It is well established that engaging paradoxes and the role of space are important aspects of idea work. Although the significance has been recognized, studies that focus on the intersection between space and paradox are scarce. Accordingly, this article explores the intersection and focuses on the role of space in idea work characterized by paradoxes. More specifically, the aim of this article is twofold. First, the article aims at identifying the spatial conditions that enable organization members to think and act paradoxically. Second, the article aims at exploring how spatial conditions evoke a paradoxical way of thinking and doing. Based on three Scandinavian architectural firms, and through abductive inference, four spatial conditions are identified and outlined. The conditions are conceptualized as organized chaos, boundary(less)ness, premeditated spontaneity, and (re)framing. From the results, and through the discussion, the notion of "generative space" is introduced to explain the overall importance of spatiality, as well as how the interrelatedness of the conditions facilitates a paradoxical way of thinking and doing in idea work.

The ability to innovate and adapt to change is of central importance at all levels of society today. In this article, a strategic innovation programme (SIP) in the Swedish construction industry is addressed as a vehicle to facilitate system-wide innovation and change. Based on the need to further understand how to deliver industry-level innovation, and an identified scarcity of studies addressing the role key actors have in establishing a SIP, the aim is to analyse and describe how a strategic innovation programme is established and what role key actors play in this process. Theoretically, the study draws inspiration from actor-network theory (ANT) and especially the translation process, which previous studies have shown to be suitable to understand the challenges involved when mobilizing a network of heterogeneous actors. Empirically, the study is based on a qualitative approach and consists of 11 semi-structured interviews with individuals active in the early stages and the development of a SIP. In the article, a number of actor groups are identified and followed through what can be described as two cycles of translation, where one actor group is trying to make itself a ‘legitimate spokesperson’ for the emerging SIP. The analysis shows, for example, how the problematization of structural changes, digitalization, and industrialization enables the mentioned actor group to successfully translate the interests of other actors into an obligatory passage point (OPP). Apart from providing an understanding of the role that different actor groups play in the becoming of an innovation programme, the study also shows how it is not primarily the actors in the construction industry who are conservative; instead, there is an inertia in the system that complicates a collaborative development of innovations in the industry.

While measuring the performance of collaborative research and development (R&D) projects is critical for both practitioners and academics, it is rarely straightforward in practice. Based on firsthand experience of the performance measurement practice within an extensive, long-term, Swedish innovation programme named Smart Built Environment, this chapter provides a reflective account of the setup and challenges experienced. The programme was launched in 2016 and is a long-term initiative of up to 12 years. Backed by three state research agencies, it is, to date, the single largest investment in innovation, R&D in digitalisation made in the Swedish built environment sector. This chapter is written as a collaborative autoethnography, with three out of the five authors having had firsthand experience of the specific measurement initiative analysed. The chapter describes how the visionary objectives of the programme, related to sustainability, time, cost and business logics, were developed and operationalised in practice. Furthermore, it is explained how several emergent challenges related to ambiguity in goal formulation, adaptation to contingencies of moving targets and temporal scope, and development of a multiplicity of assessment methods,were managed.

Purpose: The aim of this article is to give an overview of the development and current state of projectification research. The inquiry was driven by a threefold research question: How has projectification been understood and defined over time, what has the trajectory of the development been and what are the main trends and emerging ideas?

Design/methodology/approach: The article is an integrative literature review of research done on the notion of projectification to date. An interdisciplinary, integrative literature review was conducted using Scopus and Web of Science as primary sources of data collection. The full data set consists of 123 journal articles, books, book chapters and conference contributions. With the data set complete, a thematic analysis was conducted.

Findings: Among other things, the review outlines the development and scope of projectification research from 1995 until 2021 and discusses four emerging images of projectification: projectification as a managerial approach, projectification as a societal trend, projectification as a human state and projectification as a philosophical issue. These characteristics emphasize some common features of each of the images but also imply that the way projectification is understood changes depending on the paradigmatic perspective taken by the researcher, the time and place in which the observation was made and the level of observation.

Originality/value: The authors have outlined and discussed four images of projectification – projectification as a managerial approach, projectification as a societal trend, projectification as a human state and projectification as a philosophical issue – where each image represents a special take on projectification with some prevalent characteristics. By doing this, the authors provide a systematic categorization of research to date and thus a basis upon which other researchers can build when furthering the understanding of projectification at large.

