The constructed space of a construction design team

Licentiate thesis, 2016

Many industries today work with and around projects. One example is the construction industry where projects are typically constituted of multidisciplinary cross-organizational project members. Collaboration and knowledge sharing are crucial for the overall success of such a project, but are however also known to be difficult. This licentiate thesis focus on how a collocated multidisciplinary cross-organizational project team collaborates and shares knowledge. In connection with the concept of collocation, the influence of the physical space is often discussed, there however also exists other aspect such as power relations as well as how individual project team members experience a space – which influences how project team members collaborate and share knowledge. These elements all comprise a social construction of a project space and therefore, this licentiate more specifically addresses the concept of ‘space’ The notion on space is however barely discussed in connection with projects, but is discussed in connection with organizations. This licentiate is based on three appended papers drawing on three qualitative case studies. The cases were studied through observations and interviews. Based on the findings it was seen that a project space is socially constructed based on how the project members use the space, behave within the space, and interact with the other project members. The way how the project space is constructed also influences the project team in terms of how they collaborate and share knowledge.