Ata Ul Musawir | Unversity Of Central Punjab Lahore (original) (raw)

Papers by Ata Ul Musawir

Research paper thumbnail of Leveraging Organizational Social Capital in Construction Projects to Enhance Project Success: The Enabling Role of Transformational Leadership

Project Management Journal, 2023

Building on the theories of social capital and self-determination as complementary perspectives, ... more Building on the theories of social capital and self-determination as complementary perspectives, this study investigates how an individual’s idea of organizational social capital affects project success by testing a dual-stage moderated mediation model with self-efficacy as a mediator and transformational leadership as a moderator at both the first and second stages. Time-lagged data from 213 project management practitioners were collected from construction project–based firms. It was revealed that self-efficacy partially mediates the effect of an employee’s perception of organizational social capital on project success. Additionally, moderation results support the proposed hypotheses. We discussed theoretical and practical implications.

Research paper thumbnail of Making Sense of Project Governance and its Role in Strategy Implementation

International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 2023

Purpose – This paper examines how expert practitioners define project governance and develop a pr... more Purpose – This paper examines how expert practitioners define project governance and develop a project governance system that enables strategy implementation through projects.
Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews were conducted with project governance experts and analyzed the data using thematic analysis. Subsequently, based on the stratified ontology of critical realism, retroductive theoretical triangulation was employed to explain the themes identified using five emergent theoretical perspectives.
Findings – By integrating the themes extracted from the data with the emergent theoretical perspectives, a framework was developed outlining the general process through which practitioners make sense of the concept of project governance, formulate an appropriate project governance system for their respective organizations and manage its evolution over time. Furthermore, a holistic approach to project governance was proposed that spans the entire investment life cycle of projects and enables the implementation of strategy through projects.
Practical implications – This study attempts to make sense of the diverse interpretations of the concept of project governance adopted by practitioners. It further summarizes valuable insights from expert practitioners for formulating and enacting effective project governance systems.
Originality/value – This study contributes to the governance-as-practice perspective and the growing stream of literature that views projects as investments. The project governance system is positioned as the steward of an organization’s investments in projects.

Research paper thumbnail of Project governance: conceptual and practical challenges in complex project organizing

Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks, Jan 24, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Servant Leadership and Project Success: Unleashing the Missing Links of Work Engagement, Project Work Withdrawal, and Project Identification

Project Management Journal

Employing self-determination and social identification theories, we examined how servant leadersh... more Employing self-determination and social identification theories, we examined how servant leadership, which focuses on employees’ needs, influences project success. Based on 453 responses from project team leader–project team member dyads working in a single organization, our findings suggest that servant leadership enhances project success predominantly by mitigating project work withdrawal, rather than accentuating work engagement. Additionally, when team members’ project identification is high, the servant leadership–work engagement relationship is weakened, whereas the servant leadership–project work withdrawal relationship is strengthened. We contribute to the nascent literature that positions servant leadership as an effective style in the project context.

Research paper thumbnail of Project Governance, Benefits Management and Project Success - Research Summary

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of Project Governance on Benefits Realization Management and Project Success: Towards a Framework for Supporting Organizational Strategy

International Journal of Project Management, 2017

This thesis aims to shed light on two streams of project management research that are rapidly gai... more This thesis aims to shed light on two streams of project management research that are rapidly gaining importance: the first is project governance and the second is the emerging concept of Benefits Realization Management (BRM). Both concepts are at the forefront of the fairly recent drive to revisit and re-conceptualize the theory and practice of project management, as evidenced by comprehensive initiatives such as Rethinking Project Management, which was a two-year research program (2004-2006) funded by the UK Government that involved a research network of academicians and practitioners working to extend and enrich project management theory in accordance with the developing practice. A key recommendation of said initiative is to shift focus from product creation to value creation. This is fueled by the increasingly large body of evidence that the majority of projects fail to meet success criteria. Adding to the urgency is the increasing pressure from business managers for projects to justify their value contribution to the organization. In this context, project governance and BRM are vital for ensuring that projects deliver expected business benefits and value. In doing so, these concepts help align project outcomes with organizational strategy. This study aims to address an important gap in the literature: the relationships between project governance and BRM, and their effects on project success. These relationships were studied based on 326 responses from Pakistan’s burgeoning IT & Software sector, which is increasingly becoming vital for the country’s future economic growth as Pakistan transitions from an industrial to service-based economy. The findings of this study indicate that the aspects of project governance included in this study have a positive significant effect on both BRM and Project Success. Also, it is found that BRM mediates the relationship between two aspects of project governance, namely Relational Governance and Governance of Project Management (GoPM), and Project Success. The results supports the overall proposition of this study that strong project governance creates the context in which effective BRM can occur. For the theory of project management, specifically project governance and BRM, this study hopes to contribute much needed empirical evidence to the literature and responds to recent calls for research on BRM. Additionally, this study attempts to adapt a scale for the GoPM concept, which fills an important gap in the existing operationalizations of different aspects of project governance and may prove useful for future academic studies. For the practice of project management, this study hopes to initiate a discussion on how project governance and BRM may be integrated to support the achievement of organizational strategic objectives through projects and programs. Furthermore, this research aims to assess the current levels of, and create awareness of the developments in, project governance and BRM in Pakistan. This should help organizations to not only improve the success rates of their projects but also to extract business value from projects.

