The Perceived Value And Impact Of Social Characteristics When Managing Projects

A qualitative analysis of the perceived value and impact of social characteristics in managing projects is presented. The analysis is a result of conducting a survey of Organizational Dynamics Graduate Students at the University of Pennsylvania with a Projects, Programs, and Portfolios Concentration. In today’s global world projects are an integral component of doing business in a dynamically changing, uncertain, and complex marketplace. An organization’s ability to adapt may depend on its ability to communicate and integrate cross-functionally. Much of what has been written about project management addresses knowledge areas and processes. Many organizations use tools, methodologies, and processes that add rigor to the project life cycle. As the discipline grows, the human side of project management must be considered. There is increasing global awareness that social characteristics are an important component to managing projects. Art and science will converge to create a new socially aware manager. Project managers are positioned to be change agents as their organizations experience a metamorphic paradigm shift.