Knowledge utilization in projects – a practice based perspective

Knowledge utilization in projects – a practice

based perspective

Christian Thuesen (Ph.D.-student)

The Technical University of Denmark

”Knowledge utilization in projects – a practice based perspective”

Introduction

o ‘One of a kind’ productions o Strong division of labor o The inter-organizational cooperation is temporary o Temporary, heterogeneous teams


Ambition

1. How can we understand knowledge utilization in projects

2. How might we understand projects from a practice based perspective


Agenda!

o Method o The story o Understanding projects - a practice based perspective o Knowledge utilization in projects o Contributions


The method

o 1½ year ethnographic study – Diary – Codified material (drawings, resumes) – Attended meetings, workshops, etc. – Interviews – 90 hours of recordings

o Focus: design activities o Follow the actor

– Process (Partnering, meeting practice) – Product (Ventilation, construction principle)


The story

o Development of world class schools for a Danish municipality o A £20.000.000 partnering project

failures, delays, contradictions, dilemmas, tragedies, success…

Understanding the project – a practice based perspective


The project as a constellation of practices

o Drawing upon Actor Network Theory and Communities of Practice o Conceptualising practice using ANT

– Components of practice (actors) – Linked components (network)

o Different concentration of actors and relations


The constellation of practices ”Professional practices”

o Black boxes of practices – formed around CoP o Apprenticeship learning o Mastery of core tools and artefact of the

practice o Practice reproduced through generations

Design leader: “You must learn to muddle along professionally”


The constellation of practices ”Coordinative practices”

o Alignment processes in the actor network o Boundary practices mediated by

– Negotiations spaces – Boundary objects (resumes, the school, drawings, etc) – Brokers (design managers …)

Arne: “It is so nice that it says A here. We are getting better and better. Can’t we find another municipality with 5-6 schools?”


The constellation of practices ”The unfolding life of the project”

o The project in the making – Translation – Interdependence - obligatory point of

passage – Negotiations and mobilization of alliances – Productions of orders and stability

o In this process the professional practices

and their boundaries are constantly (re)produced.

o Development of a shared historical context

Knowledge utilization in projects – a practice based perspective


Knowledge in a practice based perspective

o Knowledge is (Gherardi & Nicolini 2000, p. 330): – situated in the system of ongoing practices. – relational and mediated by artifacts. – always rooted in a context of interaction and it is acquired through

some form of participation in a community of practice. – continually reproduced and negotiated, and hence it is always

dynamic and provisional.


Utilization of knowledge The negotiation of a construction principal

o A negotiation between specific conflicting professional practices

– Functionality (architect) – Stability (engineer) – Economical (contractor)

o Mediated by:

– Drawings – Shared vocabulary

o Situated a shared historical context


Contributions

o A “analytical strategy” for understanding projects – and their unfolding life.

o A solid foundation for discussing learning and knowledge which emphasis:

– Social activity – Power relations – Materiality


Questions and Comments!