CRGP will co-host with SCANCOR and GPS a two-day academic workshop at Stanford University on April 24 & 25, 2007. The title of the workshop is: "Global projects, business networks, and project business".

GPS (Global Project Strategies) is the primary organizer of the workshop. GPS consists of a consortium of Finnish universities, research institutes and industry firms. The vision of GPS is to develop new ways to manage effectively and innovatively global projects that are implemented in complex institutional and business environments with multiple participating organizations. GPS has an emphasis on three major research areas: project networks, culture and diversity, and risk management (in the context of complex networks of business and non-business actors).

The objective of the workshop is to identify relevant topics for ambitious academic research in the area of management of global projects. In the workshop, various topics related to the planning, design and implementation of global projects will be discussed and elaborated through participative discussions among the attendants.

The attendants are, in addition to GPS, CRGP and Scancor professors and researchers from Finland and the U.S., primarily professors and researchers of global project business from Sweden, Norway and Germany.

Although this is an academic workshop among representatives from academia, we would like to open the workshop to a select number of industry individuals, who see value inthe process of searching for ways to create new knowledge through research. The participating industry people should be prepared to help the researchers find relevant pathways to improve industry practice through research. Participants from industryshould have a conceptual mindset and an interest inthese kinds of discussions. In this respect, they represent thespecial class of individuals within their companies that we might call "reflective practitioners".

The industry representative participation described above means that participants should not expect any polished presentations of research results. There would not be presentations of GPS or CRGP research achievements ongoing activities, unless such presentations relate to relevant topical substance issues discussedin the workshop. There will be brief presentations in the workshop, but only to build a foundation for discussing topics relevant for GPS and CRGP in the plenary or in the group sessopms. The working mode is based on discussions and group work among the participants. The workshop is intended to be a relaxed meeting where we take important research issues and collaboration forward.

The meeting is free-of-charge. However, attendees are expected to arrange and pay for their travel, meals, and lodging near the Stanford campus.

We expect 30 to 40 guests. These include GPS professors and researchers and some Finnish company or public organization representatives (2-3 companies, maybe more), CRGP professors and researchers and representatives from some U.S. companies or public organizations or CRGP collaborating organizations, 2 Swedish professors and representatives from 1-3 Swedish companies or public organizations, 1-3 Norwegian professors and representatives from 1-3 Norwegian companies or public organizations, and 1 German professor and representatives from 1-3 German companies or public organizations.

If you have any company or public organization individuals you wish us to invite, please provide the name of the person and his/her company, and the person’s e-mail address. Because we consider that person to be important, we request that he or she not send a deputy without consulting with us. RSVPs must be received by February 15, 2007. On February 28 we will send material to those who have accepted our invitation. This package includes a program of the workshop and a list of invited participants.

Finally, doctoral student Perttu Dietrich is the responsible person for organizing this workshop with Scancor, GPS and CRGP. So, you should correspond directly with Perttu (perttu.dietrich@hut.fi) concerning registration, travel, or other logistical questions related to this workshop.

We look forward to seeing you in Palo Alto in April!

Posted by rjorr at April 24, 2007 11:18 AM