Building the Foundation for a Necessary Debate: Projectification of Society

Abstract

Projectification is the phenomenon whereby activities traditionally carried out in a functional manner are approached as projects. It also includes the transformation processes of organisations as project management and non-functional structures. It is a phenomenon that has become important in recent years. It has brought great benefits to organisations and public administration, and it has optimised the use of economic resources. On the other hand, projectification also brings undesirable effects, known as the dark side of projectification. Several years after the first time projectification was coined, a deep debate about projectification has been necessary to make the most of all possible levels. This research, through a bibliometric analysis and a review of the most outstanding literature, identifies those aspects that need to be discussed and where there is room for improvement. The results, with an important set of disadvantages of projectification, sometimes not taken into account, especially at the individual level, establish a solid basis for the debate on projectification and the possible points of improvement from all perspectives (individual, organisational and societal). These perspectives should be observed as different but complementary, forming a holistic understanding of projectification.