Pursuing openness in the digital age: Insights from client–contractor knowledge collaboration at the project front end

IF 7.4 1区 管理学 Q1 MANAGEMENT
Nataliia Korotkova , Joakim Lilliesköld , Ermal Hetemi
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Digitalization, with its potential to enhance the openness of client–contractor knowledge collaboration (KC) at the front end of complex engineering projects, is gaining traction among project scholars and practitioners. Despite this growing interest, project actors still struggle to bring client and contractor experts into an open, digitally enabled collaborative space where they can freely access and cocreate project-related knowledge. In this context, our case study explores client–contractor KC in the front-end phase of oil and gas projects in Norway to understand why project actors struggle to achieve KC openness in the digital age. Based on our qualitative analysis, we developed a model that displays two intertwined aspects giving rise to tensions between knowledge sharing and protection. First, we show that these tensions stem from fragmented awareness of the expertise in the collaborating project organization. Second, we highlight how intrainstitutional complexity, instantiated in coexisting conflicting logics of digital and collaborative action, underlies divergent beliefs and behavior toward client–contractor KC and its digitalization. We offer novel insights into the project management literature by showcasing how organizational heterogeneity, in terms of expertise and institutions, challenges project organizations' pursuit of open, digitally enabled client–contractor KC during the front-end project phase.

追求数字时代的开放性:项目前端客户与承包商知识合作的启示
在复杂工程项目的前端,数字化具有提高客户与承包商知识合作(KC)开放性的潜力,因此越来越受到项目学者和从业人员的关注。尽管兴趣与日俱增,但项目参与者仍在努力将客户和承包商专家引入一个开放的、数字化的协作空间,让他们能够自由获取和共同创造与项目相关的知识。在此背景下,我们的案例研究探讨了挪威石油和天然气项目前端阶段的客户-承包商知识共享,以了解项目参与者在数字时代努力实现知识共享开放性的原因。在定性分析的基础上,我们建立了一个模型,展示了导致知识共享与保护之间紧张关系的两个相互交织的方面。首先,我们表明,这些紧张关系源于合作项目组织对专业知识的零散认识。其次,我们强调了体制内的复杂性是如何体现在共存的相互冲突的数字化和协作行动逻辑中的,是如何导致对客户-承包商 KC 及其数字化的不同信念和行为的。我们通过展示在专业知识和机构方面的组织异质性如何对项目组织在前端项目阶段追求开放的、数字化的客户-承包商知识共享提出挑战,为项目管理文献提供了新的见解。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
12.30
自引率
26.20%
发文量
83
审稿时长
59 days
期刊介绍: The International Journal of Project Management is recognized as a premier publication in the field of project management and organization studies. Our main objective is to contribute to the advancement of project management and project organizing through the publication of groundbreaking research. We are dedicated to presenting fresh insights and new knowledge in various domains, including project management, program management, portfolio management, project-oriented organizations, project networks, and project-oriented societies. We actively encourage submissions that explore project management and organizing from the perspectives of organizational behavior, strategy, supply chain management, technology, change management, innovation, and sustainability. By publishing high-quality research articles and reviews, we strive to revolutionize the academic landscape and propel the field of project management forward. We invite researchers, scholars, and practitioners to contribute to our journal and be a part of the progressive development in this exciting field.
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