This research projects study an ecosystem comprising public and private actors, along with supporting and regulating organization offering nature-based services to overcome health related issues such as mental illness, burnout and stress. These offerings are studied in a so-called quasi-market, where quality is not established by a public system but through a complex procurement process. The research project follows Eisenhardt (1989) theory development, model focusing on three dimensions: context (where), project governance processes (how), and the nature of project goals (what). The aim is to explore inter-organizational collaborative efforts to understand how goals and governance for procurement in quasi-markets could be specified. Our model verifies the movement of goals and governance processes within this ecosystem. Our paper offer evidence to distinguish between certainty and uncertainty, thereby contributing to development of more reliable estimates for future standards that can be used for estimating price and value of such services. Furthermore, we contribute with insights of health-based projects. The research question is: how inter-organizational collaborative efforts are fundamentally designed to handle dynamic (moving) goals and governance in the context of procurement within quasi-markets.

Despite overall improvements in general health, the prevalence of mental illness continues to rise, underscoring the need for innovative approaches to health promotion. This study examines how purpose-driven small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) design and develop nature-based interventions (NBIs) as social innovations to promote mental health. Using a case study approach, the research draws on data from workshops, semi-structured interviews, and expert stakeholder discussions involving 28 SME practitioners, eight public actors from social and healthcare sectors, nine entrepreneurs, and four experienced stakeholders. The analysis reveals that the successful development of NBIs depends on five core dimensions: accessibility, acceptance, affordability, meaningfulness, and knowledge. In addition, the study identifies a range of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that SMEs encounter when navigating the complex landscape of NBI implementation. The findings highlight the potential of NBIs to complement traditional healthcare by fostering empowerment and supporting tailored recovery, while also offering strategic insights into the collaboration required for sustainable social innovation.

Infrastructure projects undergo multiple changes throughout their lifecycle, adapting to new mobilities, technologies and environments. We build on the System of Systems (SoS) theoretical concept to understand the implications of such infrastructure transformations, specifically when projects move from a single purpose to hosting multiple functions. Using multiple case studies in Europe, we investigate which functions will likely be added to the original infrastructure and the rationale for adding these functions. Therefore, we expand upon the theoretical concepts of circularity, resilience, and social sustainability, wherein multifunctional infrastructure adapts, renews, and complements existing infrastructure.

Companies today invest significant money and time to convert, transform, and adopt standards that meet societal expectations for sustainability. Such expectations can be very demanding for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The purpose of this study is to understand learning and learning processes in defined temporary projects in which advisors aim to contribute to SME transitions toward sustainability. To fulfill this purpose, we conducted a qualitative study with semi-structured interviews. The result of the study shows that projects delimited in time may risk missing out on higher-level learning and may only reach primary, lower levels of learning (i.e., adaptive learning). The study shows that advisors for projects tend to be path dependent and to revise past models and experiences rather than planning for a full learning transition process. The latter has affected implementation in small- and medium-sized enterprises.

The current study has attempted to identify the factors that can contribute toward green project performance. Based on the social exchange theory, the current study highlights that green leadership directs and promotes green vision, bringing everyone on the same page to improve the green performance of the project. The mediating and moderating mechanisms of green creativity and co-creation have also been discussed. Utilizing the data from the development projects, the study tested the antecedents of green project performance by collecting data from 231 project employees in three waves. The study’s findings confirm the importance of green leadership to achieve green project performance. Green co-creation does not moderate the relationship between green leadership and green creativity. It is essential to identify the factors that can help us deal with the energy crises. Roadmap to achieve green project performance through green leadership is highlighted in this study along with the intervening mechanisms. This study provides guidelines to practitioners that green competitive advantage can be achieved by empowering employees under green leaders through motivation and inspiration. 

Despite its declared importance for governing complexity in projects, few empirical studies have studied how different types of supply chain integration (SCI) activities (e.g., coordinative and collaborative integration) interplay and affect performance. To address this gap, the purpose of this paper is to study how complexity can be governed through coordinative and collaborative SCI, and how their interplay affects performance in project-based buyer-supplier relationships. We apply structural equation modeling, using dyadic empirical data from 102 infrastructure projects. The overall results verify our developed model and illuminate how the interplay between contractual and relational governance, in terms of coordinative and collaborative SCI, mediates the effect of technical and organizational complexity on project performance. This study contributes to theory and practice by distinguishing between contractual governance based on formal coordinative SCI and relational governance based on emerged collaborative SCI, as well as showing how their interplay affects performance in project-based supply chains.