Research paper thumbnail of Project governance and its role in enabling organizational strategy implementation: A systematic literature review

International Journal of Project Management, 2020

Abstract Project governance is widely recognized to be among the most critical factors for succes... more Abstract Project governance is widely recognized to be among the most critical factors for successful project delivery and benefits realization. However, the literature on project governance is fragmented and, despite past efforts by researchers in the field, there is yet a lack of consensus on what project governance is and the fundamental elements it constitutes. Furthermore, although project governance occupies the prime position to ensure that projects are aligned with organizational strategic objectives, the guidelines for how project governance can enable organizational strategy implementation through projects is a crucial yet under-researched area in the literature. Accordingly, building on the insights from past reviews and an initial scoping study, a systematic literature review was conducted on project governance examining and comparing 271 publications from both academic and professional literatures. The findings of this study build upon the efforts of its predecessors to shed light on the discourse on project governance pertaining to its definition, theoretical underpinnings, forms, and role in enabling organizational strategy implementation. Furthermore, a typology of projects is proposed to help link project governance guidelines to specific project contexts. Finally, future research directions for progressing the theoretical and practical understanding of project governance are identified.

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of knowledge sharing and absorptive capacity on project performance: the moderating role of social processes

Journal of Knowledge Management, 2018

Purpose This study aims to propose an integrated model to examine the impact of knowledge governa... more Purpose This study aims to propose an integrated model to examine the impact of knowledge governance, knowledge sharing and absorptive capacity (ACAP) on project performance in the context of project-based organizations (PBOs). This study also examines the moderating role of social processes on the relationships among these variables. Design/methodology/approach To test the proposed model, cross-sectional data were collected regarding projects from 133 PBOs in Pakistan’s information technology/software industry. The data were analyzed using the partial least squares – structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method and PRCOESS tool. Finally, this study also uses causal asymmetry analysis to check asymmetric relationship in the key constructs. Findings The results generally support the proposed model. Knowledge governance and knowledge sharing are important antecedents for improving the ACAP of the project, which in turn significantly improves project performance. Additionally, social ...

Research paper thumbnail of Project governance, benefit management, and project success: Towards a framework for supporting organizational strategy implementation

International Journal of Project Management, 2017

There is growing pressure on project managers to demonstrate the value of their projects to the f... more There is growing pressure on project managers to demonstrate the value of their projects to the funding organization. However, most projects lack a robust process for realizing such strategic value. While the literature recognizes the importance of project governance for enabling benefits realization, this research area lacks empirical evidence. Accordingly, this paper analyzes the relationships between effective project governance, benefit management, and project success. A scale for evaluating effective project governance was developed and validated based on feedback from 21 project governance experts. Subsequently, an international survey of 333 projects was used to test proposed relationships. The results indicate effective project governance improves project success both directly and through an enhanced benefit management process. Additionally, the most effective project governance and benefit management practices for improving project success are identified, such as the development and monitoring of a high quality project business case. The resulting model sets the foundations for a theory that explains how effective project governance enhances project success and enables the realization of strategic objectives through projects.

Research paper thumbnail of Enhancing the impact of transformational leadership and team-building on project success: the moderating role of empowerment climate

International Journal of Managing Projects in Business

PurposeThis study examines the mechanisms and conditions that influence how transformational lead... more PurposeThis study examines the mechanisms and conditions that influence how transformational leadership affects project success through the lens of social information processing theory.Design/methodology/approachA dual-stage moderated mediation model was proposed wherein the effect of transformational leadership on project success is mediated by team building, and empowering climate moderates the direct and indirect effects at both the first and second stages. The model was tested based on 370 survey responses of project management practitioners from Pakistan's IT industry. The measurement model was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Moderated mediation analyses were conducted using Hayes' PROCESS macro.FindingsThe findings suggest that team-building partially mediates the effect of transformational leadership on project success. Furthermore, the conditional indirect effect of transformational leadership on project success via team-building is strengthened at...

Research paper thumbnail of Getting Back to Basics: Divergent Perspectives on the Fundamental Aspects of Project Governance BAM Track 25: Project Experiences

The literature on project governance still lacks a widely accepted and internally consistent conc... more The literature on project governance still lacks a widely accepted and internally consistent conceptualization of project governance. Despite various attempts by past studies to examine and integrate the fundamental elements of project governance, the fragmented nature of the project governance literature continues to persist. Furthermore, there is a dearth of research on how project governance can enable organizational strategy implementation through projects. Accordingly, this research aimed to examine the project governance concept at a fundamental level by supplementing and synthesizing the findings of a prior systematic literature review study with the findings of a semi-structured interviews study involving 23 project governance experts. The results indicate the existence of divergent viewpoints regarding the foundational aspects of project governance in both the literature and among expert practitioners. Accordingly, it is proposed that there is a need to reexamine the fundamentals of project governance and to develop a holistic approach that combines both the narrow and broad perspectives of project governance.

