Citation for published version (APA): Pemsel, S. (2012). Knowledge processes and capabilities in ... more Citation for published version (APA): Pemsel, S. (2012). Knowledge processes and capabilities in project-based organizations Lund University General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal? Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove
The beauty of projects lies in their ability to integrate different knowledge bases and expertise... more The beauty of projects lies in their ability to integrate different knowledge bases and expertise in novel ways. Projects, though, are temporary in nature and this has consequences for the organization that uses them as a business strategy to improve its efficiency. Project-based organizations are representative of this organizational form and can either be standalone or subsidiary organizations within a larger corporation. In project-based organizations the majority of products or services are produced through projects for either internal or external customers. Nevertheless, project-based organizations are characterized as loosely coupled systems with independent sub-units resulting in sparse internal knowledge processes and capability development. Real estate organizations are often composite organizations where one part is project-based with a temporary perspective, and the other parts perceive the organization to have a longer term perspective, represented by facility management...
This paper conceptualizes knowledge governance (KG) in project-based organizations (PBOs) and its... more This paper conceptualizes knowledge governance (KG) in project-based organizations (PBOs) and its methodological approaches for empirical investigation. Three key contributions towards a multi-faceted view of KG and an understanding of KG in PBOs are advanced. These contributions include a definition of KG in PBOs, a conceptual framework to investigate KG and a methodological framework for empirical inquiry into KG in PBO settings. Our definition highlights the contingent nature of KG processes in relation to their organizational context. The conceptual framework addresses macro- and micro-level elements of KG and their interaction. The methodological framework proposes five different research approaches, structured by differentiation and integration of various ontological and epistemological stances. Together these contributions provide a novel platform for understanding KG in PBOs and developing new insights into the design and execution of research on KG within PBOs.
This chapter addresses the challenges associated with temporary organising under conditions of in... more This chapter addresses the challenges associated with temporary organising under conditions of institutional complexity. The authors draw on findings from an in-depth case study of a megaproject initiated to reshape healthcare in Sweden. At the centre of this transformation was the construction of a new, ‘world-class’ hospital to replace the former (historical and renowned) university hospital. The authors posit that organising such projects is largely a matter of creating, responding to, and re-creating temporal institutional complexity. Thus, their study identifies four distinct response strategies – innovating, partial decoupling, avoiding, and surfing – on which project actors relied when dealing with the multiplicity of temporal institutional requirements. The authors propose a model for explaining how these strategies affected the temporal institutional complexity faced by the project. Their chapter adds to the literature on temporary organisations by highlighting the nature a...
We report microwave assisted synthesis of a series of highly hydrophobic porous organic polymers ... more We report microwave assisted synthesis of a series of highly hydrophobic porous organic polymers of poly divinylbenzene (PDVB), for the first time, which were modified by amine-rich co-monomers of vinyl imidazole (VI) and vinyl triazole (VT) resulting in PDVB-VI and PDVB-VT adsorbents. There is an optimum amount of incorporated co-monomer and initiator which led to high adsorptive activity of the material towards CO2. Atmospheric CO2 adsorption was enhanced by the addition of amine moieties while maintaining an optimum surface area and pore volume. A certain amount of initiator led to better incorporation of VT monomer while surface area and pores remain accessible. A maximum CO2 adsorption of 2.65 mmolg-1 at 273 K/1 bar was achieved for triazole based adsorbent (PDVB-VT) with 0.7 g of VT and 0.07 g of initiator. In comparison with a non-functionalized material (PDVB) with 1.2 mmolg-1 CO2 uptake, the adsorption efficiency was enhanced more than twice. The adsorbent maintained its efficiency up to seven cycles. Theoretical modeling confirms the active site is nitrogen on the imidazole/ triazole ring and that incorporation of VT to the polymeric networks enhanced the adsorptive properties better than vinyl imidazole (VI) due to more active sites. While absorption by amine-solution has drawbacks of corrosion, considerable energy loss, and inefficient regeneration, this has been the most widely adopted strategy[9]. Adsorption by solids provides some
Shifting an organization’s temporal order can be a key mechanism for accomplishing organizational... more Shifting an organization’s temporal order can be a key mechanism for accomplishing organizational change, but it is also fundamentally problematic: instead of helping an organization accomplish change, it may simply reinforce an already failing course of action. Our current understanding of the roles that temporal shifts play in enabling organizational change is inconclusive in terms of when and how temporal shifts contribute to the success of organizational change. We exploit an in-depth case study of a new digitalized design approach implemented at Advanced Construction to demonstrate how a temporal shift can increase temporal awareness, among organizational members, of the salient and differing temporalities involved. In this case, the increased temporal awareness facilitated improved temporal coordination, which in turn figured prominently in making actual change possible. Our study identifies three complementary roles of change-inducing temporal shifts—namely, in connection wit...
