Adaptive project management model for the international development and aid projects

This paper develops an adaptive Project Management Model (PM-Model) for the International Development and Aid Projects (IDAPs) that International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) implement by integrating IDAPs' requirements grounded in Total Quality Management (TQM) and Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS). The three-round Delphi process allows experts' opinions to identify the deficiencies of the PMBOK (R) Guide to propose an adaptive PM-Model for the management of IDAPs. Seven experts suggest the required adaptations in Round-1 and narrow down the transformations in Round-2. Then, in Round-3, nine practitioners validate the proposed new model of the final adaptive PM-Model that entails eight adaptions to the PMBOK (R) Guide for the interest of IDAPs and vulnerable people reached by these projects. The result contributes to the PM theory by providing an adaptive PM-Model for the international development industry. This study addresses the practical problems faced by the practitioners. Thus, it promotes people's inclusion and decision-making, relevancy of provided assistance by IDAPs, accountability, coordination, local capacities and community leadership, monitoring and evaluation, and satisfying donors of IDAPs.