Research paper thumbnail of Project governance and its role in enabling organizational strategy implementation: A systematic literature review

International Journal of Project Management, 2020

Project governance is widely recognized to be among the most critical factors for successful proj... more Project governance is widely recognized to be among the most critical factors for successful project delivery and
benefits realization. However, the literature on project governance is fragmented and, despite past efforts by
researchers in the field, there is yet a lack of consensus on what project governance is and the fundamental elements
it constitutes. Furthermore, although project governance occupies the prime position to ensure that
projects are aligned with organizational strategic objectives, the guidelines for how project governance can enable
organizational strategy implementation through projects is a crucial yet under-researched area in the literature.
Accordingly, building on the insights from past reviews and an initial scoping study, a systematic literature review
was conducted on project governance examining and comparing 271 publications from both academic and
professional literatures. The findings of this study build upon the efforts of its predecessors to shed light on the
discourse on project governance pertaining to its definition, theoretical underpinnings, forms, and role in enabling
organizational strategy implementation. Furthermore, a typology of projects is proposed to help link project
governance guidelines to specific project contexts. Finally, future research directions for progressing the theoretical
and practical understanding of project governance are identified.

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of knowledge sharing and absorptive capacity on project performance: the moderating role of social processes

Purpose - This study aims to propose an integrated model to examine the impact of knowledge gover... more Purpose - This study aims to propose an integrated model to examine the impact of knowledge governance, knowledge sharing and absorptive capacity (ACAP) on project performance in the context of project-based organizations (PBOs). This study also examines the moderating role of social processes on the relationships among these variables.

Design/methodology/approach - To test the proposed model, cross-sectional data were collected regarding projects from 133 PBOs in Pakistan’s information technology/software industry. The data were analyzed using the partial least squares – structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method and PRCOESS tool. Finally, this study also uses causal asymmetry analysis to check asymmetric relationship in the key constructs.

Findings - The results generally support the proposed model. Knowledge governance and knowledge sharing are important antecedents for improving the ACAP of the project, which in turn significantly improves project performance. Additionally, social processes positively moderate the relationship between knowledge sharing and ACAP, as well as between ACAP and project performance.

Research limitations/implications - The findings suggest that PBOs should invest in developing a knowledge governance system that guides and stimulates knowledge sharing within and between projects. This would boost the ACAP of projects and lead to superior project performance.

Originality/value - This study addresses the important issue of knowledge management in IT/software projects. It proposes a unique model that integrates the key constructs of knowledge management and describes their effect on project performance.

Research paper thumbnail of Project governance, benefit management, and project success: Towards a framework for supporting organizational strategy implementation

There is growing pressure on project managers to demonstrate the value of their projects to the f... more There is growing pressure on project managers to demonstrate the value of their projects to the funding organization. However, most projects lack a robust process for realizing such strategic value. While the literature recognizes the importance of project governance for enabling benefits realization, this research area lacks empirical evidence. Accordingly, this paper analyzes the relationships between effective project governance, benefit management, and project success. A scale for evaluating effective project governance was developed and validated based on feedback from 21 project governance experts. Subsequently, an international survey of 333 projects was used to test proposed relationships. The results indicate effective project governance improves project success both directly and through an enhanced benefit management process. Additionally, the most effective project governance and benefit management practices for improving project success are identified, such as the development and monitoring of a high quality project business case. The resulting model sets the foundations for a theory that explains how effective project governance enhances project success and enables the realization of strategic objectives through projects.

Conference Presentations by Ata Ul Musawir

Research paper thumbnail of Servant Leadership and Project Success: Parallel Mediation by Work Engagement and Project Work Withdrawal

British Academy of Management (BAM) Conference, 2019

Drawing on social exchange theory, this research investigated the processes underlying the linkag... more Drawing on social exchange theory, this research investigated the processes underlying the linkage between servant leadership and project success. Specifically, we tested two distinct mediating mechanisms: project work withdrawal and work engagement that have received limited attention in the project management literature. The proposed parallel mediation model was tested using survey data from 247 project management practitioners. The findings suggest that enhanced followers' work engagement and reduced project work withdrawal mediate the relationship between servant leadership and project success. Further, we found that project work withdrawal has a relatively stronger mediating effect in the servant leadership―project success relationship. The results shed light on the beneficial consequences of servant leadership on project success by engaging followers in daily project operations and reducing costs to the organization by diminishing project work withdrawal. We further posit that servant leadership may be an effective style for addressing the inherent challenges faced by managers in most projects.