The aim of this chapter is to draw attention to the use of ICT in the building and construction industry with a special interest in the day-to-day activities of those companies that are working to develop more environmentally friendly and sustainable production processes. The chapter is based on a comprehensive survey of ICT use and attitudes to environmental related issues in middle and large sized construction companies in Sweden and two case studies: One of ICT use in a larger Swedish building and construction company and one of communication, coordination, and decision making processes in a construction project. Based on the empirical data we argue that in order to enhance a more environmentally friendly building and construction industry there is a need for a more genuine cooperation and knowledge sharing between different actors both in crossing project boundaries as well as overriding contractual limitations. Decisions in a construction project must be taken earlier in the process and construction companies need to focus more on those processes over which they actually do have power.

I det Smart Built Environment (SBE) finansierade projektet ”Hinder och drivkrafter för en digitaliseringsdriven branschutveckling”, identifierades framväxten av s k ”förändringsfickor” som en drivkraft för en digitaliseringsdriven branschutveckling. Mer ingående kunskap kring sådana förändringfickor saknades dock. Frågorna som därför ställdes i denna studie var; Varför den digitaliseringsdrivna förändringen som förändringsfickorna vill åstadkomma inte är allmänt utbredd (trots strategiskt stöd)? Hur kan organisationerna stödja dessa förändringsfickors positiva inverkan? Mot denna bakgrund var syftet med studien att analysera orsakerna till förändringsfickornas begränsningar, samt förstå dess roll för en ökad digital transformering. För att uppnå syftet med studien användes dels data från studien ”Hinder och drivkrafter för en digitaliseringsdriven branschutveckling”, och dels samlades nya in data från ett större konsultföretag och ett större entreprenadföretag, som fokuserar på hur de arbetar med BIM/VDC (Building Information Modelling / Virtual Design Construction).

Enligt litteraturen krävs det fem förutsättningar för att det arbete som sker i förändringsfickor skall få fotfäste i organisationen: Föreställningsförmåga, ambition och riskbenägenhet, positionering, normbrytande, samt politisk slughet. Vikten av de fem förutsättningarna blev tydlig hos de studerade företagen, där de studerade förutsättningarna förekommer i varierande omfattning. Men när det gäller riskbenägenheten visar resultaten på att denna förutsättning är mera kopplad till beslutsfattare i de projekt där nya digitala verktyg skall testas. En direkt åtgärd för att stödja ambitionerna i förändringsfickorna och hantera en låg riskbenägenhet hos projektetens beslutsfattare är enligt resultaten att organisationen skapar en separat budget för att genomföra test med digitalaverktyg i ett projekt. Ser vi till den förutsättning där förändringsfickorna har störts möjligheter att få ett direkt genomslag, så är det genom positioneringen. Främst då i form av att personer i förändringsfickorna verkar som förebilder för kollegor genom att visa på nyttan med ett mera digitalt arbetssätt.

Vidare visar resultaten på vikten av att personerna i förändringsfickorna får möjlighet att positionerna sig i sammanhang där strategiska beslut tas, både på företagsnivå och på projektnivå, för att nå ut med hur digitalisering kan utveckla företaget. Resultaten visar att detta dock kan vara en utmaning i större geografiskt utspridda organisationer. I de fall där frågor om BIM/VDC redan har en strategisk position i företaget kan detta i vissa fall hämma arbetet i förändringsfickorna. Anledningen till detta är paradoxalt nog förändringsfickornas tidigare framgångar när man lyckats etablera frågor om BIM/VDC på en strategisk nivå. Rutiner och processer har skapats för hur utvecklingsarbetet skall gå till, vilket i sin tur kan begränsa handlingsfriheten i förändringsfickorna. Men även om frågan huruvida BIM/VDC skall användas i ett projekt av en viss storlek har blivit en icke-fråga, kan ändå användningen uppvisa lokala variationer, p g a att besluten fattas i de lokala projekten. Slutligen kan normbrytandet ses som den största utmaningen i entreprenadföretag, d v s hur man tänker kring organisering. Bland annat bygger yrkesmässig prestige fortfarande på de kortsiktiga fördelar som kan uppnås, samtidigt som visionen om BIM/VDC handlar om standardisering, t ex tanken om att bygga i modellen och montera på plats. Denna idé kan ses som ett radikalt normbrytande med tanke på att olika chefsroller inom entreprenadföretag är tätt sammankopplade med en idé om frihet och oberoende så länge man levererar ett resultat.

