When the discipline of project management emerged in the 1950s, it was based on projects as a mechanism for solving complex technical problems. People only played a role in these projects by executing a plan drawn up by specialists. This plan had to be followed exactly and deviations were therefore undesirable. Unfortunately, this attitude influences project management in many areas even today. With the publication of the agile manifesto, the increasing dynamics in the project business and the growing self-confidence of the younger generation (“Generation Y or Z”), this attitude is changing significantly. Projects are made by people, with people for people. Projects take place in the context of one or more organizations, conceived as a social system, which temporarily configures itself for a project. Experts with different orientations and know-how come together to form a project team, solve certain tasks independently and organise the work within the project autonomously. Naturally, many questions are associated with this change, including what role projects play for entrepreneurial activities, how leadership can be established in such an environment and what competences are necessary for all people involved?

The 8th IPMA Research Conference addresses the increasing interest in the subject of self-organizing in and through projects. Agile approaches build on or value the willingness and the capabilities of individuals and teams to self-organize in projects. Projects are seen as the arena for self-organizing. It is often argued that millennials are increasingly interested in work autonomy and self-organizing through projects to fulfil their expectations in the workspace. However, what does that mean for organizational structures, processes, cultures and leadership? What is the motivation of individuals to perform activities, to engage with others and organizations in order to get things done? Which kind of leadership supports self-organizing in projects and how do we achieve the changes necessary from the traditional set-up towards new ways of leading? Is self-organizing in projects perceived as traditional work, or is it an individual ́s “Vita Activa”? What have disciplines like Natural Sciences, Psychology, Philosophy, Sociology and Management to offer in this respect? What are cultural limitations and potentials regarding self-organizing in projects and how do we deal with them?

The Research Conference aims at bringing researchers, experts, scholars and practitioners together to exchange insights, perspectives and foresight on the theme. A distinctive feature of the IPMA Research Conferences has ever since been an intensive exchange between theory and practice, which can be found neither at scientific nor professional conferences. Practitioners are encouraged to share their experiences in practice and share their requirements to researchers, who in return share their knowledge of theoretical foundations in managing projects in various contexts. This conference is designed to allow a maximum of interaction. There will be a mix of keynotes, short paper presentations in the form of an “Elevator Pitch” in the morning, providing insights from various perspectives, which will be discussed immediately by the participants. Through a Call for Papers, papers will be collected, evaluated and selected for short presentations during the conference and publication in a Springer book. During the afternoon sessions, there will be various interactive methods applied, for example, the Open Space Technology, Fishbowl exchange, a self-organizing World Café session and several other opportunities for exchange.

Take part in the Call for Papers!
Each paper for the IPMA Research Conference should be a full paper, with an abstract of between 150 and 200 words and a total length of up to 6,000 words. A template is available for download on the conference website. Each paper will be peer-reviewed by at least two members of the Scientific Committee. A prerequisite for publication of the paper is that at least one of the authors participates in the 8th IPMA Research Workshop and presents the paper there. Each author can submit a maximum of two papers.
More information is available on the conference website: http://www.ipma-research-conference.world/call-for-papers-for-6th-ipma-researche-conference-is-started/