Do Project Managers have expanded short term memories?

Known human limitations for short term memory mean project managers managing local complexity either have ways of extending memory using plans and/or have expanded short term memory capabilities. The aim of this primary research is to investigate whether project managers DO have expanded short term memory capabilities. This was done using an inductive approach, conducting experiments with 2 sample groups (5 – Project Management based & 5 – Non-Project Management based).

Observationally planning to represent the externalisation of detailed memory for recall, does not occur (for a variety of reasons) – So, some other method must be at play, expanded mind-capacity might be one of these solutions.

The research displayed a reliance on methods of externalisation within the project management (PM) control group, which was in turn, reflected in the results of both experiments undertaken (PRE intervention). To try and better understand the data obtained from conducting the research, an intervention sample was chosen from the non-PM group, as a sample which stood out with similarities in job role and responses to the project management control group. Implementing the planned intervention into the control group, created a dynamic which meant that the two groups were homogeneous samples (project management sample group) and heterogeneous samples respectively (non-PM control group).

The results both point towards the Null Hypothesis, in that project managers do not have expanded short term memory capabilities when compared to a control group.

The results displayed a higher number of tasks remembered for both interventions (PRE & POST), within the project management control group, whilst displaying a heavy reliance on methods of externalisation using technology. There was a reliance on externalisation, with the non-PM outperforming the opposing control group in both experiments.

Exogeneous variables need to be taken into consideration when looking at the results from the project managers, at the time of the research taken there were distracting factors in play that may have influenced the responses in the experiment (whether they be professional or personal distractions). Any future experiments regarding this research will need to ensure that the exogeneous samples are moved to statistically 479 significant samples, to provide an element of control to account for the specific experiences of the intervention group that result in a homogeneous sample group.