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Projects, Agency and the Multi-Level Perspective

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  • Sylvain Lenfle

    (CNAM - Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers [CNAM], i3-CRG - Centre de recherche en gestion i3 - X - École polytechnique - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris - Université Paris-Saclay - I3 - Institut interdisciplinaire de l’innovation - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

This paper discusses the role of projects in technological transitions. Based on a case study of a technological transition in numerical weather prediction the paper discusses the multi-level perspective (MLP) framework developed by F. Geels & al. (2002 & next). This framework has been criticized for its macro-level perspective and its difficulty to deal with the question of agency. Our research suggests that the project level constitutes a promising avenue to discuss this question in the multi-level perspectives framework. It demonstrates how, in this case, a project play a major role in the transition from one technological regime to another and how at the project level actors can be included more precisely in the MLP. In so doing it also propose a type of transition not envisioned by the MLP research. Finally we suggest that bridging MLP and project management research, particularly contemporary works on innovative projects, could be fruitful for both fields.

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  • Sylvain Lenfle, 2017. "Projects, Agency and the Multi-Level Perspective," Post-Print hal-01574741, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01574741
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-01574741v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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