Svetlana Cicmil

A civil engineer by training, I had worked in the construction industry before taking up an academic career as a researcher and management educator internationally. My research focuses on the critical study of project-based work and management as economic, social and political phenomena and on the pursuit of advanced understandings of sustainability, complexity and risks in organizations and global operations. I have published widely in academic and professional journals and co-edited, with Damian Hodgson, an influential book ‘Making Projects Critical’ (2006, Palgrave). My research has been supported by national and international grants. I am also an experienced supervisor and examiner of Doctoral / PhD research and have held a number of visiting posts internationally including professorships in Industrial Management at University of Vaasa, Finland, and in Organisational Management at European Centre for Peace and Development (UN University for Peace) in Belgrade, Serbia and at Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria.

Area of expertise Research, knowledge exchange and executive education in:

Project-based work, organising and management in a global context: collaboration, unpredictability and ethics in project environments; project management practices in the public sector, business and not-for-profit organisations; critique of the 'projectification of society' studies of the sustainability agenda in global operations – e.g. ecological crisis, sustainable development, international aid and environmental policies pedagogy for responsible management education Conceptually, my work is governed by Aristotelian notion of phronesis (practical wisdom), critical management studies and processual approaches to knowledge, collaborative action and decision making in everyday organisational life. The focus is on interconnectedness, interdependency, paradox and temporality in a global context of organisations, pronounced particularly in the set-up and conduct of major cross-border projects and our ‘projectified’ society. Given the prevalence of what is known as ‘sustainability agenda’ and the ideas it has been promoting and appropriating, such as geo-engineering, climate change, ecological crises, environmental protection, it has become inevitable to refocus critical attention to these issues in a broader field of project studies.​​

PhD research supervision

I am currently supervising four doctoral researchers and would welcome inquiries from prospective candidates in the above areas.

