PROJECT MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES AND DIFFICULTIES AT UNIVERSITY OF ZAGREB SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: CASE STUDY

Project management process consists of planning, organizing, securing and managing resources to achieve successful completion of defined project goals and objectives. Each project manager deals with the primary challenges: to achieve project goals and objectives in a specific timeframe and with a limited budget. Project management is not traditionally included in the education of academic scientists, but it has been gaining more attention in recent years as universities and scientific institutions are implementing important projects that require certain project management skills and the use of project management tools. With the increasing trend in interdisciplinary collaboration, project managers play the important role in every scientific research. This also requires that the budget for further education of project managers should be implemented as a standard part of every project proposal. That is why is necessary to establish a strong connection between academic scientists and project managers. Even more, that relationship should be continuously strengthened and maintained during the project life cycle. The intensive scientific activity at the School of Medicine, University of Zagreb is proven by many international and national projects that are included in the list of the most important scientific research projects in Croatia. The aim of this case study is to analyze project management challenges and difficulties in an interdisciplinary and scientifically challenging environment at the University of Zagreb, School of Medicine to assess the effects of project implementation.