A rigorous research study has the potential to develop a novel idea that contributes, in a significant way, to knowledge about a subject, including the development of project management theory. To apply scientific research in developing a project management theory requires an understanding of the research process and the literature review. The research process begins with posing a hypothesis. The review of the literature intellectually empowers the researchers to answer the research questions or hypotheses, clarifies a subject matter, confirms the reasons for selecting a topic, and uncovers a fissure in the literature. The research process is cyclical, dynamic, and multidimensional due to the research topic, question, or hypothesis. A qualitative researcher, for instance, starts the research process by asking questions or propositions. A quantitative researcher, on the other hand, begins by positing or constructing a hypothesis. In the application of a hybrid of qualitative and quantitative methods, the researcher poses a question as well as a hypothesis. Regardless of the different understanding and application of project management ontology, epistemology, method, and rhetoric, the research question or hypothesis, including the purpose of the research and problem, must logically align.
There is a mismatch or disconnect between project management (PM) theory and what the fields of PM have become due to projectification, programification, and globalization efforts (PPGEs). We argue that due to the disjoint between PM theory and PPGEs, a project management theory 2.0 (PMT 2.0) is being developed along with a new set of PM tools (PMT Guide 2.0), to enhance the performance of project management practitioners and dramatically reduce the perennial delay in completing projects, including complex projects.
The nature of this study will describe and critique peer-reviewed articles, write a literature review, and develop a research question based on the proposed theory.
