Using IOP as a mechanism for project team management

Author

Maryam Selah Varzi, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology

Completion Date

Spring 4-8-2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Program or Discipline Name

Project Management

First Advisor

Stephen Onu

Abstract

This project investigates the application of Industrial-Organizational Psychology (IOP) in project management. Project managers are responsible for creating effective teams and building a proper environment to communicate, collaborate, and deliver their tasks. Factors such as lack of trust, miscommunications, and personal conflicts lead to dysfunctional teams which can ultimately fail a project. Thus, understanding the behavioral characteristics of the team members and realizing the psychological principles of the interpersonal relationships in organizational settings would significantly help project managers. The purpose of this project is to find out whether project managers can exploit IOP for effective team management. By an exhaustive review of literature and focused examination of two case studies, various behaviors and personal traits have been explored and mapped to one’s functional and behavioral characteristics. Because of the nature of this project and the research instrument, i.e. case studies and literature survey, qualitative research approach was adopted; this method of research is appropriate for in-depth study of social and psychological topics.

Finally, it is concluded that not only project managers can exploit IOP for effective team management, but also they benefit from the awareness of human psychology that IOP provides. The findings of this research and the characteristic profiling presented here deliver a comprehensive understanding of interpersonal behaviors and make it possible for successful team management.

Recommended Citation

Varzi, M. S. (2018). Using IOP as a mechanism for project team management. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.harrisburgu.edu/pmgt_dandt/37