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The Project Manager's Role: Driving Impact in the Social Sector
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This dissertation examines the role of project managers within nonprofit social organizations, namely in
Portugal IPSS – Private Institutions of Social Solidarity. It investigates how project managers contribute to the
maximization of social impact through strategic resource management, stakeholder engagement, and
evaluative culture.
Structured as two complementary articles, the work combines a systematic literature review with an
empirical study conducted among IPSS in the Porto district. The first article maps international research on
project management in NPOs, identifying conceptual frameworks, strategic roles, and methodological gaps.
The second article explores how project-based work is practiced and institutionalized within IPSS, highlighting
the presence, configuration and strategic relevance of project managers.
Findings reveal that project managers in the social sector embody multidimensional competencies (strategic,
relational, and ethical) that extend beyond technical execution. They operate in contexts marked by limited
resources and structural constraints yet play a central role in aligning projects with institutional missions and
social innovation goals. The research also uncovers a fragmented adoption of formal methodologies, where
adaptive and hybrid approaches prevail, reflecting a balance between technical rigor and social sensitivity.
These insights are further developed through a chapter of critical reflections, which examine institutional
tensions, cultural barriers, and the strategic potential of intermediary organizations. In response, the
dissertation presents a pilot program proposal aimed at testing the role of such entities in promoting project
management professionalization across IPSS.
By integrating theoretical, empirical and applied dimensions, this dissertation advances understanding of
project management as a driver of transformation within the social economy. It aims to contribute to
academic discourse by framing the project manager as a strategic actor who bridges operational efficiency
with social responsibility, and to practice by identifying context-sensitive pathways for professional
recognition, capacity-building, and evaluative maturity within IPSS.
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Project Manager Nonprofit Organizations Social Impact