Javernick-Will, A N and Levitt, R E (2010) Mobilizing institutional knowledge for international projects. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 136(4), pp. 430-441. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Multinational engineering consultants, contractors, and real estate developers work on projects in various countries, encountering many challenges that arise from cross-national differences. These projects frequently bring together diverse participants in an unfamiliar environment. In these situations, firms are exposed to different "institutions"-regulations, norms, and cognitive-cultural beliefs-that can increase misunderstandings, delays, and costs. Knowledge of these institutional elements is critical to create a project that is both locally sustainable and profitable for the firm. Departing from institutional theory and the knowledge-based view of the firm, we conduct exploratory research based on interviews from informants in 15 firms to identify the methods that multinational real estate developers, contractors, and engineers use to transfer and mobilize institutional knowledge for their global projects. We contribute to theory by adding to the developing literature that uses institutional theory to examine differences on global projects and by analyzing the specific methods firms use to transfer institutional knowledge internally, across projects and divisions. Ultimately, this research, combined with the work of others, can develop new processes for firms engaged in international projects to enhance their mobilization of institutional knowledge, and thereby improve the outcomes of international projects.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | business management; institutional differences; institutional knowledge; international business; international factors; knowledge management; knowledge-based systems; organizations |
| Index terms: | norms, knowledge-based system, interview, regulation, institutional theory, knowledge management, exploratory research, international project, engineer, engineering consultant, business management, real estate, international business |
| Subjects: | strategic management, research methods, sociology, artificial intelligence, political science, business, data collection methods, professional development, real estate economics, professional, profession |
| Topics: | Governance, Information Management, Business Strategy, Roles and Professions, Digital Applications, Research Practice, Urban Studies, International Construction |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here