstede’s dimensions of culture to analyse the impact of these on communication in projects. The study will use quantitative techniques for data collection and analysis.

Cross-Cultural and Intercultural Competencies in Project Management of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)

Research Aim:  The purpose of the research is to understand the requirements of intercultural communication competencies that are needed when engaging in cross-cultural project management in the non-profit sector. The study will be conducted using mixed methods research techniques, including questionnaires and interviews.

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Important Notes:

As a project management student looking to get good grades, it is essential to develop new ideas and experiment with existing project management theories – i.e., to add value and interest to your research topic.

The field of project management is vast and interrelated to so many other academic disciplines like  civil engineering ,  construction ,  law , engineering management , healthcare , mental health , artificial intelligence , tourism , physiotherapy , sociology , management , marketing and nursing . That is why it is imperative to create a project management dissertation topic that is particular, sound and actually solves a practical problem that may be rampant in the field.

We can’t stress how important it is to develop a logical research topic; it is the basis of your entire research. There are several significant downfalls to getting your topic wrong: your supervisor may not be interested in working on it, the topic has no academic creditability, the research may not make logical sense, and there is a possibility that the study is not viable.

This impacts your time and efforts in  writing your dissertation as you may end up in a cycle of rejection at the very initial stage of the dissertation. That is why we recommend reviewing existing research to develop a topic, taking advice from your supervisor, and even asking for help in this particular stage of your dissertation.

Keeping our advice in mind while developing a research topic will allow you to pick one of the best project management dissertation topics that fulfil your requirement of writing a research paper and adds to the body of knowledge.

Therefore, it is recommended that when finalizing your dissertation topic, you read recently published literature to identify gaps in the research that you may help fill.

Remember- dissertation topics need to be unique, solve an identified problem, be logical, and be practically implemented. Take a look at some of our sample project management dissertation topics to get an idea for your own dissertation.

How to Structure Your Project Management Dissertation

A well-structured   dissertation can help students   to achieve a high overall academic grade.

  • A Title Page
  • Acknowledgements
  • Declaration
  • Abstract: A summary of the research completed
  • Table of Contents
  • Literature Review :  This chapter presents relevant theories and frameworks by analysing published and unpublished literature available on the chosen research topic, in light of  research questions to be addressed. The purpose is to highlight and discuss the relative weaknesses and strengths of the selected research area whilst identifying any research gaps. Break down of the topic and key terms can have a positive impact on your dissertation and your tutor.
  • Methodology:  The  data collection  and  analysis methods and techniques employed by the researcher are presented in the Methodology chapter, which usually includes  research design, research philosophy, research limitations, code of conduct, ethical consideration, data collection methods, and  data analysis strategy .
  • Findings and Analysis: The findings of the research are analysed in detail in the Findings and Analysis chapter. All key findings/results are outlined in this chapter without interpreting the data or drawing any conclusions. It can be useful to include  graphs ,  charts, and  tables in this chapter to identify meaningful trends and relationships.
  • Discussion  and  Conclusion: The researcher presents his interpretation of results in this chapter and states whether the research hypothesis has been verified or not. An essential aspect of this section of the paper is to draw a linkage between the results and evidence from the literature. Recommendations with regard to the implications of the findings and directions for the future may also be provided. Finally, a summary of the overall research, along with final judgments, opinions, and comments, must be included in the form of suggestions for improvement.
  • References:  This should be completed in accordance with your University’s requirements
  • Bibliography
  • Appendices:  Any additional information, diagrams, graphs that were used to  complete the  dissertation  but not part of the dissertation should be included in the Appendices chapter. Essentially, the purpose is to expand the information/data.

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To discover project management dissertation topics:

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152 High Quality Project Management Research Topics To Consider

project management research topics

Every student needs project management skills, but more importantly, you need project management topics for research papers or essays. It’s for high school, college, MBA, or post-graduate students, as these will define the shape and subject matter your essay or paper will review.

Project management skills are knowledge, techniques, and tools that are valuable to everybody’s professional life. It significantly impacts society, and the only way to be ascertained as someone who possesses the techniques is by excelling in the project management course.

However, you need these research topics for project management to create a reflection of your insight into the industry. This is what this blog post is about, but before diving deep, what exactly is project management?

What Is Project Management?

It’s a means to define the scope of a new project and its phases; planning, monitoring, and taking care of labor, financial and other resources to effectively manage risk and ensure all-round success on the project.

Project management is even a skill learned by every professional in every field, and evaluating topics in the industry can prepare you for the future. Here are some interesting project management topics for research papers to write about.

How To Conduct Research For A Thesis

Researching for your thesis is how you set the groundwork for your paper or essay. The following are what you should consider:

Identifying Your Topic:  Knowing what to write about is the first step in the writing process. You need to comb through your coursework, materials, and possibly previous papers to identify the gaps in existing research and choose a topic for yourself. If you can’t do this, you already have options to choose from any of the custom project management research paper topics above. Find Sources:  Every paper, essay, or thesis finds strengths/value from existing research. Your research/report may not be worthwhile if it isn’t corroborated by existing research. You can find sources by checking your school’s library and utilizing online libraries like Google Scholar or Google Books. You can also find industry journals with relevant information to your research interests. All of these make it easy to create comprehensive research. In all these, take notes. These notes will help when you start to write your essay, paper, or report. Write Your Thesis Statement:  This statement decides the focus and pathway of your research. It’s a sentence that encapsulates your speculation and what the research will be about. It’s what you extend to create your report as it’s used to explore the subject matter, arguments, facts, and other data, showing that you’re an expert on the topic you chose to handle. Researching existing papers, as suggested earlier, will make it easy to craft a specific and tangible thesis. Write, Edit, and Proofread:  Writing is the next stage after the thesis. You must have also discovered your research questions as they’ll contribute to the focus of your research. Writing begins when you pour everything you know about the subject onto paper. You state your argument, collaborate with facts (which are well referenced), integrate other scholars’ arguments to validate yours, and take a rational approach when appraising your arguments.

You should also cite as many sources as possible to show that your work is grounded in research. After this, take some time off to reread and edit your work. This process lets you read your work with new eyes, which makes it easy to spot errors and other inadequacies.

You can also share your paper with a colleague, a lecturer, or a family member who’s vast in the field to spot gaps in your argument and grammar. When this is clear, proofread and format your paper, adhering to the instructions provided by your faculty.

Project Management Topics For Research

Project management is a core subject for MBA students, and if you’re not, it’s still a core skill for every employee in today’s world. Maximizing your understanding of it through papers and essays is one of the ways to improve your expertise. Here are some topics for you:

  • Identify the most defining technology product for project management and why professionals should use it.
  • Examine the soft skills to complement project management
  • What does culture management mean
  • Analyze the factors that affect the success of a project
  • History and development of project management
  • The core principles guiding successful project management
  • How effective are any three project management tips of your choice?
  • Identify major factors leading to project delays
  • Examine the project management stages
  • How is conflict managed in any two companies of your choice?
  • What is the impact of culture on the success of any two companies of your choice?
  • Explain the risks in project management
  • Identify how entrepreneurs manage innovation
  • Explain how project management is aligned with business growth
  • Evaluate how to execute a project
  • Discuss how stress affects project success
  • What are the challenges discovered in information systems?
  • How can a company carry out its project management scheme?
  • Who are the thought leaders in project management?
  • How does leadership affect project management systems?
  • What is the role of project managers in assuming risks?
  • What are the procedures for evaluating risks?
  • What is the process of investment analysis?
  • How does a company choose what to invest in and what not to invest in?
  • Evaluate the significance of stakeholders in project management
  • Review the significant needs for sustainable project management
  • What do you need for business analysis?
  • What does project procurement management mean?
  • Evaluate the project management trends in the past decade
  • The challenges facing the project management industry
  • Case of two companies: The failure of project management
  • What are the modern approaches to project management?

Project Management Research Paper Topics

College and post-graduate students need easy yet comprehensive project management topics for research papers. It’s their way of understanding the practical world and theorizing about it. These are some topics to explore:

  • Evaluate how project management skills evolved from traditional work to remote work.
  • Discuss any four management techniques and their importance to project management
  • Attempt a case study of McKinsey’s efforts in any sector of yours
  • Evaluate the work of Boston Consulting Group in a sector of your choice
  • Discuss the contemporary approaches to sustainable project management tips
  • Evaluate what the stakeholder’s theory means
  • What are the different types of risks taken by project management companies?
  • Evaluate the macroenvironmental that affect McKinsey
  • Evaluate leadership styles and their consequences on project management
  • What are the prospects of project management?
  • How technology shaped the project management industry in the past five years
  • The role of pre-execution plans for project management
  • How can different strategies help with efficient management practices?
  • What can be considered sustainable practices in the industry?
  • Relationship between entrepreneurship and project management
  • Why are startups big on project management
  • Evaluate the role of McKinsey in France
  • Discuss the role of project management companies during COVID-19
  • How do the increasing demands for project managers increase workflow?
  • Does an efficient project management budget increase the success rate?

