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on Project, Program and Portfolio Management |
| By: | Papadonikolaki, Eleni; Morgan, Bethan |
| Abstract: | Using a human-centric view, this work investigates how digitalization impacts the human and social capital of projects beyond task orientation. How do leaders nurture psychological safety—encouraging interpersonal risk-taking—to support digitalization, fostering creativity, learning and growth? Through empirical research with interviews, focus groups, and soft systems methodology, we identified six factors conducive to psychological safety in digitally enabled projects: adaptability, learning, communication, organizational development, technology, and workplace. The findings revealed a threefold role for leadership in developing innovative and highly collaborative project teams: strategic leadership, horizontal leadership, and project leadership, positioning human and social capital at the core of digitalization in projects. |
| Keywords: | digitalization;Industry 5.0;project teams;psychological safety;soft systems methodology |
| JEL: | J50 |
| Date: | 2026–08–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:140978 |
| By: | Papachristos, George; Papadonikolaki, Eleni; Morgan, Bethan |
| Abstract: | Sociotechnical transitions are mostly seen in the literature as processes where actors and technologies in small niches peripheral to an organizational field, accumulate momentum, scale up, aggregate, and eventually bring about large-scale regime change. Foundational examples include the British transition from sailing ships to steamships and the American transition from traditional factories to mass production. Herein lies a paradox, transitions concern large scale system change for example transition to electric cars or renewable energy, but large-scale options for technological change driven by incumbents have received less attention in transitions research. This is an important opportunity for transition research to draw on the literature of project management research on large-scale projects. We bridge transitions research and project management research by exploring speciation and aggregation from both perspectives. We illustrate how this bridge may be instantiated drawing on published research and interviews on six megaprojects that have been instrumental in the digital transformation of UK construction: (i) the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, (ii) Heathrow Terminal 5, (iii) London Olympics, (iv) Crossrail, (v) Thames Tideway and (vi) High Speed Two. The speciation of digital technology seeds the process of aggregation and UK industry transition which is driven by incumbents at the organizational field core and ripples outward to its periphery. This is a reverse process to the one mostly considered in transition research where change initiates in small niches peripheral to an organizational field and propagates until it eventually brings about large-scale change to its core. |
| Keywords: | aggregation;BIM;project management;speciation;transitions |
| JEL: | J50 |
| Date: | 2026–04 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:140980 |
| By: | Papadonikolaki, Eleni; Krystallis, Ilias; Morgan, Bethan |
| Abstract: | Absorptive capacity in construction is crucial for effectively managing change amidst the twin transition (digital and green transitions) that is significantly affecting existing practices in the sector. Concentrating on construction sector, this research examines how firms assimilate and use digital decarbonisation practices to improve their performance. Building on a multi-method qualitative dataset comprising interviews with 53 industry experts in the UK construction sector, archival data, and validation of our findings through focus group data, the study highlights the vital role of absorptive capacity in enabling firms to navigate and benefit from digitalisation and sustainability initiatives. The findings indicate that the potential absorptive capacity (acquisition and assimilation of knowledge) takes place mainly in firms whereas the realised absorptive capacity (transformation and exploitation) takes place mainly in the boundaries of projects they deliver. This offers a mutually reinforcing cycle of exploration and exploitation that can equip firms to meet contemporary challenges and institutional demands effectively to cope against the twin transition. Our study contributes with a four-phase process model for understanding the organisational change management processes required for the twin transition in project-based settings. Most existing research on absorptive capacity focuses on either organisational or industry-level dynamics, our study examines the loci of absorptive capacity (e.g., by examining firm and project boundaries) in a highly complex, project-driven industry such as construction. |
| Keywords: | dynamic capabilities;green transitition;knowledge absorption;net zero;digitalisation;digital innovation |
| JEL: | R14 J01 |
| Date: | 2026–03–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:140977 |
| By: | Cvijanović, Drago; Ostojić, Bojana |
| Abstract: | The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in project management processes within higher education, with particular emphasis on university professors who continuously follow technological advancements. The research seeks to identify the potential benefits, challenges, and implications of AI integration in educational management, while also providing practical guidelines for its effective implementation. The study highlights the importance of enhancing efficiency, supporting decision-making, and adapting project management practices in education to the dynamics of modern society. The empirical research was conducted at the University of Belgrade on a sample of 80 full-time and part-time professors. The applied methodology was a survey, based on an originally designed questionnaire consisting of two parts: socio-demographic characteristics and ten Likert-scale questions. The collected data offered valuable insights into professors' perceptions regarding the use of AI in project management and its potential to transform educational practices. The findings indicate that, although only two of the ten tested statements revealed statistically significant differences related to respondents' age, the overall results suggest a growing recognition of AI's role in improving efficiency, resource allocation, and curriculum development. The paper also addresses ethical challenges of AI integration, including data privacy concerns and the need for adequate staff training. Both theoretical and practical contributions are emphasized: theoretically, the study broadens the understanding of AI in project management within education, while practically, it offers recommendations for institutions on how to optimize AI adoption. Ultimately, the research confirms that professors who actively monitor technological trends are better equipped to adapt teaching methods and support students in developing the skills required for the 21st century. |
| Keywords: | project management, education, artificial intelligence, efficiency, integration |
| JEL: | I23 M15 O33 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:esconf:343401 |
| By: | Hanna Hottenrott; Lakshya Katariya; Cindy Lopes Bento |
