Abstract:

The aim of the article is to examine scientific knowledge about maturity models in project management regarding the research projects. The study is descriptive and exploratory, and contains analysis of the existing bibliographical portfolio. The research was carried out in databases (e.g. ScienceDirect) for the period from 2010 to 2015. Articles including the most relevant key-words were analyzed qualitatively. Against this background, the article will propose directives for future research.

I. Context; research gap tackled; why it is important and for whom:
Every organization seeks to improve its way of managing projects. Using project management, even if for an extended period of time, is not a sufficient condition for reaching excellence. The basis for achieving excellence in project management are described by maturity models in project management. Project management maturity models are frameworks for assessing an organization’s project management competences and for the planning of actions that shall result in an improvement of organizational project management competence. The majority of the models depict the maturity of an organization in a step-like structure with so-called maturity levels (e.g. 5). The lowest level represents rather informal project management, while organizations on higher levels have implemented a system of project management processes, which are standardized across the organization, apply performance indicators to those processes and on the basis of the results are continuously improving their structures.
In the scientific literature it is possible to find many articles relating to models of maturity in project management. It is necessary to examine them and to specify the models that are adequate for the management of research projects. Perhaps it will be necessary to develop a new model that will be dedicated strictly to research projects, due to their specificity.
Ready maturity model in research project management would be an invaluable tool to help manage this type of projects, both for the institutions in which they take place, and for organizations evaluating these institutions (for example, the bodies subsidizing research projects).

II. Summary of previous work in this area:
The concept of project maturity is closely linked to their potential for success/failure. Currently, at Wroclaw University of Technology is implemented the project "Factors of research projects success and failure factors". The main specific objective of the study is identification of success and failure factors of research projects, with a special emphasis on projects performed at universities and higher schools in countries belonging to European Union and being in various development stages, using the example of Poland and France. The main goal is to contribute to increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of research projects executed at universities and higher schools. The identified factors for success/failure of research projects can help build recommendations to mentioned organizations in capturing the subsequent levels of research project maturity. So, the work on the maturity model for research projects are complementary project work, but it needs good verifying existing scientific knowledge in this area.

Keywords:

Project management, research project, maturity model in project management.