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 project was based on the observation that newly graduated students can be an important source for promoting innovation in organizations. There is a perception that digitalisation could transform the construction industry, but traditionally the diffusion of digitization-driven innovations has been slow in the industry. At the same time, it has been shown that newly graduated students who come to the industry have a relatively high IT maturity. Against this background, the overall aim of the research project was to increase understanding of how organizations in the construction industry can take advantage of the potential of newly graduated students to promote a digitalisation-driven innovation. To achieve the purpose of the study, a combination of data collection methods has been used. Eighteen newly graduated students with one to six years of work experience were interviewed, and six senior managers were interviewed. Thereafter, focus group interviews were conducted, one with a group of recent graduates and one with a group of managers. The purpose of these focus group interviews was to discuss and analyse the results from the individual interviews. Finally,a focus group was conducted where newly graduated, and managers participated. The purpose of this focus group was to discuss solutions for how new graduates' digital skills can be utilized.

One conclusion that can be drawn is that the newly graduated can take on the role of digital ambassadors who support the diffusion of the use of digital tools within the organization. However, there has been no stated strategy in the companies studied for how the digital skills of newly graduates can be utilized. On the other hand, the existing strategy of pairing the younger inexperienced- with the older experienced employees has served as an enabler for a reversed mentorship. For this to work, the newly graduates themselves must have the courage take the initiative to show their less technologically mature colleagues how digital tools can be used, mainly through showing them simple applications where the immediate benefits are obvious. To make better use of the new graduates' digital skills, an important first step is for managers is to explicitly encourage the newly graduates to take the initiative to show less technologically mature colleagues how digital tools can be used. That is, the new graduates are allowed to "lead the cow to water and gently dip their heads". At the same time, the less technologically mature employees would be encouraged to take courage and ask the newly graduates to show what can be done with digital tools. Another positive effect if the newly graduates are encouraged to share their digital knowledge is that they more quickly feel that they can contribute to the work.

However, if the newly graduates would be able contribute to a digital transformation of the construction industry, there are two general obstacles. First, the newly graduates state that it takes time to learn how the industry functions and how business is done, i.e. how the business is organized. This means that it will be difficult them to see how digitalisation can shape the organizing on a more general level. But it should be emphasized that the newly graduates can relatively quickly contribute with knowledge about how processes in their daily work can be developed with the help of digital tools. Second, those who possess the knowledge of how business is done and how the industry works, in other words, managers at different levels have too little general knowledge about digitalization. This means that there is a lack of the ability to connect how digitalisation can be part of the solution to perceived problems, or what development opportunities digitalisation can provide. A first step towards dealing with this obstacle could be to create common arenas where managers and more "IT-mature" can meet to discuss perceived problems in the business and how digitalisation could be part of the problem solving. These arenas could function as a catalyst for creating insights into the opportunities and limitations that digitalisation provides for business- and organizational development.

Construction IT (CIT) has recently developed into a research field in its own right, with a unifying goal of enhancing the use of digital technologies to improve performance by enabling faster, cheaper, and better construction. However, we argue that CIT research has even greater potential. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to analyse the current state of CIT research and illustrate how its scope can be extended to make relevant and interesting contributions to the wider information systems (IS) community. Based on a phenomenology-inspired analysis of contemporary CIT research, we identified four streams of research. Each stream is characterized by its taken-for-granted assumptions, core audience, and assumed purpose of theories. The identified streams are: Building better buildings with IT; Building buildings with IT theories; Building theories of construction IT; and Building better IT/IS theories. For each stream, we discussed the general view on IT/IS and provided examples of potential publication outlets. This article provides a schematic overview of CIT research, as well as new insights into challenges and opportunities in extending CIT contributions, and making them relevant to a wider IS community.

This study took its basis in the challeges that arise from the tension between the construction industry's characteristics and the prerequisites needed for a successful digitization driven industry development. The purpose was to create an understanding of how the industry's parties experience and handle these challenges in their work to develop and streamline the industry, as well as describe and analyze how the obstacles can be bridged.

