Submission Guidelines

The application process will open 13 February 2023 and close 13 April 2023.

 

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Proposal Body (limit to 3 pages) should be uploaded as a separate PDF file through the online submission system. The entire application process is a double-blind peer review. Please do not include any investigator names, institutions, or identifying content in the 3-page proposal; including file names, headers/footers. Proposals that divulge the names of the investigators or institutions will not be considered for peer review. 

  1. Statement of Research Question
  2. Specific Aims of the Project
  3. Anticipated and specific application(s) to the practice of project management
  4. Brief Literature Summary
  5. Overview of the Research Design and General Methodological Approach
  6. Preliminary Analysis Plan
  7. Expected Deliverables
  8. Schedule of Activities
  9. Timeframe and estimated Completion Date (Timeframe for proposed research should be no more than two years.)

Please note:

  • A detailed project budget is not required at this stage in the review process.
  • The total funding requested may not include indirect costs or overhead. These costs may not be charged to a grant from the PMI Sponsored Research Program.

Proposal Body Formatting Guidelines

  • Include the project title as a header on each page of the proposal.
  • Number pages consecutively in the lower right corner.
  • Bold and underline all major sections of the proposal (See Proposal Body above).
  • Single-space, with one-inch margins on all sides of the page.
  • Use no smaller than Times New Roman 11 pt. typeface.
  • Use the system of grammar, usage, and documentation outlined in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA Seventh Edition).
  • Do not exceed three (3) single-spaced pages.

Proposal Submission

Only electronic submissions will be accepted via Submittable.

 

Review Process

The PMI Sponsored Research Program uses a two-stage review process. In the first stage, applicants submit a three-page preliminary proposal which is subject to double-blind review. Preliminary proposals are reviewed by a peer review committee. Proposals focused on theory-building are reviewed by a committee of faculty/academic researchers; translational research proposals are reviewed by a committee consisting of both academics and practitioners. 

Those advancing to the second round will be invited to submit a ten-page proposal, and the project team’s qualifications are assessed. Second round proposals are reviewed and scored by the PMI Academic Insight Team with the Manager of PMI Academic Programs, based on the following criteria:

  • Clarity of the research question(s) and its significance to the field of project management; research must address a recognized and justified managerial problem
  • Proper theoretical grounding of the research question
  • Adequacy of literature review
  • The methodological approach and its “fit” to the research question
  • Clarity and importance of the knowledge gaps that the research will fill and how the results will build on existing work
  • “Readiness for application” of the eventual research findings (translational research proposals).
  • Future implications of the research findings for both theory and the originally identified managerial problem (theory building proposals).
  • Adequacy of financial resources.
  • Relevance of the topic to advance the profession of project management.   

Research Agreement

  • The Research Agreement will be sent to the grant administrator at the university/institution following notification of the award.
  • Parties to the Agreement are PMI and the university/institution with which the principal investigator is affiliated. No grants are paid to individuals.
  • When the project involves multiple investigators from different universities/institutions, the parties to the Research Agreement will be PMI and the university/institution with which the lead investigator is affiliated. The lead investigator’s university/institution will be responsible for executing sub-contracts with the universities/institutions of co-investigators on the research grant. 
  • PMI funding cannot be used by the university/research institute for indirect costs.

Deliverables

Required

  • Final Report, in English, describing all aspects of the Investigation, prepared according to the Final Report Guidelines, which will be provided by PMI and suitable for online publication as a white paper.
  • Evidence of submission of a Journal article to an academic journal, preferably the Project Management Journal.
  • A live one-hour webinar presentation of the final product for posting on ProjectManagement.com, using the template and instructions provided by PMI.
  • One, or more, of the optional deliverables listed below. 

Optional

  • Presentation at a peer-reviewed academic or practitioner conference
  • Submission of the appropriate case format:
    • A teaching case (designed as a teaching resource to guide critical thinking and analysis about a real-life situation, complete with an instructor guide), or
    • A research case (an evidence-based case that supports the research findings and adds to the professional body of knowledge)
  • Article for online publication on ProjectManagement.com

Questions?

Should you have any questions regarding the submission process, please contact PMI Academic Programs at [email protected].