Frontinus-A project manager from the Roman Empire era

Abstract

We compare selected project management practices undertaken almost 2,000 years ago with current literature on best project management practice. We take a case study approach focusing on a person who could be seen to have taken a project manager, project sponsor, and champion role. We suggest that some project management approaches used in Roman times are routinely used today; however, changes in the culture and technology have transformed possibilities for project management techniques, and so changed approaches are inevitable. The paper provides useful insights about the nature of changes to project management practice that may be expected during this century. © 2011 Project Management Inst..