The productivity dilemma in project-based firms: why do organizations tie their own hands and what can managers do to untie them?

Joana Geraldi; David Bennett

The productivity dilemma in project-based firms: why do organizations tie their own hands and what can managers do to untie them?

Operations & Information Management

Research output: Chapter in Book/Published conference output › Conference publication

Abstract

In repetitive operations the productivity dilemma has been widely studied, but there is a lack of research in non-repetitive operations, such as in project-based firms. This paper investigates why project-based firms foster or hinder project flexibility through an embedded multi-case study with six projects within a large German project-based firm. The results suggest that although such firms have projects as their key source of revenue, their focus lies in longevity and survival and this logic is, in some instances, at odds with the temporary nature of the project context.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	17th International Annual EurOMA Conference
Subtitle of host publication	managing operations in service economies, 6-9 June 2010, Porto, Portugal : proceedings
Editors	Y. Hosni
Publication status	Published - 2010
Event	17th international annual EurOMA Conference - Catholic University of Portugal, Porto, Portugal Duration: 6 Jun 2010 → 9 Jun 2010

Conference

Conference	17th international annual EurOMA Conference
Abbreviated title	EurOMA 2010
Country/Territory	Portugal
City	Porto
Period	6/06/10 → 9/06/10
Other	Managing Operations in Service Economies

Keywords

ambidexterity
project-based firm
temporary organizations

Access to Document

Productivity dilemma in project-based firmsAccepted author manuscript, 86.6 KB

1 Conference publication

Nurturing communities of practice for effective university-to-industry technology transfer: two exemplar cases from the Cauca Region of Columbia
Theodorakopoulos, N., Sánchez Preciado, D. J. & Bennett, D., 2010, 17th International Annual EurOMA Conference: managing operations in service economies, 6-9 June 2010, Porto, Portugal : proceedings. Hosni, Y. (ed.).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Published conference output › Conference publication

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Cite this

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title = "The productivity dilemma in project-based firms: why do organizations tie their own hands and what can managers do to untie them?",

abstract = "In repetitive operations the productivity dilemma has been widely studied, but there is a lack of research in non-repetitive operations, such as in project-based firms. This paper investigates why project-based firms foster or hinder project flexibility through an embedded multi-case study with six projects within a large German project-based firm. The results suggest that although such firms have projects as their key source of revenue, their focus lies in longevity and survival and this logic is, in some instances, at odds with the temporary nature of the project context.",

keywords = "ambidexterity, project-based firm, temporary organizations",

author = "Joana Geraldi and David Bennett",

year = "2010",

language = "English",

isbn = "978-972-99847-3-0",

editor = "Y. Hosni",

booktitle = "17th International Annual EurOMA Conference",

note = "17th international annual EurOMA Conference, EurOMA 2010 ; Conference date: 06-06-2010 Through 09-06-2010",

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Geraldi, J & Bennett, D 2010, The productivity dilemma in project-based firms: why do organizations tie their own hands and what can managers do to untie them? in Y Hosni (ed.), 17th International Annual EurOMA Conference: managing operations in service economies, 6-9 June 2010, Porto, Portugal : proceedings. 17th international annual EurOMA Conference, Porto, Portugal, 6/06/10.

The productivity dilemma in project-based firms: why do organizations tie their own hands and what can managers do to untie them? / Geraldi, Joana; Bennett, David.
17th International Annual EurOMA Conference: managing operations in service economies, 6-9 June 2010, Porto, Portugal : proceedings. ed. / Y. Hosni. 2010.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Published conference output › Conference publication

TY - GEN

T1 - The productivity dilemma in project-based firms

T2 - 17th international annual EurOMA Conference

AU - Geraldi, Joana

AU - Bennett, David

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - In repetitive operations the productivity dilemma has been widely studied, but there is a lack of research in non-repetitive operations, such as in project-based firms. This paper investigates why project-based firms foster or hinder project flexibility through an embedded multi-case study with six projects within a large German project-based firm. The results suggest that although such firms have projects as their key source of revenue, their focus lies in longevity and survival and this logic is, in some instances, at odds with the temporary nature of the project context.

AB - In repetitive operations the productivity dilemma has been widely studied, but there is a lack of research in non-repetitive operations, such as in project-based firms. This paper investigates why project-based firms foster or hinder project flexibility through an embedded multi-case study with six projects within a large German project-based firm. The results suggest that although such firms have projects as their key source of revenue, their focus lies in longevity and survival and this logic is, in some instances, at odds with the temporary nature of the project context.

KW - ambidexterity

KW - project-based firm

KW - temporary organizations

M3 - Conference publication

SN - 978-972-99847-3-0

BT - 17th International Annual EurOMA Conference

A2 - Hosni, Y.

Y2 - 6 June 2010 through 9 June 2010

ER -

The productivity dilemma in project-based firms: why do organizations tie their own hands and what can managers do to untie them?

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

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Research output

Nurturing communities of practice for effective university-to-industry technology transfer: two exemplar cases from the Cauca Region of Columbia

Cite this