Interview with Prof Martina Huemann
Editor-in-Chief, IJPM
Professor, Head of Project Management Group
Vienna University of Business and Economics
Interviewed by Yu Yanjuan
Journalist, Project Management Review: PMR (China)
Introduction to the interviewee
Martina Huemann is Editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Project Management, Professor, Head of Project Management Group and Academic Director of the Professional MBA Project Management, WU – Vienna University of Business and Economics (WU Vienna), board member of Project Management Austria, Human Resource & Project Management Expert / Coach / Consultant, Founder and Manager of enable2change, a network of experts that enable others to put strategy into action and manage projects professionally.
Interview
About China
Q1: What’s your impression of China? How do you view project management in China?
Martina Huemann: I like China very much. The culture is so different to Europe. People are nice and welcoming. As this is my second trip to China, I know only a little bit about China. I have engaged with IPMA (China) and met some founders of PM in China. My impression is that China has American-style project management, which makes me wonder why you don’t have more Chinese-style project management. Project managers should borrow a lot from Chinese culture, in which people think in a flow and that everything is always changing. That fits nicely to a future-oriented and change-oriented Project Management approach.
About PM Career
Q2: Would you please share with us your story with project management? Why did you step into this career? Do you enjoy what you are doing?
Martina Huemann: I studied business administration at WU-Vienna University of Business and Economics and worked in development projects in Eastern Europe. When I was up to finish my studies a new professor at my university planned to establish the discipline of Project Management and he was looking for people. I was hired based on my project experience and started without knowing what exactly “project management” was. I learned during the process. I was interested in project management and also pursuing an academic career. Having gone through a lot of steps, I’m now a professor myself researching and teaching project management and human resource management in project-oriented organizations. Nowadays I seldom work as a project manager myself. I apply it on my research projects, but mostly take the role of a project owner nowadays. I´m coaching, consulting and training people to enable them to become and professionalize as project managers
Project management has been the subject of my whole life. I enjoy very much what I´m doing now. I think it was a perfect choice for me. I like complexity in my own life and have many different roles. I need a certain amount of complexity in my life; otherwise I will get bored. Sometimes I put more effort into this, and sometimes into others. And I have to balance work and family, but it works quite well for me. I think to do what you love is always the best way to have a full life.
About HR Management
Q3: In VUCA era, how should we deal with challenges in human resource management?
More…
To read entire interview, click here
Editor’s note: This interview was first published in PMR, Project Management Review magazine, China. It is republished here with the permission of PMR. The PM World Journal maintains a cooperative relationship with PMR, periodically republishing works from each other’s publications. To see the original interview with Chinese introduction, visit PMR at http://www.pmreview.com.cn/english/
How to cite this interview: PMR (2019). With Projects we Create the Future. Interview with Marina Huemann; Project Management Review; republished in the PM World Journal, Vol. VIII, Issue III (April). Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/pmwj80-Apr2019-Yanjuan-Interview-with-Martina-Huemann.pdf
About the Interviewer
Yu Yanjuan
Beijing, China
Yu Yanjuan, Bachelor’s Degree, graduated from the English Department of Beijing International Studies University (BISU) in China. She is now an English-language journalist and editor working for Project Management Review Magazine and website. In the past, she has worked as a journalist and editor for China Manned Space Agency website and Student English Times. She once worked part-time as English teacher in training centers. For work contact, she can be reached via email yuyanjuan2005@163.com or Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/yanjuan-yu-76b280151/.