Research Project Topics In Business Management

Business management is a segment that oversees business operations and efficiency. It’s also a way to ascertain business growth through several techniques, including management. Here are some topics for project management research:

  • Why do companies need corporate social responsibilities?
  • Cite how Nike’s social responsibility contributes to its growth
  • What does employee motivation do for companies?
  • How can employees be best rewarded for their work?
  • Explain the impact of change in the project management sector, especially since 2020
  • Discuss the reward system and its significance
  • How does employee productivity increase performance
  • How does employee comfort improve business success?
  • Why is micromanaging dangerous for businesses?
  • How can communication improve organizational efficiency?
  • Has labor actions affected Amazon? Discuss
  • Do labor strikes affect companies?
  • How do you improve organizational performance?
  • Discuss the meaning of SWOT and PESTLE analysis and their value
  • Choose a company of your choice and analyze when it started being profitable
  • How does knowledge contribute to business growth?
  • Customer data makes it easy to understand business: explain
  • Time management determines the success or failure of a project: Discuss
  • How does a business choose its pricing policy?
  • How communication improves project success
  • Why does conflict arise during teamwork?
  • Why do companies take risks?
  • Explain corporate growth and how it occurs
  • Discuss what change mobilization means
  • How to scale a corporate company’s success
  • Significance of virtual meetings during remote projects
  • How does job enrichment relate to job performance?
  • Five strategies to evaluate business performance
  • How do businesses evolve their management abilities?
  • How inventory management is central to project management.

Research Paper Topics For Software Project Management

If you’re fascinated by software development or are intent on the software as a service (SaaS) part of the industry, you also need to flex your abilities in project management. Here are some of the top project management topics for research for your sector:

  • The most attractive software development skills companies need
  • How do you understand data?
  • How does Amazon maximize its deep learning systems to improve customer experience?
  • Google’s search engine algorithm and how it works for a company’s SEO efforts
  • Ways to maximize student soft skills development
  • How voice systems improve data security
  • What makes social data vulnerable to cyber-attacks?
  • The role of any two companies in performing quality assurance tests
  • What would you say are the critical parts of software projects
  • How ethics relate to software development
  • Explain the stages of quality assurance testing
  • Discuss the primary ways to avoid risks in software development
  • Performance metrics to know the success of software development
  • Project management technology and the place of SaaS
  • How your selected company is changing project management
  • Challenges facing the software development industry
  •  The difference between project management systems for small and large businesses
  • Discuss the essence of simulations in software development
  • Identify the core practices that influence software growth
  • Analyze the role of the Internet of Things in software tools for project management.

Construction Project Management Research Topics

The construction industry also requires efficient management for the growth of the industry. This relies on how a location is mapped, prepared for construction, and other plans that go into executing a project idea. Here are some project management research topics for you:

  • The tech tools used in construction today
  • What are the preliminary plans that precede construction?
  • Conduct a thorough study on the construction industry in the UK
  • How does technology influence construction procedures?
  • The role of cranes in the construction industry
  • Explain why eco-friendly constructions are increasing in popularity
  • How construction companies undergo a risk assessment
  • Discuss why construction management education is relevant
  • Examine the role of culture in the construction philosophy of two countries of your choices
  • Identify the meaning of professional competency in the construction industry
  • Identify the ways to ensure worker safety
  • Discuss how local cultures influence building projects in an environment of your choice
  • How does China cope with the real estate boom?
  • Role of engineering colleges in the construction management sector
  • What are the everyday construction ethics in the industry?
  • Explain infrastructure asset
  • Discuss the role of 3D modeling in the management of construction projects
  • How social media contributes to the management of the construction industry
  • Robotics in the construction industry: a detailed analysis
  • How do Germans maintain their homes?

Cost Benefit Analysis Project Management Related Research Topics

Cost-benefit assesses what’s preferable between two options for businesses. It’s also applicable to other industries where there’s a need to compare and contrast to identify the most viable idea for a company. Here are some topics to consider:

  • How to decide the project management plan for a company
  • Metrics that determine the success level of a project plan
  • How do remote teams decide their choices of project management software
  • What are the deciding factors in choosing a budget management tool?
  • How does the shift from office to remote team influence the project management industry?
  • Discuss the role of trust in managing a remote team
  • Shifting to green: What is the cost for the construction industry
  • What is the cost of eco-friendly products in the e-commerce industry
  • How cryptocurrency mining contributes to environmental hazards
  • Why do businesses need regulation?
  • The significance of data in the business world
  • How is project management integral to business growth?
  • Why do projects fail even when there’s a plan?
  • What are the prerequisites for having a management plan?
  • How can an e-commerce company manage its inventory?

Agile Project Management In IT Industries Research Topics

You may also need to cover the IT industry in general. It’s an industry that penetrates several others, making them significant in their operations. Here are some topics from a top rated thesis helper :

  • The role of big data in e-commerce
  • How data is used to improve delivery systems
  • The role of SEO for company blogs
  • What role does content marketing play for product-based businesses?
  • Cloud technology and how it radically improves communication
  • Virtual reality and how it helps the world
  • The role of visualization and 3D modeling in the construction industry
  • How Apple has influenced the smartphone industry
  • Why is China’s technology a threat to the world?
  • Recent IT growths in project management
  • Blockchain technology and its role in the financial sector
  • How technology helps with a risk evaluation and assessment
  • Identify five of the major soft skills essential to maximizing project management potential for success
  • Are project leaders different from company leaders
  • Examine the processes involved in the initiation stage of project management.

Get Project Management Research Help

Writing an interesting research paper or essay isn’t an easy feat, and we believe every student needs writing assistance. This could be in the form of a guide to writing your business thesis or choosing your topic, and this blog has helped in that regard. Like many other students, you may even need expert help from professional writers who have dedicated a substantial part of their careers to crafting creative papers.

This is where we can be helpful. Suppose you need an expert writer, editor, or proofreader to create or assess your paper, we will be happy to help. Our team of experienced, top-rated, and expert online writers is trained to provide you with top-notch writing assistance.

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Top Project Management Research Topics of 2024

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Jan 05, 2024

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How to Write a Project Management Research Paper?

Project management research topics - selection tips, impact of reward system on boosting productivity, examining the causes of project delays and the ways global construction companies are coping with it, analyzing the impact of strategic roles in project management office on business ecosystems, examining causes and effects of poor communication in the construction industry, cost-benefit analysis project management related research topics, agile project management in it industries, checking the impact of psychosocial stressors on project manager performance. , team conflict dynamic model & project success written by ruskin bond.

The process of managing projects is of preparing and coordinating, carrying out, and completing a particular job, occasion, or other specific goal employing a variety of processes and skills, as well as knowledge and expertise. Are you currently required to write a project management thesis? Are you in search of outstanding research topics in project management and suggestions? If yes, this blog is specially for you. Read on and you will discover some great options for your research on project management. Additionally, you can learn how to compose a good project-managing research essay or a thesis.

The management of projects is based on specific information, tools methods, strategies, and abilities to provide something useful to individuals. There are various types of projects that are typically carried out to have an impact on the society.

Most projects are designed to make the world or our society better. They are typically efforts to produce value through the creation of an item or product that was not previously available.

This article outlines the top project research topics that will impact the field of project management in 2023, and significantly.

Do you want to write an outstanding research paper on project management? If you still have no idea, review these steps. Following these steps in a sequential manner will allow you to come up with a great research paper on project management.

  • First, read and comprehend first. Then, you must understand your research paper's topic and guidelines for writing, and any other requirements, such as the deadline and format, word count and so on.
  • Second, match your needs to find the perfect research topic in project management.
  • The third step is to conduct some preliminary research on your subject and collect your points of discussion by referring to reliable sources like journals, books or sites which are relevant to your subject.
  • Fourthly, write an argument that is sufficient to clearly define the objective and purpose of your paper.
  • Fifthly, with your collected ideas, create an outline to write your dissertation.
  • Then, develop the outline and write an extensive project management research paper that includes proper citations in accordance with the guidelines. The paper should support the thesis assertion with solid arguments or examples.
  • After you have finished writing your research paper ensure that you proofread and revise. The academic essay ready to be submitted must be perfect and free of plagiarism.

When you choose a subject for your research paper on project management Keep these suggestions in your head.

  • Pick a subject you know about.
  • Pick a subject that will interest each of your viewers.
  • Select a subject that is open to your study.
  • Select a subject with lots of information as well as a number of trustworthy sources.
  • Choose a topic that is neither too specific nor broad.
  • If the subject is too broad, you can break it down into subtopics that are specific to the topic.
  • Select the most unique and lesser-known subject first.
  • You must confirm the topic only if it is in line with the guidelines of your university or supervisor.

