Markus Hällgren

Project-as-Practice : In Search of Project Management Research That Matters

Research on projects is not only an immature field of research, but it is also insubstantial when it comes to understanding what occurs in projects. This article contributes to making project management research matter to the academic as well as to the practitioner by developing a project-as-practice approach, in alignment with the ongoing debate in social science research. The article outlines a framework and argues that there are two major challenges to the researcher and also suggests how these challenges can be met. Underlying notions of the practice approach are outlined to ensure a development of the project-as-practice approach that makes project management research matter!

Deviations, ambiguity and uncertainty in a project-intensive organization

This article analyzes deviations in an automation project. The article develops a more holistic view of the project organization, focusing on how deviations are managed. The case study demonstrates that the tools and methods suggested in the literature are rarelyused, and shows the importance of the context of the project in terms of gathering information and sharing knowledge that is required to manage deviations. Furthermore, the case shows that there are a number of deviation-management tactics that are applied to different deviations, dependent on whether they are uncertain and/or ambiguous.

Mini-muddling : Learning from project plan deviations

Purpose – This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of the informal and incidental learning that takes place in project work among individuals who must adapt to deviations from project pla ...

Deviations and the breakdown of project management principles

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of how unexpected events (deviations) are handled and how the limited time available in a project affects the possibilities for refle ...

Relevance Lost! : A Critical Review of Project Management Standardisation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to critically analyze the consequences of the diffusion of generic project management knowledge.Design/methodology/approach – This paper is conceptual in its ...

Embracing the drifting environment : The legacy and impact of a Scandinavian Project literature classic

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview and analysis of the legacy of Christensen and Kreiners (1991) literally classic Projektledning: att leda och lara i en ofullstandig va ...

Groupthink in temporary organizations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the understanding of groupthink in temporary organizations. Only anecdotally has the literature touched upon how the temporary organizations structure may foster groupthink. Studies of faulty group processes are imperative since temporary organizations are becoming more common. Design/methodology/approach – Following the design used by several authors who analyzed the Everest events, this paper is an historic in-depth case study based on accounts of several survivors. Findings – Three out of four features of groupthink are found and analyzing the Everest events there are several symptoms to groupthink that may be present in any temporary organization. Research limitations/implications – Groupthink as a theoretical idea is well developed but has received limited attention in a temporary organization (project) setting. More attention should be given to group dynamics in general and groupthink in particular. Practical implications – Some practices are suggested to avoid groupthink. Furthermore, project managers find themselves in a balancing act between freedom, efficiency, and fast decisions. The context should be allowed to decide which the correct approach is. Finally, blowing the whistle should never be a problem and never be punished. Originality/value – The setting of this paper is original although it is to the structure a common project. When life is at stake, features and symptoms of groupthink become more evident. The theoretical field is almost non-existent in a temporary organization setting hence there is a considerable value to the theoretical development of temporary organizations and groupthink.

Mechanisms of deviations : Observations of projects in practice

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe and summarise a PhD thesis that contributes to the understanding of how unexpected events (deviations) are handled. It explores the reality of proj ...

How do you do? On situating old project sites through practice‐based studies

Purpose – The purpose of this editorial is to reflect on the growing interest of situated project research.Design/methodology/approach – The editorial is conceptual and relies on published work and ...

Opportunities for learning from crises in projects

Purpose: Concepts of learning are extended to the non-routine case of crises in projects. Design/methodology/approach: The multiple case protocol described by Yin and his six sources of evidence we ...