Exploring project team motivation: A systematic and bibliometric analysis

The purpose of this study was to summarize the motivational factors in a project team, focusing on three key roles: team members, project managers, and project leaders. A systematic review was conducted using the PRISMA approach to identify relevant studies published between 2004 and 2024. 127 peer-reviewed articles were selected from the Web of Science database. The bibliometric analysis was performed using VOSviewer software to visualize trends and clusters. The bibliometric analysis revealed a surge in interest in research after 2021, highlighting the motivation’s special role in project management. Transformational and shared leadership are identified as the most motivating in projects. The study identified seven main categories of motivational factors in the project team: psychological factors, goal orientation, social factors, job design, training and development, financial incentives, and organizational support. However, these categories have their characteristics, emphasizing that motivation is not a universal concept but a dynamic and role-dependent construct. While team members are motivated by emotional support, clear goals, and rewards, project managers value strategic influence and professional development, and project leaders are driven by task complexity and intrinsic rewards. The noticeable gap in the research was the lack of attention to the motivation of the project leader. These findings offer a structured framework for improving team motivation and project performance across various organizational contexts. AcknowledgmentGratitude is extended to Professor Darren Dalcher for his valuable advice and insightful suggestions to start this article.