A Holistic View on Learning in Project-Based Organizations

• Published in: Project management journal Vol. 46; no. 3; pp. 61 - 74
• Main Authors: Chronéer, Diana, Backlund, Fredrik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA Wiley Periodicals, Inc 01.06.2015; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Engineering; holistic view; Information systems; Informationssystem; Kvalitetsteknik; learning; Organizational learning; process thinking; process view; Project management; project-based organization; Quality Technology and Management; Studies; Sweden
• ISSN: 8756-9728; 1938-9507; 1938-9507
• DOI: 10.1002/pmj.21503

ABSTRACT Although researchers have over the years highlighted the importance of managing and supporting learning in project‐based settings, it still seems to be problematic. New project management capabilities are needed, such as systems thinking, which will allow project‐based organizations to better cope with learning in the organizations. This article explores how Swedish project‐based organizations within an engineering and construction context manage and support learning activities today and discusses, with the support of process management literature, how an “organizational‐wide project learning process” could improve the prerequisites for learning in project‐based organizations. Our findings from three project‐based organizations indicate a lack of a holistic perspective on project learning. A conceptual model is proposed, with the aim of validating and promoting process thinking by introducing, for example, new roles responsible for intra‐ and inter‐project learning, respectively.