Given the project-based organization's (PBO) strong focus on autonomy and temporary decentralisat... more Given the project-based organization's (PBO) strong focus on autonomy and temporary decentralisation, it faces unique challenges with regard to longterm organisational learning and capability development. To address how PBOs cope with these challenges, we address the role of knowledge governance (KG) mechanisms to foster capability development. The present paper reports on a multiple case study comprising 23 PBOs and demonstrates the importance of 'configurations of KG mechanisms' for facilitating learning and capability development. This paper develops four distinct configurations (balanced, formalistic, interactive, and fragile) that promote three principal organisational-level learning processes: shifting, leveraging and adapting. This research underscores the close relationship between knowledge governance mechanisms and capability development and the importance of designing the appropriate configuration of KG mechanisms to foster capability development.
ABSTRACT This study identifies organizational enablers (OEs) for governance and governmentality i... more ABSTRACT This study identifies organizational enablers (OEs) for governance and governmentality in the realm of projects in project-based organizations (PBOs). We use a multiple case study design with six firms in Sweden and China to identify OEs. Institutional theory serves as theoretical perspective. Results show that OEs are interwoven, albeit with different strength, with the three pillars of institutional theory (regulative, normative and cultural–cognitive). OEs for project governance and governance of projects fall predominantly into the category of regulative and normative pillars, whereas OEs for governmentality belong mainly to the cultural–cognitive pillar. Collectively these OEs provide for an ambidexterity of flexibility and stability, which allows organizations to align their internal characteristics with their organizational context. Managerial and theoretical implications of the results are discussed.
Citation for published version (APA): Pemsel, S. (2012). Knowledge processes and capabilities in ... more Citation for published version (APA): Pemsel, S. (2012). Knowledge processes and capabilities in project-based organizations Lund University General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal? Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove
The beauty of projects lies in their ability to integrate different knowledge bases and expertise... more The beauty of projects lies in their ability to integrate different knowledge bases and expertise in novel ways. Projects, though, are temporary in nature and this has consequences for the organization that uses them as a business strategy to improve its efficiency. Project-based organizations are representative of this organizational form and can either be standalone or subsidiary organizations within a larger corporation. In project-based organizations the majority of products or services are produced through projects for either internal or external customers. Nevertheless, project-based organizations are characterized as loosely coupled systems with independent sub-units resulting in sparse internal knowledge processes and capability development. Real estate organizations are often composite organizations where one part is project-based with a temporary perspective, and the other parts perceive the organization to have a longer term perspective, represented by facility management...
This paper conceptualizes knowledge governance (KG) in project-based organizations (PBOs) and its... more This paper conceptualizes knowledge governance (KG) in project-based organizations (PBOs) and its methodological approaches for empirical investigation. Three key contributions towards a multi-faceted view of KG and an understanding of KG in PBOs are advanced. These contributions include a definition of KG in PBOs, a conceptual framework to investigate KG and a methodological framework for empirical inquiry into KG in PBO settings. Our definition highlights the contingent nature of KG processes in relation to their organizational context. The conceptual framework addresses macro- and micro-level elements of KG and their interaction. The methodological framework proposes five different research approaches, structured by differentiation and integration of various ontological and epistemological stances. Together these contributions provide a novel platform for understanding KG in PBOs and developing new insights into the design and execution of research on KG within PBOs.
This chapter addresses the challenges associated with temporary organising under conditions of in... more This chapter addresses the challenges associated with temporary organising under conditions of institutional complexity. The authors draw on findings from an in-depth case study of a megaproject initiated to reshape healthcare in Sweden. At the centre of this transformation was the construction of a new, ‘world-class’ hospital to replace the former (historical and renowned) university hospital. The authors posit that organising such projects is largely a matter of creating, responding to, and re-creating temporal institutional complexity. Thus, their study identifies four distinct response strategies – innovating, partial decoupling, avoiding, and surfing – on which project actors relied when dealing with the multiplicity of temporal institutional requirements. The authors propose a model for explaining how these strategies affected the temporal institutional complexity faced by the project. Their chapter adds to the literature on temporary organisations by highlighting the nature a...
