Professor Darren Dalcher
Professor in Strategic Project ManagementProfile
Professor Darren Dalcher, PhD (Lond), AKC, HonFAPM, FCMI, FRSA, FBCS, CITP, SMIEEE, SFHEA, MINCOSE
Darren Dalcher is Professor in Strategic Project Management at Lancaster University Management School. He is a senior academic with a successful track record of consulting and working with businesses, charities, professional associations and governmental organisations. He works to foster interactive dialogue about the integration of successful practice with theoretical research in the management of projects. He holds visiting appointments at a number of institutions, including the universities of Kent, Warwick, WU, Drexel, Vaasa, Reykjavik and the Supply Chain Academy. He is the founder and Director of the National Centre for Project Management (NCPM), an interdisciplinary centre of excellence operating in collaboration with industry, government, academia, third sector organisations and the learned societies.
Following industrial and consultancy experience in managing technology projects, Professor Dalcher gained his PhD from King's College, London for his work on continuous delivery, dynamic feedback and extended project life cycles. In 1992, he founded an IEEE taskforce focused on learning from systems failures. He is active in numerous international committees, standards bodies, steering groups, and editorial boards. He is heavily involved in organising international conferences, and has delivered many keynote addresses, masterclasses and tutorials. He has written over 300 refereed papers and book chapters and published over 30 books. His work has been translated into French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese and Portuguese. He is Editor-in-Chief of Wiley’s Journal of Software: Evolution and Process and Editor of two book series focused on advances in managing projects and change initiatives, published by Routledge.
He has built a reputation as leader and innovator in the area of practice-based education and reflection in project management and has designed, developed and launched the UK’s first professional doctorate in project management, alongside an extensive suite of executive and professional masters programmes and diplomas. He was named by the Association for Project Management as one of the top 10 influential experts in project management and has also been voted Project Magazine’s Academic of the Year for his contribution in “integrating and weaving academic work with practice”.
He served as chairman of the influential APM Project Management Conference for an unprecedented five years, expanding the scope of the event, setting consecutive attendance records, bringing together the most influential speakers, exploring the boundaries and interactions of the profession and forging cross-disciplinary dialogue.
He received international recognition in 2010 with his appointment as a member of the PMForum International Academic Advisory Council. He has been elected as an Associate of King's College London by the Academic Board. In October 2011 he was awarded a prestigious Honorary Fellowship from the Association for Project Management for considerable achievements and outstanding contribution to the discipline of project management.
He is a very popular speaker and is regularly invited to deliver lectures and courses at many international institutions. He has won multiple awards and prizes, including most recently, Best Paper Award from the British Academy of Management in 2015, CMI’s Management Articles of the Year competition in 2016, Outstanding Paper Award in the Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence in 2017 and PMWJ Editor’s Choice Awards in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. His research interests focus on rethinking project success and the concept of agility, especially in the context of strategy and innovation, as well as considering the role of process in relation to maturity and capability, process improvement, systems engineering, decision making, change management, and reflective practice.
Professor Dalcher is an Honorary Fellow of the Association for Project Management, a Chartered Fellow of the British Computer Society, a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, and the Royal Society of Arts, a Senior Member of the IEEE, a Professional Member of the Agile Business Consortium, and a Member of the Project Management Institute, the International Council on Systems Engineering and the British Academy of Management. He sits on numerous senior research and professional boards, including the PMI Academic Insight Team, the International Advisory Council of PM World Today, the CMI Academic Council, the British Computer Society Fellows Advisory Group and the APM Group Ethics and Standards Governance Board.
He is the Editor and Academic Advisor of the APM Body of Knowledge, 7th Edition, released to mark the formal award of the Royal Charter to the project profession. The new edition positions project management in an organisational perspective and focuses on the delivery of beneficial change and strategic transformation through projects, programmes and portfolios.
Research Overview
Professor Dalcher has amassed the world's largest collection of failure stories, which he uses as a basis for refining the notion of sustainable success. His aim is to refresh and rejuvenate management and leadership practice through the breaking of silos, the sharing of transdisciplinary ideas and the co-creation of new innovations and insights.
His research focuses on rethinking project success, connecting projects and portfolios to strategy execution; repositioning the notion of agility, especially in the context of strategy, sustainability and innovation; and, exploring the role of ethics, morality and responsibility in professional decisions.
Research Interests
The improvement of project practice, project excellence, strategic initiatives, managing change, systems engineering, decision making, narratives of success and failure, continuous improvement and development, the future of information, agile methods and the evolution of development, design, project and product life cycles.
Current Teaching
Postgraduate Supervision of PhD and Professional Doctorate students
Successfully designed and delivered industrial and professional programmes in project management, leadership, innovation and strategy. Extensive expertise in practice-based provision and work-based learning.
Developed and launched the UK's first professional doctorate in project management, alongside a suite of professional masters programme for experienced practitioners and senior executives.