Also Read : Risk Management Strategies

Effect of Change Mobilization on Companies

Here are the main points addressed by this paper on "Effects on Mobilizing Change within Companies: What It Takes and Strategies," including the Importance of Change Mobilization, Strategies, Impact on Organizational Performance and Challenges/Barriers to Change Mobilization.

Overcoming Challenges and Accelerating Change Mobilization

"The "Effect from Change Mobilization in Companies" research paper examines the effect of change mobilization on organizational efficiency and employee engagement levels. The investigation explored many methods and strategies employed by organizations to successfully implement and monitor initiatives to make changes, with results showing an effective correlation between mobilization of change and increased productivity, innovation, satisfaction levels, leadership participation as well and employee communication to facilitate organizational transformation."

These are the main aspects of this research report "Impact of the reward system on improving productivity".

  • This paper studies the effects that a system of reward improving productivity in various scenarios.
  • Importance of Rewards in Motivation.
  • Factors Affecting the Effectiveness of Reward Systems.
  • Types of Rewards
  • Case Studies and Empirical Evidence.
  • Challenges and Limitations.
  • The paper also states that reward systems with a good design can have a positive effect on productivity, by motivating people and creating a sense of satisfaction and purpose.

The study examines the impact of the implementation of a reward system on the productivity of an organization. The research examines how rewards and incentives can positively impact the motivation of employee engagement, motivation, and overall performance.

The project management research topics reveal the crucial effect of a reward system in increasing the productivity of an organization. It provides HR professionals with important information and suggestions that can be utilized to increase motivation for employees and performance, which will result in greater productivity and success for the organization.

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Research Goal: The main aim of the study will be focused on identify the main factors and causes of delays in projects and how they impact the life-cycle of a project. The second phase of the research will focus on the way that global construction companies have developed various strategies to address this problem.

Research Objective: The study will analyze seven project management office tasks that contribute to strategic planning within large public sector companies in the UK. The proposed research will make use of an online survey to gather data from managers of projects in public sector organizations with project management offices (PMO) divisions. The data gathered will be analysed with multiple regression.

Research Objective: The research will investigate the causes and consequences that can lead to inadequate communication in the construction industry in the UK. The research will employ mixed methods in order to analyze the current and previous aspects that can lead to poor communication throughout the timeline for a construction project.

Also Read : What is Productivity Management

It is essential to conduct an analysis of cost-benefit to determine what the project you'd like to pursue is feasible. In the absence of this, it's not worth it. Here are a few of the top topics can be started with.

  • Cost and benefits of prescription drugs.
  • A cost-benefit study of switching to renewable energy for homes.
  • Cost and benefits of restrictions on fishing.
  • The costs and benefits of using speed cameras for controlling the flow of traffic in towns.
  • Cost-benefit analysis for marijuana legalization.
  • Cost-benefit analysis of the state-level alcohol tax.
  • Find out the costs and benefits of investing money in space exploration
  • Cost-benefit analysis of the business regulatory environment.
  • The main steps of the analysis are cost and benefit.
  • The most important issues and the solutions to cost-benefit strategies.
  • Cost-benefit analysis for project management.
  • The most important cost concern in the management of projects.
  • E-commerce is a key component of the business.
  • The software for smart health prediction using data mining.
  • The importance of budgeting tools while managing tech projects.
  • Future of Remote Teams.
  • Modern advancements cause shifts in remote workplaces.

These topics aren't too difficult. It's just a matter of staying up-to-date on the latest developments in technology so that you have as much knowledge as you can.

  • Big Data Analysis Application within the eCommerce industry.
  • Study the Google algorithm for search engines.
  • Cloud storage is a popular option within the banking industry.
  • Does 5G wireless technology represent an exciting future for IT?
  • The potential risk of cryptocurrency for banks that are based on traditional methods.
  • How has cloud technology changed the storage of data?
  • Does virtual reality replace real reality?
  • What was the way Steve Jobs changed the world?
  • The most up-to-date IT technology is employed to manage projects.
  • The software is used for NASA to monitor spacecraft.
  • The most well-known software utilized in the field of project management.

Research Objective: Using research models that examines the impact of psychological stressors (health and well-being ), work-related interfaces, work environments, etc.).) is evaluated based on the performance of the project manager performing indicators. Project managers must complete an assessment that serves as the basis for evaluating performance. It forms the basis for collecting data empirically. The data will then be analyzed with Smart PLS.

Research Objective: The research will utilize the model of team conflict dynamics to analyze different types of conflict and conflict patterns of teams to come up with resolutions that will enhance or even lead to the success of a project.

Examining the Impact of Cost Salience and Information Asymmetry on Incentive Contract and Project Manager's Profit

Research Objective: This study will examine the impact on subjective assessments of salience to cost and uncertainties within an approach that is derived from uncertainty theory and principal agency theories. In addition, this study will study the impact of these evaluations on the earnings of project managers by employing a case research method in particular by studying cases where contractors are compensated according to incentive contracts that have deadlines to complete two tasks simultaneously.

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The year 2024 promises exciting opportunities for exploration and innovation in project management. Whether you're a seasoned project manager looking to enhance your skills or someone considering a PMP certification, the research topics highlighted in this blog offer a glimpse into the future of project management From the transformative potential of AI and automation to the intricate world of agile project management, these topics offer a wealth of possibilities for research, discussion, and application. The pursuit of a PMP certification, coupled with ongoing education and training, is a powerful tool for making a career in the field.

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Project management: Recent developments and research opportunities

  • Published: 16 June 2012
  • Volume 21 , pages 129–143, ( 2012 )

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research topics on project planning and management

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This paper studies the business process known as project management. This process has exhibited a remarkable growth in business interest over the last 15 years, as demonstrated by a 1000% increase in membership in the Project Management Institute since 1996. This growth is largely attributable to the emergence of many new diverse business applications that can be successfully managed as projects. The new applications for project management include IT implementations, research and development, new product and service development, corporate change management, and software development. The characteristics of modern projects are typically very different from those of traditional projects such as construction and engineering, which necessitates the development of new project management techniques. We discuss these recent practical developments. The history of project management methodology is reviewed, from CPM and PERT to the influential modern directions of critical chain project management and agile methods. We identify one important application area for future methodological change as new product and service development. A list of specific research topics within project management is discussed. The conclusions suggest the existence of significant research opportunities within project management.

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Closing Thoughts

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Further Research Opportunities in Project Management

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Nicholas G. Hall is Professor of Management Sciences in the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University. He holds B.A., M.A. degrees in economics from the University of Cambridge, a professional qualification in accounting, and a Ph.D. (1986) from the University of California at Berkeley. His main research interests are in tactical operations issues, especially project management, scheduling and pricing, public policy and sports management problems. He is the author of over 70 refereed publications, and has given over 260 academic presentations, including 88 invited presentations in 20 countries, 6 conference keynote presentations and 6 INFORMS tutorials. A 2008 citation study ranked him 13th among 1,376 scholars in the operations management field. He is a Fellow of the Institute for Decision Making under Uncertainty of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He won the Faculty Outstanding Research Award of the Fisher College of Business in 1998 and 2005.

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Hall, N.G. Project management: Recent developments and research opportunities. J. Syst. Sci. Syst. Eng. 21 , 129–143 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11518-012-5190-5

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Published : 16 June 2012

Issue Date : June 2012

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s11518-012-5190-5

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Education Related Topics

Project Management Research Topics

Project Management Research Topics : Project management is a critical discipline that involves planning, organizing, and executing projects to achieve specific goals within defined constraints. Research in project management enables scholars and practitioners to explore best practices, identify emerging trends, and propose innovative approaches to enhance project success. Whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student, selecting an engaging and relevant research topic in project management is crucial for conducting meaningful research and contributing to the field. In this response, I will provide you with a range of project management research topics that cover different aspects of the discipline, allowing you to delve into project planning, execution, and performance.

Project Risk Management: Investigate effective strategies for identifying, assessing, and managing risks in projects. Analyze topics such as risk identification techniques, risk response planning, and the impact of risk management on project outcomes.

Agile Project Management: Explore the principles and practices of agile project management methodologies, such as Scrum and Kanban. Analyze the benefits and challenges of agile approaches in managing complex projects, and compare them with traditional project management methods.

Project Governance and Control: Examine the mechanisms and frameworks for governing and controlling projects. Analyze topics such as project governance structures, project performance monitoring, and the role of project control in ensuring project success.

Project Leadership and Team Management: Explore the role of project leaders in motivating and managing project teams. Analyze topics such as leadership styles, team dynamics, conflict resolution, and the impact of team composition on project performance.

Project Management in Virtual and Distributed Environments: Investigate the challenges and strategies for managing projects in virtual and distributed team settings. Analyze topics such as virtual team collaboration, communication technologies, and leadership in virtual project environments.

Project Portfolio Management: Investigate the processes and techniques for managing a portfolio of projects within an organization. Analyze topics such as project selection criteria, resource allocation, and portfolio performance measurement.

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Project Procurement and Contract Management: Examine the processes and strategies for procuring goods and services for projects. Analyze topics such as contract types, supplier selection, and contract negotiation in project procurement.

