| dc.description.abstract | This thesis is an exploratory case study on how projects evolve to ecosystems. The research
study is demonstrated by two empirical cases provided by Telenor in a context of smart city;
namely water infrastructure and air quality projects. In order for the inductive observations
to be analysed and discussed, existing theories on the ecosystem concept are critically
reviewed and employed to construct a temporary working definition, as well as ecosystem
emergence and inter-organizational theories are presented. Project managers and senior
managers within the projects are targeted as interview samples as they can provide valuable
information.
Firstly, the two study cases are analysed according to the working definition and the absence
of interdependency and loosely coupled relationship characteristic is identified. We then
discovered the two important elements, trust and relationship, in the project setting, which
also have implications on the project transformation to ecosystem. We argued that personal
trust is strongly presented in the current inter-organizational project setting. However, it is
necessary for this personal trust to evolve into impersonal, or system trust for a project to
expand, and eventually reach a critical number of participants.
The second element we would like to highlight is relationships. We found that the existing
relationship serves as the foundation of the project emergence. In this thesis, relationships
are also discussed in respect to interactions among project participants. We argued that the
interactions are influenced by the resources each actor brings into the project. This also
implies the interdependency displayed in the project. It can be observed that, in the setting
where asymmetric dependency is presented, the player, who is least dependent on other
players, may take a keystone position in the project. However, it can also be the case that the
keystone position is assigned to an actor, who possesses the relationship, which is also a
valuable resource. In addition, we also touched upon the possible tensions that may cause the
negative outcomes in this relationship setting if it is not well managed. | en_US |
