Kavanagh, DonnchaDonnchaKavanaghKelly, SéamasSéamasKelly2014-08-072014-08-072002 Elsev2002-07Journal of Business Researchhttp://hdl.handle.net/10197/5795This paper discusses the difficulties involved in managing knowledge-intensive, multinational, multiorganisational, and multifunctional project networks. The study is based on a 2-year quasi-ethnography of one such network engaged in the design and development of a complex new process control system for an existing pharmaceutical plant in Ireland. The case describes how, drawing upon the organisational heritage of the corporations involved and the logic implicit within their global partnership arrangements, the project was initially structured in an aspatial manner that underestimated the complexity of the development process and the social relations required to support it. Following dissatisfaction with initial progress, a number of critical management interventions were made, which appeared to contribute to a recasting of the network ontology that facilitated the cultivation and protection of more appropriate communicative spaces. The case emphasises the need to move away from rationalistic assumptions about communication processes within projects of this nature, towards a richer conceptualisation of such enterprises as involving collective sensemaking activities within and between situated 'communities' of actors.Contrary to much contemporary writing, the paper argues that space and location are of crucial importance to our understanding of network forms of organising.enThis is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in the Journal of Business Research. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in the Journal of Business Research (VOL 55, ISSUE 7, (2002)) DOI: 10.1016/S0148-2963(00)00188-0Industrial networksTrustProject managementSpaceCommunities of practiceVirtual organisationNetworksTemporaryJournal Article55758359410.1016/S0148-2963(00)00188-02014-08-05https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ie/