Project Success Factors and Performance Measurement: Investigate the factors influencing project success and develop performance measurement frameworks. Analyze topics such as project success criteria, key performance indicators (KPIs), and project performance evaluation methodologies.

Project Sustainability and Green Project Management: Explore the integration of sustainability principles into project management practices. Analyze topics such as sustainable project planning, green procurement, and the role of project management in promoting environmentally responsible projects.

Stakeholder Management and Communication: Examine strategies for effectively managing project stakeholders and ensuring clear and timely communication throughout the project lifecycle. Analyze topics such as stakeholder analysis, engagement strategies, and the role of communication in project success.

Find: Human Resource Management Research Topics

These project management research topics offer a starting point for your research journey. You can further narrow down or modify these topics based on your specific interests, academic requirements, and research objectives. Remember to choose a topic that aligns with your project management skills and resources, and offers opportunities for practical insights and contributions to the field. Good luck with your research!

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Exclusive Project Management Research Topics For Enhancing The Project Efficiency

The project management is able to enhance the complete efficiency of the project as it can provide an accurate and clear roadmap which assist in the guidance and leading the individuals towards the completion of the project successfully. Nevertheless, a clear roadmap of the project enables smarts routes instead of focusing on working hard on the project. Project managers are considered to be vital elements of the project which are responsible to hold the project together and ensures that the objective of the project are fulfilled along with its budgeting. It is important to value the parameters of effective project management as those organisations which disvalue the elements which mainly contribute in the successful project management have 50% of failed projects which leads to delay in the growth of the business.

The concept of project management is beyond the setting a budget and tracking deadlines. The good project managers are in complete control of the project when it comes to its management from the beginning of the project till the its successful completion while making sure that the initiatives along with the objectives or goals of the project are aligned strategically and the project contains the support of its all stakeholder. Moreover, each and every individual working on the project are on the same page. The MSc project management research topics are in wide range which provide useful information concerning good management practices. Remote work and virtual project management is considered to be one of the most important topic for project management research topics 2021. However, this blog will provide several MSc project management research topics which will be helpful for the students who are enrolled in the master’s program of the project management.

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Project Management Thesis Topics

The project management thesis topics are in large number for the students to explore its different parameters which will be helpful them practically. Learning the importance of the effectiveness of project management practices is necessary. Project management research topics helps to identify best practices and techniques that can be used to improve the effectiveness of project management in a variety of contexts. This can help the individuals to increase the success rate of projects and reduce the risk of project failure. There are several MSc project management thesis topics which focuses on eenhancing the efficiency of project management processes. Project management research proposal topics can help to identify ways to streamline and optimize project management processes, which can help to reduce costs and increase the speed at which projects are completed. These proposals can help in the introduction of project management topics for research papers facilitating the current literature which will emphasise on the news ideas and assist in solving the problems occurring in the current project management practices.

Project Management Master Thesis Topics

The project management thesis topics mostly bas on the development of new project management tools and technologies. The research on the development of new project management tools and technologies assist in the improvement of efficiency and effectiveness of project management. Providing a foundation for further research is done by exclusive project management thesis topics as project management research and take business management thesis help to build a body of knowledge that can be used as a foundation for future research and development in the field. Overall, project management these topics plays a vital role in helping organizations to deliver projects successfully and achieve their business objectives.

Here is the list of the project management master thesis topics which are basically based on the new ideas and techniques utilized in order to enable effective project management.

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Critique on the green practices in project management - a secondary case study

Aim and objectives.

The main aim of this study is to understand the role of green practices in project management. The objectives of this study are as follows;

  • To promote environmentally sustainable practices within the project management process. This may include identifying and mitigating the environmental impacts of a project, conserving natural resources, and reducing waste and pollution.
  • To assess how complying with environmental regulations and standards, minimizing the carbon footprint of the project, and promoting the use of renewable energy and eco-friendly materials. Green practices in project management can also help to improve the sustainability and long-term viability of a project, as well as enhance its social and economic benefits.

The effect of economic and political stability on project management

The goal of this study is to analyse the effects of the economic and political stability on project management. However, the study objectives are discussed as;

  • To understand how these external factors can impact the success of a project.
  • To investigate how project managers can develop strategies to mitigate these risks and ensure the project stays on track by understanding the potential risks and challenges that may arise due to economic or political instability.
  • This may involve developing contingency plans, seeking alternative sources of funding or resources, or adjusting the project plan to account for potential delays or other issues. By considering these factors and taking appropriate actions, project managers can increase the chances of successfully delivering their projects on time, within budget, and to the desired level of quality.

Project management importance in terms of student’s learning- a primary investigation

This study aims to identify the importance of project management in terms of student learning- a primary investigation. Nevertheless, the objective of the study are given below;

  • To assess how this project management can benefit students in their academic and professional careers.
  • To evaluate how students can develop skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork, which are valuable in any career by learning project management principles and techniques.
  • To understand how students can gain an understanding of how to plan and execute complex tasks, set and achieve goals, and deliver results on time and within budget by learning project management.
  • To examine how these skills are essential for success in any field, and can help students stand out in the job market.

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Analysis of the impact of marketing strategies on the project management

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of marketing strategies on the project management. Nevertheless, there are several potential objectives that could be pursued when examining the impact of marketing strategies on project management. Some of the objectives include:

  • To understand how marketing strategies can support project management by helping to define project goals, target audiences, and desired outcomes.
  • To examine the role of marketing in project planning, including the development of marketing plans and the identification of marketing resources and budgets.
  • To Analyse the impact of marketing efforts on project timelines and budgets, and how to effectively incorporate marketing activities into project plans.
  • To identify best practices for integrating marketing and project management, and examining how these practices can support the overall success of a project.

To evaluate the effectiveness of marketing strategies on project outcomes, and identifying areas for improvement.

Analysing the practices of project management in UK and US - a comparative case study

This study aims to assess the practices of project management in UK and US – a comparative case study. However, there are several objectives that could be pursued when analysing the practices of project management in the UK and the US. Some of the objectives include:

  • To Compare and contrast the approaches to project management used in the UK and the US, including any differences in project management methods, tools, and techniques.
  • To examine the similarities and differences in the organizational structures and cultures of project management in the UK and the US, and how these may impact the way projects are managed.
  • To identify best practices in project management in both countries, and examining how these practices could be implemented in other countries or industries.
  • To analyse the challenges and opportunities facing project managers in the UK and the US, and how these may differ between the two countries.

To evaluate the effectiveness of project management practices in the UK and the US, and identifying areas for improvement.

Analysis of the best technologies utilized in the project management

The aims of the study is to examine the best technologies utilized in the project management. However, the objectives of the study includes;

  • To improve efficiency and productivity of the project.

This can be achieved through a variety of means, such as automating certain tasks, streamlining communication and collaboration, and providing tools for tracking and analysing progress. Some specific technologies that are commonly used in project management include project management software, project collaboration tools, and project communication platforms. Other technologies that may be useful in specific industries or contexts include project scheduling software, project budgeting tools, and project risk management tools.

Role of soft and hard skills in terms of project management

This study aims to evaluate the role of soft and hard skills in terms of project management. Nevertheless, the objectives of this study are described as;

  • To examine the difference between soft skills and hard skills, and how they both contribute to the success of a project.
  • To understand the specific soft and hard skills that are most important for project managers to possess, and how these skills can be developed and improved.
  • To identify how different combinations of soft and hard skills may be needed for different types of projects, and how project managers can adapt their skills to meet the needs of each project.
  • To analyse the best practices for developing and using soft and hard skills in project management, and examining how these practices can support the overall success of a project.
  • To evaluate the impact of soft and hard skills on project outcomes, and identifying areas for improvement.

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The influence of change management

The aims of the study is to examine the influence of the change management. Nevertheless, the objectives of the study is described below;

  • To evaluate the role of change management in project management, and how it can help to ensure the success of a project.
  • To identify the various techniques and approaches used in change management, and how these can be applied to different types of projects.
  • To assess the challenges and opportunities that arise when managing change in a project, and how these can be addressed to ensure the success of the project.

Techniques in project management

This study aims to assess t techniques in project management . However, there are several potential objectives that could be pursued when examining techniques in project management. Some of the objectives include;

  • To inspect the various techniques and approaches that are used in project management, and how they can be applied to different types of projects.
  • To evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of different techniques, and how to choose the most appropriate technique for a given project.
  • To identify how different techniques may be used in conjunction with one another, and how to effectively combine techniques to achieve project goals.
  • To assess best practices for using techniques in project management, and examining how these practices can support the overall success of a project.
  • To understand the effectiveness of different techniques in various project management contexts, and identifying areas for improvement.

