Linking project-based production and project management temporary systems in multiple contexts : an introduction to the special edition

Abstract

As organisations in more and more industries look for flexible ways of production in the wake of rapidly changing market environments, project-based organising is becoming anincreasingly important mode of organisation (Eisenhardt & Tabrizi, 1995). Whereas projectbased organisation was traditionally mainly the domain of industries such as film making (Sorenson & Waguespack, 2006), theatre (Goodman& Goodman, 1976), and construction (Gann & Salter, 2000), a project-based mode of operation has recently pervaded many other sectors in the economy, including software development, advertising, biotechnology, consulting, emergency response, fashion, television and complex products and systems (Grabher, 2004; Hobday, 2000).