Prospects for Professionalism in Project Management

Damian Hodgson*, Daniel Muzio

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

There has been in recent years a marked upsurge in interest in professionalism in project management. The professionalization of project management is apparently demanded by employers, clients, and sponsors alike, seeking guarantees of competence in the delivery of projects. Equally, there appears to be significant demand on the part of project management (PM) practitioners seeking more secure and transferable credentials to act as guarantees of competence and to build a more reliable, informed, and effective knowledge base in what is often an "accidental" or secondary profession. Nonetheless, skepticism persists regarding the depth and breadth of project management's institutionalized knowledge base, and the potential for the field to attain the levels of internal organization, legitimacy, and influence achieved by other, more established professions. Key to this debate are the activities of the various professional associations which represent project management.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Oxford Handbook of Project Management
PublisherOxford University Press
ISBN (Electronic)9780191724879
ISBN (Print)9780199563142
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 May 2011

Keywords

  • Institutionalized knowledge base
  • Internal organization
  • Legitimacy
  • Professional associations
  • Professionalism
  • Project management

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