Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)

School

Management

Advisor

Elizabeth Thompson

Abstract

There is a growing talent gap in the project management field, as project managers (PMs) are exiting the field due to job dissatisfaction. Though existing literature addresses employee job satisfaction, few studies have examined the specific needs of the PM. The purpose of this qualitative Modified four round Delphi study was to find futuristic, desirable, and feasible solutions to PMs’ job dissatisfaction in the United States. The research question was designed to identify solutions to PMs’ job dissatisfaction. This study was grounded in Hackman and Oldham’s job characteristics model, which says that skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy, and feedback are positively related to work job satisfaction. The participants included in the surveys were 16 members of the LinkedIn PMI Project, Program, and Portfolio subgroup who lived in the United States, had a minimum of 5 years’ experience, and were PMP certified. Thematic data analysis led to four themes: communication and awareness; support, boundaries, and work-life balance; experience training; and pm relationship with governance, stakeholders, and budgetary concerns. The solutions that were endorsed by 70% of the expert PMs moved from one survey to the next. In Survey 2 the solutions were rated for desirability and feasibility, and in Survey 3 they were ranked by importance. In Survey 4, the ranking in Survey 3 were endorsed by 80% of participants. The implication for a positive social change includes improved job design that leads to PMs’ job satisfaction, more successful projects, and ultimately more profitable organizations in United States business communities.

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