Professor Ofer Zwikael

Ofer Zwikael

RSM

Research School of Management

Position
Professor
Email
ofer.zwikael@anu.edu.au
Phone number
+61 2 612 56739
Office
Room 2.19, CBE Bld (26C)
Link
https://researchportalplus.anu.edu.au/en/persons/ofer-zwikael
Research areas

Project management; Program management; Project governance; Operations management; Government projects.

Biography

Ofer Zwikael is a Professor of Project Management at the Australian National University. His five books and more than 300 scholarly peer-reviewed papers have been recognized through research awards from the Academy of Management, British Academy of Management, Project Management Institute, International Project Management Association, Emerald, and the Australian Institute of Project Management. As one of the world’s leading project management scholars, Professor Zwikael was named by Stanford University and Elsevier to be among the top 2% of international scientists. His research on project benefits management has been funded by major organizations, including the Australian Department of Defence and the Project Management Institute (US). He has held leadership roles including Head of School and Associate Dean and is currently an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Project Management. 

Wikipedia page

View ORCID profile

CV

Research publications

Selected Books

·   Zubac, A., Tucker, D., Zwikael, O., Hughes, K., Kirkpatrick, S. (2022). Effective Implementation of Transformation Strategies: How to Navigate the Strategy and Change Interface Successfully. Springer. Palgrave Macmillan (Edited book).

·   Zwikael, O., Smyrk, J. R. (2019). Project Management: A Benefit Realisation Approach. Springer-Verlag, London, UK. ISBN: 978-3-030-03173-2 (print book); ISBN 978-3-030-03174-9 (eBook). [Project Management Institute’s (PMI) David I. Cleland Project Management Literature Award (2020)]

·   Kwak, Y. H., Liu, M., Petanakul, P., Zwikael, O. (2014). Challenges and Best Practices of Managing Government Projects and Programs. Newtown Square PA: Project Management Institute, Inc., ISBN: 978-1-62825-065-7.

·   Zwikael, O., Smyrk, J. R. (2011). Project Management for the Creation of Organisational Value. Springer-Verlag, London, UK. ISBN 978-1-84996-515-6 (print book); ISBN 978-1-84996-516-3 (eBook).

