Application of Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Making in R&D Project Manager Selection

Introduction

Projects have become the central activity in most organizations. They tend to consume and utilize large amounts of resources within the establishment. R&D projects face many challenges such as some fail to meet the time schedule, budget goals, and satisfy customers. Researchers had to spend time and efforts to identify the main factors that contribute to project success or failure. In this regard, several factors were identified such as planning, control, communication, top management support, and assigning proper manpower among others. It is of paramount importance for a project to be adequately managed. Effective project management is imperative for a successful organization.

A successful project manager has to be highly competent in the planning and executing the project, forming a coherent team, organizing the various tasks, monitoring the execution of the project, and evaluating the project’s outcomes. Moreover, he/she should ensure the timely deliverance of various tasks, completing the project within the budget, according to specifications, and fulfill the client’s request. In addition the project manager should have a combination of behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental attributes in order to deal with the project team adequately and handle proficiently the different risks that might be encountered during the execution of the project. Most scientists agree that poor interpersonal skills are one of the major causes of managerial failures.