Title: A critique of project management research

Authors: Bijan Jamshid-Nejad

Addresses: School of Engineering and Technology, Central Queensland University, 400 Kent St. Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

Abstract: Project management studies are predominantly conducted by inductive reasoning based on a positivist philosophy. This paper is an organised attempt to shed light on the hidden weaknesses of project management research. The weaknesses are categorised in three categories: research design, definitions and measurements, and analysis. The key weaknesses discussed in this paper include lack of a general underlying theory, issues with positivism and statistical modelling, and dearth of explanatory models. To address these weaknesses, mixed-method research based on a critical realist philosophy is suggested. As an example, the effects of environmental complexity on projects were presented. This example demonstrates how a mixed-method approach, grounded in critical realism, can provide deeper insights and a more comprehensive understanding of the relationships between environmental factors and project performance. By embracing a critical realist perspective and employing mixed-method research, project management scholars can pave the way for more contextually-relevant and explanatory studies in this multifaceted field.

Keywords: project management; PM; research philosophy; critical realism; CR; mixed-method research.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2025.145440

International Journal of Project Organisation and Management, 2025 Vol.17 No.1, pp.1 - 21

Received: 23 May 2023
Accepted: 07 Apr 2024
Published online: 01 Apr 2025 *

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