The role of project start-up in the organisational development of project management: The case in Iran

The paper reviews the emergence of project management as a discipline. It is proposed that the shortcomings of its original rationalistic emphasis have been gradually supplemented by attention to the need for the social integration of project participants. 'Project Start-Up', a set of techniques for securing this end, is described and, drawing on an empirical study, its relevance to the distinctive circumstances of project management in Iran is discussed.