Title: 21ST CENTURY PROJECT CAREEERS

Title: 21ST CENTURY PROJECT CAREEERS

Authors: Aoife LyonsDr David McKevitt, Department of Management and Marketing, University College Cork

Purpose- The relevance of project management to economy and society is irrefutable. More than 20 per cent of global economic activity takes place as projects (Bredillet, 2010). Moreover, the projectification of organisational work can today be observed in almost any industry (Bakker, 2010; Sydowet al., 2004). Project-based careers are, in fact, the epitome of the boundaryless career (Arthur and Rousseau, 1996; DeFillippi and Arthur, 1994). People often view project management as secondary in terms of career choice. Some see it as way of making career-moves, of escaping routinized workor improving their job satisfaction (Packendorff, 1995). The mobility inherent in project careers is arguably a story of shifting identities (Weick, 1996). Our focus is thus to explore the concept of project management identity at the level of individual project managers and, in particular the influence that formal PM certification has upon Kaleisoscope career variables (Maineiro & Sullivan, 2006) consisting of challenge, balance and authenticity. Our findings suggest that certification has no impact on challenge, a positive impact on balance and exerts a negative effect on authenticity.

Design/methodology/approach: a 2-stage design was chosen. This included a multiple case study design (n=14) and a subsequent questionnaire distributed to a project management forum (n=91).

Findings: The case study analysis and questionnaire provides strong support for the impact of formal certification on Kaleisoscope career variables.

Research limitations/implications: The paper moves the normative debate over PM certification to assessing the impact of certification on important career variables.

Practical implications: Formal certification may promote greater work-life balance however this may conflict with the need for greater authenticity.

Originality/value- whether project management is a role that defines “who I am” or whether the role is something one simply “does” has important implications for employers and professional bodies.

Keywords: project management careers, project management identity, Ireland.

References

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