The Business of Projects
Managing Innovation in Complex Products and Systems

A superb 2005 examination of project management in practice, focusing on high-value, high-technology capital goods.

Andrew Davies (Author), Michael Hobday (Author)

9780521189866, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 27 October 2011

330 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.9 cm, 0.49 kg

Review of the hardback: 'For the reader who wants to understand this important category of projects and the innovation and learning problems associated with project business, I truly recommend the book. I especially believe that the theoretical framework presented in the book is a welcome contribution to both the literature on management in general and to the knowledge of project management/organization/business in particular.' Jonas Söderlund School of Managment, Linköping University

The Business of Projects broke ground when it was first published in 2005, by showing how leading businesses create and implement projects to drive strategy and innovation. Projects are used to coordinate activities with customers and suppliers and ensure that organisations become more dynamic and adaptable. The book extends the resource-based view of the firm to focus on the business lessons learned from the design and production of high-value complex products and systems (CoPS), which have always been project-based. As well as frameworks and management tools, it provides case studies of high-technology industries - such as telecommunications, flight simulation and medical devices - to show how projects are used to achieve strategic objectives, perform systems integration, organise productive activities, manage software, achieve organisational learning and deliver solutions for customers. This book is essential reading for project professionals, academics, students, engineers, managers and policy makers seeking a strategic, innovative perspective on projects.

1. Introduction
2. The dynamics of innovation in complex projects and systems
3. Business strategy and project capability
4. Systems integration and competitive advantage
5. The project-based organisation
6. Managing software-intensive projects
7. Learning in the project business
8. Integrated solutions for customers
9. Lessons for the project business.

Subject Areas: Business & management [KJ]