PLS Path Modeling for causal detection of project management skills: a research field in National Research Council in Italy

Partial Least Squares Path Modeling is suitably defined and applied in a research field in the largest public research organization in Italy, namely the National Research Council (CNR). In literature studies on Project Management (PM) mostly cover the industry sector rather than the world of science and research. A model with theoretical constructs and latent variables is introduced to analyze the causal detection among different types of variables, including the activation of hard and soft PM skills of Principal Investigators in public organizations. Their activation becomes crucial to improve the management of research projects toward efficiency and effectiveness. Furthermore, high levels of awareness of project goals and tasks to be done influence the activation of PM competencies. Our study particularly highlights how the Leadership capability of a research group manager facilitates positively other soft skills among the Principal Investigators within the science sector.