Half Double Research

Activities in the research track

The research track has contributed to a number of important areas, including:

• Development of the Half Double Methodology and evaluation of Half Double in organizations
  • In Phase 1 and 2 of the research track, pilot projects were evaluated compared to reference projects in 16 different organizations. This, to assess if applying the Half Double Methodology could lead an increase in the success rate of projects and the development rate of products or services.
  • Phase 3 evaluates the Half Double Methodology in small- and medium sized enterprises as well as the diffusion and spread of the methodology.
• Currently, four practice-oriented reports have been produced which evaluate the results and learning of Project Half Double phase 1 and 2
  • A report evaluating results of phase 3 is estimated to be presented in 2021.
• Additional theme report deals with key topics in Project Half Double as training practitioners, working with visuals, practice reflections and small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Several academic papers either published in academic journals or at international conferences
  • A paper published in the International Journal of Managing Projects in Business analyses the differences and similarities between Project Half Double and the ’rethinking project management’ research stream.
  • A paper published in the International Journal of Project Management, examines the important challenge for today’s organizations of accelerating time to impact in projects
  • Conference papers examine themes such as collaborative project ownership, project evaluation, agile project management, and accelerating time to benefit in projects.
• Selection and contact with internationally recognized researchers from the field of management, who act as sparring partners and can attend conferences on Project Half Double

Research partners

In the current phase of Project Half Double (phase 3) AU is responsible for the research track. During phase 1 and 2 of the project the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) collaborated with AU to deliver research. Both AU and DTU were selected as primary partners since these institutions already play a significant role in project management. Thus, the research has been designed and carried out by experienced researchers from top universities in Denmark.

About the methodology 

During phase 1 and 2 of Project Half Double, the research seeked to document and evaluate the experience of working with the Half Double Methodology through a multifaceted evaluation process combining both qualitative and quantitative methods. By developing a comprehensive comparative study, the research team was able to examine projects in 16 individual organizations comparing the effect of the Half Double Methodology across projects. Here, pilot projects implemented with the Half Double Methodology were compared with three reference projects in each organization not applying the methodology. This evaluation assesses the degree to which the Half Double Methodology would prove more successful and effective than traditional approaches to project management when it comes to reducing time to impact, increasing project success rate and development speed of products or services. At the same time, it evaluates the learnings and implications from each organization in terms of practicing the Half Double Methodology.

In phase 3, the research track continues to document and evaluate the Half Double Methodology applied to projects in organizations across Denmark. More specifically, this phase examines the diffusion and spread of the Half Double Methodology, and further examines the application of the methodology in a specific setting of several small- and medium sized organizations. This research continues to be a mulitfaceted comparison study of pilot projects. Furthermore, the research track will examine the scaling of the Half Double Methodology through survey data.

List of Publications

• Svejvig, P., Geraldi, J. & Grex, S. (2019). Accelerating Time to Impact: Deconstructing Practices to Achieve Project Value. International journal of Project Management.
   
• Rode, A. L. G. & Svejvig, P. (2018). Project evaluation: one framework – four approaches. Paper presented at Fourth Danish Project Management Research Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark.
   
• Svejvig, P., Geraldi, J. & Grex, S. (2017). Accelerating time to benefit: Deconstructing innovative organizational practices in five projects. Paper presented at IRNOP 2017 (International Research Network on Organizing by Projects), Boston, MA, USA.
   
• Frederiksen, S.H. & Svejvig, P. (2017). The Collaborative Project Owner in Theory and Practice: Examples from Project Half Double. Paper presented at Third Danish Project Management Research Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark.
   
• Laursen, M., Svejvig, P. & Rode, A.L.G. (2017). Four Approaches to Project Evaluation. Paper presented at The 24th Nordic Academy of Management Conference, Bodø, Norge.
   
• Heeager, L.T., Svejvig, P. & Schlichter, B.R.(2016), ”How has Agile Methods Inspired an Industrywide Project Management Initiative?”. Selected Papers of the Information Systems Research Seminar in Scandinavia, Issue No. 7.
   
• Heeager, L. T., Svejvig, P. & Schlichter, B.R. (2016). How Agile Methods Inspire Project Management - The Half Double Initiative. International Research Workshop on IT Project Management 2016. Paper 13., Dublin.
   
• Svejvig, P. & Grex, S. (2016). The Danish agenda for rethinking project management. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 9(4), 822-844. doi:doi:10.1108/IJMPB-11-2015-010.
   
• Svejvig, P. & Hedegaard, F. (2016). The challenges of evaluating and comparing projects – An empirical study of designing a comparison framework. In J. Pries-Heje & P. Svejvig (Eds.), Project Management for Achieving Change (pp. 107-129). Frederiksberg: Roskilde University Press.

About international collaboration

Professor Emeritus Kristian Kreiner, who is a former professor at Copenhagen Business School has reviewed the methodology and given his input to the considerations that must be made in order to increase the value and usability of the concept. One of the most important takeaways was the need to intensify focus on how the methodology can be applied to unique, local contexts where conditions for obtaining success differ.

The British government-funded initiative "Rethinking Project Management" has also been a major source of inspiration in the development of the Project Half Double Methodology. Dr. Mark Winter led the research project, and results and recommendations from the project were published in the International Journal of Project Management. One of the results of the initiative was five new directions for further research into project management, which, in many ways, are similar to the Project Half Double Methodology. In particular, special emphasis was on changing the approach to project practitioners so that they are considered as reflective practitioners instead of trained technicians. Dr. Winter's experience in this field has contributed to the Project Half Double Methodology developing reflective practitioners who can effectively learn, operate and adapt to complex project contexts – and thus pragmatically translate and apply the methodology in practice.

Dr. Aaron J. Shenhar is considered one of the world's leading researchers in the field of project management and technology management. Apart from giving feedback on the Half Double Methodology, Dr. Shenhar was the keynote speaker at the Project Half Double Conference in 2016. Dr. Shenhar’s approach to project characteristics is applied to analyze projects in Project Half Double.

Ralf Müller is an award winning professor of project management at BI Norwegian Business School. Müller is renowned for his research in the field of project management and the topics of project leadership and governance - two key aspects of the Half Double Methodology. In 2017 at a Project Half Double Thought Leader session, Ralf Müller was invited to share his insights on leadership and governance.

Miia Martinsuo is a professor of industrial management at Tampere University in Finland. Martinsuo is acknowledged for her research on management of project business and portfolios focusing on value management and uncertainty. In 2017 Project Half Double invited Martinsuo to share her thoughts effective portfolio management and leadership in relation to Half Double at a Thought Leader session.

Andrew Davis is a renowned professor of innovation management. His research takes point of departure in the notion of innovation in complex projects and identifying practices for delivering successful projects within time, budget and scope. In 2018, Andrew Davis was invited as a keynote speaker on innovation, flexibility and project learnings at a Half Double Conference.

Agnar Johansen is a professor at Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Johansen’s works in the field of project management where he has a wide experience as researcher, lecturer and consultant. At a Half Double conference in 2018, Johansen shared his research of fast projects and knowledge gained from leading several development projects.