Selected publications

  • Aubry, M., Floricel, S., Gilchrist, A., Kirkham, R. J., Samset, K., Van Wee, B., Holst Volden, G., Williams, T., Zwikael, O. (2025). Paradoxes and trade-offs in the front-end process of large public projects. Production Planning & Control. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Mirzaei, M., Mabin, V., Zwikael, O. (2025). Customising hybrid project management methodologies. Production Planning & Control. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zarghami, A., Zwikael, O. (2025). Building project resilience: A critical systems practice approach. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 42(3), 916–929. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O., Gilchrist, A. (2025). A structured process for the fuzzy front-end of complex projects. Production Planning & Control, 36(7), 863–872. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Stingl, V., Gilchrist, A., Lawani, A., Flin, R., Zwikael, O. (2025). Call for papers project cognition as the foundation of project behaviour. International Journal of Project Management, 43(2), 102691. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Stingl, V., Gilchrist, A., Lawani, A., Flin, R., Zwikael, O. (2025). Thinking is for doing: Project cognition as the foundation of project behaviour. International Journal of Project Management, 43(1), 102678. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zarghami, A., Zwikael, O. (2024). Buffer allocation in construction projects: A disruption mitigation approach. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 31(10), 3946-3972. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Gregor, S., Zwikael, O. (2024). Design science research and the co-creation of project management knowledge. International Journal of Project Management, 42(3), 102584. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O. (2024). Benefits classification to enhance project value creation. International Journal of Project Management, 42(2), 102574. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Ning, Y., Zwikael, O. (2024). Effective combinations of control strategies in inter-organizational projects. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 71, 3062 - 3075. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Asadabadi, M.R., Zwikael, O. (2024). Unrealistic project goals: Detection and modification. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 150(3), 04023166. [ABDC ranking: A*].
  • Zwikael, O., Huemann, M. (2023). Project benefits management: Making an impact on organizations and society through projects and programs. International Journal of Project Management, 41(8), 102538. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O., Salmona, M., Meredith, J., Zarghami, S.A. (2023). Enhancing project stakeholder communication under insufficient knowledge of project management concepts. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 30(10), 5007–5029. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Asadabadi, M.R., Saberi, M., Sadghiani, N.S., Zwikael, O., Cheng, E. (2023). Enhancing the analysis of online product reviews to support product improvement: Integrating text mining with quality function deployment. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 36(1), 275-302. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O., Gilchrist, A. (2023). Planning to fail: When is project planning counter productive? IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 70(1), 220-231. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zarghami, A., Zwikael, O. (2022). Measuring project resilience – Learning from the past to enhance decision making in the face of disruption. Decision Support Systems, 160, 113831. [ABDC ranking: A*].
  • Zwikael, O., Meredith, J. (2022). How can comprehensive goal setting enhance project investment decisions? IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 69(6), 2781-2790. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Pinto, J.K, Davis, K., Ika, L.A, Jugdev, K., Zwikael, O. (2022). Coming to terms with project success: current perspectives and future challenges. International Journal of Project Management, 40(7), 831-834. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O., Pathak, R.D., Ling, F., Titov, S., Husain, Z., Yang, L., Sharma, B., Tay, C.Y., Samson, D. (2022). Variation in project management practices across borders. Production Planning & Control, 33(13), 1270-1282. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Feris, M., Goffin, K., Zwikael, O., Fan, D. (2021). Enhancing software development through project-based learning and the quality of planning. R&D Management, 51(5), 447-467. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O., Meredith, J. (2021). Evaluating the success of a project and the performance of its leaders. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 68(6), 1745-1757. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Pesämaa, O., Zwikael, O., Hair, J. F., Huemann, M. (2021). Publishing quantitative papers with rigor and transparency. International Journal of Project Management, 39(3), 217-222. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Asadabadi, M. R., Zwikael, O. (2021). Integrating risk into estimations of project activities' time and cost: A stratified approach. European Journal of Operational Research, 291(2), 482-490. [ABDC ranking: A*].
  • Asadabadi, M., Saberi, Chang, E., Zwikael, O. (2020). Ambiguous requirements:  A semi-automated approach to identify and clarify ambiguity in large-scale projects. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 149, 106828. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Asadabadi, M. R., Zwikael, O. (2020). The ambiguous proposal evaluation problem. Decision Support Systems, 136, 113359. [ABDC ranking: A*].
  • Zwikael, O. (2020). When doesn't formal planning enhance the performance of government projects? Public Administration Quarterly, 44(3), 331-362. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Asadabadi, M. R., Chang, E., Zwikael, O., Saberi, M., Sharpea, K. (2020). Hidden fuzzy information: Requirement specification and measurement of project provider performance using the best worst method. Fuzzy Sets and Systems, 383, 127-145. [ARC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O., Meredith, J. (2019). The role of organizational climate in setting project goals. International Journal of Operations and Production Management, 39(12), 1281-1294. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O., Meredith, J., Smyrk, J. (2019). The responsibilities of the project owner in benefits realization. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 39(4), 503-524. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Meredith, J., Zwikael, O. (2019). When is a project successful? IEEE Engineering Management Review, 47(3), 127-134.
