Publication
Artificial Intelligence in Project Management: Impacts, Competencies and Barriers to Project Managers Performance
| Summary: | Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being integrated into project management due to its potential to enhance efficiency, forecasting, and decision-making. However, existing research has predominantly focused on organisational-level outcomes, offering limited insight into how AI affects the performance and role of individual project managers. This study addresses that gap through a systematic literature review examining the relationship between AI adoption, project manager performance, and role transformation. The findings conceptualise AI not as a direct driver of performance, but as a catalyst that enhances the conditions under which managerial actions are executed. Its value lies in augmenting, rather than substituting, human judgement, thereby supporting more effective decision-making, improved risk anticipation, and continuous learning. However, these benefits depend on the project manager’s ability to interpret, validate, and contextualise AI-generated outputs. The review also shows that AI improves efficiency and managerial support across key project management areas, including planning, monitoring, risk and cost management, and resource allocation. At the same time, it contributes to a shift in the project manager’s role from operational control toward more strategic, interpretative, and relational responsibilities. The study further identifies organisational, technical, and human-related challenges influencing the effective integration of AI in project management. |
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| Main Authors: | Proença, Carolina Alexandra Neves |
| Subject: | Artificial Intelligence Project Management Project Manager Project Performance |
| Year: | 2026 |
| Country: | Portugal |
| Document type: | master thesis |
| Access type: | embargoed access |
| Associated institution: | Universidade Nova de Lisboa |
| Language: | English |
| Origin: | Repositório Institucional da UNL |
| Summary: | Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being integrated into project management due to its potential to enhance efficiency, forecasting, and decision-making. However, existing research has predominantly focused on organisational-level outcomes, offering limited insight into how AI affects the performance and role of individual project managers. This study addresses that gap through a systematic literature review examining the relationship between AI adoption, project manager performance, and role transformation. The findings conceptualise AI not as a direct driver of performance, but as a catalyst that enhances the conditions under which managerial actions are executed. Its value lies in augmenting, rather than substituting, human judgement, thereby supporting more effective decision-making, improved risk anticipation, and continuous learning. However, these benefits depend on the project manager’s ability to interpret, validate, and contextualise AI-generated outputs. The review also shows that AI improves efficiency and managerial support across key project management areas, including planning, monitoring, risk and cost management, and resource allocation. At the same time, it contributes to a shift in the project manager’s role from operational control toward more strategic, interpretative, and relational responsibilities. The study further identifies organisational, technical, and human-related challenges influencing the effective integration of AI in project management. |
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