Skip to main content

The Competencies and Characteristics Required of an Effective Project Manager: A Web-Based Delphi Study

Educational Technology Research and Development volume 54, pages 115–140 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

In this study, we explore the competencies required for a project manager to be effective in the workplace. We used a Web-based Delphi method to lead experienced project managers through an anonymous consensus-building process consisting of two rounds of surveys. The Round I analysis of 147 respondents, all with 20 or more years of project management experience, yielded 117 project management success factors, 78 of which were identified as trainable competencies. The Round II analysis confirmed 42 of the 78 competencies (53.8%) as very important to extremely important to project manager success. Important contributions of this study include: (a) reporting on project manager competencies that can inform the literature and guide the development of educational programs for instructional designers and other professionals, and (b) demonstrating the Web-based Delphi technique to be an efficient methodology for conducting afront-end analysis, a core process of instructional design (ID) work.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Addison, T. (2003). E-commerce project development risks: Evidence from a Delphi survey. International Journal of Information Management, 23(1), 25–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, B. S., & Erickson, D. M. (1986). Training interactive videodisc designers. Journal of Instructional Development, 9(2), 19–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Association for Educational Communications and Technology. (2001). Accreditation standards for programs in educational communications and instructional technology. Retrieved September 28, 2004, from http://www.aect-members.org/standards/.Author.

  • Australian Institute of Project Management. (2004). National competency standards for project management. Retrieved February 1, 2005, from http://www.aipm.com.au/html/ncspm.cfm.Author.

  • Blackburn, S. (2002). The project manager and the project-network. International Journal of Project Management, 20(3), 199–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bogdan, R. E., & Biklen, S. K. (1998). Qualitative research for education: An introduction to theory and methods. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borg, W. R., & Gall, M. D. (1979). Educational research: An introduction (3rd ed.). New York: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyatzis, R. E. (1982). The competent manager: A model for effective performance. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brill, J. M., Kim, D., & Branch, R. M. (2000). Visual literacy defined: The results of a Delphi study: Can IVLA (operationally) define visual literacy? Paper presented at the International Visual Literacy Association, Ames, IA.

  • Brown, J. L. (1978). Management checklists for instructional designers. NSPI Journal, 17(7), 3–5,15,37.

  • Cleland, D. I. (1995). Leadership and the project management body of knowledge. International Journal of Project Management, 13(2), 83–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cochran, S. W. (1983). The Delphi method: Formulating and refining group judgments. Journal of Human Sciences, 2(2), 111–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox, S., & Osguthorpe, R. T. (2003). How do instructional design professionals spend their time? TechTrends, 47(3), 45–47,29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, L. (2004). Senior management perceptions of project management competence. International Journal of Project Management, 23(1), 7–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dalkey, N., & Helmer, O. (1962–63). An experimental application of the Delphi method to the use of experts. Management Science (9), 458–467.

  • Dannels, D. P. (2000). Learning to be professional: Technical classroom discourse, practice, and professional identity construction. Journal of Business and Technical Communication, 14(1), 5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delberg, A. L., Van de Ven, A. H., & Gustafson, D. H. (1975). Group techniques for program planning. Glenview, IL: Scott Foresman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dillman, D. (2000). Mail and Internet surveys: The tailored design method (2nd ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixon, M. (2000). Association for project management (APM) body of knowledge (4th ed.). Peterborough, England: Association for Project Management.

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Sabaa, S. (2001). The skills and career path of an effective project manager. International Journal of Project Management, 19(1), 1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ford, D., & Sterman, J. (1998). Expert knowledge elicitation for improving mental and formal models. System Dynamics Review, 14(4), 309–340.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geier, J. D. (1995). The Delphi survey methodology: An approach to determine training needs. Lecture notes in computer science, 895, 389–402.

  • Gentry, C. G. (1994). Introduction to instructional development: Process and technique. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Global performance based standards for project management personnel. (2003). Working paper no. 1: Report from working session 24–26 February. Retrieved February 1, 2005, from http://www.globalpmstandards.org/public/global.asp

  • Graves, W. H. (1997). Free trade in higher education. Retrieved January 30, 2003, from http://www.aln.org/publications/jaln/v1n1/pdf/v1n1_graves.pdf

  • Greer, M. (1992). ID project management: Tools and techniques for instructional designers and developers. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gustafson, K. L. (2002). Instructional design tools: A critique and projections for the future. Educational Technology Research and Development, 50(4), 59–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gustafson, K. L., & Branch, R. M. (2002). Survey of instructional development models (4th ed.). Syracuse, NY: ERIC Clearinghouse on Information & Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman, R., Rojas, A. M., & Hanna, M. (1993). Needs assessment: A user's guide. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerzner, H. (2001). Project management: A systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling (7th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, J. T. (1999). Mapping interdisciplinary studies. Washington, D.C.: Association of American Colleges and Universities.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lampel, J. (2001). The core competencies of effective project execution: The challenge of diversity. International Journal of Project Management, 19, 471–483.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linstone, H. A., & Turoff, M. (Eds.). (1975). The Delphi method: Techniques and applications. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Long, H. (1991). Continuing higher education research futures: A Delphi study of professors of adult education. Journal of Continuing Higher Education, 39(2), 29–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maznevski, M. L., & Distefano, J. J. (2000). Global leaders are team players: Developing global leaders through membership on global teams. Human Resource Management, 39(2–3), 195–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDaniel, K., & Liu, M. (1996). A study of project management techniques for developing interactive multimedia programs: A practitioner's perspective. Journal of Research on Computing in Education, 29(1), 29–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meister, J. C. (2001). The brave new world of corporate education. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 47(22).

