Developing and evaluating a project management methodology (PMM) for university-industry collaborative projects

Abstract

University-industry collaborative (UIC) in Malaysia has received very little research attention in the literature. Furthermore, worldwide development of UIC project management approaches has been carried out without due consideration of the unique attributes associated neither with this specific environment nor with the high degree of uncertainty intrinsically associated with research projects. This investigation leverages on the available literature, interviews with university-industry research partners and our own works to understand the nature of UIC R&D. This work focuses particular attention on the factors that relate to current project management practices and the methodology applied. It present the findings of qualitative interviews conducted with respondents from universities and industries involved in collaborative R&D projects in Malaysia. Two aspects were investigated; the development process and project management practices in UIC. The study concludes by presenting an outline of the requirements and components required of a project management methodology (PMM) designed specifically for the management of UIC projects. It will provide valuable information and insights to both universities and industries on how to embark on designing a PMM specifically for use in the UIC research environment.