The CRGP research approach involves three primary and complementary modes of inquiry: Roundtables, Ph.D and post-doctoral research projects, and mini-internships. Generally speaking, Roundtables are used to develop new research ideas. Ph.D and post-doctoral research projects develop these ideas into new theories, solutions and technologies. Mini-internships are used to test these results within the context of a live project or organizational setting.

Roundtables
CRGP Roundtables bring together a diverse set of industry stakeholders and academics to discuss and analyze a complex issue, trend or topic related to global projects. For example, Roundtable discussions might center on the "Legacy of Failed Global Projects," "The Role of Multilaterals in the 21st Century," or "Designing Global Project Supply Chains." To prepare for a Roundtable, CRGP researchers produce background papers to review the state of knowledge on the topic under investigation and industry participants and scholars are carefully selected to represent a tapestry of relevant experience and expertise. Expert moderators facilitate the discussions and debates, which are digitally recorded for subsequent transcription and analysis. As a final product, a summary report is prepared to recap the key trends, strategies and insights gained from the Roundtable. To protect confidentiality, comments are not attributed to individuals. This report becomes a strategic document for industry participants and, when funds are in place, a starting point for deeper investigation by CRGP researchers for Ph.D and post-Doctoral research projects.

Ph.D and Post-doctoral Research Projects
The methods used in Ph.D and post-doctoral research projects are five-fold -- literature review, ethnographic research, theory building, hypothesis testing, and modeling. Drawing upon the resources of the University and of industry and government affiliates, CRGP graduate researchers first comb the literature and conduct ethnographic research to intimately understand the particular phenonemon under investigation. Then, as they collect data, i.e. visiting actual projects, reviewing project documents, talking to managers, conducting case studies, they begin to identify the important parameters and the important relationships between them that are key to explaining what has been observed. Finally, using more structured-interviews or applied survey methods, the relationships between parameters are quantified, and computational, analytic, statistical, or other kinds of models are developed to communicate the inter-relationships between variables.

Mini-internships
CRGP mini-internships link graduate researchers with sponsor organizations. They offer graduate researchers the opportunity to implement, test and refine innovative ideas and tools in a real organizational setting. They provide sponsors with opportunities to access new technologies and methods, and consider possible commercial value. Mini-internships also serve as a vehicle for facilitated recruiting; often sponsor organizations end up employing talented grads.