EXPLORATORY STUDY ON THE INFLUENCE OF PERSONALITY TRAITS OF PROJECT MANAGERS IN PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IN MALAYSIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v24i42.2058Keywords:
personality traits, project manager, project management, public infrastructureAbstract
Public infrastructure projects have an important role in Malaysia's economic development and increasing gross domestic product (GDP), however, the public infrastructure regularly faces challenges such as delays, overspending, and insufficient quality. The effectiveness of project managers' skills and behaviors plays a crucial role in determining the success or failure of these projects. This study aims to enhance the efficiency and success of infrastructure projects by understanding the influence of project managers' personality traits on project management practice. Thus, the objectives are (1) to identify the personality traits among project managers, (2) to explore the relationship between these traits and project outcomes, and (3) to formulate a framework for implementing these traits into project management practices. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve experienced project managers via a qualitative approach. Five core personality qualities emerged from a thematic analysis of the interview data. These include neuroticism, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and openness to new experiences. These traits significantly affect decision-making, stakeholder satisfaction, team dynamics, and flexibility, among other elements of project management. The impact of the findings will be a useful indicator to formulate a framework for developing training programs that are especially suited to the demands of the workforce, conducting ongoing evaluation and monitoring, and including personality assessments in HR procedures. This study provides valuable insights for enhancing project management tactics in public infrastructure projects in Malaysia
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