With the premise that ontological assumptions about Homo academicus and Homo academicus dux (the academic leader) must include knowledge and analysis of the organisational context where they act, this chapter sets out to challenge some common (and we argue incorrect) assumptions in contemporary management literature regarding how power is distributed, the role of dependencies among units and practices, and how a sense of belonging is formed. Three (alternative) conditions are introduced—reversed hierarchy, lateral independence, and community-based belonging—upon which academic practice and leadership implications are discussed. The alternative conditions thus explain why and how Homo academicus and Homo academicus dux acts the way (s)he acts, which consequently makes out the contours of a new academic rationality.

This paper investigates the challenges of disseminating results from a Strategic Innovation Programme (SIP) in the Swedish built environment sector. The study takes on a technological niche perspective and combines document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and focus group interviews to increase the understanding of what might hamper sector-wide dissemination of results from SIPs. Analyzing the dissemination practices from a technological niche perspective, it is shown how the dissemination of results is dependent on two preconditions (ambition and capacity) and how clarity of target group(s) in combination with the alignment between RDI logic and the target group's frame of reference (which is anchored in the socio-technical regime) further inhibits or enables dissemination. It is concluded that ensuring these preconditions and strengthening the alignment is critical to improving sector-wide dissemination. However, an inherent dilemma must be dealt with in terms of not necessarily prioritizing dissemination at the expense of norm-challenging ideas. Given that the overarching goal of technological niches is to achieve socio-technical change, merely promoting incremental (norm-aligned) change – or “lame ducks”— is not enough.

This paper serves to deepen the understanding of how inconsistencies between feeling, thinking, and doing are managed by decision-makers in emergency settings. We use a practice approach and investigate the emergency physicians in an Emergency Department (ED), by means of 200 h of observations, 12 in-depth interviews, and organizational documentation. Data are analyzed using an abductive template-based approach. The configuration of three different decision-making modes, namely an experiential-based mode, an ostensive-based mode, and an action-based mode, provide an eight-fold typology of emergency physicians' decision-making praxis. “Weak” signals are the starting point for clinical assessment, and inconsistencies among the modes are strategically used and surprisingly often associated with positive treatment outcomes. The praxis perspective used in this article bridges literature on choice and interpretation—processes usually separated in organizational and decision-making literature. Inconsistency between the modes allow physicians to create an action space where decision-making is about more than providing the “right” answer. Making use of the eight-fold typology helps physicians identify “blind spots”, improve practice in both mundane and medically rare cases, as well as aid in revision of existing routines. This awareness also provides for high-quality care, an increased acceptance of inconsistencies by the public, with a potential to reduce litigation issues.

This paper focuses on the rarely sought micro-level conditions of digitalisation for inter-organisational collaboration. Based on the “technology frame of reference” (TFR) Theory, this study aims at increasing the understanding of group-level (in)congruence and (in)consistency in the adoption and use of new digital technology in the AEC industry. The studied infrastructure case involves two actor groups currently in the process of adopting a new digital geotechnical data management system which is expected to impact both work processes and practices. Based ondocument analysis, semi-structured interviews, and observations of the adoption process unfolding, we analyse how the differences and similarities in technology frames influence the adoption and use of the new system. It can be concluded that, to date, no major (in)congruences or (in)consistencies exist, but different dimensions off raming spanning from operational to strategic.

This essay argues that as a consequence of the projectified society there is a need to consider the individual as inherently different from what rational and administrative decision-making ontologies suggest. ’Homo Projecticus’ is introduced as a new set of ontological assumptions, and the aim of this essay is to outline its characteristics and discuss its implications. In contrast to previous assumptions, we argue that the projectified society produces action seeking individuals who are guided by the notion that life is organized within multiple temporal contexts that both follow each other and exist in parallel. Thus, a key concern is how to create boundaries, or limits, in ways that enable action. Two key mechanisms are used: ‘time bracketing’ to define time limits, and ‘scope bracketing’ to define issues or tasks. Consequently, with an aim of completing tasks through appropriate actions, the rationality guiding decision-making and actions is ‘bounded by brackets’, which means that, in contrast to previous ontologies, the limits for rationality are created by the decision-makers themselves. Through bracketing, sensible segments are created, which enables action to be reached.

I denna slutrapport avrapporteras det strategiska projektet Kunskapsspridningens premisser vars syfte har varit att utveckla förståelsen för kunskapsspridningens premisser i den aktuella kontexten, dvs. inom samhällsbyggnadssektorn. Utgångspunkten för projektet togs i tidigare identifierade utmaningar rörande hur spridning av forsknings- och utvecklings (FoU) resultat bättre ska kunna nå bortom de aktörer som är involverade i specifika Smart Built Environment finansierade projekt. Projektet har bestått av ett antal arbetspaket där kunskapsspridningens unika förutsättningar, utmaningar och möjligheter har analyserats. Studiens resultat presenteras utifrån två perspektiv; det första med fokus på de förutsättningar som krävs för att kunskapsspridning ska ske, det andra med fokus på FoU-resultatens natur och dess förhållande till den målgrupp som ämnas nås.

Vad gäller förutsättningar så visar resultaten på hur ambition och kapacitet hos de kunskapande aktörerna är avgörande för att något arbete med kunskapsspridning överhuvudtaget ska ske. I de exempel där dessa förutsättningar funnits på plats, påvisas vidare betydelsen av att aktörerna har identifierat en tydlig målgrupp, samt förstår FoU-resultatens logik och hur dessa förhåller sig till målgruppens referensramar. Finns en tydlig målgrupp identifierad samt en god logiköverensstämmelse lyckas oftast spridningen av FoU-resultaten. Saknas dock logiköverensstämmelse och/eller tydlighet i målgrupp verkar det vara mycket svårt för aktörerna att nå ut med resultaten. Som en del av resultaten ges löpande normativa förslag på hur både Smart Built Environment och de involverade aktörerna både bättre kan säkerställa förutsättningarna (dvs. ambition och kapacitet), men även utveckla målgruppsförståelse och logiköverensstämmelse.

Rapporten avslutas dock med att det höjs ett varnande finger för vad vi valt att kalla ”resultatspridningens dilemma”, det vill säga den svåra balansgång som finns mellan att, å ena sidan, utveckla resultatspridning genom bättre logiköverensstämmelse och, å andra sidan, generera FoU-resultat som genuint utmanar befintliga logiker och därmed möjliggöra att Smart Built Environment uppnår sina högt ställda mål som relateras till branschgenomgripande transformation. 

Government sponsored Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) initiatives have lately become a common way to foster industry transformation. We report on a so-called Strategic Innovation Programme (SIP) in the Swedish built environment sector which constitute such an initiative. More precisely, we investigate the process of disseminating results from the initiative, and the inherent challenges thereof. The purpose is to increase the understanding of how to enable sector-wide dissemination of results from SIPs. The studied programme is backed by three state research agencies and corresponds to an investment of a total of 60 million euros (600 million SEK) over 12 years. The programme builds on a collaboration-oriented model where actors in the sector jointly identify, plan, and undertake RDI-efforts, with an overarching goal to find “… solutions to global social challenges and increase Sweden’s competitiveness”. Based on a combination of document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and focus group interviews, the challenges of reaching beyond involved actors with RDI-results are analysed and discussed. The article show how dissemination of RDI-results is dependent on two essential preconditions (ambition and capacity), and how clarity of target group(s) in combination with the alignment between RDI-logic and the target group’s frame of reference, inhibits or enables dissemination of results. The article ends with a discussion on an inherent paradox identified in the quest of simultaneously trying to maximize successful dissemination of results and support sector-wide transformation.