Challenges for project management in the 21st century

Challenges could be observed as opportunities for success. The growth of project management body of knowledge and the advancement of project managers’ capabilities in dealing with resources are crucial to the successful delivery of projects. This paper builds on vast review of literature that took place over a series of publications under Project Management topic. The management of uncertainty and dealing with different challenges are seen as necessary conditions for effective project management. Sources of challenges are wide ranging and have fundamental effects on projects and project management body of knowledge. These challenges are not limited to specific industry, and include scope management, information technology, team dynamics, customers’ satisfaction, lean management, communication, innovation and quality. Common project management body of knowledge does not address many of the listed sources of challenges, particularly in ‘soft’ project management skills where flexibility and tolerance of PMs are necessary. More advanced efforts to figure out and handle important sources of challenges are needed. Such attempts need to entail project managers’ capabilities as well as the organization maturities including some aspects of organisation culture and learning.