Recent studies of temporary organizing and project-based work explain how organizational actors establish maintain clear role structures harmonious relations in the face precariousness by engaging stabilizing practices. This focus upon ‘order’ undervalues conflict-ridden negotiations power struggles organizing. paper demonstrates that conflict order may exist tandem. Drawing close to collaborative dynamics a large-scale global project, we analyse political over patterns hierarchic...

This editorial scrutinizes the dichotomy of a project’s success and failure, which, in our opinion is too rigid, inflexible, unnuanced. The aim this special issue to nuance by moving toward process view on how imperfection brought about projects. We introduce discuss five topics important for such view: (1) improvisation, (2) temporality, (3) power politics, (4) transition, (5) intentionality. argue that holistic, processual imperfections premises emergence continuous learning judgments...

The aestheticization of organizational space is a growing phenomenon with organizations carefully designing the aesthetic engagement in to invoke specific values and behavior. Simultaneously, however, traditional workspace disappearing as work performed increasingly multiply-located, hybrid spaces combining corporate, domestic public spaces. This paper seeks understand by theoretically drawing on notion atmosphere proposed philosopher Gernot Boehme. By ethnographically exploring how an urban...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the interdependency corporate architecture and organisation cultural change. Corporate headquarters have become symbols change ambitions endure value sets. seeks contribute growing interest in re‐materialization organisational Design/methodology/approach study spatial setting give rise new methodological questions. There a hermeneutic relationship between elements design meaning‐making their designers users. reading built space other physical...

The scholars of Consumer Culture Theory studies as well practitioners have recognised the potential power spatial design in stores constructing and communicating retail brands. Retail space aesthetic structuring a range expressive artefacts become stage on which shop attendants perform. This paper focuses how management Dutch menswear fashion house Oger communicate construct brand, with special focus settings store. study shows carefully combines elements generally found Italian ateliers,...

Power in interorganizational strategic projects, used for implementing change, is essential but not well understood. This paper devises a conceptual framework which power relations, practices and an order conflict view are integrated. An ethnoventionist approach, including ethnography interventions, to show relations change project. project aimed improve the collaboration between nine organizations joint building of subsurface utilities telecom networks. The findings four relevant delegating...

Transferring knowledge across strategic projects is challenging. This study investigates how informal practices of members the parent organization shape transfer projects. was addressed through an in-depth case in innovation trajectory a large public aiming to accelerate transition towards circular construction. We identified five disabling; shaming and blaming, disconnecting, holding onto department project boundaries, fostering one-way relationships avoiding internal conflict. Furthermore,...

Cross-cultural cooperation in joint ventures does not take place a power-free context but is threatened by struggles between partners over cultural differences and conflicting interests. All project have their own perspectives, interpretations, intentions practices, which challenge the undertakings of cross-cultural collaboration. Therefore, it aim this paper to study how employees make sense multinational venture. To do so, collaboration joint-venture Gazprom Shell studied three months...

Megaprojects can be perceived as modern symbols, crucial for the encapsulation of ideas, attitudes, and beliefs. This study explores exegetical meanings, or meanings derived from local interpretation, that a megaproject encapsulate how those shape megaproject's process. A longitudinal Dutch High-Speed Train was executed. The findings show three megaproject, which were used strategic goals, leading to power struggles, delays, cost overrun, finally resulting in negative symbol failed...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relation between spatial intervention open-plan offices in a university, consequential change work practices faculty members and how these appropriate designed space. Design/methodology/approach authors executed two-year longitudinal ethnographic study following case science faculty, which moved from traditional office setting offices. studied space interviewed staff before, during after introduction Findings show that new triggered...

Media and telecommunications companies face the problem of how to integrate diametrically opposite radical internet firms after acquisition. Extant mergers acquisitions (M&A) studies report that differences in organizational culture are important cultural integration process. Frequently, M&A research assumes cultures be homogeneous unified, but a large body literature suggests organizations should understood as heterogeneous living worlds which employees construct their own...