The pathogen construct in risk analysis

Busby, J S and Zhang, H (2008) The pathogen construct in risk analysis. International Journal of Project Management, 39 (3). pp. 86-96.

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Abstract

Project risk analysis has traditionally emphasized the analysis of external threats. Here we argue that internal decisions and structures are more fundamental, because they determine which external events pose risks to project management. A “pathogen” metaphor is used to understand these internal sources of risk, in an analysis of failure in two sets of projects that lie on the border between the private and public sectors. This analysis goes beyond earlier work on organizational pathogens by treating them as subjective interpretations, not objective conditions. The study suggests that the more insidious risks to which a project is exposed involve different project members holding contradictory beliefs about what is pathogenic and what is protective.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
International Journal of Project Management
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1400/1403
Subjects:
?? business and international managementmanagement, monitoring, policy and lawmanagement of technology and innovationdiscipline-based research ??
ID Code:
45271
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
11 Jul 2011 18:29
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
18 Dec 2023 01:13