Adapting Global Project Management Frameworks for Innovation in Transitional Economies: A Case Study of Uzbekistan's Textile Industry

This study examines the adaptation of global project management frameworks PMBOK, Agile, and Stage-Gate toinnovation projects in Uzbekistan’s textile industry, a labor-intensive sector in a transitional economy. Through a qualitativecase study of the Uzbekistan Textile and Garment Industry Association (UTGIA), we analyze four initiatives: cotton-textileclusters, ERP digitalization, synthetic fiber production, and textile technoparks. Findings show partial alignment withglobal frameworks, driving a 3.4-fold export increase ($899M to $3.1B, 2016–2023) and 20–30% productivity gains.Challenges, including informal framework adoption and cultural barriers, necessitate a hybrid model, the UzbekistanAdaptive Innovation Project Management Framework (UAIPMF). This study extends innovation management theory bycontextualizing frameworks for emerging markets and critiques their universal applicability. Limitations include secondarydata reliance, underscoring the need for primary data validation. Practical recommendations enhance governance forindustry associations.