We report microwave assisted synthesis of a series of highly hydrophobic porous organic polymers ... more We report microwave assisted synthesis of a series of highly hydrophobic porous organic polymers of poly divinylbenzene (PDVB), for the first time, which were modified by amine-rich co-monomers of vinyl imidazole (VI) and vinyl triazole (VT) resulting in PDVB-VI and PDVB-VT adsorbents. There is an optimum amount of incorporated co-monomer and initiator which led to high adsorptive activity of the material towards CO2. Atmospheric CO2 adsorption was enhanced by the addition of amine moieties while maintaining an optimum surface area and pore volume. A certain amount of initiator led to better incorporation of VT monomer while surface area and pores remain accessible. A maximum CO2 adsorption of 2.65 mmolg-1 at 273 K/1 bar was achieved for triazole based adsorbent (PDVB-VT) with 0.7 g of VT and 0.07 g of initiator. In comparison with a non-functionalized material (PDVB) with 1.2 mmolg-1 CO2 uptake, the adsorption efficiency was enhanced more than twice. The adsorbent maintained its efficiency up to seven cycles. Theoretical modeling confirms the active site is nitrogen on the imidazole/ triazole ring and that incorporation of VT to the polymeric networks enhanced the adsorptive properties better than vinyl imidazole (VI) due to more active sites. While absorption by amine-solution has drawbacks of corrosion, considerable energy loss, and inefficient regeneration, this has been the most widely adopted strategy[9]. Adsorption by solids provides some
Shifting an organization’s temporal order can be a key mechanism for accomplishing organizational... more Shifting an organization’s temporal order can be a key mechanism for accomplishing organizational change, but it is also fundamentally problematic: instead of helping an organization accomplish change, it may simply reinforce an already failing course of action. Our current understanding of the roles that temporal shifts play in enabling organizational change is inconclusive in terms of when and how temporal shifts contribute to the success of organizational change. We exploit an in-depth case study of a new digitalized design approach implemented at Advanced Construction to demonstrate how a temporal shift can increase temporal awareness, among organizational members, of the salient and differing temporalities involved. In this case, the increased temporal awareness facilitated improved temporal coordination, which in turn figured prominently in making actual change possible. Our study identifies three complementary roles of change-inducing temporal shifts—namely, in connection wit...
Given the project-based organization's (PBO) strong focus on autonomy and temporary decentralisat... more Given the project-based organization's (PBO) strong focus on autonomy and temporary decentralisation, it faces unique challenges with regard to longterm organisational learning and capability development. To address how PBOs cope with these challenges, we address the role of knowledge governance (KG) mechanisms to foster capability development. The present paper reports on a multiple case study comprising 23 PBOs and demonstrates the importance of 'configurations of KG mechanisms' for facilitating learning and capability development. This paper develops four distinct configurations (balanced, formalistic, interactive, and fragile) that promote three principal organisational-level learning processes: shifting, leveraging and adapting. This research underscores the close relationship between knowledge governance mechanisms and capability development and the importance of designing the appropriate configuration of KG mechanisms to foster capability development.
ABSTRACT This study identifies organizational enablers (OEs) for governance and governmentality i... more ABSTRACT This study identifies organizational enablers (OEs) for governance and governmentality in the realm of projects in project-based organizations (PBOs). We use a multiple case study design with six firms in Sweden and China to identify OEs. Institutional theory serves as theoretical perspective. Results show that OEs are interwoven, albeit with different strength, with the three pillars of institutional theory (regulative, normative and cultural–cognitive). OEs for project governance and governance of projects fall predominantly into the category of regulative and normative pillars, whereas OEs for governmentality belong mainly to the cultural–cognitive pillar. Collectively these OEs provide for an ambidexterity of flexibility and stability, which allows organizations to align their internal characteristics with their organizational context. Managerial and theoretical implications of the results are discussed.
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Papers by Sofia Pemsel