Emerging Convergences or Debates

Abstract

The foregoing text provides examples illustrating the variety of projects in terms of how they can be identified, what kinds of learning are involved, how the projects relate to transformations in permanent organisations, and how projects can be analysed as economic relations. In this chapter we claim that, in spite of the variety, certain themes of convergences and ongoing debates emerge. These themes concern the epistemology of projects, i.e. how each discernible project notion is related to a particular view of the world; the social contingency of project ideas and/or role that culture plays; the diffusion of learning project concepts; varieties of learning and economic relations in project work. The latter point sets a focus on the notions of boundaries or borderlines between projects and so-called permanent organisations. It is maintained that aspects of this temporary/permanent duality are at the top of the present agenda for researchers and practitioners alike.