Title: Paradigmatic change of dissertation research pattern: a qualitative assessment of project management education

Authors: Mehrdad Sarhadi; Seyed Hosein Hoseini

Addresses: Department of Project Management and Construction, Persian Gulf University (PGU), Shahid Mahini Street, Bushehr, Iran ' Department of Project Management and Construction, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract: Reflecting the learners' experiences and expectations are not well-addressed in the current literature of project management (PM) education. The present study aims to clarify some new aspects of PM dissertation research from the perspective of PhD students. An abductive qualitative approach was adopted by applying the case study research method. Confronting theory with the empirical world through two concepts of 'research methodology' and 'research governance', led to the identification of four major research patterns, two of which arise from the theory including modern and participation (late modern) patterns, while the other two arise from the practice including two distinctive forms of the transitional pattern from modernism to participation, which are directed by drivers and inhibitors, under the two competing discourses. Research findings present new insights on paradigmatic changes of PM academic education in Iran, as well as a qualitative framework for the assessment of PM graduate programs.

Keywords: paradigm change; discourse; research methodology; research governance; PhD dissertation; project management education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2022.125879

International Journal of Project Organisation and Management, 2022 Vol.14 No.3, pp.351 - 376

Received: 19 Dec 2020
Accepted: 13 Mar 2021

Published online: 03 Oct 2022 *

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