Thorpe, Stephen JKrstić, Livia2026-01-222026-01-222026-01-19International Journal of Information Technology Project Management, ISSN: 1938-0232 (Print); 1938-0240 (Online), IGI Global, 16(1), 1-23. doi: 10.4018/ijitpm.3986271938-02321938-0240http://hdl.handle.net/10292/20527<p>International frameworks and accreditations define the core competencies required of information technology (IT) project managers. Among these, technical skills are often cited as important, particularly in IT-focused projects. However, the technical competencies required—and the extent to which project managers should possess them—remain unclear. The literature on this topic is limited, though existing studies indicate that technical proficiency contributes to project success in technical domains. To explore this gap, semi-structured interviews with IT project managers and project participants were undertaken to examine perceptions of technical skills. Findings reveal a divide between participants with technical education, who emphasized the necessity of technical expertise, whereas those without technical qualifications highlighted communication, motivation, and attitude as most critical. The study contributes insights into the strategic value that technical capability adds to IT project management effectiveness through the strategic capability model for technical project management.</p>This article published as an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and production in any medium, provided the author of the original work and original publication source are properly credited.1202 Building1503 Business and Management3507 Strategy, management and organisational behaviourInformation Technology Project ManagementProject ManagerTechnical SkillsCertificationCompetenciesAttributesJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.4018/ijitpm.398627