Transforming Creative Potential in Project Networks: How TV Movies are Produced Under Network-Based Control

Critical Sociology, Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 19-42, 2007

Posted: 16 Aug 2010 Last revised: 24 Jul 2012

See all articles by Stephan Manning

Stephan Manning

University of Sussex Business School

Jörg Sydow

Freie Universität Berlin

Date Written: June 1, 2007

Abstract

Project networks have been identified as dynamic, yet relatively stable organizational forms in project-based creative industries. They materialize in longer-term actor relationships which are actualized by and institutionalized through particular projects. This article examines how project networks transform creative potential for and beyond particular projects. The transformation process is enabled and constrained by the dialectic of network-based control which refers to the capacity of actors to reproduce relational power and autonomy within actor constellations in project networks. This study is empirically based on a qualitative analysis of two projects launched from project networks of two major German TV production companies. Theoretically, the study draws on concepts from structuration theory.

Keywords: Creative work, project organizing, network organizing, project network, TV movie production, labor transformation, structuration theory

JEL Classification: M51, M54, M55, L82, J24, J44, J62, L14, D23, Z13, Z19, M11

Suggested Citation

Manning, Stephan and Sydow, Jörg, Transforming Creative Potential in Project Networks: How TV Movies are Produced Under Network-Based Control (June 1, 2007). Critical Sociology, Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 19-42, 2007, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1658733

Stephan Manning (Contact Author)

University of Sussex Business School ( email )

Sussex House
Falmer
Brighton, Sussex BNI 9RH
United Kingdom

Jörg Sydow

Freie Universität Berlin ( email )

School of Business & Economics
Garystr. 21
D-14195 Berlin
Germany
49-30-83853782 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.fu-berlin.de/wiwiss

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