To reach the purpose, a qualitative study was conducted based on interviews and focusgroup interviews with four groups of industry actors; clients, contractors, consultants, and architects. A total of 20 respondents were interviewed, focusing on perceived obstacles and challenges. Thereafter, five focus group interviews were conducted where the focus was shifted from obstacles/challenges to driving forces and possible ways forward. The interviews and focus group interviews comprised of more than 900 pages of transcribed material, which was analyzed using a thematic analysis.

In the results, three areas of obstacles and three areas of driving forces for a digitization driven industry development were presented and discussed. Identified obstacles were conflicting roles and perspectives, routine networks and identities, and a lack of pressure for change. The identified drivers were pockets-of-change, technology maturity and institutionalization, as well as infrastructure basis. These areas are further elaborated and discussed in seven different scientific contributions.

A direct conclusion is that the strongest advocates for a developed use of digital technologies are not the same people as those who are in power to decide on how digital technology is to be used. This is particularly obvious in relations to architects and clients. The architects see the long-term benefit for the clients, while the clients often only sees a more information-rich model as an increased cost. This is an example of the fact that the basic idea of BIM, "to build in the model and assemble on site", stands in stark contrast with the industry logic that promotes immediate action where there is rarely time “to do things right” from the very beginning, but always time to correct errors. One way to bridge this contradiction could be the development of more trust-based and long-term collaborations between the industry partners, already from early stages and across several projects. However, there is a perceived danger that the involved parties would become fat and lazy when they have secured their involvement in several projects. This can be seen as a manifestation of existing mental models in the industry where it is assumed that "the lone wolf is the best hunter". However, an alternative mental model could be launched, where different networks of actors compete against each other, and if not everyone is doing their best every time, the network lose to competing networks. In other words, to move from the idea that “the lone wolf is the best hunter“ to an idea that “wolves hunt better in a pack”. The big question is however what opportunities there are to change these mental models?

This study furthers the understanding of newly graduated students' role in construction firms' efforts to better use digital technologies. The aim is to increase the understanding of the role that newly graduated students play in digital transformation in construction firms. The study is based on 18 semi-structured interviews and three focus group interviews with new graduates and construction managers in Sweden's three largest construction firms. The results show that despite having relevant skills, new graduates play a limited role when they are first recruited, as they struggle to close the "knowledge-experience gap". Gradually, whilst familiarising themselves with how things are done, they act as ambassadors for digitalisation and contribute to the modification of senior colleagues' beliefs about how technology could be used. However, this development is hampered by them getting caught-up in messy everyday activities, which forces them - like other staff - to prioritise urgent issues over important ones. An observed lack of established practices for how to make use of students' skills hampers their involvement further. It has been suggested that urgency might not only be a problem, but a solution in that it is possible to increase the sense of urgency around new way of working with digital technologies.

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. 

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.

In contemporary research on construction-related ICT (information communication technologies), little distinction is made between the use of ICT in permanent line organizations and its use in temporary organizations (for example, in building and construction projects). This paper makes that distinction. The aim is to understand how the interplay among contextual elements, actors' frames of reference, and the ICT itself, influences the adoption and use of ICT in a building and construction project. This will be done through a description and analysis of a case study of ICT use in a major Swedish construction company. It is concluded that the well-defined duration of the temporary organization (the construction project) stands in sharp contrast to the generally indefinite duration of ICT-mediated change processes. However, by analysing the ICT application to be implemented, it can be revealed whether it can be 'ready packed' for, or delimited to, certain processes in order to achieve immediate benefits. When implementing more encompassing ICT applications, the challenge for the company is to find alternative ways of implementation in the project-based organization and of creating alternative spaces for innovation and renewal where new ICT can be tested and experimented with.

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.

The use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in construction companies has been growing steadily during the last decade. However, few studies inquire into either perceptions of the impact of actual ICT use or perceptions among different occupational groups in construction companies. The aim of the paper is to explore users’ general perceptions of ICT impacts in the post-adoption stage and analyse thei mplications for construction management practice. A mixed methods approach was used. Quantitative data were collected using a web-based survey both in a major construction company and among medium-sized companies in Sweden. Data from 294 returned completed questionnaires were analysed with t-tests and multiple regression analysis. In addition, participant observations and semi-structured interviews were conducted within the major construction company in order to strengthen the analysis. It can be concluded that respondents are generally fairly satisfied with the ICT. Differences in perceptions among occupational groups can be explained by the nature of work tasks and the original intentions for using ICT as a means of control and calculation. Even if respondents perceive that a further development of ICT could improve competitiveness, they do not want to increase their use of it in their workplaces. They basically think that ‘it is fine, just as it is’. This indicates that a challenge in construction management is to investigate how prevailing and new ICT applications can be used to develop the industry.