Research paper thumbnail of Project Governance: Enabling Organizational Strategy

Despite extensive developments in project management theory and practice, projects are still vast... more Despite extensive developments in project management theory and practice, projects are still vastly underperforming and project success rates have remained virtually unchanged. Additionally, the definition of project success is evolving and projects are increasingly required to demonstrate their contribution to bottom-line business value and organizational strategy. Theoretical and empirical evidence increasingly points to the importance of effective governance in ensuring that projects meet the traditional criteria of time, cost, and quality as well as realize their business case and support organizational strategic objectives. However, there are wide variations in how project governance is understood and defined and the literature is largely sporadic. Existing conceptualizations of governance in the literature vary considerably and the optimal form of project governance is yet to be identified. To address this conceptual gap, this study examines the project governance literature and industry standards. The findings reveal some unifying themes and points of convergence amongst the key conceptualizations of project governance. Additionally, we find evidence from the literature that the role of project governance is shifting from ensuring efficient project delivery to ensuring that project benefits are realized and aligned with organizational strategic objectives. This shifting role of project governance is in congruence with the shifting emphasis of projects from product creation to value creation. The findings of this study serve as a foundation for the discussion on how project governance has evolved and what conceptual and practical challenges it faces today. Furthermore, this paper identifies some potentially fruitful directions for future research on project governance.

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of Knowledge Sharing and Absorptive Capacity on Project Performance: The Moderating Role of Social Processes

This study examines the impacts of knowledge governance, knowledge sharing and absorptive capacit... more This study examines the impacts of knowledge governance, knowledge sharing and absorptive capacity on project performance, and the moderating role of social processes on the relationships between these variables. These key constructs are synthesized to develop a unique, integrated model of knowledge management in the context of project-based organizations (PBOs). To test the proposed model, cross-sectional data were collected from 133 PBOs in Pakistan’s IT/software industry. The data were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method. The results indicate positive associations between knowledge governance practices and knowledge sharing, knowledge sharing and absorptive capacity, and absorptive capacity and project performance. Also, social processes are found to moderate the relationship between knowledge management and absorptive capacity and between absorptive capacity and project performance. Based on the results, we propose practical guidelines for PBOs to develop and implement a knowledge management system to improve bottom-line project performance.

Thesis Chapters by Ata Ul Musawir

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of Project Governance on Benefits Realization Management and Project Success: Towards a Framework for Supporting Organizational Strategy

This thesis aims to shed light on two streams of project management research that are rapidly gai... more This thesis aims to shed light on two streams of project management research that are rapidly gaining importance: the first is project governance and the second is the emerging concept of Benefits Realization Management (BRM). Both concepts are at the forefront of the fairly recent drive to revisit and re-conceptualize the theory and practice of project management, as evidenced by comprehensive initiatives such as Rethinking Project Management, which was a two-year research program (2004-2006) funded by the UK Government that involved a research network of academicians and practitioners working to extend and enrich project management theory in accordance with the developing practice. A key recommendation of said initiative is to shift focus from product creation to value creation. This is fueled by the increasingly large body of evidence that the majority of projects fail to meet success criteria. Adding to the urgency is the increasing pressure from business managers for projects to justify their value contribution to the organization. In this context, project governance and BRM are vital for ensuring that projects deliver expected business benefits and value. In doing so, these concepts help align project outcomes with organizational strategy.

This study aims to address an important gap in the literature: the relationships between project governance and BRM, and their effects on project success. These relationships were studied based on 326 responses from Pakistan’s burgeoning IT & Software sector, which is increasingly becoming vital for the country’s future economic growth as Pakistan transitions from an industrial to service-based economy. The findings of this study indicate that the aspects of project governance included in this study have a positive significant effect on both BRM and Project Success. Also, it is found that BRM mediates the relationship between two aspects of project governance, namely Relational Governance and Governance of Project Management (GoPM), and Project Success. The results supports the overall proposition of this study that strong project governance creates the context in which effective BRM can occur.

For the theory of project management, specifically project governance and BRM, this study hopes to contribute much needed empirical evidence to the literature and responds to recent calls for research on BRM. Additionally, this study attempts to adapt a scale for the GoPM concept, which fills an important gap in the existing operationalizations of different aspects of project governance and may prove useful for future academic studies.

For the practice of project management, this study hopes to initiate a discussion on how project governance and BRM may be integrated to support the achievement of organizational strategic objectives through projects and programs. Furthermore, this research aims to assess the current levels of, and create awareness of the developments in, project governance and BRM in Pakistan. This should help organizations to not only improve the success rates of their projects but also to extract business value from projects.

Teaching Documents by Ata Ul Musawir

Research paper thumbnail of Project Governance, Benefit Management, and Project Success: Research Summary

This report is a summary of results from an academic study conducted during 2015-2016. The aim of... more This report is a summary of results from an academic study conducted during 2015-2016. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between Effective Project Governance, Benefit Management, and Project Success. It is hoped that the findings of this research will help organizations improve project success rates and achieve strategic objectives through projects.

