Applying an adaptation of the Prado project management maturity model in an academic context

Abstract

The organization’s strategy of a company is determinant in its performance. The need to develop methodologies to evaluate the performance of projects in organizations has a strong contribution to the development of maturity models. The lack of knowledge of these maturity models causes organizations to experience problems in the development and improvement of their project management processes. The main objective of this article is to adapt and apply a maturity model to assess the evolution of the maturity of project management practices in development teams in an academic environment. The Prado Project Management Maturity Model was applied to the project teams of the curricular subjects Development of Computer Applications of the second academic year and Information Systems and Technologies Project of the fourth academic year of the Integrated Masters in Engineering and Management of Information Systems course at the University of Minho. Through the application of the model, it was possible to compare the maturity between the two curricular units and to verify the effectiveness of the learning methods and strategies, and results in project management competencies throughout the course.