Generative AI (GenAI) is increasingly adopted in Software Project Management, yet its actual role and impact remain unclear. This paper presents a systematic literature review of 45 peer-reviewed studies (2017–2026) that examine the application of GenAI across the PMBOK knowledge areas and process groups, and its impact on effort, planning, and risk. The findings show a strong focus on “Planning” processes and text-intensive artifacts, with machine-learning proxy metrics rather than managerial ones being used to evaluate GenAI outputs instead of their impact on project-level dynamics. While reductions in effort and improvements in planning are consistently reported, two less visible patterns emerge. Artifacts generated by GenAI often appear plausible rather than accurate and require human validation to detect under-specification and bias. Adoption also brings with it new tool-related risks such as vendor dependency, prompt sensitivity, and hallucinations. Procurement and Stakeholder Management, along with Initiating and Closing processes, remain largely unexplored.
How Generative AI is Used in Software Project Management: A Systematic Literature Review
De Vito G.;Ferrucci F.;Visentin L.
2027
Abstract
Generative AI (GenAI) is increasingly adopted in Software Project Management, yet its actual role and impact remain unclear. This paper presents a systematic literature review of 45 peer-reviewed studies (2017–2026) that examine the application of GenAI across the PMBOK knowledge areas and process groups, and its impact on effort, planning, and risk. The findings show a strong focus on “Planning” processes and text-intensive artifacts, with machine-learning proxy metrics rather than managerial ones being used to evaluate GenAI outputs instead of their impact on project-level dynamics. While reductions in effort and improvements in planning are consistently reported, two less visible patterns emerge. Artifacts generated by GenAI often appear plausible rather than accurate and require human validation to detect under-specification and bias. Adoption also brings with it new tool-related risks such as vendor dependency, prompt sensitivity, and hallucinations. Procurement and Stakeholder Management, along with Initiating and Closing processes, remain largely unexplored.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