Research paper thumbnail of Leveraging Organizational Social Capital in Construction Projects to Enhance Project Success: The Enabling Role of Transformational Leadership

Project Management Journal, 2023

Building on the theories of social capital and self-determination as complementary perspectives, ... more Building on the theories of social capital and self-determination as complementary perspectives, this study investigates how an individual’s idea of organizational social capital affects project success by testing a dual-stage moderated mediation model with self-efficacy as a mediator and transformational leadership as a moderator at both the first and second stages. Time-lagged data from 213 project management practitioners were collected from construction project–based firms. It was revealed that self-efficacy partially mediates the effect of an employee’s perception of organizational social capital on project success. Additionally, moderation results support the proposed hypotheses. We discussed theoretical and practical implications.

Research paper thumbnail of Making Sense of Project Governance and its Role in Strategy Implementation

International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 2023

Purpose – This paper examines how expert practitioners define project governance and develop a pr... more Purpose – This paper examines how expert practitioners define project governance and develop a project governance system that enables strategy implementation through projects.
Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews were conducted with project governance experts and analyzed the data using thematic analysis. Subsequently, based on the stratified ontology of critical realism, retroductive theoretical triangulation was employed to explain the themes identified using five emergent theoretical perspectives.
Findings – By integrating the themes extracted from the data with the emergent theoretical perspectives, a framework was developed outlining the general process through which practitioners make sense of the concept of project governance, formulate an appropriate project governance system for their respective organizations and manage its evolution over time. Furthermore, a holistic approach to project governance was proposed that spans the entire investment life cycle of projects and enables the implementation of strategy through projects.
Practical implications – This study attempts to make sense of the diverse interpretations of the concept of project governance adopted by practitioners. It further summarizes valuable insights from expert practitioners for formulating and enacting effective project governance systems.
Originality/value – This study contributes to the governance-as-practice perspective and the growing stream of literature that views projects as investments. The project governance system is positioned as the steward of an organization’s investments in projects.

Research paper thumbnail of Project governance: conceptual and practical challenges in complex project organizing

Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks, Jan 24, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Servant Leadership and Project Success: Unleashing the Missing Links of Work Engagement, Project Work Withdrawal, and Project Identification

Project Management Journal

Employing self-determination and social identification theories, we examined how servant leadersh... more Employing self-determination and social identification theories, we examined how servant leadership, which focuses on employees’ needs, influences project success. Based on 453 responses from project team leader–project team member dyads working in a single organization, our findings suggest that servant leadership enhances project success predominantly by mitigating project work withdrawal, rather than accentuating work engagement. Additionally, when team members’ project identification is high, the servant leadership–work engagement relationship is weakened, whereas the servant leadership–project work withdrawal relationship is strengthened. We contribute to the nascent literature that positions servant leadership as an effective style in the project context.

Research paper thumbnail of Project Governance, Benefits Management and Project Success - Research Summary

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of Project Governance on Benefits Realization Management and Project Success: Towards a Framework for Supporting Organizational Strategy

International Journal of Project Management, 2017

This thesis aims to shed light on two streams of project management research that are rapidly gai... more This thesis aims to shed light on two streams of project management research that are rapidly gaining importance: the first is project governance and the second is the emerging concept of Benefits Realization Management (BRM). Both concepts are at the forefront of the fairly recent drive to revisit and re-conceptualize the theory and practice of project management, as evidenced by comprehensive initiatives such as Rethinking Project Management, which was a two-year research program (2004-2006) funded by the UK Government that involved a research network of academicians and practitioners working to extend and enrich project management theory in accordance with the developing practice. A key recommendation of said initiative is to shift focus from product creation to value creation. This is fueled by the increasingly large body of evidence that the majority of projects fail to meet success criteria. Adding to the urgency is the increasing pressure from business managers for projects to justify their value contribution to the organization. In this context, project governance and BRM are vital for ensuring that projects deliver expected business benefits and value. In doing so, these concepts help align project outcomes with organizational strategy. This study aims to address an important gap in the literature: the relationships between project governance and BRM, and their effects on project success. These relationships were studied based on 326 responses from Pakistan’s burgeoning IT & Software sector, which is increasingly becoming vital for the country’s future economic growth as Pakistan transitions from an industrial to service-based economy. The findings of this study indicate that the aspects of project governance included in this study have a positive significant effect on both BRM and Project Success. Also, it is found that BRM mediates the relationship between two aspects of project governance, namely Relational Governance and Governance of Project Management (GoPM), and Project Success. The results supports the overall proposition of this study that strong project governance creates the context in which effective BRM can occur. For the theory of project management, specifically project governance and BRM, this study hopes to contribute much needed empirical evidence to the literature and responds to recent calls for research on BRM. Additionally, this study attempts to adapt a scale for the GoPM concept, which fills an important gap in the existing operationalizations of different aspects of project governance and may prove useful for future academic studies. For the practice of project management, this study hopes to initiate a discussion on how project governance and BRM may be integrated to support the achievement of organizational strategic objectives through projects and programs. Furthermore, this research aims to assess the current levels of, and create awareness of the developments in, project governance and BRM in Pakistan. This should help organizations to not only improve the success rates of their projects but also to extract business value from projects.

