Ten years after: The evolution of projectification in Germany, Norway, and Iceland

Abstract

Theory of projectification suggests that an increasing use of projects is a reaction to an increasing need for innovation and adaptation to changes in the environment of firms. The degree of projectification of an economy was first measured in 2013 for Germany followed by Norway and Iceland. Over the last ten years, significant changes have taken place in the three countries which can be assumed to spur a further increase in projectification. This paper presents the results of a new series of studies. The results reveal a high level of projectification in the three economies, but also that a plateauing has been reached. In addition to the degree of projectification, the present study assesses and compares the project landscapes in the three countries and examines if the high projectification corresponds to a professionalization of project management in the form of project careers and central project organizations.