The impact of teams on the success of the project

The main goal of this study is to understand the impact of teams on the success of the project. The objectives of the topic are as follows;

  • To inspect the role of teams in project management, and how effective team collaboration can contribute to the success of a project.
  • To study the factors that contribute to the success of a project team, including team composition, communication, leadership, and motivation.
  • To evaluate the challenges and opportunities that teams may face during a project, and how these can be addressed to ensure the success of the project.
  • To find out the best practices for building and managing effective project teams, and examining how these practices can support the overall success of a project.
  • To assess the impact of team dynamics on project outcomes, and identifying areas for improvement.

Analysis on the culture management

This study aims to understand the factors involved in culture management. However, the objectives of the objectives of this study are as follows;

  • To inspect the impact of organizational culture on project management, and how it can affect the success of a project.
  • To examine the various techniques and approaches used in culture management, and how these can be applied to different types of projects.
  • To analyse the challenges and opportunities that arise when managing culture in a project, and how these can be addressed to ensure the success of the project.
  • To identify the best practices for managing culture in project management, and examining how these practices can support the overall success of a project.

To evaluate the impact of culture management on project outcomes, and identifying areas for improvement.

Investigation of the conflict management in relation to society

This study aims to consider the investigation of the conflict management in relation to society. The objectives of the study are listed as;

  • To discuss the types of conflicts that can arise in society, and how these conflicts can be managed effectively.
  • To identify the various techniques and approaches used in conflict management, and how these can be applied to different types of conflicts in society.
  • To find out the challenges and opportunities that arise when managing conflicts in society, and how these can be addressed to promote social harmony.

To assess the best practices for managing conflicts in society, and examining how these practices can support the overall well-being of communities.

Significance of the utilizing the software based on project management

The aims of the study is to inspect the significance of the utilizing the software based on project management. Some of the objectives of the study are as follows;

  • To evaluate the various types of project management software that are available, and how they can support the planning and execution of projects.
  • To assess the benefits and drawbacks of using software in project management, and how to choose the most appropriate software for a given project.
  • To analyse how different software tools can be used in conjunction with one another, and how to effectively combine software to achieve project goals.

To identify best practices for using software in project management, and examining how these practices can support the overall success of a project.

Principles of project management

This study aims to evaluate the principles of project management. There are several possible objectives that could be pursued when examining the principles of project management. The major objectives of this study are listed below;

  • To find out the key concepts and principles that form the foundation of project management, including goal setting, planning, execution, monitoring and control, and closure.
  • To understand the various approaches and frameworks that are used in project management, such as agile, lean, and traditional methods, and how these approaches are influenced by the principles of project management.
  • T analyse how the principles of project management can be applied to different types of projects, and how to adapt these principles to meet the specific needs and goals of each project.
  • To identify best practices for implementing the principles of project management, and examining how these practices can support the overall success of a project.

To evaluate the effectiveness of different approaches to project management, and identifying areas for improvement.

Dynamics of project management

The aims of the study is to examine to understand the dynamics of project management. Some of the objectives of the study are a follows;

  • To understand various factors that can impact the successful planning, execution, and completion of a project. These factors may include the resources available to the project team, the budget allocated for the project, the schedule for completing the project, the scope of the project, the risks involved, and the stakeholders who are affected by the project.
  • To inspect how the understanding the dynamics of project management can help project managers and team members effectively navigate these challenges and deliver successful project outcomes.

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11 Key Project Management Skills

You'll want to have a basic understanding of project management principles to be a good project manager, but workplace skills are just as important. Learn what the key project management skills are and how you can achieve them.

[Featured Image] A project manager is standing at a board and holding documents with graphs and tables, discussing the latest project strategy with his team member.

Experts predict that by 2027, almost all work will be project-based. A Project Management Institute (PMI) report found that there will be a demand for 25 million project management professionals globally by 2030. That translates to roughly 2.3 million new project management positions a year [ 2 ]. 

Project management skills enable you to effectively interact with people, solve problems, and put your organizational talents to use. Project management requires a combination of technical and workplace skills to coordinate both projects and teams. Here are 11 technical and workplace skills you’ll want to have as a project manager .

Technical project management skills

1. project management approaches and methodologies.

Project management methodologies are the specific rules and procedures that determine how a project is managed. Different methodologies are suitable for different situations. Familiarity with the fundamental differences can help you pick the best one for a project. Although some companies might want you to stick with one approach, knowing about other methods may provide a better context for what you’re doing and why. 

Some common approaches to project management include Waterfall, a traditional, sequential approach, and Agile, which prioritizes adaptability. Within these approaches, there are several methodologies. For example, Scrum is the most commonly used Agile methodology. Others include Lean, Kanban, and XP (Extreme Programming).

2. Project initiation

The start of a project—when much of the project gets planned—is often critical to its success. And though it might sound simple, you have to think about many moving pieces in the initial phase of a project. Initiating a project includes setting achievable and specific goals, picking a team, determining resources, and holding a kickoff meeting. 

3. Budgeting

Many projects will have budget constraints. Knowing where costs might pile up and how to prioritize tasks and delegate resources is essential for ensuring a project remains within the budget.

If you’re working on a large project or for a large company, you might not be the primary person responsible for managing the budget. But it’s still good to know what elements can add to a budget, how to decrease costs, and when to increase them.

4. Risk management

No project comes without potential risks. As a project manager, you’ll want to be able to identify when and how unexpected events that could derail your project might happen, how to decrease the chances of them happening, and how to respond if they do. How much of a time buffer should you add to unpredictable projects or tasks? If something goes awry, how would you adjust your scope or resources? Having an eye for potential risks and how to mitigate them can ensure smoother project delivery.

5. Project management tools and software

Technology has made sharing findings, schedules, and communications across teams and stakeholders convenient. As a project manager, you’ll often need to know how to use collaboration and communication software and take the lead in managing them.

Some tools you might use include:

Collaboration tools like Google Sheets, Google Drive, and Dropbox

Work management tools like Asana, Trello, Jira, and Smartsheet

Scheduling tools like digital calendars and Gantt charts

Communication tools like email, chat, and video conferencing software

6. Industry knowledge

Project management professionals can work in many fields, including IT, health care, and construction. Sometimes, hiring managers will prefer candidates who have academic or professional experience in that particular area. If you’re looking to switch careers to become a project manager, it can be worth looking for opportunities within an industry you have knowledge in.

Workplace skills

7. communication.

Communication is a crucial skill for project management professionals to have. In fact, insufficient communication often gets cited as a reason why projects miss deadlines, go over budget, or otherwise get derailed.

Good communication doesn’t just mean being able to speak well in front of people—though that’s important too. Project managers should know whom to communicate with, when, and how often. This might mean setting up expectations at the beginning of a project about how often communications will happen.

8. Organization

Organization is crucial for project managers. Coordinating timelines, meetings, and efforts with different teams, contractors, or even other companies means having the discipline to stay on top of communications and tasks. 

9. Flexibility

Even with a perfectly planned project, problems arise. Missed deadlines can occur, bad weather can derail construction, and people get sick or change jobs. If you’re a person who can deal with unexpected changes, your job as a project manager will go more smoothly.

10. Leadership

Leadership can help make all the disparate parts of a project team come together and work as a unit to get things done. Leadership includes influencing decisions without being overtly authoritative, motivating team members, and balancing the needs of your team with the needs of the project.

11. People skills

Your role as a project manager is to complete projects successfully. And while sometimes that means staying organized and communicating with the right people, it can also mean motivating your team, fostering a culture of collaboration and openness, and resolving potential conflicts. Understanding that different people have different work styles, motivations, strengths, and growth areas will allow for more effective teams and more successful projects.

Rachel, a project manager at Google, switched careers from bartending to project management—her people skills were what helped her make the switch. Listen to her story below.

How to build project management skills

Sometimes, there’s no better teacher than hands-on experience. You can build project management skills by taking on more managerial tasks in your workplace. You can also look for volunteer opportunities in your community that will allow you to help plan and execute projects.

You might already have project management skills: If you’ve helped to organize any new initiatives professionally or personally, you probably already have some project management skills, even if you didn’t call it that at the time. Be sure to highlight these experiences when you apply for project management jobs.

How to include project management skills in your resume

As you put together your resume, highlight your project management skills by describing the scale of your project, the size of your team, and the positive results of your efforts. For example, you might say: “Led a team of four developers to redesign a payment platform with a budget of C$2M to complete the project on time.”

You can also emphasize project management skills by including them in your resume’s “skills” section. If you haven’t led a project before, list your experiences where you had a hand in planning or implementing a new effort. 

Start advancing your project management skills today

Taking online courses can be a great way to build project management skills that are in demand. Consider one of Coursera's top-rated courses:

For an introductory course, start with the University of Virginia's Fundamentals of Project Planning and Management course. This program takes about nine hours to complete and covers how to initiate a project, manage risks, sequence tasks, monitor progress, and more.

To practice the basics of the Agile methodology, take Atlassian University's Agile With Atlassian Jira course. Inside, you'll learn how to configure the Jira software, create Agile boards, and keep up with project changes. This course is free and takes about twelve hours to complete.

