The Impact of Project Management on
Fostering Innovation and
Facilitating Knowledge Transfer
SECOND EDITION
By Antonio Bassi, Mauro Capra, Nicola D’Amico, Juan Guanella,
Giuseppe Gualtieri, Michela Manini Mondia, Nico Marchi
Department of Innovative Technology
University of Applied Science and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI)
Viganello, Switzerland
Short Abstract
Promoting innovation and knowledge transfer are two fundamental processes that drive the growth and development of organizations in the information age. Innovation, whether it’s new products, services, or processes, is a key driver of competitiveness and long-term success. Knowledge transfer, on the other hand, involves the dissemination of skills, experiences, and information within an organization.
Project Managers (PMs), with their unique skills in terms of leadership, relationship management, and implementation strategies, are uniquely positioned to ease both innovation promotion and knowledge transfer. Through effective management of teams and projects, they can create an environment that encourages the sharing of ideas and the adoption of new practices.
However, promoting innovation and knowledge transfer are not without challenges. These can include resistance to change, communication barriers, and lack of adequate resources. Therefore, it is crucial for PMs to understand these challenges and develop effective strategies to overcome them.
For this reason, the Department of Innovative Technologies (DTI) of University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), launched a study in September 2023, focusing on how the role of the PM can be a key player into these dynamics.
The expectations of this study are to provide a deeper understanding of the role of the PM in facilitating knowledge transfer and promoting innovation. We expect that the findings of this study may contribute to the existing literature on these topics and provide useful insights for practitioners in the field.
Keywords: knowledge sharing, innovation dynamics, human resources, business intelligence, transformation, machine learning, deep learning, AI
Paper type: Academic Research Paper
- Introduction
In the current era, marked by a rapidly evolving global economic landscape and an increasing emphasis on innovation and digitalization, organizations face the challenge of continuously adapting to maintain and enhance their competitiveness. Against this backdrop, knowledge transfer and innovation promotion emerge as essential processes for organizational success. The paper “Evaluating the Present: The Impact of Project Management on Fostering Innovation and Facilitating Knowledge Transfer” delves into the pivotal role of PMs in these processes, exploring how their skills and methodologies can be employed to overcome barriers to change and encourage a culture of innovation within organizations.
An organization’s ability to innovate developing new products, services, or processes not only boosts its competitiveness but also ensures its long-term survival in a constantly changing market. Similarly, knowledge transfer, which involves the dissemination of skills, experiences, and information within the organization, is critical for leveraging existing expertise and fostering the creation of new ideas. PMs, with their unique position within organizations, play a key role in both processes. Their skills in relationship management, leadership, and implementation strategies make them key agents in creating an environment that encourages the sharing of ideas and the adoption of new practices.
Recognizing the importance of these elements, the Department of Innovative Technologies (DTI) of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) began a study in September 2023 to thoroughly investigate how PMs can positively influence knowledge sharing and the adoption of innovative practices.
Through a targeted survey and interviews with corporate officials in Switzerland and Italy, the study aims to provide a detailed overview of the strategies, practices, and tools that PMs can use to overcome the challenges related to innovation and knowledge transfer.
Finally, the paper aims to highlight the essential role of PMs in navigating the complex landscape of innovation and knowledge transfer, while providing practical insights to enhance these dynamics within modern organizations.
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Editor’s note: Second Editions are previously published papers that have continued relevance in today’s project management world, or which were originally published in conference proceedings or in a language other than English. Original publication acknowledged; authors retain copyright. This paper was originally presented at the International Forum for Knowledge Asset Dynamics (IFKAD) 2024 Conference in Madrid, Spain in June. It is republished here with the permission of the authors
How to cite this paper: Bassi, A., Capra, M., D’Amico, N., Guanella, J., Gualtieri, G., Mondia, M. M., Marchi, N. (2024). Evaluating the Present: The Impact of Project Management on Fostering Innovation and Facilitating Knowledge Transfer; originally presented at the IFKAD 2024 conference, Madrid, Spain, June; republished in the PM World Journal, Vol. XIII, Issue X, October/November 2024. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/pmwj146-OctNov2024-Bassi-et-al-Evaluating-the-Present-Impact-of-Project-Management-1.pdf
Authors’ short bios
Antonio Bassi, graduated in Electronic Engineering, certified Project Management Professional (PMP), member of the Steering Committee of the Project Management Institute – Northern-Italy-Chapter (PMI-NIC) 2004-2008, Lecturer in Project Management at SUPSI, member of the UNI project team for the definition of the ISO21500 and ISO21505 the new norms for project Management, held for 20 years as Project/Program Manager in the context of innovative projects in different market sectors. Antonio can be contacted at antonio.bassi@supsi.ch
Mauro Capra, graduate in nursing with a post-diploma as a paramedic, MAS Project, Program and Portfolio Management (in progress). Lean Leader and Green Belt Lean Six Sigma. 25 years of work experience in pre-hospital rescue. He has been involved in IT management and web development for 15 years and has been area manager of the project management and business development area for 3 years.
Nicola D’Amico, graduated in SSS Technician in Business Processes and business Economist SME, DAS Project Management (in progress), CAS Railway Vehicle Technology. 12 years as production manager in the overhaul and modernization of trains for Swiss Federal Railways. Expert in implementing the Kaizen philosophy for continuous improvement. Skilled in perfecting processes to increase efficiency and productivity; passionate about inspiring constant progress and excellence; able to motivate others and maintain a positive spirit.
Juan Guanella, graduated SSS in Mechanics and Electronics, Master in Project, Program and Portfolio Management (in progress). 33 years of work experience in product development for industrial automation. Since 1999 Director for Research and Development in a leading CNC machine tool manufacturing company.
Giuseppe Gualtieri, graduated in Computer Science, CAS Project Management, CAS Advanced PM (in progress), certified ITIL Foundation, 10 years of work experience in Healthcare and Information Technology in the Public Hospitals based in Ticino. Since 2022 Coordinator of the Clinical Team in charge of implementing IT solutions.
Michela Manini Mondia, Master in Business Administration; Agile Coach and Team facilitator certified. Lecturer and responsible at SUPSI DTI – Certificate Advanced Studies “Develop adaptive, agile and sustainable organizations”. Strong experience in digital transformation driving companies to innovate by accomplishing emerging skills and modelling new agile processes based on collaboration, communication and adaptive leadership.
Nico Marchi, bachelor’s degree in economics, Chartered Specialist in Accounting and Financial Management, PMP. 7 years’ experience in banking and financial sector as project manager in IT,/payments services
