The Blended Mental Space: Mobility and Flexibility as Characteristics of Project/Program Success

Abstract

The project or program management consists not only of the correct use of project management methodologies and methods. An interaction with stakeholders and the movable context is one of the main components of the management. The interaction consists not only in communication but also in the unambiguous understanding of all project processes and project documentation. Such interaction takes place in a blended mental space, which can be presented as a cognitive structure. The blended mental space is mobile and plastic with a large number of degrees of freedom. The project manager manages it. A large number of degrees of freedom complicates the formalization of the space and the widespread use of rational choices to its management. Cognitive management is one of the approaches that can be applied in this case. The project manager must know and consider cognitive mistakes and biases. The project manager should hold “soft skills” for application of cognitive management approaches. Metacognitive understanding should be taken as a basis when getting the education in project manager's “soft skills”.