"Factors Impeding Project Management Learning"

Authors

David Hawk and Karlos Artto

Abstract

The article presents learning as a critical factor of success for project-oriented organizations. When new project situations require unique adaptations, learning becomes imperative to understanding and deriving improved responses to what will be taking place. Learning involves moving to higher levels of abstraction, in order to evaluate a subject against its context. This fosters the processes of renewal and innovation, and responds to the growing need for project self-regulation. Complex conceptions of learning and confusion about its process can, on the other hand, impede it. Additional forces also impede learning to do things in a better, more useful way. The purpose of this article is to describe practices of individual and organizational learning for use at a company level above projects, yet keep a connection to individualized learning at the project manager level. The authors believe that the project managers, those who carry out the tangible company assignments, are the best suited to illustrate the advantages of learning for a forward-looking company. The article draws from a study of industry-wide adaptation and learning activities. Titled Conditions of Success, it was carried out with 60 international project-based firms. The results illustrated the evolutionary role of learning and the business significance of it for firms that manage large, diverse projects.

Citation

David Hawk and Karlos Artto, "Factors Impeding Project Management Learning", Project Management: International Journal of Project Management, Volume 5, Number 1, pp. 56-67.

[click here for an online copy at the International Journal of Project Management]

 

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