Project Managers and the Journey from Good to Great: Rethinking Project Management Training and Education in the Oil and Gas industry
Date
2014-12-24
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Abstract
This study explores how education and training institutions can prepare project managers more
effectively by evaluating project management education and development from the perspective
of working project managers. The main objectives of this study are to describe the perceptions of
project managers in the oil and gas sector regarding the skills, knowledge, and competencies
necessary for success of future project managers; and to provide a practical framework to support
project management education and training for developing project managers’ competency to face
the complexity of projects. This study applied grounded theory, Delphi technique, and focus
groups to solicit the opinions of project managers and project engineers working in the oil and
gas sector in Calgary. The results of this study have provided insight into four main areas which
educational institutions should consider in developing and preparing future project managers: 1)
developing skills for dealing with complexity, 2) developing softer parameters of managing
projects; especially interpersonal skills and leadership as opposed to just technical skills, 3)
preparing project managers to be engaged within the context of real life projects, and 4)
continuous skill development for project managers. The author argues that the education and
training systems must do more to prepare project managers on their journey from good to great.
The findings of this study reveal the importance of content, process of training, and education
within the context of projects. The proposed model represents the bridge between the real world
practice of project management and what should be included in project management education
and training provided by educational institutions and industries.
Description
Keywords
Engineering--Civil
Citation
Ramazani, J. (2014). Project Managers and the Journey from Good to Great: Rethinking Project Management Training and Education in the Oil and Gas industry (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/27454