Project Success: Exploring the Value of Backing Up Behaviors and How They Can Be Developed in Project-Based Work

Abstract

The changing project environment does not allow to detail or estimate all desired employee behaviors. We contend that to increase project outcomes, it is valuable for managers to create a context in which project members willingly help colleagues perform their tasks, beyond what is required. The current study’s objectives are to investigate whether these project members’ backing up behaviors influence success and can be brought about by project culture. We support the model utilizing 219 project members (project participants) in 69 projects, from various industries in the USA. Results imply a plunge in members’ backing up behaviors can indicate project failure. Owed to restrictions facing project managers, in terms of control over compensation and employee availability, results imply that project culture is a useful substitute lever to manage members’ backing up behaviors, which in due course can propel project success. Practical implications for managing backing up behaviors in order to augment project success are provided.