APM delivers funding to drive project management research

The launch of the APM’s research fund in autumn 2015, spearheaded by research manager Daniel Nicholls and the Research Advisory Group (RAG) has received over 20 expressions of interest resulting in 16 submissions from a wide range of stakeholders including the volunteer community, academics, students and corporate members. 

All submissions have now been assessed by the Research Advisory Group panel comprising of chair Daniel Nicholls and RAG members judges: Benedict Pinches (Oxford Major Programmes and APM Volunteer), Manon Bradley (Major Projects Association), Simon Addyman (Transport for London and RAG Chair) and Deborah Sin (APM Education Manager) who have now recommended five research studies for funding which are outlined below:

Susan Clarke’s Study ‘Scaled Agile Project Management’ (APM North West Branch): This study aims to investigate the level of practical adoption of those programme and portfolio components addressed by Scaled Agile methodologies. 

Professor David Bryde’s study ‘Strategies for dealing with difficult stakeholders’ (Liverpool John Moores University): This study focuses on the difficult stakeholders and situations that project managers encounter whilst exploring potential strategies they can adopt in the project environment and how this compares with business as usual

Owen Anthony’s proposal on ‘How can we hand over projects better?’ (APM Member, Practitioner and non-Volunteer, Owen Anthony Projects):  The study looks at how do we improve the transition of a project from the project team delivering in a project life cycle to the end users’ business as usual activities.

Sue Pritchard’s collaborative research study on ‘Women in major projects leadership’ (Honorary Senior Research Associate, University College London): This research project aims to address the representation of women in the leadership of major projects. It forms part of a broader action research programme (ARPL) on the leadership and delivery of major projects.

Peter Hill’s study ‘The quantification of social benefits on public and third sector projects’ (Associate Senior Lecturer in Project Management and Strategy at BPP University): This research project will critically evaluate current methods of quantifying social costs and benefits used by project planners and evaluators in the public and third sectors through the focal theory of the Economics of Conventions.  Using current social and public policy research the research lead plans to develop an alternative quantification model/framework for quantifying these costs and benefits, thus broadening the choice of available quantification frameworks to project management professionals. 

Daniel Nicholls commented:

“The APM research fund is an important step in developing APM’s research programme.  By funding small scale research projects and seed funding APM hopes to provide researchers with access to funding and support thus providing opportunities to progress new or existing ideas that can support the ongoing development of the project profession.  We were delighted by the response to our inaugural request for proposals and are pleased to announce that the fund will become an annual activity for APM with the next call for funding being October 2016.“

Please look out for more details regarding each of the studies over the coming months including how you and your organisation can participate and find out further information.