Project management in research projects

Abstract

Project Management (PM) is a set of activities which enables successful implementation of a project, where a project may be defined as involving a group of inter- related activities that are planned and then executed in a certain sequence to create a unique output (product or service) within a specific time frame. Research projects differ in many ways from development projects, the most significant being (lack of) clear requirements and (in)ability to plan an output from the start of the project. In terms of outputs, evaluation criteria for a research project must take into account such, we well as other "particularities"; for example, that proving that something can not be done may represent a positive result for a research project. This article describes particularities of research projects, and proposes adequately adjusted project management process and practices. It also gives examples and evaluation of successful application thereof in practice, in joint projects between academia and industry over the past five years.