Playing projects: identifying flow in the 'lived experience'

Article

van der Hoorn, Bronte. 2015. "Playing projects: identifying flow in the 'lived experience'." International Journal of Project Management. 33 (5), pp. 1008-1021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2015.01.009
Article Title

Playing projects: identifying flow in the 'lived experience'

ERA Journal ID3498
Article CategoryArticle
Authors
Authorvan der Hoorn, Bronte
Journal TitleInternational Journal of Project Management
Journal Citation33 (5), pp. 1008-1021
Number of Pages14
Year2015
Place of PublicationKidlington, OX. United Kingdom
ISSN0263-7863
1873-4634
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2015.01.009
Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the 'lived experience' of projects discourse. The research study uses an arts-based research method (musical improvisation on a xylophone and/or glockenspiel) to access the participant's perception of their experience of managing a project. Participants are then asked to explain their improvisation and therefore their experience. Key findings were that participants described their 'lived experience' of project managing as having 'ups and downs', including challenges and issues, and as experiencing variations in emotions over the project lifecycle. Csikszentmihalyi's flow theory is used to show that these 'lived experience' findings support a Heideggerian paradigm and personal perspective of what a project is. Projectness is not a characteristic of the activity itself. A project is a personal phenomenon defined in terms of the relationship between the individual or organisation and activity. It is dependent on capability versus the challenge presented by the activity.

Keywordstheory of research; managing projects
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020520406. Sensory processes, perception and performance
350709. Organisation and management theory
500107. Professional ethics
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Byline AffiliationsSchool of Management and Enterprise
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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