Riaz Ahmed

Exploring the Relationship Between Multi-Dimensional Top Management Support and Project Success: An International Study

Abstract The role of top management support in achieving project success has gained much attention in research and practice. A number of studies on single dimensional top management support have been conducted. In the engineering management literature, top management support has rarely been studied as a multi-dimensional construct. This research examines the relationship between multiple dimensions of top management support and project success. Different data analysis methods were employed to test the research hypotheses and to validate the multi-dimensionality of top management support. Findings indicate a significant and positive relationship between multi-dimensional top management support and project success.

Differentiating between Leadership Competencies and Styles: A Critical Review in Project Management Perspective

Literature reveals a number of confusions within the area of project management regarding the use of terminology and differing interpretations, concerning leadership competencies and leadership styles. In project management literature, many empirical studies have examined the influence of leadership competencies or styles, but yet any substantial review study has rarely been conducted to differentiate between leadership competencies and styles. This study aims to differentiate between leadership competencies and leadership styles in project management literature. This study found that the project managers leadership terms including competence, competency, competencies, and styles have frequently been used in project management literature. Furthermore, literature has been synthesized to provide more familiarity and understanding on leadership competencies and styles. Findings indicate that leadership competencies and styles are two different things but a few characteristics are common between both the terms. Furthermore, leadership competencies are more suitable for task-oriented activities and leadership styles are more appropriate for relationship-oriented factors. This study has implications for the future directions to identify differences between project mangers average and superior performance through comparison of leadership competencies and styles.

Development and validation of an instrument for multidimensional top management support

Purpose Literature reveals that there is a paucity of instruments to measure multidimensional top management support (TMS). The multidimensionality and the complexity of the TMS cannot be reflected by a single-dimensional construct. The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate an instrument for the measurement of multidimensional TMS. Design/methodology/approach In this cross-sectional study, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to check the validity and model fitness based on sample data collected from the PMI community. Ordinary least square and structural equation modeling techniques were used to test the research hypotheses and validate multidimensional TMS. Findings The findings revealed a significant positive correlation among all dimensions of top management and their significant influence on project success, especially on project efficiency and team dimensions. Research limitations/implications Based on the existing knowledge through a coherent and refined process, the development and validation of a top management support questionnaire (TMSQ) made a significant contribution to theories and research methods. Practical implications Multidimensional TMS provides an opportunity to ensure provision of apt assistance throughout the implementation of projects for improving organizational performance across the industries. Originality/value This study targeted a sample size of 300 to develop and validate an instrument, which is in line with previous research studies on the development and validation of a reliable instrument. To operationalize TMSQ, this study adopted an online survey and received 208 responses (69 percent) from the PMI community.

Empirical Study of Project Managers Leadership Competence and Project Performance

Abstract The role of a project manager’s leadership competence in improving project performance is critical. However, little attention has been given to people-related competencies of the project manager as a leader. This study aims to develop and test a model of project manager leadership competence. To investigate the influence of a project manager’s leadership competence on project performance, 289 project managers working on public sector projects in Pakistan were surveyed. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to analyze interrelationships among specific competencies and to explain these competencies in terms of their common underlying dimensions. Hierarchical Regression Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling were employed to test research hypotheses and the model. Findings from this study demonstrate that all five leadership competencies of a project manager are significantly related to achievement of project performance in terms of schedule, cost, and quality, as well as stakeholder satisfaction.