Project Management and Success in Academic Research

Abstract

Conventional project management approaches do not seem to work well in academic research. In our experience, problems include resistance to basic project management processes like milestone development, extended delays caused by researchers not responding to emails or phone calls, a consistent lack of clarity regarding project outcomes, and the inability of the project manager to affect the behavior of research team members. This paper summarizes key challenges of project management for university-based research: the problem of defining success; uncertainty and lack of clarity; and lack of accountability structures. We suggest a simple framework based on three essential elements of project management to identify and manage core risks at the outset of academic research projects. The three elements comprise: (1) A credible and recognizable definition of the desired state; (2) A credible and compelling measure of deviation from the desired state; and (3) A way to bring the project back on track.