On the future of project management innovation: A call for discussion towards project management 2030

Rethinking Project Management (PM)* has been a recurring theme for some time [1]-[9]. In context of the current era of Digital Transformation, which is also referred to as the time of VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous) it seems fair to assess if the current PM curricula match the needs of the market, both public and private. Professional bodies like IPMA^† and PMI^‡ similarly re-assess such which then leads to new editions of their standards to emerge. The current paper provides a short overview of the current developments of the profession. As well, it identifies related recent, current and ongoing research addressing similar questions regarding the success chances and rates of projects in light of the use and application of various PM methods. It aims to propose a new approach to learn using “Research through Project Management” (RtPM). Understanding the impact PM can have on the manner in which products, services, processes and systems are being developed, and the manner in which PM is performed. The authors propose the profession of PM will need to develop itself different from the way it has been conducted to-date and refer to it as “Towards Project Management 2030”, having the profession develop itself in a much more continuous manner. The paper ends with suggesting how to organize such ongoing research on, learning of and adoption by PM in practice embracing lifelong learning.

I. Introduction

The current era of Digital Transformation is also referred to as the time of VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous). It is clear and evident that in this era much is changing. Moreover, the only constant is change. Especially when it comes to the crossroads of technology, engineering and management disciplines as can be read any form of trend reports, for example, from top consultancy companies or from the financial institutions proving recommendations to their clients [10]–[12]. such VUCA environment, is bound to have an impact on the manner in which products, services, processes and systems are being developed, how research and development are being organized, innovation is managed, and PM in all of the above is performed [13]. Innovations are for some time already and will be more and more an undertaking where many collaborating entities, forming a network, work towards common goals [14]. Vice versa there is a discussion emerging about the “Projectification of Society” as reported and described in [15], [16] and [17], as through the use of projects and project management (PM) many changes in society are being realized. In light of both developments, it seems more than prudent that PM will need to develop itself towards ‘Project Management 2030’.