  • Zwikael, O., Meredith, J. (2019). Effective organizational support practices for setting target benefits in the project front end. International Journal of Project Management, 37(7), 930-939. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Chih, Y., Zwikael, O., Restubog, S.L. (2019). Enhancing value co-creation in professional service projects: the roles of professionals, clients and their effective interactions. International Journal of Project Management, 37(5), 599-615. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O., Meredith, J. (2018). Who’s who in the project zoo? The ten core project roles. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 38(2), 474-492. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O., Chih, Y., Meredith, J. (2018). Project benefit management: Setting effective target benefits. International Journal of Project Management, 36(4), 650–658. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Ul Musawir, A., Serra, C. E. M., Zwikael, O., Ali, I. (2017). Project governance, benefit management, and project success: Towards a framework for supporting organizational strategy implementation. International Journal of Project Management, 35(8), 1658-1672. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Feris, M., Zwikael, O., Gregor, S. (2017). QPLAN: Decision support for evaluating planning quality in software development projects. Decision Support Systems, 96, 92–102. [ABDC ranking: A*].
  • Zwikael, O. (2016). Editorial - International Journal of Project Management special issue on “project benefit management”. International Journal of Project Management, 34(4), 734-735. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Patanakul, P., Kwak, Y., Zwikael, O., Liu, M. (2016). What impacts the performance of large-scale government projects? International Journal of Project Management, 34(3), 452–466. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O., Smyrk, J. (2015). Project governance: Balancing control and trust in dealing with risk. International Journal of Project Management, 33(4), 852-862. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O., Shtub, A., Chih, Y. (2015). Simulation-based training for project management education: mind the gap, as one size does not fit all. Journal of Management in Engineering, 31(2), 040140351-11. [ARC ranking: A*].
  • Chih, Y., Zwikael, O. (2015). Project benefit management: A conceptual framework of target benefit formulation. International Journal of Project Management, 33(1), 352-362. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O., Pathak, R. D., Singh, G., Ahmed, S. (2014). The moderating effect of risk on the relationship between planning and success. International Journal of Project Management, 32(3), 435-441. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Unger-Aviram, E., Zwikael, O., Restubog, S. (2013). Revisiting goals, feedback, recognition and performance success: The case of project teams. Group & Organization Management: An International Journal, 38(5), 570–600. [ABDC ranking: A]. [Editor's Choice Collection].
  • Zwikael, O., Smyrk, J. (2012). A general framework for gauging the performance of initiatives to enhance organizational value. British Journal of Management, 23, S6-S22. [ABDC ranking: A]. [Emerald Citations of Excellence Award for 2015].
  • Zwikael, O., Ahn, M. (2011). The effectiveness of risk management: an analysis of project risk planning across countries and industries. Risk Analysis: An International Journal, 31(1), 25-37. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Ahn, M., Zwikael, O., Bednarek, R. (2010). Technological invention to product innovation: A project management approach. International Journal of Project Management, 28(6), 559–568. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O., Unger-Aviram, E. (2010). HRM in project groups: The effect of project duration on team development effectiveness. International Journal of Project Management, 28(5), 413-421. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Lipke, W., Zwikael, O., Henderson, K., Anbari, F. (2009). Prediction of project outcome: The application of statistical methods to earned value management and earned schedule performance indexes. International Journal of Project Management, 27(4), 400-407. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O., Globerson, S. (2007). Quality management - a key process in the service industries. Service Industries Journal, 27(8), 1007 - 1020. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O., Sadeh, A. (2007). Planning effort as an effective risk management tool. Journal of Operations Management, 25(4), 755-767. [FT50; ABDC ranking: A*].
  • Zwikael, O., Globerson, S. (2006). Benchmarking of project planning and success in selected industries. Benchmarking - an International Journal, 13(6), 688-700. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O., Globerson, S. (2006). From critical success factors to critical success processes. International Journal of Production Research, 44(17), 3433 – 3449. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O., Cohen, Y., Sadeh, A. (2006). Non-delay scheduling as a managerial approach for managing projects. International Journal of Project Management, 24(4), 330-336. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O., Shimizu, K., Globerson, S. (2005). Cultural differences in project management processes: a field study. International Journal of Project Management, 23(6), 454-462. [Third most downloaded paper in the Elsevier’s International Journal of Project Management in 4th quarter 2005]. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O., Bar-Yoseph, B. (2004). Improving the capabilities of project team management using the Gestalt cycle of experience. Team Performance Management, 10(7), 137-144. [ABDC ranking: A].
  • Zwikael, O., Globerson, S. (2004). Evaluating the quality of project planning: a model and field results. International Journal of Production Research, 42(8), 1545-1556. [ABDC ranking: A].

