Exploring the Evolution of Project Management: Harnessing the Potential of Artificial Intelligence for Future Success

This thesis explores the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within project management practices, with a focus on how professionals perceive, experience, and adopt AI technologies in real-world project environments. Drawing on a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative survey data from 80 professionals across various industries with qualitative thematic analysis of open-ended responses. Findings reveal a strong correlation between AI familiarity and confidence in tool integration, suggesting that digital maturity plays a critical role in adoption readiness. Respondents identified both opportunities and barriers—ranging from improved decision-making and real-time updates to concerns around data quality and skill gaps. The study further aligns these insights with institutional theory by categorizing drivers and barriers into regulative, normative, and cognitive dimensions. Special attention is given to the intersection of AI and Agile or hybrid methodologies, where AI supports ceremonies like sprint planning and retrospective analysis. Based on empirical results and literature corroboration, the study proposes a conceptual framework for the AI-augmented agile lifecycle. Recommendations are provided for practitioners aiming to improve AI integration strategies, training programs, and ethical governance. This research contributes to the growing field of AI-enabled project management by offering actionable insights, theoretical grounding, and practical pathways for transformation.