Production
https://prod.org.br/article/doi/10.1590/0103-6513.20200039
Production
Research Article

Learning in project based organizations: processes, mechanisms and main challenges

Daniela Emiliano de Souza; Marly M. Carvalho

Downloads: 0
Views: 723

Abstract

Paper aims: Identify the mechanisms, processes, challenges and other contexts of project-based organizations that affect or are affected by knowledge management.

Originality: The literature lacks studies that assist project-based organizations in the successful use of knowledge management. We bring these analyzes to this article.

Research method: We performed a multiple case study applied to two Brazilian companies.

Main findings: The organizations face challenges due to managerial, operational, and strategic issues. The knowledge management occurs through codification and sharing of data, and both formal and informal events were identified.

Implications for theory and practice: This paper provides new guidelines for future research, also, several components that affect knowledge management were identified, so professionals will be able to design and implement models with a greater chance of success.

Keywords

Learning, Lessons Learned, Knowledge Management, Challenges, Mechanisms

References

Aerts, G., Dooms, M., & Haezendonck, E. (2017). Knowledge transfers and project-based learning in large scale infrastructure development projects: an exploratory and com- parative ex-post analysis. International Journal of Project Management, 35(3), 224-240. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2016.10.010.

Alkhuraiji, A., Liu, S., Oderanti, F. O., & Megicks, P. (2016). New structured knowledge network for strategic decision-making in IT innovative and implementable projects. Journal of Business Research, 69(5), 1534-1538. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.10.012.

Andersen, S. S., & Vidar Hanstad, D. (2013). Knowledge development and transfer in a mindful project‐organization. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 6(2), 236-250. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/17538371311319007.

Antoni, M., Nilsson‐Witell, L., & Dahlgaard, J. J. (2005). Inter‐project improvement in product development. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 22(9), 876-893. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02656710510625194.

Association for Project Management. (2012). APM body of knowledge (6th ed.). Princes Risborough: Association for Project Management.

Ayas, K. (1996). Professional project management: a shift towards learning and a knowledge creating structure. International Journal of Project Management, 14(3), 131-136. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0263-7863(95)00080-1.

Bartsch, V., Ebers, M., & Maurer, I. (2013). Learning in project-based organizations: the role of project teams’ social capital for overcoming barriers to learning. International Journal of Project Management, 31(2), 239-251. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2012.06.009.

Baskerville, R., & Pries-Heje, J. (1999). Knowledge capability and maturity in software management. The Data Base for Advances in Information Systems, 30(2), 26-43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/383371.383374.

Bell, L., van Waveren, C. C., & Steyn, H. (2016). Knowledge-sharing within the project-based organizsation: a knowledge-pull framework. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 27(4), 18-33. http://dx.doi.org/10.7166/27-4-1580.

Bernroider, E. W. N., Wong, C. W. Y., & Lai, K. (2014). From dynamic capabilities to ERP enabled business improvements: the mediating effect of the implementation project. International Journal of Project Management, 32(2), 350-362. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2013.05.006.

Bingham, C. B., Heimeriks, K. H., Schijven, M., & Gates, S. (2015). Concurrent learning : how firms develop multiple dynamic capabilities in parallel. Strategic Management Journal, 36(12), 1802-1825. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.2347.

Carvalho, M. M., & Rabechini Junior, R. (2015). Impact of risk management on project performance: the importance of soft skills. International Journal of Production Research, 53(2), 321-340. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2014.919423.

Choi, B., & Lee, H. (2003). An empirical investigation of KM styles and their effect on corporate performance. Information & Management, 40(5), 403-417. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0378-7206(02)00060-5.

Chuanmin, S., Bing, G., & Lu, Z. (2012). Anti-poverty project sustainability in rural China: an empirical analysis. Outlook on Agriculture, 41(3), 153-161. http://dx.doi.org/10.5367/oa.2012.0096.

Daghfous, A. (2004). Organizational learning, knowledge and technology transfer: a case study. The Learning Organization, 11(1), 67-83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09696470410515733.

Davies, A., & Brady, T. (2000). Organisational capabilities and learning in complex product systems: towards repeatable solutions. Research Policy, 29(7-8), 931-953. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0048-7333(00)00113-X.

Dubinskas, F. A. (1993). Modeling cultures of project management. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 10(1-2), 129-160. https://doi.org/10.1016/0923-4748(93)90061-M.

Duffield, S. M., & Whitty, S. J. (2016a). Application of the systemic lessons learned knowledge model for organisational learning through projects. International Journal of Project Management, 34(7), 1280-1293. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2016.07.001.

Duffield, S., & Whitty, S. J. (2016b). How to apply the Systemic Lessons Learned Knowledge model to wire an organisation for the capability of storytelling. International Journal of Project Management, 34(3), 429-443. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2015.11.004.

Eisenhardt, K. M. (1989). Building theories from case research. Academy of Management Review, 14(4), 532-550. http://dx.doi.org/10.5465/amr.1989.4308385.

Eisenhardt, K. M., & Graebner, M. E. (2007). Theory building from cases : opportunities and challenges diverse. Academy of Management Journal, 50(1), 25-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.5465/amj.2007.24160888.

Ferreras-Méndez, J. L., Fernández-Mesa, A., & Alegre, J. (2016). The relationship between knowledge search strategies and absorptive capacity: a deeper look. Technovation, 54, 48-61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2016.03.001.

