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Interdependencies in complex project ecologies : the case of biomedical innovation
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 18:14 authored by Susan Newell, Anna Goussevskaia, Jacky Swan, Mike Bresnen, Ademola ObembeThis article examines the challenges associated with managing projects that are distributed across time, space and organizations - a common, though under-researched, feature of innovation in numerous high-technology domains, including biomedicine. This 'complex project ecology' is examined to explore the ways in which managing the interdependencies across projects then becomes crucial. Given the challenges of integrating and transforming knowledge across diverse groups, the deployment of a more 'reciprocal' approach to managing interdependencies between projects, i.e. a high level of project interactivity, might seem most appropriate. However, our analyses of nine biomedical innovation cases (of which three are detailed) reveal, instead, a heavy reliance on 'blackbox' strategies, transferring knowledge between projects with very limited collaboration amongst the various projects involved. This low level of project interactivity is shown to create problems for the innovation process. The reasons for this are examined, and particular attention is drawn to the effects of power dynamics and the sector's dominant knowledge regime. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
History
Publication status
- Published
Journal
Long Range PlanningISSN
0024-6301Publisher
ElsevierExternal DOI
Issue
1Volume
41Page range
33-54Department affiliated with
- Business and Management Publications
Full text available
- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes