Project managers’ Knowledge Sharing Supported by Technology: the Case of Microsoft Teams

Abstract

Contemporary organizations frequently employ projects to leverage work across organizational units, utilizing specialized knowledge from different areas of the organization to meet specific quality criteria in a defined time period, at a set cost. Project managers act as hubs of knowledge in directing projects and driving their success, often using technology for this purpose. To date, little is known in how far technology support this knowledge sharing in the project management.
The paper aims to explore project managers’ perceptions regarding their knowledge sharing and how this is supported by recent technology. The paper further explores benefits and challenges experienced by project managers when using the specific technology for their knowledge sharing. The research adopts the interpretive qualitative approach and collects data through semi-structured interviews with project managers using such a technology. 3 C’s analysis was used to analyze the collected empirical material to generate 6 concepts. The concepts are then reviewed in context of selected theoretical framework, including the informatics domain model by Beynon-Davies. The findings indicate that the technology largely supports knowledge sharing of project managers, both presenting opportunities for more efficiency as well as new challenges. The technology leads to change in the modus of knowledge sharing and also individuals’ approach: what, when and how knowledge is shared.
This enhanced understanding contributes to existing theory and the insights can aid practitioners in development or introduction of technology in the workplace. The work also contributes to theory about how project managers can leverage knowledge across projects with the aid of such a technology as well as to project managers’ and managers’ work, such as to make efficient use of a technology and avoid certain challenges.