Project management practices in the financial services sector of the Republic of Kazakhstan: results of an empirical study

In the context of the digital transformation of the financial sector and the increasing complexity of the regulatory environment, project management has become a key factor in ensuring the sustainability and competitiveness of financial organizations. In the Republic of Kazakhstan, this issue is particularly relevant due to large-scale digitalization initiatives, the introduction of new financial products and services, and increasing demands for operational efficiency and change management. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of the current state and maturity of project management in Kazakhstan’s financial sector and examines factors influencing its effectiveness. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative techniques. Empirical data were collected through a standardized survey of 137 employees from nine financial organizations, including banks, microfinance institutions, and insurance companies. Additionally, 15 expert interviews were conducted, and strategic documents and annual reports were analyzed. The results indicate that project management is mainly institutionalized at the level of basic structures and formal regulations, while maturity levels vary significantly across organizations. Hybrid use of waterfall and Agile approaches is common, whereas the adoption of project portfolio management (PPM) systems and business intelligence (BI) tools remains limited. Key challenges include regulatory pressure, a shortage of qualified professionals, weak project culture, and fragmented IT infrastructure, which hinder effective data integration and decision-making.

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