Explore project management more broadly in the Google Project Management: Professional Certificate . In this program, you'll learn the job-ready essentials of project management, like change management, communicating with stakeholders, documenting project developments, and more in about six months.

Keep reading

Coursera staff.

Editorial Team

Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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4 Common Types of Team Conflict — and How to Resolve Them

  • Randall S. Peterson,
  • Priti Pradhan Shah,
  • Amanda J. Ferguson,
  • Stephen L. Jones

research topics on project planning and management

Advice backed by three decades of research into thousands of team conflicts around the world.

Managers spend 20% of their time on average managing team conflict. Over the past three decades, the authors have studied thousands of team conflicts around the world and have identified four common patterns of team conflict. The first occurs when conflict revolves around a single member of a team (20-25% of team conflicts). The second is when two members of a team disagree (the most common team conflict at 35%). The third is when two subgroups in a team are at odds (20-25%). The fourth is when all members of a team are disagreeing in a whole-team conflict (less than 15%). The authors suggest strategies to tailor a conflict resolution approach for each type, so that managers can address conflict as close to its origin as possible.

If you have ever managed a team or worked on one, you know that conflict within a team is as inevitable as it is distracting. Many managers avoid dealing with conflict in their team where possible, hoping reasonable people can work it out. Despite this, research shows that managers spend upwards of 20% of their time on average managing conflict.

research topics on project planning and management

  • Randall S. Peterson is the academic director of the Leadership Institute and a professor of organizational behavior at London Business School. He teaches leadership on the School’s Senior Executive and Accelerated Development Program.
  • PS Priti Pradhan Shah is a professor in the Department of Work and Organization at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. She teaches negotiation in the School’s Executive Education and MBA Programs.
  • AF Amanda J. Ferguson  is an associate professor of Management at Northern Illinois University. She teaches Organizational Behavior and Leading Teams in the School’s MBA programs.
  • SJ Stephen L. Jones is an associate professor of Management at the University of Washington Bothell. He teaches Organizational and Strategic Management at the MBA level.

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News Roundup Spring 2024

The Class of 2024 spring graduation celebration

CEGE Spring Graduation Celebration and Order of the Engineer

Forty-seven graduates of the undergraduate and grad student programs (pictured above) in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering took part in the Order of the Engineer on graduation day. Distinguished Speakers at this departmental event included Katrina Kessler (MS EnvE 2021), Commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and student Brian Balquist. Following this event, students participated in the college-wide Commencement Ceremony at 3M Arena at Mariucci. 

UNIVERSITY & DEPARTMENT

The University of Minnesota’s Crookston, Duluth, and Rochester campuses have been awarded the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, joining the Twin Cities (2006, 2015) and Morris campuses (2015), and making the U of M the country’s first and only university system at which every individual campus has received this selective designation. Only 368 from nearly 4,000 qualifying U.S. universities and colleges have been granted this designation.

CEGE contributed strongly to the College of Science and Engineering’s efforts toward sustainability research. CEGE researchers are bringing in over $35 million in funded research to study carbon mineralization, nature and urban areas, circularity of water resources, and global snowfall patterns. This news was highlighted in the Fall 2023 issue of  Inventing Tomorrow  (pages 10-11). https://issuu.com/inventingtomorrow/docs/fall_2023_inventing_tomorrow-web

CEGE’s new program for a one-year master’s degree in structural engineering is now accepting applicants for Fall 2024. We owe a big thanks to DAN MURPHY and LAURA AMUNDSON for their volunteer work to help curate the program with Professor JIA-LIANG LE and EBRAHIM SHEMSHADIAN, the program director. Potential students and companies interested in hosting a summer intern can contact Ebrahim Shemshadian ( [email protected] ).

BERNIE BULLERT , CEGE benefactor and MN Water Research Fund founder, was profiled on the website of the University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF). There you can read more about his mission to share clean water technologies with smaller communities in Minnesota. Many have joined Bullert in this mission. MWRF Recognizes their Generous 2024 Partners. Gold Partners: Bernie Bullert, Hawkins, Inc., Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and SL-serco. Silver Partners: ISG, Karl and Pam Streed, Kasco, Kelly Lange-Haider and Mark Haider, ME Simpson, Naeem Qureshi, Dr. Paul H. Boening, TKDA, and Waterous. Bronze Partners: Bruce R. Bullert; Brenda Lenz, Ph.D., APRN FNP-C, CNE; CDM Smith; Central States Water Environment Association (CSWEA MN); Heidi and Steve Hamilton; Jim “Bulldog” Sadler; Lisa and Del Cerney; Magney Construction; Sambatek; Shannon and John Wolkerstorfer; Stantec; and Tenon Systems.

After retiring from Baker-Tilly,  NICK DRAGISICH  (BCE 1977) has taken on a new role: City Council member in Lake Elmo, Minnesota. After earning his BCE from the University of Minnesota, Dragisich earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas. Dragisich retired in May from his position as managing director at Baker Tilly, where he had previously served as firm director. Prior to that, he served as assistant city manager in Spokane, Washington, was the city administrator and city engineer in Virginia, Minnesota, and was mayor of Chisholm, Minnesota—all adding up to more than 40 years of experience in local government. Dragisich was selected by a unanimous vote. His current term expires in December 2024.

PAUL F. GNIRK  (Ph.D. 1966) passed away January 29, 2024, at the age of 86. A memorial service was held Saturday, February 24, at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSM&T), where he started and ended his teaching career, though he had many other positions, professional and voluntary. In 2018 Paul was inducted into the SDSM&T Hardrocker Hall of Fame, and in 2022, he was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame, joining his mother Adeline S. Gnirk, who had been inducted in 1987 for her work authoring nine books on the history of south central South Dakota.

ROGER M. HILL  (BCE 1957) passed away on January 13, 2024, at the age of 90. His daughter, Kelly Robinson, wrote to CEGE that Roger was “a dedicated Gopher fan until the end, and we enjoyed many football games together in recent years. Thank you for everything.”

KAUSER JAHAN  (Ph.D. 1993, advised by Walter Maier), PE, is now a civil and environmental engineering professor and department head at Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering. Jahan was awarded a 3-year (2022- 2025), $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The grant supports her project, “WaterWorks: Developing the New Generation of Workforce for Water/Wastewater Utilities,” for the development of educational tools that will expose and prepare today’s students for careers in water and wastewater utilities.

SAURA JOST  (BCE 2010, advised by Timothy LaPara) was elected to the St. Paul City Council for Ward 3. She is part of the historic group of women that make up the nation’s first all-female city council in a large city.

The 2024 ASCE Western Great Lakes Student Symposium combines several competitions for students involved in ASCE. CEGE sent a large contingent of competitors to Chicago. Each of the competition groups won awards: Ethics Paper 1st place Hans Lagerquist; Sustainable Solutions team 1st place overall in (qualifying them for the National competition in Utah in June); GeoWall 2nd place overall; Men’s Sprint for Concrete Canoe with rowers Sakthi Sundaram Saravanan and Owen McDonald 2nd place; Product Prototype for Concrete Canoe 2nd place; Steel Bridge (200 lb bridge weight) 2nd place in lightness; Scavenger Hunt 3rd place; and Aesthetics and Structural Efficiency for Steel Bridge 4th place.

Students competing on the Minnesota Environmental Engineers, Scientists, and Enthusiasts (MEESE) team earned second place in the Conference on the Environment undergraduate student design competition in November 2023. Erin Surdo is the MEESE Faculty Adviser. Pictured are NIKO DESHPANDE, ANNA RETTLER, and SYDNEY OLSON.

The CEGE CLASS OF 2023 raised money to help reduce the financial barrier for fellow students taking the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, a cost of $175 per test taker. As a result of this gift, they were able to make the exam more affordable for 15 current CEGE seniors. CEGE students who take the FE exam pass the first time at a rate well above national averages, demonstrating that CEGE does a great job of teaching engineering fundamentals. In 2023, 46 of 50 students passed the challenging exam on the first try.

This winter break, four CEGE students joined 10 other students from the College of Science and Engineering for the global seminar, Design for Life: Water in Tanzania. The students visited numerous sites in Tanzania, collected water source samples, designed rural water systems, and went on safari. Read the trip blog: http://globalblogs.cse.umn.edu/search/label/Tanzania%202024

Undergraduate Honor Student  MALIK KHADAR  (advised by Dr. Paul Capel) received honorable mention for the Computing Research Association (CRA) Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award for undergraduate students who show outstanding research potential in an area of computing research.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

AKASH BHAT  (advised by William Arnold) presented his Ph.D. defense on Friday, October 27, 2023. Bhat’s thesis is “Photolysis of fluorochemicals: Tracking fluorine, use of UV-LEDs, and computational insights.” Bhat’s work investigating the degradation of fluorinated compounds will assist in the future design of fluorinated chemicals such that persistent and/or toxic byproducts are not formed in the environment.

