Newell, Susan and Edelman, Linda F. (2008) Developing a dynamic project learning and cross-project learning capability : synthesizing two perspectives. Information Systems Journal, Volume 18 (Number 6). pp. 567-591. ISSN 1350-1917

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Abstract

Driven by the complexity of new products and services, project work has become increasingly common in all types of organizations. However, research on project learning suggests that often project teams do not meet their stated objectives and, moreover, there is limited organizational learning from the experiences of project work. We use the dynamic capabilities framework to argue that building a dynamic project learning capability is useful for organizations that make extensive use of projects. We use both survey and interview data to discuss the key ways in which such a dynamic capability can be built. Our survey data demonstrate the importance of documenting project learning, but our interview data show that teams are often remiss at documenting their learning. The results from the two different approaches are synthesized using Boland & Tenkasi's notions of perspective-making and perspective-taking. Importantly, combining the results from the two sets of data suggests that organizations need to emphasize the benefits from project reviews and documentation and explore ways in which the documents produced can be made more useful as boundary objects to encourage the sharing of learning across projects.

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Item Type:	Journal Item
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > Innovation, Knowledge & Organisational Networks Research Unit Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School > Information Systems & Management Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Organizational learning -- Case studies, Knowledge management, Structural equation modeling
Journal or Publication Title:	Information Systems Journal
Publisher:	John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
ISSN:	1350-1917
Date:	November 2008
Volume:	Volume 18
Number:	Number 6
Number of Pages:	25
Page Range:	pp. 567-591
Identification Number:	10.1111/j.1365-2575.2007.00242.x
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/29228

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