Towards a theory for defining a project management multidisciplinary kernel: an approach based on Abstract Level Progress Health Attributes

Abstract

Abstract: Project management is a discipline for gathering knowledge, capabilities, tools, and tech-niques in order to control the environment where projects run. Project management bodiesof knowledge (BOKs) and standards are defined for codifying the project management theory.However, BOKs and standards are discipline-dependent, so they fail in covering all dimen-sions project-driven disciplines involve. Problems associated with dimension coverage relyon codifying a generalized project management theory to be applied along project-drivendisciplines. Thus, codifying a project management multidisciplinary theory is considered achallenging task. Some authors claim a holistic view towards project management allows usfor identifying general codifying patterns of a multidisciplinary theory. Accordingly, in thisM.Sc. Thesis we propose some constructs for defining a project management multidiscipli-nary theory. We aim to identify a common structure among project management BOKs andstandards. We define such a structure as a kernel for covering a project management multidis-ciplinary theory. Particularly, we focus on introducing into project management discipline anapproach based on Abstract Level Progress Health Attributes—such approach has its originsin Semat (Software Engineering Method and Theory), an initiative for defining a theory forsoftware engineering. By introducing such approach, we allow practitioners for tracking pro-ject health, so they can identify and control project dimensions requiring special attentionwhen running a project. So, project success likelihood can be incremented. Furthermore,we allow for covering all dimensions project-driven disciplines involve, so we can connectproject-driven disciplines by using a multidisciplinary kernel. Finally, we present an analyticapproach for validating the kernel by comparing it to other project management BOKs andstandards, so we can demonstrate the multidisciplinary kernel covers all dimensions projectmanagement discipline involves. Furthermore, we introduce a way for representing projectmanagement practices based on the kernel defined in this M. Sc. Thesis.