Behavioral Competencies Required of Agile IT Project Managers

Abstract

Managing projects has become a complex process for IT project managers (IT PMs). A well-defined combination of behavioral and technical competencies is required to ensure the success of IT projects. However, there is a dearth of studies on behavioral skills explicitly related to IT project management. This study aims to identify and conceptualize the essential behavioral competencies required for modern (i.e. Agile) IT PMs. The study adopts a qualitative content analysis approach to examine IT project management job advertisements as a reflection of current industry expectations. A dataset of job postings is being collected across multiple countries, job types, and experience levels, and is analyzed through a structured coding process to identify recurring behavioral competency themes and variations across contexts. Preliminary insights indicate an increasing emphasis on interpersonal and adaptive competencies such as problem-solving, collaboration, and team management, alongside traditional managerial skills. The study expects to develop a behavioral competency framework that reflects these evolving requirements in practice. By bridging the gap between academic theory and industry expectations, this research contributes to recruitment practices, professional development, and curriculum design, offering a practical and empirically grounded understanding of behavioral competencies in IT project management.