In Search of the Soul of Temporary Organizations: Taking stock and moving forward from 30 years of ‘Temporary Organization’ Research
In Search of the Soul of Temporary Organizations: Taking stock and moving forward from 30 years of ‘Temporary Organization’ Research
A bit of institutional history: Thirty years ago, the Department of Organization (IOA) —particularly Kristian Kreiner—played a key role in shaping what became a groundbreaking Special Issue in the Scandinavian Journal of Management. That issue introduced a new perspective on project management: not merely as a set of tools and processes, but as a temporary organization — an organization created with the explicit intention to dissolve. This conceptual shift laid the foundation for a vibrant and enduring academic field. Today, IOA continues to play a central role. Nearly the entire COT group is represented in the SI! Joana Geraldi and Sofia Pemsel, alongside Mattias Jacobsson, have taken the lead in editing a new Special Issue in the same journal — this time celebrating the field’s evolution and enduring relevance. Jonathan Feddersen, Miriam Feuls, Sunny Mosangzi Xu, Tor Hernes, and Majken Schultz have contributed a compelling paper. Special Issue link
Publication 1:
Joana Geraldi and Sofia Pemsel, together with Mattias Jacobsson, edited a Special Issue to mark the 30th anniversary of the field of temporary organizing. The editorial revisits the field’s foundational ideas and explores their lasting impact.
Editorial: Thirty years of temporary organizations research: A field reconnecting with its soul – Joana Geraldi, Mattias Jacobsson and Sofia Pemsel - Read more here
Publication 2:
Jonathan Feddersen, Miriam Feuls, Sunny Mosangzi Xu, Tor Hernes, and Majken Schultz have contributed a compelling paper. The paper explores how companies engage with nature through pilot projects—building on insights from the Actionable Futures research initiative. Inspired by Callon’s work, they conceptualize these processes as framing and overflowing, which open potential pathways toward scaling sustainable solutions.
Temporary organizing with nature: How companies frame ‘nature’ through pilot projects – Jonathan Feddersen, Miriam Feuls, Sunny Mosangzi Xu, Tor Hernes, Majken Schultz - Read more here
Big Congratulations to all!