The use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in building and construction companies has steadily been growing during the last decade. However, just a few studies inquire perceptions of the ICT actually being used and perceptions among different professional groups in companies. The objective of this paper is to contribute to an enhanced understanding of general perceptions of ICT in building and construction companies and among professional groups by taking the point of departure in the concept of perceived usefulness. Data was collected by a web-based survey in two regional units of a major Swedish building and construction company. 257 completed questionnaires were returned which corresponds to a response rate of 49 %. The data was analysed with T-tests and multiple regression analysis. It can be concluded that respondents are generally fairly satisfied with their ICT and that the ICT is perceived as necessity for the fulfilment of work tasks as well as a valuable support in various areas of decision making. Moreover, a further developed use of ICT is perceived as an opportunity to increase the company’s competitiveness, but this opinion is negatively correlated with the opinion that the ICT is well adapted to the industry’s conditions. Finally are there some significant differences in perceptions of the outcomes of ICT-usage among professional groups. These differences can be explained by distance to operations and nature of work tasks.

This paper investigates observed challenges of disseminating RDI-results from a Strategic Innovation Programme (SIP) in the Swedish built environment sector. The study combines document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and focus group interviews, to increase the understanding of how to better enable sector-wide dissemination of results from SIPs. It is shown how the dissemination of RDI-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 further inhibits or enables dissemination. It is concluded that ensuring these preconditions, and strengthening the alignment is key in improving sector-wide dissemination. However, in this, an inherent paradox must be dealt with in terms of not necessary prioritizing dissemination at the expense of norm-challenging ideas. Given that the overarching goal of SIP is to achieve industry transformation, merely promoting incremental (norm-aligned) change is not enough.  

Despite wide-ranging research on information and communication technologies (ICT) in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry, little is known about the role that industry plays in the adoption and use of ICT. Based on observations of how the drivers for ICT use seem to be inconsistent with the industry’s central characteristics, and drawing on information systems (IS) research that demonstrates the role of shared systems of meaning, the purpose here is to develop an analytical framework that explains how industry shapes the adoption and use of ICT. Building on a theoretically driven approach and a case study, a framework is first sketched and then substantiated through empirical illustrations. Three dimensions of industry are highlighted: the socio-cognitive environment, the market and production environment and institutional actors. It is explained how the interplay of these dimensions shapes the way the industry functions, which in turn influence the adoption and use of ICT. The outcomes of the interplay can either be aligned or misaligned with ICT, which explains why certain aligned applications are rapidly adopted, whereas other applications are not. The primary implication is that the framework can aid in analysing the need for structural adaptation when trying to achieve ICT-induced change.

In retrospect it appears that there was a turn in project research during the late 1980's and beginning of the 1990's. The subsequent movement - centered on applying organization theory approaches to projects - is now coming of age. In this paper we focus on the 'coming of age' notion by describing trajectories for the 'Scandinavian School of Project Management' - where it comes from, how it has developed over time, and ultimately reflecting on the question if the movement still exists. In doing so, we juxtapose the emergent ideas with a more structured research programme that came out of the UK around 2006. The main questions addressed concern a) on what these two streams of research have been founded, b) how they have evolved, and c) their influence. Our purpose is to describe and analyze important parts of the contemporary development of project research and to outline potential and plausible directions for the future. The results, which are partly based on a survey distributed to 27 active and well-renowned project researchers around the world, shows that there are signs that the once novel notion of the Scandinavian school has now developed to become normal science in the Kuhn (1970) sense of the expression. Taking on a Kuhnian perspective of the development we sketch two different but parallel types of directions for the future. The first type is to be described as 'research as usual', consisting of refinements in line with previous studies along the lines of current practices. The second type is based on how scientific revolutions, potentially also triggered by developments in other scientific areas, might develop to foster new and future directions-a development here tentatively called, a 'Neo-Scandinavian School of Project Research'.

