My research has been wide ranging and varied but is always focussed on understanding he effective management and governance of complex projects within organizations. I am trained as an organizational theorist with an interest in power and influence, decision making, organizational change, temporary organizations, teams and leadership. Most of my research has been around the practice of project management but I have also explored the impact of IT projects and standards on life within organizations and construction and municipal projects as contributors to sustainable city life. Taking a broad view, my research generally falls into the following areas: - Professionalization of project managers and quasi professional organizational roles - Exploring the value project managers and improving project management practices provide to organizations - Management Innovation: the case of project management - Gender and the role of standards and practices - Teams, conflict and leadership - Role of power, influence and communication in projects and change.

Dr. Janice Thomas is a recognized scholar on effective management and governance of large and complex projects within organizations. Staring her career with 15 years managing large scale IT and Organizational Change projects, she is now Professor of Project Management and Organizational Analysis at Athabasca University. She has been recognized for her contributions to the practice of project management locally (with a fellowship from PMI Calgary) and internationally (2006 One of the top 25 women in PM in the World; 2010 Research Achievement Award from PMI Global; 2014 Research Project of the Year from the International Project Management Association) and has published 100s of articles as well as 4 books. She is a member, and former Director, of the Global Alliance for Project Performance Standards. Janice is an accomplished teacher of mid-career executives with experience teaching MBA, DBA, and Executive Development programs as well as within corporate professional development programs.