| Abstract: | Negative potency, i.e. the tendency to give disproportionate weight to negative over positive information—poses a critical challenge in science funding, where decision-makers must evaluate uncertain and ambitious research ideas taking into account budget constraints. This study investigates the presence and mitigation of negative potency within a three-step evaluation process used by a public funding agency. Drawing on a unique dataset of research grant applications spanning 11 years, we examine how individual assessments by thematic experts (TEs) and subsequent group deliberations by panels shape funding outcomes. We find strong evidence of negative potency at the individual level: TEs are significantly more influenced by negative than by positive referee assessments, particularly in relation to project feasibility and impact. However, this effect dissipates during the panel stage, where group deliberation and relative comparisons across a broader pool of proposals appear to neutralize the impact of initial negativity. These findings make two key contributions. First, they extend the literature on decision-making biases in science funding by identifying deliberation as mechanism for mitigating negativity. Second, they provide actionable insights for policy: designing evaluation systems that incorporate structured group processes may help reduce bias and promote more balanced, inclusive, and merit-based funding decisions. |
| Keywords: | Negativity, negative potency, peer-review, referee, panel, research grant, funding agency, R&D project selection, decision making |
| Date: | 2026–09–17 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ete:msiper:793638 |
| By: | Paul Simshauser |
| Keywords: | Renewables, energy-only markets, project finance, Asian wind derivatives, Asian swaps |
| JEL: | D52 D53 G12 L94 Q40 |
| Date: | 2026–09 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:enp:wpaper:eprg2621 |
| By: | Ashraf, Shafaq; Clinton, Edward; Scheer, Antonina |
| Abstract: | Many companies are beginning to act on climate change by cutting their greenhouse gas emissions. However, the activities and new infrastructure this requires can have both positive and negative impacts on local communities. A central aspect of planning for a just low-carbon transition involves managing the social impacts of new infrastructure related to decarbonisation, such as renewable energy projects and transition mineral mines. If companies are to maintain their social licence to operate and mitigate the risk of public resistance to their operations, they will need to cultivate trust with local communities. The loss of a company’s social licence to operate can translate into material financial risk through project delays and cancellations. We focus on the negative social impacts of activities linked to the low-carbon transition, setting out an exploratory, evidence-based framework that can help investors and companies anticipate such risks. Combining insights from the academic literature with empirical data on corporate disclosure, the framework can support investors with identifying sector-specific priorities for shareholder engagement with companies. |
| JEL: | R14 J01 |
| Date: | 2026–09–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:140918 |
| By: | Zovighian, Diane; Raballand, Gael; Cogoli-Bel, Anne-Lise; Irhiam, Hend |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the prevalence and effectiveness of public sector reforms promoting performance-based incentives and greater autonomy in public administrations in Sub-Saharan Africa. Inspired by the New Public Management paradigm, these reforms have been widely adopted despite limited systematic evaluation of their results. The paper draws on data and information on the design, implementation, and performance of World Bank–financed public sector reform projects in Sub-Saharan Africa implemented between 2010 and 2023, complemented by four qualitative in-depth case studies. The analysis shows that over one-third of World Bank–financed public sector reform projects during this period included at least one New Public Management intervention. The performance of these interventions has, however, been uneven across contexts and reform types. Only 40 percent of the interventions were fully implemented. Performance varied considerably across reform types, with performance-based public financial management reforms performing comparatively better than agencification and performance-based pay reforms. The findings suggest that weaknesses in reform design—including insufficient attention to institutional capacity and implementation constraints as well as political economy dynamics—have contributed to these mixed outcomes. Case studies further show that New Public Management reforms are particularly difficult to sustain in fragile and neo-patrimonial contexts. The paper argues that the diffusion of New Public Management–inspired approaches has often outpaced the available evidence on their effectiveness and highlights the need for more context-sensitive and evidence-based approaches to public sector reforms in Sub-Saharan Africa. |
| Date: | 2026–09–17 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:11457 |
| By: | Turner, Ryan; Jafari, Afshin; Tiwari, Sapan (RMIT University); Both, Alan; Singh, Dhirendra; Pemberton, Steve; De Gruyter, Chris |
| Abstract: | Testing transport interventions using city-scale transport models is typically resource intensive, requiring specialist expertise, substantial data and computational capacity. As a result, such modelling is often concentrated on major projects and larger metropolitan areas, while smaller interventions and mid-sized regional cities have limited access to comparable modelling capabilities. This is particularly relevant to active travel, where cycling infrastructure decisions frequently need to be made with relatively limited modelling and decision-support capacity. This study presents FASTrack, a cloud-based planning support software system that integrates agent-based modelling, behavioural simulation, and interactive scenario visualisation to enable proposed cycling infrastructure assessment. A case study is applied to the City of Greater Bendigo, a mid-sized regional Australian city representative of the planning contexts that existing platforms often overlook. FASTrack was developed through a co-design process over three years with local government planning partners, to address the need to rapidly assess infrastructure scenarios, quantify changes in cycling demand and behaviour, and inform infrastructure planning and investment appraisal. These requirements underpin its design, including the use of probabilistic modelling and a cloud-based workflow designed to support rapid, on-demand scenario testing with minimal specialist modelling expertise. Scenario outcomes are presented through interactive dashboard-style interfaces that detail estimated changes in network use, level of traffic stress, mode shift, cycling usage, emissions, and cost-benefit analysis aligned with national appraisal guidelines. This study demonstrates how co-design can directly shape the development of planning support systems by translating practitioner requirements into accessible modelling platforms for cycling infrastructure planning |
| Date: | 2026–09–16 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:osf:socarx:q69rv_v1 |