Mobilizing Institutional Knowledge for International Projects
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 136, Issue 4
Abstract
Multinational engineering consultants, contractors, and real estate developers work on projects in various countries, encountering many challenges that arise from cross-national differences. These projects frequently bring together diverse participants in an unfamiliar environment. In these situations, firms are exposed to different “institutions”—regulations, norms, and cognitive-cultural beliefs—that can increase misunderstandings, delays, and costs. Knowledge of these institutional elements is critical to create a project that is both locally sustainable and profitable for the firm. Departing from institutional theory and the knowledge-based view of the firm, we conduct exploratory research based on interviews from informants in 15 firms to identify the methods that multinational real estate developers, contractors, and engineers use to transfer and mobilize institutional knowledge for their global projects. We contribute to theory by adding to the developing literature that uses institutional theory to examine differences on global projects and by analyzing the specific methods firms use to transfer institutional knowledge internally, across projects and divisions. Ultimately, this research, combined with the work of others, can develop new processes for firms engaged in international projects to enhance their mobilization of institutional knowledge, and thereby improve the outcomes of international projects.
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Acknowledgments
The writers thank Dr. W. Richard Scott of Stanford University and the three anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on earlier drafts of this article. In addition, we would like to thank the multiple anonymous informants and companies who participated in the research. This material is based upon work supported by the Stanford Graduate Fellowship, the Center for Integrated Facility Engineering and the Collaboratory for Research on Multinational Projects.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 136 • Issue 4 • April 2010
Pages: 430 - 441
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Dec 14, 2008
Accepted: Jun 23, 2009
Published online: Jun 26, 2009
Published in print: Apr 2010
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