Structuring concrete boundary objects for project-to-project learning: a state-of-practice review

Abstract

Purpose

Effective project learning can prevent projects from repeating the same mistakes; however, knowledge codification is required for project-to-project learning to be up-scaled across the temporal, geographical and organisational barriers that constrain personalised learning. This paper explores the state of practice for the structuring of codified project learnings as concrete boundary objects with the capacity to enable externalised project-to-project learning across complex boundaries. Cross-domain reconceptualisation is proposed to enable further research and support the future development of standardised recommendations for boundary objects that can enable project-to-project learning at scale.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrative literature review method has been applied, considering knowledge, project learning and boundary object scholarship as state-of-practice sources.

Findings

It is found that the extensive body of boundary object literature developed over the last three decades has not yet examined the internal structural characteristics of concrete boundary objects for project-to-project learning and boundary-spanning capacity. Through a synthesis of the dispersed structural characteristic recommendations that have been made across examined domains, a reconceptualised schema of 30 discrete characteristics associated with boundary-spanning capacity for project-to-project learning is proposed to support further investigation.

Originality/value

This review makes a novel contribution as a first cross-domain examination of the internal structural characteristics of concrete boundary objects for project-to-project learning. The authors provide directions for future research through the reconceptualisation of a novel schema and the identification of important and previously unidentified research gaps.

Citation

Ferres, G.M. and Moehler, R.C. (2023), "Structuring concrete boundary objects for project-to-project learning: a state-of-practice review", International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, Vol. 16 No. 4/5, pp. 686-711. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMPB-01-2023-0002