Influence of the project managers' expertise and experience in the success of projects: the moderating effect of emotional intelligence

PurposeThe authors investigated how emotional intelligence (EI) affects the relationship between project managers' (PMgs) expertise and experience and project success for both the team and client.Design/methodology/approachThis study collected 290 valid responses from IT project managers. The results were analyzed using an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, with Process v4.0 procedure and the Johnson-Neyman (JN) technique to assess the moderating effect of the level of EI.FindingsResults showed that moderate levels of EI can enhance the impact of PMgs' experience on the project client, while higher levels of EI are necessary to positively impact the team. Moderate levels of EI can improve PMgs' expertise impact on the project team, increasing their effectiveness in interactions with clients and other stakeholders.Practical implicationsIt is recommended to consider emotional intelligence alongside technical skills when selecting project managers to address emotional labor, stress, stakeholder management and agility. Providing EI training and experiential learning opportunities internally can improve project managers' emotional intelligence.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on emotional intelligence and project management, highlighting the relationship between technical skills and emotional intelligence levels of PMgs. This research emphasizes the significance of experience and EI in project management, particularly in overseeing complex projects. Additionally, moderate levels of EI enhance PMgs' effectiveness in engaging with stakeholders closely involved in projects.