Project management for academic research projects: balancing structure and flexibility

Abstract

Academic research faces new methods of knowledge production that trigger a need for managing research by projects. However, the literature reports friction between management and research. In this study, we investigate whether and to what extent academic research projects can be managed using classical project management (PM) principles. An analysis of managerial facts from interviews with ten university researchers indicates that research projects are PM-compatible considering certain structural similarities and a cultural acceptance of PM value. However, the human factors and uncertainties inherent in research are not addressed by classical PM. A grounded analysis allows for modelling a PM perspective that integrates soft and hard contingent aspects equally by combining structured and flexible approaches adapted to managing projects of an exploratory, uncertain and complex nature. We thus developed a prescriptive framework for facilitating PM implementation in academic research at the institutional, organisational and operational levels.

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