Four images of projectification: an integrative review

Abstract

PurposeThe aim of this article is to give an overview of the development and current state of projectification research. The inquiry was driven by a threefold research question: How has projectification been understood and defined over time, what has the trajectory of the development been and what are the main trends and emerging ideas?Design/methodology/approachThe article is an integrative literature review of research done on the notion of projectification to date. An interdisciplinary, integrative literature review was conducted using Scopus and Web of Science as primary sources of data collection. The full data set consists of 123 journal articles, books, book chapters and conference contributions. With the data set complete, a thematic analysis was conducted.FindingsAmong other things, the review outlines the development and scope of projectification research from 1995 until 2021 and discusses four emerging images of projectification: projectification as a managerial approach, projectification as a societal trend, projectification as a human state and projectification as a philosophical issue. These characteristics emphasize some common features of each of the images but also imply that the way projectification is understood changes depending on the paradigmatic perspective taken by the researcher, the time and place in which the observation was made and the level of observation.Originality/valueThe authors have outlined and discussed four images of projectification – projectification as a managerial approach, projectification as a societal trend, projectification as a human state and projectification as a philosophical issue – where each image represents a special take on projectification with some prevalent characteristics. By doing this, the authors provide a systematic categorization of research to date and thus a basis upon which other researchers can build when furthering the understanding of projectification at large.

Skills Development through Virtual Art-Based Learning: Learning Outcomes of an Advanced Training Program for Project Managers

“…There were no significant differences in the other scales (Table 1). In the control group, there was a significant difference between the measurement points for the scale worries (X 2 (2, n = 6) = 7.11, p = 0.022) and tension (X 2 (2, n = 6) = 8.27, p = 0.016). Posthoc-tests revealed that this difference lost significance (z = 1.133, p corrected = 0.063).…”

“…As a reaction to growing complexity and environmental dynamics, organizations resort to projectification as a managerial approach [1,2]. In Germany, like other Western economies, 34.7% of work is organized in the form of projects [3].…”

Challenges of scaling agile in large enterprises and implications for project management

“…Furthermore, it expands the methodological repertoire for studying the agility phenomenon by synthetizing insights gained from a set of case studies centered around the scaling of agile practices. Additionally, this study also makes a valuable contribution to the discourse on “deprojectification,” that is currently emerging within the project management discipline (Jacobsson and Jałocha, 2021; Nesheim, 2023). From a managerial perspective, this study illuminates the challenges that arise within large organizations when attempting to scale agile practices.…”

An institutional theory perspective on the role of project management associations for projectification of society: the case of Germany

“…On the one hand, projectification of society can be understood as process or development towards an increasing importance of projects in broad areas of society (Munck af Rosenschöld, 2019). On the other hand, it “indicates an interest in the outcomes and consequences of projectification on parts of the society or on society at large” (Jacobsson and Jalocha, 2021, p. 1593). It has become generally accepted that projectification extends beyond single organizations' boundaries.…”