Presentation at the OKLC conference in Boston 2005

1. Knowledge utilization in
projects – a practice
based perspective
Christian Thuesen
(Ph.D.-student)
The Technical University of Denmark

2. Introduction
o ‘One of a kind’ productions
o Strong division of labor
o The inter-organizational cooperation is temporary
o Temporary, heterogeneous teams
”Knowledge utilization in projects – a practice based perspective”

3. Ambition
1. How can we understand knowledge utilization in
projects
2. How might we understand projects from a
practice based perspective
”Knowledge utilization in projects – a practice based perspective”

4. Agenda!
o Method
o The story
o Understanding projects - a practice based perspective
o Knowledge utilization in projects
o Contributions
”Knowledge utilization in projects – a practice based perspective”

5. The method
o 1½ year ethnographic study
– Diary
– Codified material (drawings, resumes)
– Attended meetings, workshops, etc.
– Interviews
– 90 hours of recordings
o Focus: design activities
o Follow the actor
– Process (Partnering, meeting practice)
– Product (Ventilation, construction principle)
”Knowledge utilization in projects – a practice based perspective”

6. The story
o Development of world class schools for a Danish municipality
o A £20.000.000 partnering project
failures, delays,
contradictions,
dilemmas,
tragedies,
success…
”Knowledge utilization in projects – a practice based perspective”

7. Understanding the project
– a practice based perspective

8. The project as a constellation of practices
o Drawing upon Actor Network Theory and Communities of Practice
o Conceptualising practice using ANT
– Components of practice (actors)
– Linked components (network)
o Different concentration of actors and relations
”Knowledge utilization in projects – a practice based perspective”

9. The constellation of practices
”Professional practices”
o Black boxes of practices – formed around CoP
o Apprenticeship learning
o Mastery of core tools and artefact of the
practice
o Practice reproduced through generations
Design leader: “You must learn to muddle along
professionally”
”Knowledge utilization in projects – a practice based perspective”

10. The constellation of practices
”Coordinative practices”
o Alignment processes in the actor network
o Boundary practices mediated by
– Negotiations spaces
– Boundary objects (resumes, the school, drawings, etc)
– Brokers (design managers …)
Arne: “It is so nice that it says A
here. We are getting better and
better. Can’t we find another
municipality with 5-6 schools?”
”Knowledge utilization in projects – a practice based perspective”

11. The constellation of practices
”The unfolding life of the project”
o The project in the making
– Translation
– Interdependence - obligatory point of
passage
– Negotiations and mobilization of alliances
– Productions of orders and stability
o In this process the professional practices
and their boundaries are constantly
(re)produced.
o Development of a shared historical context
”Knowledge utilization in projects – a practice based perspective”

12. Knowledge utilization in projects
– a practice based perspective

13. Knowledge in a practice based perspective
o Knowledge is (Gherardi & Nicolini 2000, p. 330):
– situated in the system of ongoing practices.
– relational and mediated by artifacts.
– always rooted in a context of interaction and it is acquired through
some form of participation in a community of practice.
– continually reproduced and negotiated, and hence it is always
dynamic and provisional.
”Knowledge utilization in projects – a practice based perspective”

14. Utilization of knowledge
The negotiation of a construction principal
o A negotiation between specific conflicting
professional practices
– Functionality (architect)
– Stability (engineer)
– Economical (contractor)
o Mediated by:
– Drawings
– Shared vocabulary
o Situated a shared historical context
”Knowledge utilization in projects – a practice based perspective”

15. Contributions
o A “analytical strategy” for understanding projects – and their
unfolding life.
o A solid foundation for discussing learning and knowledge
which emphasis:
– Social activity
– Power relations
– Materiality
”Knowledge utilization in projects – a practice based perspective”

16. Questions and Comments!
”Knowledge utilization in projects – a practice based perspective”