What is an example of a qualitative research method used in project management?

In project management, qualitative research methods are employed to gather non-numerical insights and a deeper understanding of a project's context, stakeholder perceptions, and individual experiences. Focus groups and interviews exemplify this approach as they enable facilitators to engage with participants in an open-ended manner, encouraging discussions that may reveal emotions, motivations, and complex attitudes that quantitative measures cannot capture. This method is particularly useful for exploring areas such as team dynamics, user needs, and feedback on project processes, allowing project managers to gather rich, detailed information that can inform decision-making and improve project outcomes.

In contrast, other options primarily involve quantitative methods. Surveys with numeric scales gather data that can be quantified but do not delve into the rich complexities of individual perspectives. Statistical analysis of project outcomes is a numerical evaluation of data, which focuses on measurable results rather than qualitative insights. Time tracking methods also center around quantifying time and productivity without exploring the qualitative factors that influence these metrics. Thus, focus groups and interviews stand out as effective qualitative methods in project management.