1. Project business Workshop on contractual flexibility, 29-30.9.2011 in Joensuu Prof. Jaakko Kujala

2. Content of the presentation Introduction to project business as a research field Contingency view to project business research Research on contractual flexibility in project business

3. Project business definition “Project business is the part of business that relates directly or indirectly to projects, with the purpose of achieving objectives of a firm or several firms.” from Artto & Wikström 2005: What is project business?” (International Journal of Project management)

4. Project business framework: four distinctive management areas One firm Many firms One project Many projects 1. Management of a project 3. Management of a project network 2. Management of a project-based firm 4. Management of a business network From: Artto & Kujala 2008: Project business as a research field (International Journal of projects in Business)

5. Managerial challenges

6. Contingency perspective to project research Contingency theory suggests that there is no optimal strategy for managing projects or organizations and different external conditions require different organizational structures (Donaldson 1996; Lawrence and Lorch 1967). –“one size does not fit for all projects” (Shenhar & Dvir 1995) We need to identify characteristics of task environment that are relevant for understanding the context, in which we are doing project research –This would help us to understand how to generalize our research results (i.e. type of context in which they are valid) –The influence of these characteristics on organizing and management is an interesting research area (contingency research)

7. Contractual flexibility in project business Research objective: To create models for contracting that enable organizations participating in project(s) to meet their short term and long term business objectives. Research questions: What are the relevant contextual factors we need to take account when designing contracting approaches in project business? How these factors influence contracting approaches? How contracting approaches need to be tailored to fit specific context?