The role of project manager competence in project management success : the case of a utility company

Abstract

A project manager’s competency depends on the project’s complexity and includes a unique set of personal attributes and the ability to apply appropriate leadership styles. This paper reports on a Delphi study that includes the views of 30 experts – employed by a utility that executes projects with different levels of complexity. The results confirm that project manager competence is influenced by leadership styles that are appropriate for specific project lifecycle stages and levels of project complexity, as well as specific personal attributes. The study thus provides guidance regarding the project manager competence that is required for specific situations.

’n Projekbestuurder se vaardighede hang af van projek kompleksiteit en sluit in ’n stel persoonlike eienskappe asook die vermoë om verskillende leierskapstyle te beoefen. Hierdie artikel rapporteer oor ’n Delphi studie wat die menings van 30 kundige praktisyns insluit – almal werknemers van ’n nutsmaatskappy wat projekte met verskillende vlakke van kompleksiteit hanteer. Die resultate bevestig dat die vaardigheid van ’n projekbestuurder beïnvloed word deur leierskapstyle wat toepaslik is vir spesifieke projekfases en vir spesifieke vlakke van projek-kompleksiteit, asook deur bepaalde persoonlike eienskappe. Die studie verskaf dus leiding oor projekbestuurder vaardighede wat benodig word in spesifieke situasies.