Title: Follow the collaboration compass

Authors: Haavard Haaskjold; Bjørn Andersen; Jan Alexander Langlo; Wenche Aarseth

Addresses: Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway ' Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway ' Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway ' Business School, Nord University, NO-8049 Bodø, Norway

Abstract: Many different mechanisms are available to project managers who wish to improve collaboration in the relationship between client and contractor in a project. However, it is not necessarily clear which mechanisms that are most suited to use for a specific project. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how experienced project managers from three different industries (oil and gas, construction, ICT) apply such collaboration mechanisms successfully in their projects. Based on the findings from 39 interviews with experienced projects managers, we apply Shenhar's framework for project classification and introduce a collaboration compass that project managers can follow to identify which collaboration mechanisms that may be most suited for their specific project depending on the project's level of novelty, complexity, technology and pace.

Keywords: collaboration mechanisms; project management; practice; project classification.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPOM.2021.117940

International Journal of Project Organisation and Management, 2021 Vol.13 No.3, pp.245 - 272

Received: 04 Dec 2019
Accepted: 02 Jun 2020

Published online: 05 Oct 2021 *

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