Projects as arena for self-organizing

The COVID19 pandemic has challenged conventional strategies, structures and forms of cooperation. Proven but in many organisations forgotten forms of work and organisation have become useful again, especially during the crisis, including above all self-initiative, self-organisation, community work and co-creative collaboration.

Appropriate solutions were sought in the form of hackathons, entire symphony concerts were given via virtual media, and previously successful forms of neighbourhood help and self-sufficiency seem to have come back into fashion. Will this form of the organization continue to prevail after the current crisis?

The corona crisis is increasing the urgency of action, which we have been feeling for some time. Our environment is less and less predictable, short-term changes and multiple disruptions (technological, economic or even social) increase the pressure on us humans and the organisations. How can we deal with this pressure? How can we become more resilient? This requires a clear change of course. Away from central and less adaptable structures, towards more self-organisation. We humans should rely more on our intuition and adaptability again. Used with a clear intention to work together and using all available skills can literally “move mountains”. For organisation and executives, this means “letting go”, giving space for development and creativity, and still not losing sight of the big picture. Today, technologies make it possible to work from home offices with colleagues around the globe. Nevertheless, tools are not a panacea and must be used with common sense.

What do these developments mean for project management? . It addresses the increasing interest in the subject of self-organizing in and through projects. Agile approaches build on or value the willingness and the capabilities of individuals and teams to self-organize in projects. Projects are seen as the arena for self-organizing. It is often argued that millennials are increasingly interested in work autonomy and self-organizing through projects to fulfil their expectations in the workspace. However, what does that mean for organizational structures, processes, cultures and leadership? What is the motivation of individuals to perform activities, to engage with others and organizations in order to get things done? Which kind of leadership supports self-organizing in projects and how do we achieve the changes necessary from the traditional set-up towards new ways of leading? Is self-organizing in projects perceived as traditional work, or is it an individual ́s “Vita Activa”? What have disciplines like Natural Sciences, Psychology, Philosophy, Sociology and Management to offer in this respect? What are cultural limitations and potentials regarding self-organizing in projects and how do we deal with them? There are certainly more questions and aspects that will be dealt with during the Research Conference. The conference itself is a kind of endeavour, an arena for self-organizing, sense-making, strategizing and theorizing.