Project management practices in major university-industry R&D collaboration programs - a case study

Area of Science:

• Project Management
• Technology Transfer
• Inter-organizational Studies

Background:

• University-industry collaborations (UIC) are complex, multi-stakeholder projects critical for technology transfer and commercialization.
• Effective project management (PM) is essential for the success of these endeavors.
• Existing research often lacks a micro-level perspective on managing these intricate collaborations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze micro-level project management practices within university-industry collaborations.
• To conceptualize and empirically investigate hybrid PM approaches for UICs.
• To develop a framework for managing major UIC projects to maximize benefits and societal impact.

Main Methods:

• Literature review to conceptualize a hybrid PM approach.
• Exploratory empirical research using a large UIC case study.
• Data collection through participant observation, document analysis, and 30 semi-structured interviews.

Main Results:

• Identification of 29 transversal (must-have) PM practices across the project lifecycle.
• Identification of 30 contingent (optional) PM practices, categorized as traditional, agile, or common.
• Empirical evidence supporting the adoption of hybrid PM approaches in UICs.

Conclusions:

• This research provides a micro-level perspective on managing UIC projects.
• A novel framework of hybrid PM practices is presented, offering a roadmap for future UICs.
• The findings emphasize the importance of tailored PM strategies for successful inter-organizational endeavors and societal impact.