Research paper thumbnail of Project governance and its role in enabling organizational strategy implementation: A systematic literature review

International Journal of Project Management, 2020

Abstract Project governance is widely recognized to be among the most critical factors for succes... more Abstract Project governance is widely recognized to be among the most critical factors for successful project delivery and benefits realization. However, the literature on project governance is fragmented and, despite past efforts by researchers in the field, there is yet a lack of consensus on what project governance is and the fundamental elements it constitutes. Furthermore, although project governance occupies the prime position to ensure that projects are aligned with organizational strategic objectives, the guidelines for how project governance can enable organizational strategy implementation through projects is a crucial yet under-researched area in the literature. Accordingly, building on the insights from past reviews and an initial scoping study, a systematic literature review was conducted on project governance examining and comparing 271 publications from both academic and professional literatures. The findings of this study build upon the efforts of its predecessors to shed light on the discourse on project governance pertaining to its definition, theoretical underpinnings, forms, and role in enabling organizational strategy implementation. Furthermore, a typology of projects is proposed to help link project governance guidelines to specific project contexts. Finally, future research directions for progressing the theoretical and practical understanding of project governance are identified.

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of knowledge sharing and absorptive capacity on project performance: the moderating role of social processes

Journal of Knowledge Management, 2018

Purpose This study aims to propose an integrated model to examine the impact of knowledge governa... more Purpose This study aims to propose an integrated model to examine the impact of knowledge governance, knowledge sharing and absorptive capacity (ACAP) on project performance in the context of project-based organizations (PBOs). This study also examines the moderating role of social processes on the relationships among these variables. Design/methodology/approach To test the proposed model, cross-sectional data were collected regarding projects from 133 PBOs in Pakistan’s information technology/software industry. The data were analyzed using the partial least squares – structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method and PRCOESS tool. Finally, this study also uses causal asymmetry analysis to check asymmetric relationship in the key constructs. Findings The results generally support the proposed model. Knowledge governance and knowledge sharing are important antecedents for improving the ACAP of the project, which in turn significantly improves project performance. Additionally, social ...

Research paper thumbnail of Project governance, benefit management, and project success: Towards a framework for supporting organizational strategy implementation

International Journal of Project Management, 2017

There is growing pressure on project managers to demonstrate the value of their projects to the f... more There is growing pressure on project managers to demonstrate the value of their projects to the funding organization. However, most projects lack a robust process for realizing such strategic value. While the literature recognizes the importance of project governance for enabling benefits realization, this research area lacks empirical evidence. Accordingly, this paper analyzes the relationships between effective project governance, benefit management, and project success. A scale for evaluating effective project governance was developed and validated based on feedback from 21 project governance experts. Subsequently, an international survey of 333 projects was used to test proposed relationships. The results indicate effective project governance improves project success both directly and through an enhanced benefit management process. Additionally, the most effective project governance and benefit management practices for improving project success are identified, such as the development and monitoring of a high quality project business case. The resulting model sets the foundations for a theory that explains how effective project governance enhances project success and enables the realization of strategic objectives through projects.

Research paper thumbnail of Enhancing the impact of transformational leadership and team-building on project success: the moderating role of empowerment climate

International Journal of Managing Projects in Business

PurposeThis study examines the mechanisms and conditions that influence how transformational lead... more PurposeThis study examines the mechanisms and conditions that influence how transformational leadership affects project success through the lens of social information processing theory.Design/methodology/approachA dual-stage moderated mediation model was proposed wherein the effect of transformational leadership on project success is mediated by team building, and empowering climate moderates the direct and indirect effects at both the first and second stages. The model was tested based on 370 survey responses of project management practitioners from Pakistan's IT industry. The measurement model was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Moderated mediation analyses were conducted using Hayes' PROCESS macro.FindingsThe findings suggest that team-building partially mediates the effect of transformational leadership on project success. Furthermore, the conditional indirect effect of transformational leadership on project success via team-building is strengthened at...

Research paper thumbnail of Getting Back to Basics: Divergent Perspectives on the Fundamental Aspects of Project Governance BAM Track 25: Project Experiences

The literature on project governance still lacks a widely accepted and internally consistent conc... more The literature on project governance still lacks a widely accepted and internally consistent conceptualization of project governance. Despite various attempts by past studies to examine and integrate the fundamental elements of project governance, the fragmented nature of the project governance literature continues to persist. Furthermore, there is a dearth of research on how project governance can enable organizational strategy implementation through projects. Accordingly, this research aimed to examine the project governance concept at a fundamental level by supplementing and synthesizing the findings of a prior systematic literature review study with the findings of a semi-structured interviews study involving 23 project governance experts. The results indicate the existence of divergent viewpoints regarding the foundational aspects of project governance in both the literature and among expert practitioners. Accordingly, it is proposed that there is a need to reexamine the fundamentals of project governance and to develop a holistic approach that combines both the narrow and broad perspectives of project governance.