Taught modules:
MSCI615 Business, Benefits & Strategy
MSCI616 Advances in Project Management
ITO.007 IT Project Management
OWT517 IT Consulting and Project Management
Additional Information
Darren is a senior academic, editor, advisor, consultant and researcher with extensive expertise in collaborating with business and government bodies. He works to foster interactive dialogue about the integration of successful practice with theoretical research in the management of projects, change and innovation.
Passionate about solving real world problems, he has built a reputation as thought leader and innovator in the area of practice-based education and reflection in project management and information systems and has designed and developed the UK’s first professional doctorate in project management, alongside an extensive suite of executive and professional masters programmes and diplomas. Darren is the Editor of two project management book series published by Routledge and Editor-in-Chief of a leading software engineering journal published by Wiley, reflecting his hybrid interest in the connection between technology and its successful management.
Career Details
2018- Professor in Strategic Project Management, Lancaster University
2018- Adjunct Professor, WU Executive Academy, Vienna University of Economics and Business
2017- Visiting Professorial Faculty, Supply Chain Academy
2015-2020 Adjunct Professor, University of Warwick
2012-2018 Professor in Project Management, University of Hertfordshire
2011- Visiting Professor, Reykjavik University
2009-2010 Visiting Professor, University of Southern Denmark
2009-2010 Visiting Professor, George Washington University
2006-2018 Adjunct Professor, SKEMA Business School
2003- Director, National Centre for Project Management
2002-2014 Visiting Professor, University of Iceland
2001-2012 Professor in Software Project Management, Middlesex University
1993-2002 Senior Tutor, Open University
1992-2001 Senior Lecturer in Systems and Software Engineering, South Bank University
1988-1992 Assistant Lecturer/Tutor in Software Engineering, King's College, University of London
External Roles
Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Software: Evolution and Process
Editor, Advances in Project Management, Routledge
Editor, Fundamentals of Project Management, Routledge
Editor, Routledge Frontiers in Project Management
Column Editor, PM World Journal
Academic advisor and Consultant Editor for the Association for Project Management's 7th edition of the APM Body of Knowledge
Member of the Research Advisory Group, Association for Project Management
Member of the Academic Advisory Council, Chartered Management Institute
Member of the Research Board, Project Management Institute
Member of the Academic Member Advisory Group, Project Management Institute
Member of the Academic Insight Team, Project Management Institute
Member of of the Faculty Advisory Committee, Project Management Institute
Member of the Fellows Advisory Group, British Computer Society
Member of the British Standards Institute Technical Committee on Project Management
Member of the APM Group Ethics and Standards Governance Board
Qualifications
PhD King's College, University of London
HonFAPM Honorary Fellowship, lifetime award, Association for Project Management
FCMI Fellowship of the Chartered Management Institute
FRSA Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce
FBCS Fellowship of the British Computer Society
CITP Chartered IT Practitioner
SMIEEE Senior Membership of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
SFHEA Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy
MINCOSE Membership of the International Council on Systems Engineering
PhD Supervision Interests
I have been supervising PhD and professional doctorate research in the following areas: project management, programme management, project success and failure, agile development and management, benefits and value in projects, information systems, development life cycles and processes. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss a research area or a specific topic.
Development of the APM BoK
01/02/2018 → 20/05/2019
Consultancy
Reflections on Global and Sustainable Innovation: Bringing People Along
Invited talk
Journal of Software: Evolution and Process (Journal)
Editorial activity
Routledge (Publisher)
Editorial activity
Project Leadership and Society (Journal)
Editorial activity
PM World Journal (Journal)
Editorial activity
PM World Journal (Journal)
Editorial activity
HonFAPM (External organisation)
Member of an organisation
Global Alliance for Project Performance Standards (External organisation)
Membership of council
BSI Technical Committee MS/2: Project Management (External organisation)
Membership of committee
BSI Technical Committee IST/15: Software and systems Engineering (External organisation)
Member of Advisory Panel
BCS ICT Ethics Specialist Group Organising Committee (External organisation)
Membership of committee
BCS Fellows Technical Advisory Group (F-TAG) (External organisation)
Member of Advisory Panel
APM Group Impartiality Committee (External organisation)
Membership of board
APM Group Ethics and Standards Board (External organisation)
Membership of board
APM Community Champion (External organisation)
Member of Advisory Panel For Social Community and Cultural Engagement
Reaching digitalization Maturity: A Research-Practice Dialogue
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
In the Name of Digitalization
Invited talk
Inspiring Innovation: The Impact of the Pandemic on Innovation Culture
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
PM World Journal (Journal)
Editorial activity
Routledge (Publisher)
Editorial activity
Project Leadership and Society (Journal)
Editorial activity
PM World Journal (Journal)
Editorial activity
Journal of Software: Evolution and Process (Journal)
Editorial activity
HonFAPM (External organisation)
Member of an organisation
Global Alliance for Project Performance Standards (External organisation)
Membership of council
BSI Technical Committee MS/2: Project Management (External organisation)
Membership of committee
BCS Fellows Technical Advisory Group (F-TAG) (External organisation)
