Abstract
The one-off nature of projects represents both a source for creating new knowledge
and a barrier to continuously improving organisational routines. The temporary
configuration of task-dependent resources appears to stimulate learning within
projects but limits the dissemination of this learning between projects and the broader organisation. This paradoxical learning potential of projects has attracted much attention in the literature. However, learning from and between projects is still
predominantly seen as the inflow and outflow of knowledge possessed by individuals
or stored in databases or documents. Such a narrow view of project-based learning
neglects the social-material complexity of project practices. In this paper, the
argument is put forward that learning between projects is foremost an
accomplishment of social-material practices in the context of projects. By adopting a
practice theory lens and based on an illustrative case of railway viaduct construction,
we will show how cross-project learning trajectories emerge from the social-material
practices in projects.
and a barrier to continuously improving organisational routines. The temporary
configuration of task-dependent resources appears to stimulate learning within
projects but limits the dissemination of this learning between projects and the broader organisation. This paradoxical learning potential of projects has attracted much attention in the literature. However, learning from and between projects is still
predominantly seen as the inflow and outflow of knowledge possessed by individuals
or stored in databases or documents. Such a narrow view of project-based learning
neglects the social-material complexity of project practices. In this paper, the
argument is put forward that learning between projects is foremost an
accomplishment of social-material practices in the context of projects. By adopting a
practice theory lens and based on an illustrative case of railway viaduct construction,
we will show how cross-project learning trajectories emerge from the social-material
practices in projects.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | 39th Annual ARCOM Conference 2023 |
| Publisher | Association of Researchers in Construction Management (ARCOM) |
| Pages | 599-608 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-0-9955463-7-0 |
| Publication status | Published - 2023 |
| Event | 39th Annual ARCOM Conference 2023: Constructing for the Future - University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom Duration: 4 Sept 2023 → 6 Sept 2023 Conference number: 39 https://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/conf/ARCOM-2023_Call-for-Papers.pdf https://www.arcom.ac.uk/ |
Conference
| Conference | 39th Annual ARCOM Conference 2023 |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | ARCOM |
| Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
| City | Leeds |
| Period | 4/09/23 → 6/09/23 |
| Internet address |