Investigating Project Portfolio Management Adoption in Iraqi Construction Projects: An Analysis of Perceived Benefits and Challenges

Majid Hameed Yahya; Kadhim R. Erzaij

doi:10.48084/etasr.17923

Authors

Majid Hameed Yahya Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
Kadhim R. Erzaij Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

Volume: 16 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 35071-35076 | June 2026 | https://doi.org/10.48084/etasr.17923

Received: 2 February 2026 | Revised: 24 February 2026 and 9 March 2026 | Accepted: 27 March 2026 | Online: 6 June 2026

Corresponding author: Majid Hameed Yahya

Abstract

Project Portfolio Management (PPM) is becoming increasingly relevant to Iraqi construction organizations that manage multiple typical and repetitive projects under budget, schedule, and governance constraints. This study investigates whether the perceived benefits and implementation challenges of PPM vary according to the organizations' current multi-project management level and whether standardized Typical Project Management (TPM) practices can serve as a practical foundation for portfolio governance. A structured 14-item questionnaire covering seven potential benefits and seven potential challenges was developed from the literature and refined through expert review for contextual suitability. Data collected from 102 Iraqi construction professionals were analyzed using descriptive statistics, weighted contingency tables, Pearson's chi-square tests, and Cramer's V. The results show statistically significant associations between management level and the dominant perceived benefit category (χ² = 26.503, df = 12, p = 0.009, V = 0.271) and between management level and the dominant perceived challenge category (χ² = 28.290, df = 12, p = 0.005, V = 0.280). Organizations operating at the portfolio-management level place stronger emphasis on alignment, prioritization, and governance-oriented value, whereas organizations with lower levels of maturity tend to emphasize commitment, coordination, and difficulties associated with prioritization methods. The study provides a compact context-sensitive instrument and practical insights into how adoption priorities shift across management levels in Iraqi construction organizations. Due to the cross-sectional nature of the study, the results indicate association rather than causation.

Keywords:

Project Portfolio Management (PPM), Iraqi construction projects, Typical Project Management (TPM), portfolio governance, benefits, challenges

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