Enhancing Research and Educational Project Management in Finland through Data-Driven Solutions and the Use of Software Tools: An Integrative Research Work

The study investigates Finnish university project management enhancement opportunities through data-driven software solution implementation. The research based on the Integrative Literature Review (ILR) approach to review peer-reviewed academic papers alongside institutional reports and published policy documents from 2015 to 2025. The foundation of this research is pragmatic philosophy while an inductive method allows the combination of empirical findings with theoretical knowledge. The objective of this research investigation evaluates the technological instruments Universities in Finland currently utilize for educational and research project management while assessing the implementation obstacles. The investigation explores how data-based choices strengthened by software tools enhance institutional operational performance as well as efficiency and collaborative possibilities. This research conducted through thematic content analysis of data uses the Research Onion model's structured format to identify recurring patterns as well as best practices and stakeholder challenges regarding higher education project management software and analytics platforms. The review establishes validity by using various data sources and this triangulation method helps guarantee evidence reliability while providing complete contextual background. The analysis seeks to achieve three main goals that include documenting existing software programs in use and examining universal implementation challenges as well as developing data-based solutions for educational organizations. The specified objectives focused with national digitalization and their initiatives in Finland while advancing European initiatives for digital transformation in educational and research domains. This thesis findings from the reviewed literature suggested that Software tools like Trello and Microsoft Teams for project management and Pure and CRIS for research information management systems are used, according to the reviewed literature's primary research data. However, they are not effective due to uneven practices of implementation, a deficiency of appropriate training, and the overall unwillingness to digitize change. Further, the analysis shows that there are inconsistencies in the use of the software in various faculties and projects, and it means that the institutions should standardize their software system and offer a more robust support infrastructure. The purpose of the study is to create strategic recommendations to enhance the outcomes of research and instructional projects in the Finnish academic institutions using digital upskilling, implementation of integrated software systems, and regular application of policies.