Publications

White, G., Cicmil, S., Upadhyay, A., Subramanian, N., Kumar, V. and Dwivedi, A. (2018) Soft side of knowledge transfer partnership between universities and small to medium enterprises: Exploratory study to understand process improvement. Production Planning & Control. ISSN 0953-7287 [In Press] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/35357 ' Cicmil, S. and Gaggiotti, H. (2018) Responsible forms of project management education: Theoretical plurality and reflective pedagogies. International Journal of Project Management, 36 (1). pp. 208-218. ISSN 0263-7863 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/32917 ' Cicmil, S., Ecclestone, R. and Collins, K. (2017) Responsible education in a complex context of sustainable development: Co-creating a pedagogic framework for participatory reflection and action. In: Gudić, M., Tan, T. K. and Flynn, P. M., eds. (2017) Beyond the Bottom Line: Integrating Sustainability into Business and Management Practice. Greenleaf. ISBN 9781783533275 [In Press] Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/31293 ' Rolfe, B., Segal, S. and Cicmil, S. (2017) The wisdom of conversations: Existential Hermeneutic Phenomenology (EHP) for project managers. International Journal of Project Management, 35 (5). pp. 739-748. ISSN 0263-7863 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/31266 ' Cicmil, S., Gough, G. and Hills, S. (2017) Insights into responsible education for sustainable development: The case of UWE Bristol. International Journal of Management Education, 15 (2B). pp. 293-305. ISSN 1472-8117 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/31265 ' Gaggiotti, H., Simpson, P. and Cicmil, S. (2017) Re-imagining business schools of the future as places of theorizing. In: Izak, M., Kostera, M. and Zawadzki, M., eds. (2017) The future of university education. 1. London: Palgrave. ISBN 9783319468938 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/31284 ' Hodgson, D. and Cicmil, S. (2016) Making Projects Critical 15 years on: A retrospective reflection (2001-2016). International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 9 (4). pp. 744-751. ISSN 1753-8378 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/28535 ' Rolfe, B., Segal, S. and Cicmil, S. (2016) An existential hermeneutic philosophical approach to project management. Project Management Journal, 47 (3). pp. 48-62. ISSN 8756-9728 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/29503 ' Cicmil, S., Lindgren, M. and Packendorff, J. (2016) The project (management) discourse and its consequences: On vulnerability and un-sustainability in project-based work. New Technology, Work and Employment, 31 (1). pp. 58-76. ISSN 0268-1072 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/28533 ' Collins, K. and Cicmil, S. (2016) Sediment, subversion and suffering: Can the project be resisted? In: The 8th Making Projects Critical - An International Conference, Newcastle University Business School Newcastle, UK, 21-22 January 2016. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/28539 ' Segal, S., Cicmil, S. and Rolfe, B. (2016) Existential questioning as critical performativity/critical knowing: An exploration of power, epistemic virtue and emancipation in PM's practice. In: The 8th Making Projects Critical - An International Conference, Newcastle University Business School Newcastle, UK, 21-22 January 2016. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/28538 ' White, G. and Cicmil, S. (2016) Knowledge acquisition through process mapping: Factors affecting the performance of work based activity. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 65 (3). pp. 302-323. ISSN 1741-0401 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/28537 ' Cicmil, S. and O'Laocha, E. (2016) The logic of projects and the ideal of community development: Social good, participation and the ethics of knowing. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 9 (3). pp. 546-561. ISSN 1753-8378 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/28536 ' Hodgson, D., Lindgren, M., Packendorff, J. and Cicmil, S. (2016) Introduction: The politics of projects in technology-intensive work. New Technology, Work and Employment, 31 (1). pp. 1-3. ISSN 0268-1072 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/28532 ' Gough, G., Cicmil, S. and Longhurst, J. (2015) Utilising the ESD agenda to institutionalise PRME: A case study of the University of the West of England, Bristol. In: PRME Regional Chapter Annual Conference, Glasgow, June 2015. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/33577 ' Gough, G., Cicmil, S. and Longhurst, J. (2015) Utilising the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) agenda to embed PRME in the HE curriculum: A case study of the University of the West of England. In: From Millennium Development to Sustainable Development Goals– A Vision for Responsible Management Post 2015. 2nd PRME Regional Chapter Meeting UK and Ireland. Annual Conference, Glasgow, Scotland, UK, 29-30 June 2015. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/27434 ' Cicmil, S., Collins, K. and Ecclestone, R. (2015) Responsible education for sustainable development: Creating a pedagogic approach which reflects the complexity of the vision. In: 2nd Annual Conference UK & Ireland Chapter of UN PRME “From Millennium Development, to Sustainable Development Goal- A Vision for Responsible Management Post -2015, Glasgow, Scotland, UK, 29-30 June 2015. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/28542 ' Gaggiotti, H., Cicmil, S., Collins, K., Laurent, S., Bakare, A., Lockyer, J. and Akinbusoye, A. (2015) Learning from the sharp end in a Business School - A back-to-nature student fieldtrip. In: International Symposium: Learning from the sharp end – implications for sustainability in Higher Education, Bristol, UK, 7-8 September 2015. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/28541 ' Collins, K., Gaggiotti, H., Cicmil, S., Laurent, S., Akinbusoye, A., Lockyer, J. and Bakare, A. (2015) The found world: A learning adventure at Eden. In: International Symposium: Learning from the sharp end – implications for sustainability in Higher Education, Bristol, UK, 7-8 September 2015. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/28540 ' Cicmil, S. and O'Laocha, E. (2014) Responsible management of projects in the context of international development: A critical overview of governance, leadership and power. In: Delivering Social Good: Managing Projects in the Non-Profit Sector, University of Limerick, Limerick, Republic of Ireland, 20-21 October 2014. