Doing strategy in project-based organizations: Actors and patterns of action
Journal article, 2018

In the project management literature, projects have often been conceptualized as mere implementation sites of organizational strategy. However, such rationalization seldom draws on empirical evidence of strategy as it unfolds at the micro-level and at the interfaces between projects and the organization. Drawing on rich case-study data, this article explores strategy as-it-is-practiced in a large project-based organization. Using a Strategy-as-Practice lens to identify key patterns of strategizing actions, we found that project mind-sets and skill-sets afforded project actors legitimacy to act as strategists on all organizational levels. Project actualities therefore broadly shape strategy in the organization, and play a much larger role in organizational strategizing than typically portrayed in the literature. The findings are used to suggest new perspectives regarding who are strategists and what strategy is in project-based organizations, and outline new directions for a revitalized research agenda on strategy in the project-management field.

Author

Martin Löwstedt

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Construction Management

Christine Räisänen

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Construction Management

Roine Leiringer

The University of Hong Kong

International Journal of Project Management

0263-7863 (ISSN)

Vol. 36 6 889-898

Subject Categories

Public Administration Studies

Business Administration

Information Systemes, Social aspects

DOI

10.1016/j.ijproman.2018.05.002

More information

Latest update

9/18/2018