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Coordination in temporary organizations: formal and informal mechanisms at the 2016 Olympics

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Coordination in temporary organizations: formal and informal mechanisms at the 2016 Olympics. / Fernandes, Aline; Spring, Martin; Tarafdar, Monideepa.
In: International Journal of Operations and Production Management, Vol. 38, No. 6, 04.06.2018, p. 1340-1367.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

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Fernandes A, Spring M, Tarafdar M. Coordination in temporary organizations: formal and informal mechanisms at the 2016 Olympics. International Journal of Operations and Production Management. 2018 Jun 4;38(6):1340-1367. Epub 2018 May 8. doi: 10.1108/IJOPM-02-2017-0097

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Fernandes, Aline ; Spring, Martin ; Tarafdar, Monideepa. / Coordination in temporary organizations : formal and informal mechanisms at the 2016 Olympics. In: International Journal of Operations and Production Management. 2018 ; Vol. 38, No. 6. pp. 1340-1367.

Bibtex

@article{e9d47d48af784935ab1fa9f4f22e7c55,
title = "Coordination in temporary organizations: formal and informal mechanisms at the 2016 Olympics",
abstract = "PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore intra-firm coordination in temporary organizations (TOs). Specifically, it identifies and explains how operational coordination evolves over time in a particular TO: the 2016 Olympic Games Organizing Committee.Design/methodology/approachThis is an immersive case study based on qualitative analysis and longitudinal fieldwork, which allowed the observation of operational coordination in real time. The main sources of data are participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and internal documents of the TO.FindingsThe findings suggest that operational coordination in TOs dealing with multiple and decentralized operations takes place through the combination of both formal and informal coordination mechanisms. Further analysis indicates a contingency logic in using these mechanisms, shaped by the presence of specific coordination challenges in different phases of work. Three main aspects influencing coordination are explored. First, it is suggested that TOs are inherently “hybrid.” That is, they comprise enduring as well as temporary and centralized as well as decentralized elements. These elements change over time. Second, a formal transition phase is explored: “venueization” – a phase between planning and operation in which centralized structural elements and processes are translated to operational units. Third, since TOs present emergence and dynamism, and related challenges across various phases of work, coordination is arguably contingent on the phase of the project.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the findings are limited to a particular empirical context, this paper offers theoretically new insights concerning the hybrid nature of processes in TOs, the contingent use of complementary coordination mechanisms, and the importance of the venueization phase, and provides a basis for future research into operational coordination in TOs.Practical implicationsThe findings can help practitioners understand and identify the challenges embedded in temporary contexts and develop coordination strategies accordingly.Originality/valueThis study explains how operational coordination takes place in TOs enabled by formal and informal mechanisms, which are contingently combined over time through particular coordination strategies.",
keywords = "Contingency theory, Project management, Temporary organizations, Hybridity, 2016 Olympic Games, Operational coordination",
author = "Aline Fernandes and Martin Spring and Monideepa Tarafdar",
note = "This article is (c) Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here. Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.",
year = "2018",
month = jun,
day = "4",
doi = "10.1108/IJOPM-02-2017-0097",
language = "English",
volume = "38",
pages = "1340--1367",
journal = "International Journal of Operations and Production Management",
issn = "0144-3577",
publisher = "Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.",
number = "6",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Coordination in temporary organizations

T2 - formal and informal mechanisms at the 2016 Olympics

AU - Fernandes, Aline

AU - Spring, Martin

AU - Tarafdar, Monideepa

N1 - This article is (c) Emerald Group Publishing and permission has been granted for this version to appear here. Emerald does not grant permission for this article to be further copied/distributed or hosted elsewhere without the express permission from Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

PY - 2018/6/4

Y1 - 2018/6/4

N2 - PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore intra-firm coordination in temporary organizations (TOs). Specifically, it identifies and explains how operational coordination evolves over time in a particular TO: the 2016 Olympic Games Organizing Committee.Design/methodology/approachThis is an immersive case study based on qualitative analysis and longitudinal fieldwork, which allowed the observation of operational coordination in real time. The main sources of data are participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and internal documents of the TO.FindingsThe findings suggest that operational coordination in TOs dealing with multiple and decentralized operations takes place through the combination of both formal and informal coordination mechanisms. Further analysis indicates a contingency logic in using these mechanisms, shaped by the presence of specific coordination challenges in different phases of work. Three main aspects influencing coordination are explored. First, it is suggested that TOs are inherently “hybrid.” That is, they comprise enduring as well as temporary and centralized as well as decentralized elements. These elements change over time. Second, a formal transition phase is explored: “venueization” – a phase between planning and operation in which centralized structural elements and processes are translated to operational units. Third, since TOs present emergence and dynamism, and related challenges across various phases of work, coordination is arguably contingent on the phase of the project.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the findings are limited to a particular empirical context, this paper offers theoretically new insights concerning the hybrid nature of processes in TOs, the contingent use of complementary coordination mechanisms, and the importance of the venueization phase, and provides a basis for future research into operational coordination in TOs.Practical implicationsThe findings can help practitioners understand and identify the challenges embedded in temporary contexts and develop coordination strategies accordingly.Originality/valueThis study explains how operational coordination takes place in TOs enabled by formal and informal mechanisms, which are contingently combined over time through particular coordination strategies.

AB - PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore intra-firm coordination in temporary organizations (TOs). Specifically, it identifies and explains how operational coordination evolves over time in a particular TO: the 2016 Olympic Games Organizing Committee.Design/methodology/approachThis is an immersive case study based on qualitative analysis and longitudinal fieldwork, which allowed the observation of operational coordination in real time. The main sources of data are participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and internal documents of the TO.FindingsThe findings suggest that operational coordination in TOs dealing with multiple and decentralized operations takes place through the combination of both formal and informal coordination mechanisms. Further analysis indicates a contingency logic in using these mechanisms, shaped by the presence of specific coordination challenges in different phases of work. Three main aspects influencing coordination are explored. First, it is suggested that TOs are inherently “hybrid.” That is, they comprise enduring as well as temporary and centralized as well as decentralized elements. These elements change over time. Second, a formal transition phase is explored: “venueization” – a phase between planning and operation in which centralized structural elements and processes are translated to operational units. Third, since TOs present emergence and dynamism, and related challenges across various phases of work, coordination is arguably contingent on the phase of the project.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the findings are limited to a particular empirical context, this paper offers theoretically new insights concerning the hybrid nature of processes in TOs, the contingent use of complementary coordination mechanisms, and the importance of the venueization phase, and provides a basis for future research into operational coordination in TOs.Practical implicationsThe findings can help practitioners understand and identify the challenges embedded in temporary contexts and develop coordination strategies accordingly.Originality/valueThis study explains how operational coordination takes place in TOs enabled by formal and informal mechanisms, which are contingently combined over time through particular coordination strategies.

KW - Contingency theory

KW - Project management

KW - Temporary organizations

KW - Hybridity

KW - 2016 Olympic Games

KW - Operational coordination

U2 - 10.1108/IJOPM-02-2017-0097

DO - 10.1108/IJOPM-02-2017-0097

M3 - Journal article

VL - 38

SP - 1340

EP - 1367

JO - International Journal of Operations and Production Management

JF - International Journal of Operations and Production Management

SN - 0144-3577

IS - 6

ER -