Engineering project organization: defining a line of inquiry and a path forward

Abstract

The formalization of a line of inquiry requires three elements: a foundational definition, an operational context and a path forward to guide researchers within the domain. In this initial Pathfinding paper, these elements are addressed for the engineering project organization line of inquiry. The field of engineering project organization research is put forth as a distinct pursuit within the overall field of organization research. In this distinct domain, engineering, social science, business and public policy are integrated as foundational pillars within the context of infrastructure development and the requirement to meet multiple levels of stakeholder requirements. The paper puts forth the argument that traditional perspectives of project-based organizations and project management are no longer sufficient to address the challenges of an evolving global economy, focus on environmental concerns and multi-cultural projects. Rather, it is necessary to forge a new path that embraces interdisciplinary persp...