Member of Advisory Panel
APM Group Ethics and Standards Board (External organisation)
Membership of board
APM Group Impartiality Committee (External organisation)
Membership of board
APM Community Champion (External organisation)
Member of Advisory Panel For Social Community and Cultural Engagement
BSI Technical Committee IST/15: Software and systems Engineering (External organisation)
Member of Advisory Panel
BCS ICT Ethics Specialist Group Organising Committee (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Panel on Ethics and Technology
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Towards rethinking innovation: Academic Insights – Practice Input
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Routledge (Publisher)
Editorial activity
Project Leadership and Society (Journal)
Editorial activity
PM World Journal (Journal)
Editorial activity
Journal of Software: Evolution and Process (Journal)
Editorial activity
ISO International Study Group on Agile and Adaptive Management (External organisation)
Member of Working Group
PM World Journal (Journal)
Editorial activity
HonFAPM (External organisation)
Member of an organisation
Global Alliance for Project Performance Standards (External organisation)
Membership of committee
BSI Technical Committee MS/2: Project Management (External organisation)
Membership of committee
BSI Technical Committee MS/2: Project Management (External organisation)
Membership of committee
BCS Fellows Technical Advisory Group (F-TAG) (External organisation)
Member of Advisory Panel
APM Group Ethics and Standards Board (External organisation)
Membership of board
APM Group Impartiality Committee (External organisation)
Membership of board
APM Community Champion (External organisation)
Member of Advisory Panel For Social Community and Cultural Engagement
BSI Technical Committee IST/15: Software and systems Engineering (External organisation)
Member of Advisory Panel
BCS ICT Ethics Specialist Group Organising Committee (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Responsible Project Management
Invited talk
APM 50th Anniversary Panel Discussion
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
From excellent projects to excellent innovation
Invited talk
BSI Technical Committee IST/15: Software and systems Engineering (External organisation)
Membership of board
Routledge (Publisher)
Publication peer-review
Journal of Software: Evolution and Process (Journal)
Editorial activity
Project Leadership and Society (Journal)
Editorial activity
APM Group Ethics and Governance Board (External organisation)
Membership of board
PM World Journal (Journal)
Editorial activity
Project Management Institute Curriculum Committee (External organisation)
Membership of committee
BCS Fellows Technical Advisory Group (F-TAG) (External organisation)
Membership of committee
PM World Journal (Journal)
Editorial activity
BSI Technical Committee MS/2: Project Management (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Global Alliance for Project Performance Standards (External organisation)
Membership of committee
APM Community Champion (External organisation)
Member of Advisory Panel For Social Community and Cultural Engagement
ISO International Study Group on Agile and Adaptive Management (External organisation)
Membership of committee
HonFAPM (External organisation)
Member of an organisation
Management Book of the Year (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Morality and spirituality in project management
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
APM Inspiring Projects Panel (External organisation)
Member of Advisory Panel
Managing urgent and unexpected projects: Lessons from the pandemic
Invited talk
Value Chains 4.0
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Robotized and Digitalized Workplaces of Smart Manufacturing Processes
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Emergency projects in times of crisis: What’s different now?
Invited talk
The shape of project management - conference closing plenary
Invited talk
A good failure is better than a bad success
Invited talk
Scaling for success
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Engaged Scholarship in a Post-Covid World: Explorations of Methodological Challenges in Management Practice Fields
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Qualitative research and practice
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Project Management Institute Curriculum Committee (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Journal of Software: Evolution and Process (Journal)
Editorial activity
Project Leadership and Society (Journal)
Editorial activity
APM Group Ethics and Governance Board (External organisation)
Membership of board
PM World Journal (Journal)
Editorial activity
PM World Journal (Journal)
Editorial activity
Project Management Institute - Academic Insight Team (AIT) (External organisation)
Membership of committee
BCS Fellows Technical Advisory Group (F-TAG) (External organisation)
Membership of committee
BSI Technical Committee MS/2: Project Management (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Global Alliance for Project Performance Standards (External organisation)
Membership of committee
APM Community Champion (External organisation)
Member of Advisory Panel For Social Community and Cultural Engagement
HonFAPM (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Management Book of the Year (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Routledge (Publisher)
Editorial activity
Emergency: Urgent and unexpected projects
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Journal of Software: Evolution and Process (Journal)
Editorial activity
VUCA, hybrids and adaptability: Reflections on BoK7
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Journal of Software: Evolution and Process (Journal)
Editorial activity
Journal of Software: Evolution and Process (Journal)
Editorial activity
Journal of Software: Evolution and Process (Journal)
Editorial activity
Routledge (Publisher)
Editorial activity
Award for Outstanding Contribution - 32nd IPMA World Congress
Prize (including medals and awards)
- Centre for Technological Futures
- Pentland Centre