Garcias, F., Dalmasso, C., & Sardas, J. C. (2015). Paradoxical tensions in learning processes: Exploration, exploitation and exploitative learning. Management (France), 18(2), 156-178.

Ghosh, S., Amaya, L., & Skibniewski, M. J. (2012). Identifying areas of knowledge governance for successful projects. Journal of Civil Engineering and Management, 18(4), 495-504. http://dx.doi.org/10.3846/13923730.2012.700642.

Grabher, G., & Thiel, J. (2015). Projects, people, professions: trajectories of learning through a mega-event (the London 2012 case). Geoforum, 65, 328-337. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2015.02.006.

Grigoriou, K., & Rothaermel, F. T. (2017). Organizing for knowledge generation: internal knowledge networks and the contingent effect of external knowledge sourcing. Strategic Management Journal, 38(2), 395-414. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.2489.

Hartmann, A., & Dorée, A. (2015). Learning between projects: more than sending messages in bottles. JPMA, 33(2), 341-351. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2014.07.006.

Khedhaouria, A., Montani, F., & Thurik, R. (2017). Time pressure and team member creativity within R & D projects : The role of learning orientation and knowledge sourcing. International Journal of Project Management, 35(6), 942-954. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2017.04.002.

Leseure, M. J., & Brookes, N. J. (2004). Knowledge management benchmarks for project management. Journal of Knowledge Management, 8(1), 103-116. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/13673270410523943.

Loufrani-Fedida, S., & Saglietto, L. (2016). Mechanisms for managing competencies in project-based organizations: an integrative multilevel analysis. Long Range Planning, 49(1), 72-89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2014.09.001.

Love, P. E. D., Teo, P., Davidson, M., Cumming, S., & Morrison, J. (2016). Building absorptive capacity in an alliance: Process improvement through lessons learned. International Journal of Project Management, 34(7), 1123-1137. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2016.05.010.

Mahanty, S., Stacey, N., Holland, P., Wright, A., & Menzies, S. (2007). Learning to learn: designing monitoring plans in the Pacific Islands International Waters Project. Ocean and Coastal Management, 50(5-6), 392-410. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2006.09.004.

McClory, S., Read, M., & Labib, A. (2017). Conceptualising the lessons-learned process in project management: Towards a triple-loop learning framework. International Journal of Project Management, 35(7), 1322-1335. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2017.05.006.

Medina, R., & Medina, A. (2017). Managing competence and learning in knowledge-intensive, project-intensive organizations. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 10(3), 505-526. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJMPB-04-2016-0032.

Morioka, S. N., Bolis, I., Evans, S., & Carvalho, M. M. (2018). Transforming sustainability challenges into competitive advantage: Multiple case studies kaleidoscope converging into sustainable business models. Journal of Cleaner Production, 167, 723-738. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.08.118.

Nadae, J. D., & Monteiro de Carvalho, M. (2017). A knowledge management perspective of the project management office. Brazilian Journal of Operations & Production Management, 14(3), 350. http://dx.doi.org/10.14488/BJOPM.2017.v14.n3.a8.

Nonaka, I., & Takeuchi, H. (1997). Criação de conhecimento na empresa: como as empresas japonesas geram a dinâmica da inovação. Rio de Janeiro: Campus

Ravichandran, T., & Rai, A. (2003). Structural analysis of the impact of knowledge creation and knowledge embedding on software process capability. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 50(3), 270-284.

Reich, B. H., Gemino, A., & Sauer, C. (2012). Knowledge management and project-based knowledge in it projects: a model and preliminary empirical results. International Journal of Project Management, 30(6), 663-674. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2011.12.003.

Sastre-Merino, S., Negrillo, X., & Hernández-Castellano, D. (2013). Sustainability of rural development projects within the working with people model: application to Aymara Women Communities in the Puno Region, Peru. Cuadernos de Desarrollo Rural, 10(70), 219-244.

Stephens, J. P., & Carmeli, A. (2016). The positive effect of expressing negative emotions on knowledge creation capability and performance of project teams. International Journal of Project Management, 34(5), 862-873. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2016.03.003.

Swan, J., Scarbrough, H., & Newell, S. (2010). Why don’t (or do) organizations learn from projects? Management Learning, 41(3), 325-344. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1350507609357003.

von Zedtwitz, M. (2002). Organizational learning through post-project reviews in R&D. R & D Management, 32(3), 255-268. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-9310.00258.

Williams, T. (2008). How do organizations learn lessons from projects - and do they? IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 55(2), 248-266. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2007.912920.

Yan-Feng, C., & Xiao-Qiong, H. (2013). Empirical research on the affecting factors of knowledge transfer efficiency in CoPS R&D project. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 4(9), 696-700. http://dx.doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n9p696.

Yap, J. B. H., Abdul-Rahman, H., & Chen, W. (2017). Collaborative model: managing design changes with reusable project experiences through project learning and effective communication. International Journal of Project Management, 35(7), 1253-1271. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2017.04.010.

Yin, R. K. (2010). Estudo de caso: planejamento e métodos. 4. ed. Porto Alegre: Bookman.

Zhang, L., & Li, X. (2016). How to reduce the negative impacts of knowledge heterogeneity in engineering design team: exploring the role of knowledge reuse. International Journal of Project Management, 34(7), 1138-1149. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2016.05.009.
 


Submitted date:
04/16/2020

Accepted date:
06/07/2021

614e112ba953952dc20bf892 production Articles
Links & Downloads

Production

Share this page
Page Sections