Research paper thumbnail of Project governance and its role in enabling organizational strategy implementation: A systematic literature review

International Journal of Project Management, 2020

Project governance is widely recognized to be among the most critical factors for successful proj... more Project governance is widely recognized to be among the most critical factors for successful project delivery and
benefits realization. However, the literature on project governance is fragmented and, despite past efforts by
researchers in the field, there is yet a lack of consensus on what project governance is and the fundamental elements
it constitutes. Furthermore, although project governance occupies the prime position to ensure that
projects are aligned with organizational strategic objectives, the guidelines for how project governance can enable
organizational strategy implementation through projects is a crucial yet under-researched area in the literature.
Accordingly, building on the insights from past reviews and an initial scoping study, a systematic literature review
was conducted on project governance examining and comparing 271 publications from both academic and
professional literatures. The findings of this study build upon the efforts of its predecessors to shed light on the
discourse on project governance pertaining to its definition, theoretical underpinnings, forms, and role in enabling
organizational strategy implementation. Furthermore, a typology of projects is proposed to help link project
governance guidelines to specific project contexts. Finally, future research directions for progressing the theoretical
and practical understanding of project governance are identified.

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of knowledge sharing and absorptive capacity on project performance: the moderating role of social processes

Purpose - This study aims to propose an integrated model to examine the impact of knowledge gover... more Purpose - This study aims to propose an integrated model to examine the impact of knowledge governance, knowledge sharing and absorptive capacity (ACAP) on project performance in the context of project-based organizations (PBOs). This study also examines the moderating role of social processes on the relationships among these variables.

Design/methodology/approach - To test the proposed model, cross-sectional data were collected regarding projects from 133 PBOs in Pakistan’s information technology/software industry. The data were analyzed using the partial least squares – structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method and PRCOESS tool. Finally, this study also uses causal asymmetry analysis to check asymmetric relationship in the key constructs.

Findings - The results generally support the proposed model. Knowledge governance and knowledge sharing are important antecedents for improving the ACAP of the project, which in turn significantly improves project performance. Additionally, social processes positively moderate the relationship between knowledge sharing and ACAP, as well as between ACAP and project performance.

Research limitations/implications - The findings suggest that PBOs should invest in developing a knowledge governance system that guides and stimulates knowledge sharing within and between projects. This would boost the ACAP of projects and lead to superior project performance.

Originality/value - This study addresses the important issue of knowledge management in IT/software projects. It proposes a unique model that integrates the key constructs of knowledge management and describes their effect on project performance.

Research paper thumbnail of Project governance, benefit management, and project success: Towards a framework for supporting organizational strategy implementation

There is growing pressure on project managers to demonstrate the value of their projects to the f... more There is growing pressure on project managers to demonstrate the value of their projects to the funding organization. However, most projects lack a robust process for realizing such strategic value. While the literature recognizes the importance of project governance for enabling benefits realization, this research area lacks empirical evidence. Accordingly, this paper analyzes the relationships between effective project governance, benefit management, and project success. A scale for evaluating effective project governance was developed and validated based on feedback from 21 project governance experts. Subsequently, an international survey of 333 projects was used to test proposed relationships. The results indicate effective project governance improves project success both directly and through an enhanced benefit management process. Additionally, the most effective project governance and benefit management practices for improving project success are identified, such as the development and monitoring of a high quality project business case. The resulting model sets the foundations for a theory that explains how effective project governance enhances project success and enables the realization of strategic objectives through projects.

Research paper thumbnail of Servant Leadership and Project Success: Parallel Mediation by Work Engagement and Project Work Withdrawal

British Academy of Management (BAM) Conference, 2019

Drawing on social exchange theory, this research investigated the processes underlying the linkag... more Drawing on social exchange theory, this research investigated the processes underlying the linkage between servant leadership and project success. Specifically, we tested two distinct mediating mechanisms: project work withdrawal and work engagement that have received limited attention in the project management literature. The proposed parallel mediation model was tested using survey data from 247 project management practitioners. The findings suggest that enhanced followers' work engagement and reduced project work withdrawal mediate the relationship between servant leadership and project success. Further, we found that project work withdrawal has a relatively stronger mediating effect in the servant leadership―project success relationship. The results shed light on the beneficial consequences of servant leadership on project success by engaging followers in daily project operations and reducing costs to the organization by diminishing project work withdrawal. We further posit that servant leadership may be an effective style for addressing the inherent challenges faced by managers in most projects.

