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The organization design perspective on the project-based organization: a structured review

The organization design perspective on the project-based organization: a structured review PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to use an organizational design perspective to determine the scope of the state-of-the art of research into project-based organizations.Design/methodology/approachThe paper follows a structured framework-based literature review approach. It uses an analytical framework from the organization design literature to assess 177 papers relevant to the design of the project-based organization that were published in four leading PM journals between 2008 and 2015. The authors determine which elements of organization design are covered in each paper and identify specific research themes for each of the element emerging from the literature. Finally, the authors examine the degree to which interdependencies among separate elements are addressed in the literature and discuss the most holistic papers in more details.FindingsThe results show that the literature on project-based organizations downplays broader organizational issues (such as organizational strategy, incentive schemes and performance management systems) while emphasizing research agenda inherited from research on single project management. In addition, the study highlights limited attention in the literature to the interdependence between separate design choices. Finally, it develops a research framework to map current themes in the literature and their relative importance and discusses a prospective research agenda.Research limitations/implicationsAcademic implications stem from looking at the project management literature from a fresh theoretical perspective and putting project-based organization as a whole in the focus. There is a great research potential in studying organization-wide aspects and interdependencies between various organization design choices in project-based organizations.Practical implicationsReflective practitioners could benefit from a wider view on the project-based organization and its design. They could also use the developed framework in management discussions.Originality/valueThe paper offers a novel way of conceptualizing research on project-based organizations by linking it to an established stream within the field of organization theory and design. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png International Journal of Managing Projects in Business Emerald Publishing

The organization design perspective on the project-based organization: a structured review

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References (88)

Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © Emerald Group Publishing Limited
ISSN
1753-8378
DOI
10.1108/IJMPB-06-2016-0048
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to use an organizational design perspective to determine the scope of the state-of-the art of research into project-based organizations.Design/methodology/approachThe paper follows a structured framework-based literature review approach. It uses an analytical framework from the organization design literature to assess 177 papers relevant to the design of the project-based organization that were published in four leading PM journals between 2008 and 2015. The authors determine which elements of organization design are covered in each paper and identify specific research themes for each of the element emerging from the literature. Finally, the authors examine the degree to which interdependencies among separate elements are addressed in the literature and discuss the most holistic papers in more details.FindingsThe results show that the literature on project-based organizations downplays broader organizational issues (such as organizational strategy, incentive schemes and performance management systems) while emphasizing research agenda inherited from research on single project management. In addition, the study highlights limited attention in the literature to the interdependence between separate design choices. Finally, it develops a research framework to map current themes in the literature and their relative importance and discusses a prospective research agenda.Research limitations/implicationsAcademic implications stem from looking at the project management literature from a fresh theoretical perspective and putting project-based organization as a whole in the focus. There is a great research potential in studying organization-wide aspects and interdependencies between various organization design choices in project-based organizations.Practical implicationsReflective practitioners could benefit from a wider view on the project-based organization and its design. They could also use the developed framework in management discussions.Originality/valueThe paper offers a novel way of conceptualizing research on project-based organizations by linking it to an established stream within the field of organization theory and design.

Journal

International Journal of Managing Projects in Business – Emerald Publishing

Published: Jun 6, 2017

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