Mobilizing Social and Organizational Resources in Project Type Cooperation

Abstract

The paper aims at the identification and interpretation of specific coordination problems faced by project-based work organisations using the example of an interactive portal development for a leading Hungarian economic weakly. The study provides a brief overview of the most important theoretical approaches concerning project-based work organisations and the characteristics of the new or interactive media sector, which may act as a new model in the fast growing knowledge economy. The interactive portal development is typical of the so-called studio-model of project-based firms (PBF) characterised by the novel and singular character of the product or service and by the uncertain and fluid nature of the necessary knowledge and skills. The study calls attention to the project manager’s key role in combining formal and tacit skills and in the coordination of actors’ behaviour which is driven by different logics. In addition, the authors stress the importance of the client’s key role in designing and developing the interactive media service. JEL classifications: L86; M54; Z13

Keywords

• Interactive media
• portal development
• project-based firm (PBF)
• different types of knowledge
• ‘reflexive-discursive’ coordination mechanisms
• trust relations