Bright and Dark Spots in Project Studies: Continuing Efforts to Advance Theory Development and Debate

Abstract

In this special issue, we encouraged project scholars to be bold and construct their voices. We now reflect on the results, which include the bright spots in four areas: project organizing (organizing and collaborating in and between projects), project value (organizing value in and through projects), project citizenship (living in and through projects), and project scholarship (reflecting on project theorizing and scholarship). We then dared to voice our views on three dark spots: a lack of diversity in the project scholars’ ethnicities, geographies, and genders; in disciplines that extend beyond management and organization studies; and in modes of reflexivity.

Data analytics for project delivery: unlocking the potential of an emerging field

“…, 2022; Turner and Müller, 2003; Wawak and Woźniak, 2020). Geraldi has made a monumental contribution to this understanding, most recently in her co-editorship of special issues in PMJ focussing specifically in this area (Geraldi et al. , 2021).…”

“…The paradigmatic nature of project studies has been the focus of much debate in its associated research community in recent years (Sydow and Braun, 2018;Tekic et al, 2022;Turner and M€ uller, 2003;Wawak and Wo zniak, 2020). Geraldi has made a monumental contribution to this understanding, most recently in her co-editorship of special issues in PMJ focussing specifically in this area (Geraldi et al, 2021). In her 2018 article with S€ oderlund, Geraldi provides us with a diffuse explanation of project studies.…”

New Editors and a New Editor-in-Chief: Making the Manifesto a Reality

“…Moreover, I think it is important we work toward improving the theory (theories) of projects and project management, which has been a strong focus of PMJ in the past few years (Müller & Klein, 2018; Müller & Locatelli, 2023) and is something we should continue developing. For instance, along with Joana Geraldi and Alfons van Marrewijk, I edited two special issues on the bright and dark spots of project studies and the need for a lively debate about the theory of projects (see, for example, Geraldi et al, 2021; 2020). I also think it would be important to not only publish empirical papers but actually work toward developing papers along with what has been done in the Academy of Management Review and the International Journal of Management Reviews .…”

Changes in the Editorial Board of the Project Management Journal®

“…Project scholars have already developed relevant theories, such as the theory of project success factors (Pinto & Slevin, 1987), the theory of project categorization systems (Turner & Cochrane, 1993), or the theory of the temporary organizations (Lundin & Söderholm, 1995;Packendorff, 1995;Turner & Müller, 2003), yet there is still more theoretical work to be done. Over the last few years, very relevant articles in project studies regarding the need for new theories and how project scholars can develop new theories (see, e.g., Geraldi et al, 2020Geraldi et al, , 2021Svejvig, 2021;Tywoniak et al, 2021;Brunet, 2022;Keil, 2022;Pinto, 2022) have been published.…”