Contemporary issues in project management

Management is a dynamic science, primarily because its target market is always in motion, often in unpredictable ways, and secondly due to changing environmental factors. Management theory seeks to create a sense of order and direction from what may easily be seen as chaotic - a situation akin to Brownian motion in the natural and physical sciences. Sound management theory thus provides a good basis for constructive research and industry practice. The same can be said of project management. Project management's significance lies not only in the fact that it is rooted in management but also in its interdisciplinary nature. In this article, a number of recent significant developments in the area of project management worldwide are reviewed. I also look at the local understanding of the relevant trends and concepts, tools and techniques and their adoption in South Africa.