ETHAN BOTMEN  (advised by Bill Arnold) completed his Master of Science Final Exam February 28, 2024. His research topic was Degradation of Fluorinated Compounds by Nucleophilic Attack of Organo-fluorine Functional Groups.

XIATING CHEN , Ph.D. Candidate in Water Resources Engineering at the Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory is the recipient of the 2023 Nels Nelson Memorial Fellowship Award. Chen (advised by Xue Feng) is researching eco-hydrological functions of urban trees and other green infrastructure at both the local and watershed scale, through combined field observations and modeling approaches.

ALICE PRATES BISSO DAMBROZ  has been a Visiting Student Researcher at the University of Minnesota since last August, on a Doctoral Dissertation Research Award from Fulbright. Her CEGE advisor is Dr. Paul Capel. Dambroz is a fourth year Ph.D. student in Soil Science at Universidade Federal de Santa Maria in Brazil, where she studies with her adviser Jean Minella. Her research focuses on the hydrological monitoring of a small agricultural watershed in Southern Brazil, which is located on a transition area between volcanic and sedimentary rocks. Its topography, shallow soils, and land use make it prone to runoff and erosion processes.

Yielding to people in crosswalks should be a very pedestrian topic. Yet graduate student researchers  TIANYI LI, JOSHUA KLAVINS, TE XU, NIAZ MAHMUD ZAFRI  (Dept.of Urban and Regional Planning at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology), and Professor Raphael Stern found that drivers often do not yield to pedestrians, but they are influenced by the markings around a crosswalk. Their work was picked up by the  Minnesota Reformer.

TIANYI LI  (Ph.D. student advised by Raphael Stern) also won the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation (DDET) Fellowship for the third time! Li (center) and Stern (right) are pictured at the Federal Highway Administration with Latoya Jones, the program manager for the DDET Fellowship.

The Three Minute Thesis Contest and the Minnesota Nice trophy has become an annual tradition in CEGE. 2023’s winner was  EHSANUR RAHMAN , a Ph.D. student advised by Boya Xiong.

GUANJU (WILLIAM) WEI , a Ph.D. student advised by Judy Yang, is the recipient of the 2023 Heinz G. Stefan Fellowship. He presented his research entitled Microfluidic Investigation of the Biofilm Growth under Dynamic Fluid Environments and received his award at the St. Anthony Falls Research Laboratory April 9. The results of Wei's research can be used in industrial, medical, and scientific fields to control biofilm growth.

BILL ARNOLD  stars in an award-winning video about prairie potholes. The Prairie Potholes Project film was made with the University of Delaware and highlights Arnold’s NSF research. The official winners of the 2024 Environmental Communications Awards Competition Grand Prize are Jon Cox and Ben Hemmings who produced and directed the film. Graduate student Marcia Pacheco (CFANS/LAAS) and Bill Arnold are the on-screen stars.

Four faculty from CEGE join the Center for Transportation Studies Faculty and Research Scholars for FY24–25:  SEONGJIN CHOI, KETSON ROBERTO MAXIMIANO DOS SANTOS, PEDRAM MORTAZAVI,  and  BENJAMIN WORSFOLD . CTS Scholars are drawn from diverse fields including engineering, planning, computer science, environmental studies, and public policy.

XUE FENG  is coauthor on an article in  Nature Reviews Earth and Environment . The authors evaluate global plant responses to changing rainfall regimes that are now characterized by fewer and larger rainfall events. A news release written at Univ. of Maryland can be found here: https://webhost.essic. umd.edu/april-showers-bring-mayflowers- but-with-drizzles-or-downpours/ A long-running series of U of M research projects aimed at improving stormwater quality are beginning to see practical application by stormwater specialists from the Twin Cities metro area and beyond. JOHN GULLIVER has been studying best practices for stormwater management for about 16 years. Lately, he has focused specifically on mitigating phosphorous contamination. His research was highlighted by the Center for Transportation Studies.

JIAQI LI, BILL ARNOLD,  and  RAYMOND HOZALSKI  published a paper on N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) precursors in Minnesota rivers. “Animal Feedlots and Domestic Wastewater Discharges are Likely Sources of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) Precursors in Midwestern Watersheds,” Environmental Science and Technology (January 2024) doi: 10.1021/acs. est.3c09251

ALIREZA KHANI  contributed to MnDOT research on Optimizing Charging Infrastructure for Electric Trucks. Electric options for medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks (e-trucks) are still largely in development. These trucks account for a substantial percentage of transportation greenhouse gas emissions. They have greater power needs and different charging needs than personal EVs. Proactively planning for e-truck charging stations will support MnDOT in helping to achieve the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals. This research was featured in the webinar “Electrification of the Freight System in Minnesota,” hosted by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Transportation Studies. A recording of the event is now available online.

MICHAEL LEVIN  has developed a unique course for CEGE students on Air Transportation Systems. It is the only class at UMN studying air transportation systems from an infrastructure design and management perspective. Spring 2024 saw the third offering of this course, which is offered for juniors, seniors, and graduate students.

Research Professor  SOFIA (SONIA) MOGILEVSKAYA  has been developing international connections. She visited the University of Seville, Spain, November 13–26, 2023, where she taught a short course titled “Fundamentals of Homogenization in Composites.” She also met with the graduate students to discuss collaborative research with Prof. Vladislav Mantic, from the Group of Continuum Mechanics and Structural Analysis at the University of Seville. Her visit was a part of planned activities within the DIAGONAL Consortium funded by the European Commission. CEGE UMN is a partner organization within DIAGONAL, represented by CEGE professors Mogilevskaya and Joseph Labuz. Mantic will visit CEGE summer 2024 to follow up on research developments and discuss plans for future collaboration and organization of short-term exchange visits for the graduate students from each institution. 

DAVID NEWCOMB  passed away in March. He was a professor in CEGE from 1989–99 in the area of pavement engineering. Newcomb led the research program on asphalt materials characterization. He was the technical director of Mn/ROAD pavement research facility, and he started an enduring collaboration with MnDOT that continues today. In 2000, he moved from Minnesota to become vice-president for Research and Technology at the National Asphalt Pavement Association. Later he moved to his native Texas, where he was appointed to the division head of Materials and Pavement at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, a position from which he recently retired. He will be greatly missed.

PAIGE NOVAK  won Minnesota ASCE’s 2023 Distinguished Engineer of the Year Award for her contributions to society through her engineering achievements and professional experiences.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced ten inaugural (NSF) Regional Innovation Engines awards, with a potential $1.6 billion investment nationally over the next decade. Great Lakes ReNEW is led by the Chicago-based water innovation hub,  Current,  and includes a team from the University of Minnesota, including PAIGE NOVAK. Current will receive $15 mil for the first two years, and up to $160 million over ten years to develop and grow a water-focused innovation engine in the Great Lakes region. The project’s ambitious plan is to create a decarbonized circular “blue economy” to leverage the region’s extraordinary water resources to transform the upper Midwest—Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Brewing one pint of beer generates seven pints of wastewater, on average. So what can you do with that wastewater?  PAIGE NOVAK  and her team are exploring the possibilities of capturing pollutants in wastewater and using bacteria to transform them into energy.

BOYA XIONG  has been selected as a recipient of the 2024 40 Under 40 Recognition Program by the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists. The award was presented at the 2024 AAEES Awards Ceremony, April 11, 2024, at the historic Howard University in Washington, D.C. 

JUDY Q. YANG  received a McKnight Land-Grant Professorship Award. This two-year award recognizes promising assistant professors and is intended to advance the careers of individuals who have the potential to make significant contributions to their departments and their scholarly fields. 

Professor Emeritus CHARLES FAIRHURST , his son CHARLES EDWARD FAIRHURST , and his daughter MARGARET FAIRHURST DURENBERGER were on campus recently to present Department Head Paige Novak with a check for $25,000 for the Charles Fairhurst Fellowship in Earth Resources Engineering in support of graduate students studying geomechanics. The life of Charles Fairhurst through a discussion with his children is featured on the Engineering and Technology History Wiki at https://ethw.org/Oral-History:Charles_Fairhurst#00:00:14_INTRODUCTION

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Professor Emeritus David Lanning, nuclear engineer and key contributor to the MIT Reactor, dies at 96

Black and white 1950s-era portrait of David Lanning wearing a suit and tie against a curtained background

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David Lanning, MIT professor emeritus of nuclear science and engineering and a key contributor to the MIT Reactor project, passed away on April 26 at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Massachusetts, at the age of 96.

Born in Baker, Oregon, on March 30, 1928, Lanning graduated in 1951 from the University of Oregon with a BS in physics. While taking night classes in nuclear engineering, in lieu of an available degree program at the time, he started his career path working for General Electric in Richland, Washington. There he conducted critical-mass studies for handling and designing safe plutonium-bearing systems in separation plants at the Hanford Atomic Products Operation, making him a pioneer in nuclear fuel cycle management.

