Methodological considerations of the project management of a hospital project within a practice order network

Practice theory offers numerous theoretical affordances, especially to practitioners and researchers of project management who seek alternatives to the problematic assumed universality of 'traditional' theoretical perspectives. However there is several disagreements left unresolved in practice theory methodology that risk compromising its full potential. Illustrated by an on going, praxiographic study of the practice of project management of a major UK National Health Service (NHS) hospital project, Schatzki's notion of site ontology is drawn upon to implement a research strategy that contributes to resolving such disagreements. It is argued that whilst practice theory methodology ought to be ontologically coherent and contextually driven and, therefore, shaped by the research questions and aims, it is also important to constantly reflect dialogically on the relationship between the particular practice theory used and the phenomena being observed. In addition to adding to the extant literature on the conceptualisation of project management as a practice the study's primary contribution is to identify and examine some of the methodological implications to those who want to use a practice theory approach in consideration of the resolution of its contested methodology.