The Changing Bias of Project Management Research: A Consideration of the Literatures and an Application of Extant Theory

Abstract

This paper addresses two important current trends in project management research: the first relating to the changing emphasis of project-based research output, and the second relating to the development of a theory of project management. The first aspect is driven by evidence of a move from process-based research toward the interactions between people and projects. The second involves the alignment of certain aspects of the management of projects with more established theoretical domains. This paper applies a theoretical lens to some elements of the management of project-based work, in order to embed it within more robust theoretical imperatives.