Improving and Embedding Project Management Practice in Organisations

This book describes a mixed methodological research approach for developing a framework to help organisations to improve and embed project management (PM) practice. While the literature on PM provides some advice, organisations need guidance on which PM improvement initiatives (PMIIs) they should concentrate their efforts. A related issue is how to facilitate the embedment of PMIIs in organisations. The research adopts an "innovation lens" perspective, using concepts of diffusion, dissemination, implementation and routinisation, from other disciplines to develop an understanding of the embedding process of PMIIs. The main contribution to practice is the conceptual framework itself. The main contribution to theory of this research is that it builds knowledge in the area of embedding PM practice, for which there is limited understanding. Using a 'success factor' approach, the research identifies a key set of PMIIs and factors that can influence the embedding of PMIIs in organisations, based on empirical work.