Assessing the critical behavioral competencies of information technology (IT) project managers at Southern California Edison.

摘要

This study identified the behavioral competencies which should be present among Information Technology (IT) project managers to promote effective performance which meets or exceeds their departments' standards. A qualitative research methodology was used to identify the behavioral competencies of IT project managers. Additionally, an adaptation of the methodologies described by McClelland in Competency Assessment Methods (Spencer et al., 1994) was selected as research design.;The IT project managers (N = 16) that participated in this study were identified by their supervisors or the IT (department) managers as "effective" project managers, individuals whose performance met or exceeded their departments' standards. These IT project managers and the IT managers represented three disciplines in IT business units at Southern California Edison: Application Services, Desktop Services, and Telecommunication services.;The IT project managers were administered a Position Description Questionnaire and they participated in a Behavioral Event Interview. These instruments yielded narrative data for content analysis of the frequency and level of competencies demonstrated. A survey, in form of Competency Rating Questionnaire, was administered to the IT managers (N = 8) to assess their perceptions concerning the key characteristics of IT project managers. Additionally, the literature review provided the existing research and reviews with relationship to IT project managers' key characteristics.;Teamwork and cooperation were found to be critical competencies for IT project managers. The following competencies emerged as very important to the role of IT project managers: achievement orientation, initiative, customer-service orientation, developing others, interpersonal understanding, organizational awareness, analytical thinking, flexibility, team leadership, conceptual thinking and self-confidence. Information seeking, organizational commitment, impact and influence, self-control, technical expertise, directiveness and relationship building were considered as important competencies for effective performance of IT project managers. Based on the findings, a competency model of a successful IT project manager was developed.;A series of recommendations include helpful hints for IT project managers and the potential IT project managers who wish to pursue this career, suggestions to staffing professionals and IT managers who select and hire IT project managers, recommendation to IT training managers or educators who are responsible for training and development of IT project managers, and opportunities to researchers for further studies.