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PROMETHEE-based ranking of project managers based on the five personality traits

Georgios N. Aretoulis (Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece)
Jason Papathanasiou (Department of Business Administration, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece)
Fani Antoniou (Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece)

Kybernetes

ISSN: 0368-492X

Article publication date: 25 June 2019

Issue publication date: 8 April 2020

355

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to rank and identify the most efficient project managers (PMs) based on personality traits, using Preference Ranking Organization METHod for Enrichment Evaluations (PROMETHEE) methodology.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed methodology relies on the five personality traits. These were used as the selection criteria. A questionnaire survey among 82 experienced engineers was used to estimate the required weights per personality trait. A second two-part questionnaire survey aimed at recording the PMs profile and assess the performance of personality traits per PM. PMs with the most years of experience are selected to be ranked through Visual PROMETHEE.

Findings

The findings suggest that a competent PM is the one that scores low on the “Neuroticism” trait and high especially on the “Conscientiousness” trait.

Research limitations/implications

The research applied a psychometric test specifically designed for Greek people. Furthermore, the proposed methodology is based on the personality characteristics to rank the PMs and does not consider the technical skills. Furthermore, the type of project is not considered in the process of ranking PMs.

Practical implications

The findings could contribute in the selection of the best PM that maximizes the project team’s performance.

Social implications

Improved project team communication and collaboration leading to improved project performance through better communication and collaboration. This is an additional benefit for the society, especially in the delivery of public infrastructure projects. A lot of public infrastructure projects deviate largely as far as cost and schedule is concerned and this is an additional burden for public and society. Proper project management through efficient PMs would save people’s money and time.

Originality/value

Identification of the best PMbased on a combination of multicriteria decision-making and psychometric tests, which focus on personality traits.

Keywords

Citation

Aretoulis, G.N., Papathanasiou, J. and Antoniou, F. (2020), "PROMETHEE-based ranking of project managers based on the five personality traits", Kybernetes, Vol. 49 No. 4, pp. 1083-1102. https://doi.org/10.1108/K-10-2018-0551

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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