A systematic review of generative AI usage for IT project management

2026-04-23

AI Summary

This study addresses the lack of a systematic review on the application of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in IT project management. Following the PRISMA methodology, it comprehensively synthesizes current research on GenAI’s technical approaches, application scenarios, adoption trends, and tool integration. The analysis reveals that existing studies remain largely exploratory, predominantly leveraging GPT-family models through prompt engineering. To advance the field, the paper proposes three innovative directions: process-group-oriented AI agents, role-based AI agents tailored to specific project functions, and hybrid collaborative networks that support human-guided coordination. These contributions offer a cohesive theoretical framework and integrative pathways for future research and practical implementation in AI-enhanced project management.

Technology Category

• Multiagent Systems: Agent/AI Theories and Architectures
• Humans and AI: Planning and Decision Support for Human-Machine Teams
• Natural Language Processing: Generation

Application Category

• Social Networks and Social Media: Generative AI / large language models and their impact on social systems
• Semantics and Knowledge: Data modeling to support human-machine intelligence, including LLMs agents, intelligent system behavior, explanations, and user-friendly interactions
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Economic ramifications for generative AI infrastructure and applications

Abstract

This paper aims to synthesize current knowledge on generative AI in IT project management using the PRISMA methodology to provide researchers with a comprehensive perspective on techniques, applications, adoption trends, limitations, and integration across project management tools and process groups. The analysis reveals a clear dominance of OpenAI's GPT in the included studies but relying primarily on prompt engineering, suggesting that research in this area remains at an exploratory stage. Finally, it identifies and discusses three promising research directions for AI-enabled project management, including process group-specific AI agents, project role-based AI agents, and hybrid collaborative networks that enable human-guided orchestration.

Problem

• generative AI
• IT project management
• systematic review
• AI adoption
• project management tools

Innovation

• generative AI
• AI agents
• project management
• human-AI collaboration
• PRISMA methodology