As the result of some very intense work at the end of last year, the very talented Dr. Beata Jalocha and I have now had our second joint paper accepted for publication. This time, we have focused on the countermovement to projectification in terms of “deprojectification” – the decreased use and deinstitutionalization of projects in organizations, society, or parts thereof.

The paper has been accepted for publication in the International Journal of Project Management.

Abstract
This article conceptualizes and discusses the phenomenon of organizational deprojectification, with the aim of exploring the drivers and consequences thereof. The discussion begins with an overview of the development of the concept of projectification, providing the necessary background to examine existing research on organizational deprojectification. Employing the lens of paradox theory, nine latent paradoxes that could trigger a deprojectification process are identified and analyzed. Subsequently, the article presents a conceptual process model that encapsulates these paradoxes, accompanied by a discussion of the implications for organizations. The findings offer a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with deprojectification and contribute to the broader discourse on projectification in contemporary environments.

The full paper is available here. (Also, the journal offers 50 days of free access to the article here.)