Research paper thumbnail of Project Governance: Enabling Organizational Strategy

Despite extensive developments in project management theory and practice, projects are still vast... more Despite extensive developments in project management theory and practice, projects are still vastly underperforming and project success rates have remained virtually unchanged. Additionally, the definition of project success is evolving and projects are increasingly required to demonstrate their contribution to bottom-line business value and organizational strategy. Theoretical and empirical evidence increasingly points to the importance of effective governance in ensuring that projects meet the traditional criteria of time, cost, and quality as well as realize their business case and support organizational strategic objectives. However, there are wide variations in how project governance is understood and defined and the literature is largely sporadic. Existing conceptualizations of governance in the literature vary considerably and the optimal form of project governance is yet to be identified. To address this conceptual gap, this study examines the project governance literature and industry standards. The findings reveal some unifying themes and points of convergence amongst the key conceptualizations of project governance. Additionally, we find evidence from the literature that the role of project governance is shifting from ensuring efficient project delivery to ensuring that project benefits are realized and aligned with organizational strategic objectives. This shifting role of project governance is in congruence with the shifting emphasis of projects from product creation to value creation. The findings of this study serve as a foundation for the discussion on how project governance has evolved and what conceptual and practical challenges it faces today. Furthermore, this paper identifies some potentially fruitful directions for future research on project governance.

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of Knowledge Sharing and Absorptive Capacity on Project Performance: The Moderating Role of Social Processes

This study examines the impacts of knowledge governance, knowledge sharing and absorptive capacit... more This study examines the impacts of knowledge governance, knowledge sharing and absorptive capacity on project performance, and the moderating role of social processes on the relationships between these variables. These key constructs are synthesized to develop a unique, integrated model of knowledge management in the context of project-based organizations (PBOs). To test the proposed model, cross-sectional data were collected from 133 PBOs in Pakistan’s IT/software industry. The data were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method. The results indicate positive associations between knowledge governance practices and knowledge sharing, knowledge sharing and absorptive capacity, and absorptive capacity and project performance. Also, social processes are found to moderate the relationship between knowledge management and absorptive capacity and between absorptive capacity and project performance. Based on the results, we propose practical guidelines for PBOs to develop and implement a knowledge management system to improve bottom-line project performance.

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of Project Governance on Benefits Realization Management and Project Success: Towards a Framework for Supporting Organizational Strategy

This thesis aims to shed light on two streams of project management research that are rapidly gai... more This thesis aims to shed light on two streams of project management research that are rapidly gaining importance: the first is project governance and the second is the emerging concept of Benefits Realization Management (BRM). Both concepts are at the forefront of the fairly recent drive to revisit and re-conceptualize the theory and practice of project management, as evidenced by comprehensive initiatives such as Rethinking Project Management, which was a two-year research program (2004-2006) funded by the UK Government that involved a research network of academicians and practitioners working to extend and enrich project management theory in accordance with the developing practice. A key recommendation of said initiative is to shift focus from product creation to value creation. This is fueled by the increasingly large body of evidence that the majority of projects fail to meet success criteria. Adding to the urgency is the increasing pressure from business managers for projects to justify their value contribution to the organization. In this context, project governance and BRM are vital for ensuring that projects deliver expected business benefits and value. In doing so, these concepts help align project outcomes with organizational strategy.

This study aims to address an important gap in the literature: the relationships between project governance and BRM, and their effects on project success. These relationships were studied based on 326 responses from Pakistan’s burgeoning IT & Software sector, which is increasingly becoming vital for the country’s future economic growth as Pakistan transitions from an industrial to service-based economy. The findings of this study indicate that the aspects of project governance included in this study have a positive significant effect on both BRM and Project Success. Also, it is found that BRM mediates the relationship between two aspects of project governance, namely Relational Governance and Governance of Project Management (GoPM), and Project Success. The results supports the overall proposition of this study that strong project governance creates the context in which effective BRM can occur.

For the theory of project management, specifically project governance and BRM, this study hopes to contribute much needed empirical evidence to the literature and responds to recent calls for research on BRM. Additionally, this study attempts to adapt a scale for the GoPM concept, which fills an important gap in the existing operationalizations of different aspects of project governance and may prove useful for future academic studies.

For the practice of project management, this study hopes to initiate a discussion on how project governance and BRM may be integrated to support the achievement of organizational strategic objectives through projects and programs. Furthermore, this research aims to assess the current levels of, and create awareness of the developments in, project governance and BRM in Pakistan. This should help organizations to not only improve the success rates of their projects but also to extract business value from projects.

Research paper thumbnail of Project Governance, Benefit Management, and Project Success: Research Summary

This report is a summary of results from an academic study conducted during 2015-2016. The aim of... more This report is a summary of results from an academic study conducted during 2015-2016. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between Effective Project Governance, Benefit Management, and Project Success. It is hoped that the findings of this research will help organizations improve project success rates and achieve strategic objectives through projects.