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/24431 ' Cicmil, S. and Gaggiotti, H. (2014) The ‘slippery’ concept of ‘culture’ in projects: Towards alternative theoretical possibilities embedded in project practice. Engineering Project Organization Journal, 4 (2-3). pp. 134-146. ISSN 2157-3727 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/22656 ' Cicmil, S. (2014) Thinking about “the management of projects”: Insights from a processual-relational approach. In: International Colloquium: Celebrating Peter Morris’s work and reconstructing project management, Senate House, University of London, London, 28 March 2014., pp. 30-33 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/23963 ' Thomas, J., George, S. and Cicmil, S. (2014) Project Management as Management Innovation. In: Lundin, R. and Hallgren, M., eds. (2014) Advancing Research on Projects and Temporary Organisations. Stockholm: CBS Press, pp. 169-195. ISBN 9788763002486 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/22707 ' Cicmil, S., Frenzel, F., Dutilleul, B. and Braddon, D. (2013) Responsible management education using a study trip: Pedagogy of risk and ethics. In: PRME, P., ed. (2013) Inspirational Guide for the Implementation of PRME: Learning to Go Beyond. 2nd. Sheffield: Greenleaf Publishing, pp. 59-64. ISBN 9781906093136 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/23961 ' Cicmil, S. (2013) The process of becoming through complex communicative interaction: An alternative ontology of projects. In: Project Management Research Institute, Athabasca University, Canada, 2013. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/23962 ' Thomas, J., George, S. and Cicmil, S. (2013) Project management implementations as management innovation- A closer look? USA: Project Management Institute. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/22708 ' Reich, B. H., Liu, L., Sauer, C., Bannerman, P., Cicmil, S., Cooke-Davies, T., Gemino, A., Hobbs, B., Maylor, H., Messikomer, C., Pasian, B., Semeniuk, M. and Thomas, J. (2013) Developing better theory about project organizations. International Journal of Project Management, 31 (7). pp. 938-942. ISSN 0263-7863 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/22657 ' Cicmil, S. (2012) Cultural impacts in project organisations: Emerging research questions. In: ESRC Seminar Series: ‘Cultural Issues for Project Organisations: Developing theory and practice” , UCL, London, 12 December 2012. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/20494 ' Thomas, J. L., Cicmil, S. and George, S. (2012) Learning from project management implementation by applying a management innovation lens. Project Management Journal, 43 (6). pp. 70-87. ISSN 8756-9728 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/20493 ' Cicmil, S. and Braddon, D. (2012) ‘Fading glory? Decision-making around the project – How and why “Glory” projects fail’. In: Williams, T. and Samset, K., eds. (2012) Project Governance – Getting Investments Right. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 221-255. ISBN 9780230363489 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/23488 ' Thomas, J., Cicmil, S. and George, S. (2012) Learning from project management implementation journeys. In: PMI International Research and Education Conference 2012 , Limerick, Ireland, 14th-17th July, 2012. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/20495 ' Cicmil, S. and Sprague, J. (2012) Stories from everyday life on projects: The relationship between Project Manager, the Project Sponsor and the process of Project Governance - A series of blogs with Jason Sprague. Project Management Research Institute (PMRI), Athabasca University, Canada. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/23964 ' Cicmil, S. (2011) How dare you? Introducing critical pedagogy to conceptualise the topic of sustainability in executive business education. In: Human Rights, The Corporation and the Environment Seminar, Belfast, UK, June, 2011. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16406 ' Cicmil, S. (2011) Multi-disciplinarity and multiculturalism in sustainability education: Pedagogy of risk and ethics. In: Education for Sustainable Development Conference, May 2011, Bristol, UK, May, 2011. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16737 ' Hodgson, D., Paton, P. and Cicmil, S. (2011) Great expectations and hard times: The paradoxical experience of the engineer as project manager. International Journal of Project Management, 29 (24). pp. 374-382. ISSN 0263-7863 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16673 ' Cicmil, S. and Gaggiotti, H. (2011) Project deadline: A precondition for survival? In: CMS Conference, Naples, Italy, July, 2011. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16743 ' Cicmil, S. (2010) Can a ‘projectified’ society be a ‘sustainable’ society : A juncture of two logics or a contradiction in terms? In: Happy projects`10: Projects and Sustainability, Vienna, Austria, May, 2010. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16739 ' Cicmil, S., Crawford, L., Cooke-Davies, T. and Richardson, K. (2009) Complexity and the paradox of project control. In: International Research Network on Organising by Projects IRNOP '09 Conference, Berlin, Germany, October, 2009. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16748 ' Cicmil, S., Hodgson, D., Lindgren, M. and Packendorff, J. (2009) Project management behind the facade. Ephemera, 9 (2). pp. 78-92. ISSN 1473-2866 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/13782 ' Cicmil, S., Cooke-Davies, T., Crawford, L. and Richardson, K. (2009) Exploring the complexity of projects: Implications of complexity theory for project management practice. Project Management Institute. ISBN 9781933890951 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16671 ' Cicmil, S. and Gaggiotti, H. (2009) Who cares about project deadlines? A processual relational perspective on problems with information sharing in project environments. International Journal of Knowledge Management Studies, 3 (3/4). pp. 240-249. ISSN 1743-8268 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/13783 ' Cicmil, S., Dordevic, Z. and Zivanovic, S. (2009) Understanding the adoption of project management in Serbian organizations: Insights from an exploratory study. Project Management Journal, 40 (1). pp. 88-98. ISSN 8756-9728 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/13781 ' Hodgson, D. and Cicmil, S. (2008) The other side of projects: The case for critical project studies. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 1 (1). pp. 142-152. ISSN 1753-8378 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16734 ' Cicmil, S. and Hodgson, D. (2007) Risks of innovation in management education: Introducing a critical management perspective onto a project management MBA elective. In: IRNOP XII Conference (International Research Network on Projects) : Projects in Innovation, Innovation in Projects, Brighton, UK, 19th - 21st September, 2007. