Abstract :
In the paper I portray project-based organizing as a recipe for counteracting inertia, and suggest that project processes, and more generally project-based firms, may be seen as relying on an evolutionary mode of learning. I thus picture projects as "relatively pure occasions of organizing" [38] containing a general evolutionary learning process, with pre-selection, variation and learning as analytically distinguishable process steps. I also point out that similar processes of trial and error based learning may be in place at higher levels within project-based firms. Finally, I discuss what competencies top managers should have in order to bring about the necessary learning processes. I conclude that they need to be talented not only in using mechanisms associated with "managing hierarchies", but also in handling some mechanisms we conventionally associate with "managing markets".
