Working Together Separately: A techno-anthropological case study on PROJECT MANAGEMENT in relation to the large-scale implementation of E-Health technology within the Region of Northern Jutland and how this is challenged by the lockdown following the pandemic of COVID-19
Translated title
Working Together Separately
Authors
Daus-Petersen, Joachim ; Bertelsen, Cecilie Kildahl Ranch
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2020
Submitted on
2020-06-04
Pages
84
Abstract
This master’s thesis is a techno-anthropological case study of project management in the large-scale implementation of the new electronic health record NordEPJ in the Region of Northern Jutland, and of how the COVID-19 lockdown affected this work. The research question asks: What characterises project management in the IT implementation of NordEPJ, and how is it supported to maintain organisational interdependencies when work must be carried out remotely? The empirical material comprises 20 interviews (unstructured, semi-structured, and structured) with key actors in the programme and project organisation. Actor-Network Theory is used as the analytical frame to examine network dynamics, translation processes, and efforts to stabilise the network, as well as how new processes are initiated when circumstances change significantly. The findings indicate that maintaining organisational interdependencies depends heavily on the physical presence of human actors, which proves difficult to translate into a virtual workplace. The project organisation also faced a lack of clear guidelines for knowledge sharing during remote work. The study contributes to project management literature by foregrounding contextual uncertainties that shape practice and by identifying essential actors and practices that constitute the infrastructure for appropriate digital transformation, the establishment of a remote workplace, and effective virtual teamwork.
Denne masterafhandling er en techno-antropologisk casestudie af projektledelse i den storstilede implementering af den nye elektroniske patientjournal NordEPJ i Region Nordjylland og af, hvordan COVID-19-nedlukningen påvirkede arbejdet. Problemstillingen lyder: Hvad kendetegner projektledelse i IT-implementeringen af NordEPJ, og hvordan understøttes den med henblik på at opretholde organisatoriske indbyrdes afhængigheder, når der skal arbejdes på afstand? Data er indsamlet gennem 20 interviews (ustrukturerede, semistrukturerede og strukturerede) med centrale aktører i program- og projektorganisationen. Actor-Network Theory anvendes som analytisk ramme til at belyse netværkets dynamikker, oversættelsesprocesser og forsøg på stabilisering samt de nye processer, der igangsættes, når situationen ændrer sig markant. Resultaterne peger på, at opretholdelsen af de organisatoriske afhængigheder i høj grad beror på menneskers fysiske tilstedeværelse, som vanskeligt lader sig oversætte til et virtuelt arbejdsrum. Projektorganisationen mødte samtidig mangel på klare retningslinjer for videndeling under fjernarbejde. Studiet bidrager til projektledelseslitteraturen ved at synliggøre, hvordan kontekstuelle usikkerheder kan forme praksis, og ved at identificere centrale aktører og praksisser, der udgør infrastrukturen for en hensigtsmæssig digital omstilling, etablering af et fjernarbejdsmiljø og effektivt virtuelt teamsamarbejde.
[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]
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