Lanning was then involved in the design, construction, and startup of the Physical Constants Testing Reactor (PCTR). As one of the few people qualified to operate the experimental reactor, he trained others to safely assess and handle its highly radioactive components.

Lanning supervised experiments at the PCTR to find the critical conditions of various lattices in a safe manner and conduct reactivity measurements to determine relative flux distributions. This primed him to be an indispensable asset to the MIT Reactor (MITR), which was being constructed on the opposite side of the country.

An early authority in nuclear engineering comes to MIT

Lanning came to MIT in 1957 to join what was being called the “MIT Reactor Project” after being recruited by the MITR’s designer and first director, Theos “Tommy” J. Thompson, to serve as one of the MITR’s first operating supervisors. With only a handful of people on the operations team at the time, Lanning also completed the emergency plan and startup procedures for the MITR, which achieved criticality on July 21, 1958.

In addition to becoming a faculty member in the Department of Nuclear Engineering in 1962, Lanning’s roles at the MITR went from reactor operations superintendent in the 1950s and early 1960s, to assistant director in 1962, and then acting director in 1963, when Thompson went on sabbatical.

In his faculty position, Lanning took responsibility for supervising lab subjects and research projects at the MITR, including the Heavy Water Lattice Project. This project supported the thesis work of more than 30 students doing experimental studies of sub-critical uranium fuel rods — including Lanning’s own thesis. He received his PhD in nuclear engineering from MIT in fall 1963.

Lanning decided to leave MIT in July 1965 and return to Hanford as the manager of their Reactor Neutronics Section. Despite not having plans to return to work for MIT, Lanning agreed when Thompson requested that he renew his MITR operator’s license shortly after leaving.

“Because of his thorough familiarity with our facility, it is anticipated that Dr. Lanning may be asked to return to MIT for temporary tours of duty at our reactor. It is always possible that there may be changes in the key personnel presently operating the MIT Reactor and the possible availability of Dr. Lanning to fill in, even temporarily, could be a very important factor in maintaining a high level of competence at the reactor during its continued operation,” Theos J. Thompson wrote in a letter to the Atomic Energy Commission on Sept. 21, 1965

One modification, many changes

This was an invaluable decision to continue the MITR’s success as a nuclear research facility. In 1969 Thompson accepted a two-year term appointment as a U.S. atomic energy commissioner and requested Lanning to return to MIT to take his place during his temporary absence. Thompson initiated feasibility studies for a new MITR core design and believed Lanning was the most capable person to continue the task of seeing the MITR redesign to fruition.

Lanning returned to MIT in July 1969 with a faculty appointment to take over the subjects Thompson was teaching, in addition to being co-director of the MITR with Lincoln Clark Jr. during the redesign. Tragically, Thompson was killed in a plane accident in November 1970, just one week after Lanning and his team submitted the application for the redesign’s construction permit.

Thompson’s death meant his responsibilities were now Lanning’s on a permanent basis. Lanning continued to completion the redesign of the MITR, known today as the MITR-II. The redesign increased the neutron flux level by a factor of three without changing its operating power — expanding the reactor’s research capabilities and refreshing its status as a premier research facility.

Construction and startup tests for the MITR-II were completed in 1975 and the MITR-II went critical on Aug. 14, 1975. Management of the MITR-II was transferred the following year from the Nuclear Engineering Department to its own interdepartmental research center, the Nuclear Reactor Laboratory , where Lanning continued to use the MITR-II for research.

Beyond the redesign

In 1970, Lanning combined two reactor design courses he inherited and introduced a new course in which he had students apply their knowledge and critique the design and economic considerations of a reactor presented by a student in a prior term. He taught these courses through the late 1990s, in addition to leading new courses with other faculty for industry professionals on reactor safety.

Co-author of over 70 papers , many on the forefront of nuclear engineering, Lanning’s research included studies to improve the efficiency, cycle management, and design of nuclear fuel, as well as making reactors safer and more economical to operate.

Lanning was part of an ongoing research project team that introduced and demonstrated digital control and automation in nuclear reactor control mechanisms before any of the sort were found in reactors in the United States. Their research improved the regulatory barriers preventing commercial plants from replacing aging analog reactor control components with digital ones. The project also demonstrated that reactor operations would be more reliable, safe, and economical by introducing automation in certain reactor control systems. This led to the MITR being one of the first reactors in the United States licensed to operate using digital technology to control reactor power.

Lanning became professor emeritus in May 1989 and retired in 1994, but continued his passion for teaching through the late 1990s as a thesis advisor and reader. His legacy lives on in the still-operational MITR-II, with his former students following in his footsteps by working on fuel studies for the next version of the MITR core. 

Lanning is predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Gloria Lanning, and is survived by his two children, a brother, and his many grandchildren .

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Employee Onboarding Guide

Onboarding definition & overview.

Last updated: May 15th, 2024

Quality onboarding is crucial for new employees' long-term success and organizational productivity. Learn why a solid employee onboarding process can make a significant impact on employee experience and retention, plus innovative ideas to approaching welcoming new staff.

Onboarding Guide Navigation

> Definition & Overview

colleagues welcoming new coworker shaking hands and smiling

What Is Onboarding?

Onboarding is the process of integrating new employees into an organization. It includes the orientation process and opportunities for new hires to learn about the organization's structure, culture, vision, mission and values. Onboarding can span one or two days of activities at some companies; others offer a more extensive series of activities spanning months. 

Onboarding is often confused with orientation. While orientation is necessary for completing paperwork and other routine tasks, onboarding is a comprehensive process involving management and other employees and can last up to 12 months. 

Why Is It Important to Get Onboarding Right?

All new employees are onboarded—but the quality of the onboarding makes a difference. Too often, onboarding consists of handing a new employee a pile of forms and having a supervisor or HR professional walk the employee around the premises, making introductions on an ad hoc basis. When onboarding is done well, however, it lays a foundation for long-term success for the employee and the employer. It can improve productivity, build loyalty and engagement, and help employees become successful early in their careers with the new organization.

A study by  Gallup  showed that while only 12 percent of employees felt their company did a great job with onboarding, those employees were nearly three times as likely to say they have the best possible job. Overall, only 29 percent of new hires felt they were prepared and supported to excel in their new role. This leaves a lot of room for improvement.

Other studies consistently show a positive correlation between engaged employees and a company's profitability, turnover rate, safety record, absenteeism, product quality and customer ratings. An effective onboarding plan offers an ideal opportunity to boost employee engagement by, for example, fostering a supportive relationship between new hires and management, reinforcing the company's commitment to helping employees' professional growth and proving that management recognizes the employees' talent.   For further reading learn  how to optimize the onboarding process  and the importance of good onboarding . 

Relatedly, an  employee value proposition  (EVP) defines the value employees will get from working for a particular organization. It embodies the promises made during recruitment and is lived out every day through company culture. Onboarding gives employees their first look at how an organization's EVP may or may not be realized.

Onboarding Process Summary

While there are many ways to design an onboarding program, some components are integral to the process:

1. Preboarding

Consider inviting new employees to tour the facility, sending informational material, providing care packages, and assigning a buddy to help them integrate before their official start date.

2. Orientation

Introduce employees to the organization's structure, vision, mission, and values; review employee handbook and major policies; complete paperwork; cover administrative procedures; and provide other mandatory training.

3. Foundation Building

Ensure the onboarding process consistently embodies an organization's culture, mission, employee value proposition, brand, and other foundational elements, recognizing that assimilating these values takes time.

4. Mentoring and Buddy Systems

In partnership with hiring managers, enlist mentors or buddies to provide new employees with guidance, assistance, and insights into organizational nuances.

View our full guide on onboarding process steps.

Innovative Approaches to Onboarding

Various components of an onboarding program can be delivered using different approaches and methodologies combined to suit the organization and available resources.

Some employers are using innovative practices, such as games, video, and team-building exercises, to get new hires excited about joining the company. They're also working to make sure people can hit the ground running with functional workstations and equipment. Some examples of this include: 

Facebook has its "45-minute rule," which means all new employees can begin to work within 45 minutes of arriving because all of their systems and devices have been set up before they report for their first day.

Leaders at Suffolk Construction, a national construction firm based in Boston, invite entry-level hires to participate in a variety of team-building exercises, including rowing the Charles River. 

New employees at Bedgear, a Farmingdale, N.Y.-based manufacturer of performance bedding, take a walking tour of downtown Manhattan to visit other retailers that sell customized products, including Warby Parker and Samsung.

View more  original onboarding options, shared from 4 HR leaders . 

coworkers playing team building game together with colored plastic rods

Continue Learning About Onboarding

Additional resources:.

  • Checklist for Developing Onboarding/New Hire Practices
  • New Hire Orientation Checklist
  • New-Hire Orientation Process
  • New Hire Survey
  • New Hire Survey – Remote Employee
  • Onboarding Companies and Vendors in the SHRM Vendor Directory  
  • SHRM Store resources on  Onboarding

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COMMENTS

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