  • Melpignano, M., & Collins, M. E. (2003). Infusing youth development principles in child welfare practice: Use of a Delphi survey to inform training. Child and Youth Care Forum, 32(3), 159–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merriam, S. B. (1998). Qualitative research and case study applications in education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, R. (1990). Introduction. In R. E. Bergman & T. M. Moore (Eds.), Managing interactive video/multimedia projects. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris, P. W. G. (2001). Updating the project management bodies of knowledge. Project Management Journal, 32(3), 21–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris, P. W. G. (2003). The validity of knowledge in project management and the challenge of learning and competency development. Retrieved February 6, 2005, from http://www.crmp.net/papers/index.htm

  • Morris, P. W. G., Patel, M. B., & Wearne, S. H. (2000). Research into revising the APM project management body of knowledge. International Journal of Project Management, 18(3), 155–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murray, J. W., & Hammons, J. O. (1995). Delphi: A versatile methodology for conducting qualitative research. The Review of Higher Education, 18(4), 423–436.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, R. (2001). A case study of the development and project management of a Web/CD hybrid application. Journal of Interactive Learning Research, 12(2–3), 229–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Project Management Institute. (2004). A guide to the project management body of knowledge (3rd ed.). Newtown Square, PA: Author.

  • Raskin, M. S. (1994). The Delphi study in field instruction revisited: Expert consensus on issues and research priorities. Journal of Social Work Education, 30(1), 75–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richey, R. C., Fields, D. C., & Foxon, M. (2001). Instructional design competencies: The standards (No. IR-111). Syracuse, NY: ERIC Clearinghouse on Information & Technology.

  • Ritchie, D., & Earnest, J. (1999). The future of instructional design: Results of a Delphi study. Educational Technology, 39(1), 35–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossett, A. (1987). Training needs assessment. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossett, A. (1999). Analysis for human performance technology. In H. J. Stolovitch & E. Keeps, J. (Eds.), Handbook of human performance technology (2nd ed., pp. 139–162). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer.

  • Ruuska, I., & Vartiainen, M. (2003). Critical project competencies: A case study. Journal of Workplace Learning, 15(7/8), 307–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, M. A. (1997). Perceptions of quality in journalism and communications education: A Delphi study. Journal of the Association for Communication Administration, 1, 32–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, P. (2003). Workplace learning and flexible delivery. Review of Educational Research, 73(1), 53–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sotiriou, D., & Wittmer, D. (2001). Influence methods of project managers: Perceptions of team members and project managers. Project Management Journal, 32(3), 12–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spencer, L. M. J., & Spencer, S. M. (1993). Competence at work: Models for superior performance. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thach, E. C., & Murphy, K. L. (1995). Competencies for distance education professionals. Educational Technology Research and Development, 43(1), 57–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tinnirello, P. C. (Ed.). (2000). Project management. New York: Auerbach.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, A., Brill, J. M., & Bishop, M. J. (2004). Delphi surveys: An alternative approach to needs assessment. Paper presented at the International Society for Performance Improvement, Tampa, FL.

  • Whitman, N. I. (1990). The committee meeting alternative: Using the Delphi technique. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 51(1), 57–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, C.-S., et al. (1995). Managing courseware production: An instructional design model with a software engineering approach. Educational Technology Research and Development, 43(4), 60–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Y. (2000). Using the Internet for survey research: A case study. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 51(1), 57–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerer, T. W., & Yasin, M. M. (1998). A leadership profile of American project managers. Project Management Journal, 29(1), 31–38.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instructional Design and Technology in the School of Education, Virginia Polytechnic a Institute and State University, Blacksburg

    Jennifer M. Brill (Assistant Professor)

  2. Educational Technology, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA

    M. J. Bishop (Assistant Professor)

  3. Instructional Technology, Utah State University, Logan

    Andrew E. Walker (Assistant Professor)

Authors
  1. Jennifer M. Brill
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. J. Bishop
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Andrew E. Walker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jennifer M. Brill.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brill, J.M., Bishop, M.J. & Walker, A.E. The Competencies and Characteristics Required of an Effective Project Manager: A Web-Based Delphi Study. EDUCATION TECH RESEARCH DEV 54, 115–140 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-006-8251-y

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-006-8251-y

Keywords

  • project management
  • instructional design
  • front-end analysis
  • Delphi technique