The Role of Project Managers and PMP Principles in Improving Operational Efficiency in Healthcare Organizations

Author

• Karan ThakkarFollow

Completion Date

Spring 6-9-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Program or Discipline Name

Project Management

First Advisor

Anjali Barnick, PhD

Abstract

Healthcare organizations operate in increasingly complex, regulated, and resource-constrained environments while managing a growing volume of projects tied to digital transformation, process improvement, regulatory compliance, and infrastructure development. Despite the project-intensive nature of healthcare operations, many organizations do not formally employ trained project managers or consistently apply Project Management Professional (PMP) principles; project responsibilities are frequently absorbed by clinical or administrative leaders whose primary expertise lies outside formal project management. This qualitative study examined how the project manager role and PMP principles contribute to operational efficiency in healthcare organizations. The study was conducted as a qualitative document analysis and thematic synthesis of 27 scholarly and professional sources published between 2014 and 2024, drawn from healthcare and comparable service industries. Analysis followed the six-phase thematic approach of Braun and Clarke (2006) and the synthesis procedures of Thomas and Harden (2008), with credibility supported through established trustworthiness criteria. Five themes emerged: the value of dedicated project leadership, the selective and adapted application of PMP principles, fragmented accountability in the absence of structure, the contribution of structured practices to workforce sustainability, and the cultural and structural enablers and barriers to integration. Cultural and structural factors appeared in 89 percent of sources and dedicated project leadership in 85 percent. The findings indicate that project management contributes to efficiency less through rigid methodology and more through clarified accountability, disciplined coordination, and the protection of clinical capacity. The study offers guidance for healthcare leaders and identifies directions for future research.

Recommended Citation

Thakkar, K. (2026). The Role of Project Managers and PMP Principles in Improving Operational Efficiency in Healthcare Organizations. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.harrisburgu.edu/dandt/100