Volume 1, No. 1 – January 2000

The Art of Re-representing—Project Organization and the Production of "Facts" at the Construction of "Potsdamer Platz"/Berlin

Gesine Bär (Germany)

Abstract: Set out to learn about the ordering of "EuropeŽs biggest construction site", I focused on the problem of how it is possible to stabilize complex interaction networks across time and space. The cooperation of several investors to built a new train station exemplifies that an "objective" representation of the building process is not achieved. Thus, the production of "facts" becomes the main challenge for the investors in the closing phase of their cooperation. A final cost division between the investors can only take place if a stable project-representation is negotiated. The sociological analysis identifies the problem which arises when trying to couple diverse representations in an effort to institutionalize a complex project organization.

Key words: project organization, institutionalization, representation, practices, negotiated order, actor-networks

This contribution is only available as a full text in the German language. German text

Last update: 01/30/2003

Volume 1, No. 1 Table of Contents

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