Research grants and awards

Recent Research Grants 

Platow, M., Hirst, G., Newman, E., Huynh, H. P., Zwikael, O., Tay, L. Q., Aroni, R., Gilchrist, A. (2024-25). Information Resilience: What makes individuals and populations susceptible to believing misinformation and disinformation – and what makes them resilient? Awarded by the Office of the Chief Scientist, Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Australian Government.

Zwikael, O., Hirst, G. (2019-22). Project investment benefit realisation to enhance force effectiveness. Research Grant awarded by the Defence Science and Technology Group of the Australian Department of Defence.

Pathak, R. D., Zwikael, O., Singh, G., Prasad, B. C. (2014-16). Improving project management capabilities in the Pacific. Research grant funded by the University of the South Pacific.

Kwak, Y. H., Liu, M., Patanakul, P., Zwikael, O. (2011-13). Project, program, and portfolio management in government: application and performance. The Project Management Institute’s Sponsored Research Grant, PA, USA.


Awards

A top 2% scientist (2023). Named by Stanford University and Elsevier to be among the top 2% international scientists in 2022 and their career.

A top 2% scientist (2022). Named by Stanford University and Elsevier to be among the top 2% international scientists in 2021.

A top 2% scientist (2021). Named by Stanford University and Elsevier to be among the top 2% international scientists in their career.

Project Management Institute’s (PMI) David I. Cleland Project Management Literature Award (2020), awarded for the book entitled “Project Management: A Benefit Realisation Approach” published by Springer-Verlag (Co-authored with John Smyrk).

A top 2% scientist (2020). Named by Stanford University and Elsevier to be among the top 2% international scientists in 2020.

Best paper award (2018), “Enhancing organizational performance through strategic project selection” the SIBR Conference on Interdisciplinary Business & Economics Research, Bangkok, Thailand.

IPMA Research Award Winner (2016), awarded by the International Project Management Association.

Project of the Year (2016), awarded by the Australian Institute of Project Management, ACT Chapter. 

Project Management Research Award (2016), awarded by the Australian Institute of Project Management, ACT Chapter.

Emerald Citations of Excellence Award (2015), awarded by Emerald at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting in Vancouver, Canada based on citations and novelty of a 2012 paper published in the British Journal of Management.

The Thomson South-Western Award (2015) for outstanding research-based paper on management consulting was awarded at the Academy of Management Annual Meeting in Vancouver, Canada.

Best paper award (2013), Public Management and Governance track at the 27th Annual British Academy of Management Conference, Liverpool, UK.

Best paper award (2012), the SIBR Conference on Interdisciplinary Business & Economics Research, Bangkok, Thailand.

Outstanding Research Contribution (2008), awarded by the International Project Management Association.

Research engagement and outreach

Associate Editor, International Journal of Project Management


Editorial Board Member:

International Journal of Project Organisation and Management

Pacific Asia Journal of the Association for Information Systems

IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management

 

Teaching

Prof Zwikael’s teaching excellence has gained wide recognition. Ofer has been awarded by the ANU Vice Chancellor Commendation for outstanding contribution to student learning. He has also been recognised by the ANU College of Business and Economics for Program that Enhances Learning Award. Additionally, Ofer has received awards for top PhD supervisor and Best Lecturer.


Teaching and learning awards

  • Commendation for outstanding contribution to student learning, awarded by the ANU Vice Chancellor (2014).
  • Program that Enhances Learning Award, awarded by the ANU College of Business and Economics (2013).
  • Student award for top supervisors, awarded by the Australian National University’s Dean of Students (2010).
  • Best lecturer award, awarded by the Holon Institute of Technology, Israel (2003).


Teaching:

  • MGMT7170 Tools and Techniques for Business Project management
  • MGMT7169 Management Framework for Business Projects