| This qualitative study described the collective experiences of a group of traditional project managers (TPMs) who managed the complexities associated with the processes of virtual team development, communications, and project leadership of virtual project teams (VPTs). The purpose of this research study was to describe, from a complexity theory perspective, one or more discoveries from the collection of lived experiences and stories of TPMs who manage VPTs. This research study used the transcendental phenomenological method approach designed by Moustakas (1994). Interview protocol was used to collect qualitative data from participants who were past or current project management professionals (PMPs). This researcher conducted 10 individual interviews; one for each participant. The data was recorded, transcribed, and validated. The validated transcripts were analyzed for individual meanings which were consolidated into 17 emerging themes. From the emerging themes, individual textural and structural descriptions were developed. Each individual textural and structural description was combined to produce 10 individual textural-structural descriptions. Analysis of the composite of all 10 individual textural-structural descriptions yielded five discoveries. Each discovery was viewed from a complexity theory perspective. A recommendation for future research is to investigate if the current definition of the role of project manager needs to be modified or transformed into more of a social role. |
