Project Management Soft Skills in Project Success Rates

Running head: PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFT SKILLS IN PROJECT SUCCESS RATES
Evaluating the significance of project management soft skills
in the context of project success rates
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

1PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFT SKILLS IN PROJECT SUCCESS RATES
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction....................................................................................................................7
1.1 Background of the study........................................................................................7
1.2 Research aims and objectives................................................................................................7
12.1 Research aims......................................................................................................................7
1.2.2 Objectives of the study.......................................................................................................7
1.3 Research Questions................................................................................................................8
1.4 Problem Statement.................................................................................................................8
1.5 Rationale of the study............................................................................................................8
1.6 Hypothesis.............................................................................................................................9
1.7 Structure of the study...........................................................................................................10
Chapter 2: a Literature review.......................................................................................................11
2.1 Preface.................................................................................................................................11
2.2 Overview of project management soft skills.......................................................................11
2.3 Advantages of project management soft skills....................................................................13
2.4 Relation between project management soft skills and project success rate.........................14
2.5 Challenges facing while implying project management soft skills in project.....................14
2.6 Conceptual framework.........................................................................................................15
2.7 Summary..............................................................................................................................16
Chapter 3: Research methodology.................................................................................................17
3.1 Preface.................................................................................................................................17
3.2 Method Outline....................................................................................................................17
3.3 Research philosophy............................................................................................................18
3.4 Research approach...............................................................................................................19
3.5 Research design...................................................................................................................21
3.6 Data collection strategy.......................................................................................................22
3.7 Sample and sampling...........................................................................................................22
3.8 Ethical considerations..........................................................................................................23
3.9 Time Horizons.....................................................................................................................23
3.10 Chapter Summary..............................................................................................................23
Chapter 4: Data analysis and findings...........................................................................................24
4.1 Preface.................................................................................................................................24
4.2 Quantitative analysis............................................................................................................24

2PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFT SKILLS IN PROJECT SUCCESS RATES
4.3 Reliability analysis...............................................................................................................37
4.4 Correlation matrix :..............................................................................................................38
4.5 Summary..............................................................................................................................41
Chapter 5: Conclusion and recommendations...............................................................................42
5.1 Conclusion...........................................................................................................................42
5.2 Linking with objectives.......................................................................................................42
5.3 Recommendations................................................................................................................43
5.4 Limitation and future scope.................................................................................................44
References..................................................................................................................................45
Appendix 2.................................................................................................................................49

3PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFT SKILLS IN PROJECT SUCCESS RATES
List of tables and figures
Table 1: Time for associating with project management role...........................................24
Figure 1: Time for associating with project management role..........................................24
Table 2: Communication as project management soft skills.............................................25
Figure 2: Communication as project management soft skills............................................25
Table 3: Role of stakeholder management in project........................................................27
Figure 3: Role of stakeholder management in project.......................................................27
Table 4: Project management soft skills............................................................................28
Figure 4: Project management soft skills...........................................................................29
Table 5: Challenges in using project management soft skills............................................30
Figure 5: Challenges in using project management soft skills..........................................30
Table 6: Type of the challenges.........................................................................................32
Figure 6: Type of the challenges.......................................................................................32
Table 7: Role of organization in adopting project management soft skills.......................33
Figure 7: Role of organization in adopting project management soft skills......................34
Table 8: Recommendations regarding overcoming the challenges...................................35
Figure 8: Recommendations regarding overcoming the challenges..................................35

4PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFT SKILLS IN PROJECT SUCCESS RATES
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Background of the study
Badets, Grasser and Peltier (2017) stated that a recent report had been prepared for
McDonald's UK provides a foundation to comprehend the significance of soft skills to the UK
economy that proves the significnace of soft management skills in order to get success in the
project. In respect of client, the right person requires help to ensure better project results
regarding higher software quality (Barna and Deák 2014). However, lower risk of project failure
as well as more peace of mind. Hence, better project management minimizes the risk of in
project failure along with translation for getting outcome regarding favourable project results
such as lower costs along with the higher satisfaction of clients.
1.2 Research aims and objectives
12.1 Research aims
The aim of the research is identification of soft skill required in achieving the success of
the project. Also, the research focuses the measurement of implementing soft skills in project
management success.
1.2.2 Objectives of the study
The research has following objectives.
 To establish the relation between soft skills and project success
 To find out the impact of effective soft skills in improving success rate of the
project
 To analyze the challenges for applying soft skills in project management

5PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFT SKILLS IN PROJECT SUCCESS RATES
 To recommend measures for overcoming the issues
1.3 Research Questions
The research questions can be listed as followed.
 What is the relation between soft skills and project success?
 How soft skills have an impact on success of the project?
 What are the challenges of applying soft skills in project management?
 How can the challenges be overcome?
1.4 Problem Statement
Balancing the components and persons involved in the project is difficult for a project
manager in order to get success in the project (De Carvalho et al. 2015). On the other hand, time,
opportunity and people are required to well managed that is considered very difficult for the
managers. In this perspective, project management training is one of the necessary steps to
manage unexpected obstacles for the project managers. In addition, balancing soft skills and hard
skills is also a challenge for the project manager. Hence, it is required to adopt effective conflict
resolution process so that the project management can achieve success.
1.5 Rationale of the study
The ability for effectively managing projects as well as programs have become
increasingly significant (Carvalho and Rabechini Junior 2015). Hence, it becomes an important
research issue to analyse the significance of project management soft skills to get success in the
project.
On the other hand, project management community as well as the broader business
community is increasingly aware of the significance of soft skills. Being mindful of the

6PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFT SKILLS IN PROJECT SUCCESS RATES
importance of soft skills and investment in the development of the improved capabilities are not
the same (Gast and Ledford 2014). However, most of the organizations need to invest in the
development of enhanced soft skills capabilities. Hence, it is important to analyze the role of sogt
skills in order to get success in the project?
The requirement of soft skills is considered as the key aspect to succeed in the project. As
there is a dynamic force going on in a team, it is important to evaluate the ideas as well as
decisions made in effort to reach the goals set before. On the other hand, poor communication
can undermine the success of the project. Therefore, it is required to evaluate importance of
project management soft skills to get success in a project.
1.6 Hypothesis
H0: Project management soft skill is important for success of a project
With the development of competitive marketplace and corporate business model, it
becomes essential to adopt soft skills like useful communication skill, leadership skill and
decision-making skill along with hard skills so that success of the project can be achieved.
Hence, it has been taken as the null hypothesis for the research.
H1: Project management soft skill has no role for the success of a project
There are several skills required for a project. One of the main skills is hard skill such as
knowledge and abilities as well as computer programming by which a project may be completed.
Hence, it has been taken as the alternative hypothesis of the research.

7PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFT SKILLS IN PROJECT SUCCESS RATES
1.7 Structure of the study
The introductory part of the study deals with aims, objective as well as research
questions, hypothesis along with research rationales. Second chapters deal with reviewing
literature from secondary sources. Research methodology includes the selection of proper tools
in order to research proper way. Data collection and analysis includes analysis of primary data
by conducting the online survey.