Following contemporary development in which most temporary, focused, and organized endeavors can be regarded as a project and studied as a temporary organization, here we ask: How can these phenomena be defined without hindering pluralism in understanding, development, and theorizing? Based on the notions of family resemblance-the idea that it is not a specific trait, but a variety of traits that are shared by some, but not all, members of a family-we propose a new dynamic framework we believe is useful in advancing the studies of projects and temporary organizations toward more opportunities for rigorous theorizing.

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze important parts of the contemporary development of project research and to outline plausible and desirable directions for the future.

Design/methodology/approach

This is accomplished through a review of the “Scandinavian School of Project Management” and “Rethinking Project Management,” which is complemented with a set of questions distributed to 27 active researchers within the project research field from around the world.

Findings

Through the analysis the authors show how the two streams have more similarities than differences, despite the fact that they have been initiated in very different contexty 8ts and ways. The authors could also conclude that the “Scandinavian School” appears stronger on the international scene than in the Nordic countries, and that general perception of what the “school” stands for has changed and been blurred with time. Based on the analysis the authors also proposed the need for a broad, more coherent research effort in terms of a multi-perspective research program on projects and temporary organizations. The essence of this would be: an action research profile to improve practice and foresee the future; a combined research focus on institutional change and project practice to ensure both theoretical and empirical progress; and a strong global perspective to further enrich both theory and practice.

Research limitations/implications

This research has obvious limitations in terms of empirical scope and response selection. The questionnaire results should therefore be interpreted with care.

Originality/value

The value of this research lies in its reflective nature and the proposed trajectory of the project research domain.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the role, practices and responsibilities of building information modeling (BIM) coordinators (BCs).

Design/methodology/approach – The aim is achieved through a review of existing publications (n 1⁄4 183) in which the term “BIM coordinators” has been described and discussed (n 1⁄4 78), complemented by interviews with four Norwegian BIM experts.

Findings – The findings from the review indicate that the core responsibilities of BCs involve clash detection, managing information flows and communication flows, monitoring and coordinating design changes, supporting new working procedures and technical development and acting as a boundary spanner. The complementary interview study extends these findings with two additional practices and a reflection on the experienced challenges, obstacles and potential future development of the role. In essence, the authors propose that the role of BCs can be defined as being responsible for external/internal alignment and coordination of actor needs, and engaged in product-, process- and system-oriented practices of BIM.

Research limitations/implications – Given that this study is primarily an integrative literature review of BCs, it has the limitations common with such an approach. Therefore, future studies should preferably extend presented findings through either a survey, further in-depth interviews with BCs or reviews of closely related BIM specialist roles such as BIM managers or BIM technicians.

Practical implications – With BCs seemingly being central to information management and knowledge domain integration within the architecture, engineering and construction industry, an understanding of their importance and role should be of interest to anyone seeking to tap into the potential of BIM. This paper outlines specific implications for construction manager, educators and BCs.

Originality/value – The value of this study lies primarily in the fact that it is the first thorough investigation of the role, practices and responsibilities of BCs.

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.

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 article provides insights into ways in which project studies can be extended to make further impact on and contributions to other research domains, including more general management and organization studies. Inspired by literature on the phenomenology of science, publication practices, logics of research communities, and theory building, we analyze some examples of project studies that reach beyond the project domain. Based on this analysis, we present an “escape artist’s manual” consisting of strategies and practices for how researchers could think about and design project studies to enable contributions beyond the home domain. 

What's past is prologue. Or is it? The construction of the Empire State Building (ESB) was not only the fastest erection of a skyscraper ever, but the construction company that took on the job allegedly began with no equipment or supplies that would be adequate for the job. The project was completed ahead of schedule and under budget; instead of 1. year and 6 months as anticipated, it only took 1. year and 45 days. The costs totaled $24.7 million instead of the estimated $43 million. So, we ask, how was this possible and is there something we could learn? Based on a review of existing literature describing the history and construction of the ESB, we outline strategic, operational, and contextual explanations for what appears to be a truly successful megaproject. We illustrate how, for example, inspiration from Henry Ford's assembly line technique, the uniqueness of the logistics during the construction period, the economic decline of the Depression, and early ideas of concurrent engineering and fast-track construction enabled the success. Our conclusion is that there are lessons to be learned in going back to basics when tackling a megaproject.

