A critique of project management research

Project management studies are predominantly conducted by inductive reasoning based on a positivist philosophy. This paper is an organised attempt to shed light on the hidden weaknesses of project management research. The weaknesses are categorised in three categories: research design, definitions and measurements, and analysis. The key weaknesses discussed in this paper include lack of a general underlying theory, issues with positivism and statistical modelling, and dearth of explanatory models. To address these weaknesses, mixed-method research based on a critical realist philosophy is suggested. As an example, the effects of environmental complexity on projects were presented. This example demonstrates how a mixed-method approach, grounded in critical realism, can provide deeper insights and a more comprehensive understanding of the relationships between environmental factors and project performance. By embracing a critical realist perspective and employing mixed-method research, project management scholars can pave the way for more contextually-relevant and explanatory studies in this multifaceted field.