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16880 ' Hodgson, D. and Cicmil, S. (2007) The politics of standards in modern management: Making 'the project' a reality. Journal of Management Studies, 44 (3). pp. 431-450. ISSN 0022-2380 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/6348 ' Cicmil, S. (2007) Insights into collaboration at project level: Complexity, social interaction and individual skills. In: PM Club Regional Association of Industrial Project Management, Vaasa, Finland, 6th February, 2007. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16837 ' Cooke-Davies, T., Cicmil, S., Crawford, L. and Richardson, K. (2007) We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto: Mapping the strange landscape of complexity theory, and its relationship to project management. Project Management Journal, 38 (2). pp. 50-61. ISSN 1938-9507 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16769 ' Cicmil, S., Williams, T., Thomas, J. and Hodgson, D. (2006) Rethinking project management: Researching the actuality of projects. International Journal of Project Management: Special issue on Rethinking project management, 24 (8). pp. 675-686. ISSN 0263-7863 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16774 ' Cicmil, S. (2006) Rethinking project management: New directions, new practice. In: Major Project Association Seminar, Institution of Engineering and Technology UK, Savoy Place, London, UK, 18th October, 2006. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16839 ' Cicmil, S. (2006) Understanding project management practice through interpretative and critical research perspectives. Project Management Journal, 37 (2). pp. 27-37. ISSN 8756-9728 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/6347 ' Cicmil, S. and Hodgson, D. (2006) Understanding knowledge and skills used in project management practice. In: XII Journées de Projectique, Conference on integration of Knowledge and Skills with Practice, Bidart, France, 26th - 27th October, 2006. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16881 ' Cicmil, S. and Upchurch, M. (2006) Transferring management knowledge from the west to the Balkans: Dilemmas, diversity, and the need for congruence. International Journal of Diversity in Organisations, Communities, and Nations, 5 (1). pp. 165-180. ISSN 1447-9532 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16784 ' Cicmil, S. and Hodgson, D. (2006) New possibilities for project management theory: A critical engagement. Project Management Journal, 37 (3). pp. 111-122. ISSN 1938-9507 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16783 ' Winter, M., Smith, C., Cooke-Davies, T. and Cicmil, S. (2006) The importance of ‘process’ in rethinking project management: The story of an EPSRC research network (2004-2006). International Journal of Project Management, 24 (8). pp. 650-662. ISSN 0263-7863 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16780 ' Winter, M., Smith, C., Morris, P. and Cicmil, S. (2006) Directions for future research in project management: The main findings of an EPSRC research network. International Journal of Project Management, 24 (8). pp. 638-649. ISSN 0263-7863 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16777 ' Cicmil, S. and Hodgson, D. (2006) Critical research in project management: An introduction. In: Hodgson, D. and Cicmil, S., eds. (2006) Making Projects Critical. Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 1-28. ISBN 9781403940858 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16764 ' Hodgson, D. and Cicmil, S. (2006) Making projects critical. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781403940858 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/6350 ' Cicmil, S. and Marshall, D. (2005) Insights into collaboration at the project level: Complexity, social interaction and procurement mechanisms. Building Research and Information, 33 (6). pp. 523-535. ISSN 0961-3218 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/6349 ' Cicmil, S. and Marshall, D. (2005) Insights into collaboration at project level: Complexity, social interaction and procurement mechanisms. Building Research and Information, 33 (6). pp. 523-535. ISSN 0961-3218 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16785 ' Cicmil, S. (2005) Participation, reflection, and learning in project environments: A multiple perspective agenda. In: Love, P., Irani, Z. and Fong, S., eds. (2005) Managing Knowledge in Project Environments. Butterworth Heinemann. ISBN 9780080455358 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16766 ' Cicmil, S. and Hodgson, D. (2004) Knowledge, action, and reflection in management education: The case of project management. In: 20th EGOS colloquium in Ljubljana, Slovenia: sub-theme ‘Drawing on Organization Studies to Design, Manage and Organize Education, Ljubljana, Slovenia, July, 2004. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16884 ' Upchurch, M. and Cicmil, S. (2004) The political economy of management knowledge transfer: Some insights from experience in Serbia and Montenegro. South East Europe Review, 7 (2). pp. 101-120. Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16787 ' Saad, M. ed, Cicmil, S. and Greenwood, M. (2002) Technology transfer projects in developing countries: Furthering the project management perspectives. International Journal of Project Management, 20 (8). pp. 617-625. ISSN 0263-7863 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/6354 ' Illidge, R. and Cicmil, S. (2000) From PFI to PPP: Is risk understood?’ a positioning paper. Bristol Business School Teaching and Research Review. ISSN 1468-4578 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16789 ' Cicmil, S. (2000) Quality in project environments: A non-conventional agenda. International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, 17 (4/5). pp. 554-570. ISSN 0265-671X Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16788 ' Cicmil, S. (1999) An insight into management of organisational change projects. Journal of Workplace Learning, 11 (1). pp. 5-15. ISSN 1366-5626 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16791 ' Cicmil, S. (1999) Implementing organisational change projects: Impediments and gaps. Strategic Change, 8 (2). pp. 119-129. ISSN 1099-1697 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16790 ' Cicmil, S. (1997) Achieving completeness through TQ principles and organisational learning: A case of a government agency. The Learning Organisation, 4 (1). pp. 30-34. ISSN 0969-6474 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16798 ' Cicmil, S. and Kekale, T. (1997) Implications of organisational and individual learning for effective change management in education. Journal of Workplace Learning, 9 (5). pp. 169-176. ISSN 1366-5626 Available from: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/16797 '