Knowledge co-creation in project studies: The research context

Abstract

This paper proposes a framework for a collaborative environment formed by a University Research Centre (URC) in Project Studies and external organizations. The framework resulted from a literature review process enriched with empirical data from twenty-eight semi-structured interviews with academics, PhD candidates, and practitioners. The thematic analysis identified four macro-elements of the URC ecosystem: Project Studies; Impact Generation Process (Partners, Resources, Activities, Outputs, Outcomes, Impacts); Governance & Management and Circumstances; and Context, broken down into sixty elements, for the co-creation of knowledge in Project Studies. The study adds to the body of knowledge on Project Studies by proposing a “Ba” for the co-exploration and co-exploitation of the knowledge generated by academics and practitioners. Furthermore, it reinforces the importance of engaged scholarship and supports the proposal of more robust theories that lead, in practice, to better collaborative project performance.