The document discusses knowledge utilization in projects from a practice-based perspective. It summarizes an ethnographic study of a £20 million partnering project to develop world-class schools. It conceptualizes projects as a constellation of professional, coordinative, and unfolding practices. Knowledge is situated within ongoing practices, relational, mediated by artifacts, acquired through participation, and dynamically reproduced through negotiation. The document contributes an analytical strategy for understanding how knowledge is utilized as professional practices negotiate conflicts through drawings and shared vocabulary within a project's historical context.

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”