TITLE:
Application of Artificial Intelligence in Project Management: Challenges and Solutions to Integration
AUTHORS:
Oyeniyi Richard Ajao, Richard Afenoko Ogu
KEYWORDS:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Implementation, Project Management, Technology Acceptance Model, Diffusion of Innovation Theory, Change Management, Skills Development, Human-AI Collaboration, Organizational Readiness
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.15 No.10,
October
28,
2025
ABSTRACT: The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in project management is fundamentally transforming how organizations handle planning, execution, and project oversight. This mixed-methods study examines current AI adoption patterns, implementation challenges, and evidence-based solutions through survey data from 368 project management professionals and focus group insights from 7 implementation experts from diverse industries and organizational contexts. Our findings reveal that while 56.5% of organizations have initiated AI adoption, only 21.7% achieve comprehensive integration. The primary implementation barriers include skills gaps (56.5%), internal resistance and change management challenges (47.8%), and uncertainty regarding ROI (43.5%). Despite these obstacles, organizations report substantial benefits, with 82.6% experiencing faster decision-making cycles, 56.5% achieving cost savings, and 47.8% realizing quality improvements. Knowledge management/copilots (73.9%) and automated reporting (65.2%) emerge as the most adopted applications. Utilizing the Technology Acceptance Model and Diffusion of Innovation Theory, this research introduces two actionable frameworks: a four-phase AI Integration Framework that addresses technical implementation and organizational readiness, and the ADEPT Change Management Framework, which targets human factors and resistance. The study enhances our understanding of AI implementation in project management by offering evidence-based strategies for practitioners seeking to harness AI’s transformative potential while addressing associated risks.