The Role of Human Resource Factors in the Success of Research and Development Projects: A Causal Analysis

The success of a research project, as determined by its perceived impact, is important for its ability to attract, mobilise, and manage funding, which constitutes a key indicator of the sustainability and relevance of the activities undertaken. The success of project teams involved in research and development processes is also significantly influenced by factors associated with human resources and is consolidated over time through their implementation in effective collaboration and management practices. In this context, the proposed study investigates the causal interdependencies and models the cause-and-effect relationships among 28 factors, with a focus on human resource factors that impact the success of research and development projects. The study aims to identify a series of particularities that differentiate research and development projects from other types of projects. The findings contribute to the specialised literature by empirically validating the interdependencies between human resource factors and offering an interesting perspective for managers, helping them to focus their efforts on the variables with the greatest potential to influence performance. Furthermore, the findings also contribute to the identification of a series of particularities that differentiate research and development projects from projects in the industrial or financial-banking sectors, particularities that impact the way activities are planned and managed and the establishment of the criteria used to intelligently direct managers’ efforts.