Project Management in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries – Evaluating Challenges and Successes

Research therefore aimed to provide some practical solutions and also to contribute to
the academic literature. The extant literature had dealt with issues mainly uncovered in
developed countries although there were some that dealt with some developing
countries in Latin America and North Africa but not the oil rich GCC countries.
Our study was based on a mixed methods methodology which examined the views in
a sample of project managers working in the GCC supplemented by face to face semi
structured interviews and triangulated using quantitative analysis where possible. The
variables to be tested were chosen from a close reading of the extant literature and
project failure was defined as project not meeting the deadlines set and/or going over
budget.
Our results were very much in line with those found in other countries and regions of
the world although some specific to the region were also identified. From them a series
of recommendations were made which were specific to the GCC.
While this study has its limitations its principal contribution is that it has identified
causes of failure, recommended solutions and added to the literature on project
management. It has also made some suggestions for further research in the area.