Published
Each year the Major Projects Association awards two grants to PhD students whose work we believe will make an important contribution to our understanding of major project initiation and delivery.
Over the past 12 years the grants have supported work on some fascinating and important topics such as:
- Barriers to the use of project data analytics
- A model for the reduction in disputes
- Modularisation of small modular reactors
- Collaboration in teams in mega projects
- Managerial work practices in temporary organisations.
One thesis which has just been finalised is on Governance of Projects: A comparative analysis of project delivery approaches by Dr Nicola Young of member organisation DWP who has been studying at Northumbria University – another member institution. Based on her professional experience, the research aimed to investigate the principles, practices and perceptions of governance in central government by conducting a comparative analysis across different project delivery approaches, viz. Waterfall, Agile and Hybrid. This work is very timely and the Association, in collaboration with APM plans to use Nicola’s work as the focus of an event on Governance.
We are delighted that the work we have funded has stimulated much debate and has had such practical impact upon project delivery.
In the hope that we can continue this success, we are now seeking applicants for the 2022 grant cycle. Any PhD student at a Major Projects Association member institution (our academic members are: University of Edinburgh, Imperial College, Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Warwick, University of Leeds, Northumbria University, Said Business School, and University College, London) is eligible to apply for one or both grants.
The Association was born out of a research project at Oxford Said, 40 years ago. Whilst we champion the applied and lived experience of major projects as a vehicle for learning, we have maintained our links with academic teaching and research as a way of sense-making at the boundaries of new knowledge, and of codifying and assimilating the lessons from what’s happening on major projects, so that this can be shared.
To find out more and to download the application forms visit our website.