Temporary Organizations

Synonyms

Temporary systems

Definition

Temporary organizations form for the purpose of accomplishing an ex ante-determined task with a predetermined termination point. They can be intraorganizational, occurring within the context of a non-temporary organization, or interorganizational, comprising a number of organizations (cf. Kenis et al. 2009, p. 2).

Introduction

Temporary organizations or systems are a prevalent and relevant organizational form, with projects being the most well-known exemplar. Some even speak of “project society” to highlight a broader societal shift from industrial society, marked by traditional organizations and work arrangements, toward a projectification, marked by temporary and often highly networked work arrangements (Lundin et al. 2015). These developments raise broad questions not only for the organization of work and management but also for institutions such as corporate and labor law. Critical perspectives problematize the implications of projectification...