“I do believe in fairies! I do! I do!!” (Peter Pan)

In the 1905 play “Peter Pan; or the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up”, Sir James Matthew Barrie described how Peter Pan, through his strong beliefs, brought the fairy Tinkerbell back to life. In this short essay, we aim to initiate discussions on the role of strong beliefs and the so-called “Tinkerbell effect” in upholding taken-for-granted assumptions within the construction industry.

As the basis for the discussion, the essay reports on a recently published journal article in Business Horizons entitled “Revisiting the construction of the Empire State Building: Have we forgotten something?” (Jacobsson and Wilson, 2018). Presently the article is also sold as a case study and teaching case by Harvard Business Review. (The case study can be accessed at https://tinyurl.com/HBRcasestudy and the teaching case at https://tinyurl.com/HBPEcase)

In the literature on construction related ICT no distinction is usually made between ICT use in the permanent organization and the temporary organization forming the building and construction projects. By drawing on the rich body of literature on organizational and managerial aspects of ICT the aim of the paper is to investigate how the interplay between contextual elements, actors’ frames of reference, and the ICT influence the adoption and use of ICT in building and construction projects. This objective will be pursued by an analysis of an ongoing study of ICT use in the Swedish building and construction sector, including semi-structured interviews and an ethnographic inspired study of a partnering project worth 50 million €. It is concluded that project based mode of organizing, with the prime focus on time and costs, creates a conflict with the process of introduction and development of ICT use that is characterised by ambiguity and indefinite duration in time that goes beyond the termination of a project. Unless immediate benefits are perceived by the adoption and use of an ICT application, it will not be used. This conflict can probably not wholly be solved, instead the industry has to learn to live with it and create spaces for innovation of ICT-mediated changes.

Limited attention has been paid to why certain industries, like the AEC (Architectural, Engineering and Construction), is lagging behind in digital transformation. The question can be raised if there are characteristics on industry level that constrain digital transformation? The aim of the paper is to explore how the interactions among four industry key actors; architects, clients, contractors and consultants shape industry characteristics and the options for digital transformation through adoption and use of digital technology. The aim will be achieved through a combination of individual- and focus group interviews with representatives of the key actor groups focused on how they perceive Building Information Modelling (BIM). It is concluded that the characteristics of the industry; the focus on practical day-to-day action, a heterogeneous client side who have difficulties in putting demands on contractors and sub-contractors due to lack of competencies, and a product that raise barriers for process innovations do effectively constrain digital transformation.

Industry has received little attention in Information systems research as a factor explaining information and communication technology (ICT) related activities in organizations. By drawing on a case study in the building and construction industry in Sweden, the aim of this paper is to contribute to an enhanced knowledge of how industry specific features shape the adoption and use of ICT. It is concluded that the adoption and deployment of ICT is shaped by the interplay among three main dimensions of the industry. These dimensions are the market and production environment (shaped by specific interaction patterns among its features), the socio-cognitive environment, and institutional actors. The outcomes of this interplay will “fit” material features of ICT, implying certain ICT applications are preferred in a specific industry. However, the interaction patterns among which features to be included in the framework will vary among industries. The suggested framework can be used as a point of departure when ICTrelated activities in an industry are analysed.

Project management practices have evolved as the discipline grew from managing defence and engineering projects to delivering information systems, supporting organizational transformation, and managing megaprojects supporting national infrastructure needs. Thus, from starting as a tactical tool, project management grew to deliver organizational and national strategies. The next challenge for project management is to support the achievement of sustainable development goals to tackle societal challenges. How can it do this? In this article, we chart a way forward for project management to contribute to global sustainability by tracing the history of projects from prehistoric times to the 21st. We outline the development using the lens of socio-technical transitions to analyse technological niches developed to advance the field, and socio-technical regimes that have supported the development of project management to adopt these technological niches to meet changes that appear at the landscape level. By analysing the history of projects and project management, we argue that the discipline has continuously evolved as a transition innovation that can meet the challenges posed by sustainable development. However, further investigation is required. A sustainable development framework has been proposed in this article to enable project management researchers and managers to achieve this transition.

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.