New philosophy of project management: an investigation into the prevalence of modern project management by means of an evolutionary framework

PhD by Publication


Whitty, Stephen Jonathan. 2009. New philosophy of project management: an investigation into the prevalence of modern project management by means of an evolutionary framework . PhD by Publication Doctor of Philosophy. University of Queensland .
Title

New philosophy of project management: an investigation into the prevalence of modern project management by means of an evolutionary framework

TypePhD by Publication
Authors
AuthorWhitty, Stephen Jonathan
SupervisorSchulz, Mark F.
Wyeth, Gordon
Institution of OriginUniversity of Queensland
Qualification NameDoctor of Philosophy
Number of Pages253
Year2009
Web Address (URL)http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:184530
Abstract

Why are projects and project management so cool when managing projects is so problematic? This question is at the heart of this thesis which sets out to find answer using an evolutionary approach to the discipline. A conceptual evolutionary framework for investigation is developed, the heredity of the ideas and concepts that underpin project management are traced and their impact analysed, and a conceptual model of the project management environment is developed to demonstrate how individuals and corporations gain survival benefits from aspects of project management. To further investigate the evolutionary mechanisms that take place in the project management environment, the result of a phenomenological study are presented which show that various project management artefacts emotionally affect individuals, and that those individuals also use the emotional affects to emotionally manipulate others. The conclusions drawn from this investigation are that modern project management delivers cultural survival benefits to individuals and corporations, and its various behaviours and concepts are encoded genetically and memetically across our genes and Western culture. The memetic framework for project management contributes to the field by providing a means to debunk the ‘sacred cows’ of project management; it brings new understandings of how the various ideals, tools and concepts of project management deliver benefits, and to whom; and it provides a agenda for evidence based practice and the democratisation of work where project management is inculcated into the various work domains such as Health, Art, Agriculture, Commerce, etc, rather than a standalone discipline.

Keywordsproject management; evolutionary psychology; memetics; emotion
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020520104. Industrial and organisational psychology (incl. human factors)
350711. Organisational planning and management
Byline AffiliationsUniversity of Queensland
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