Russian Federation
Modern projects are implemented in conditions of uncertainty, complexity and high dynamics, where traditional approaches to management may be insufficient to explain the reasons for success or failure. In these conditions, the process of sensemaking becomes particularly important — active comprehension by participants of what is happening, formation of a common understanding and adaptation to a changing reality. The article considers sensemaking as a methodological tool in project management that allows analysing the processes of interpretation, collective reflection and coordination of meanings. The author relies on classical and modern researches, revealing how sensemaking helps to manage risks, determine the success of a project taking into account the perception of stakeholders, eliminate cultural barriers in distributed teams and comprehend strategic development in the context of digitalization. Special attention is paid to prospective sensemaking — comprehension of the future, formation of projective meanings and flexible goal management. The work emphasizes the applied potential of the method, its ability to complement traditional project management tools by taking into account the human factor, and suggests directions for further development. Sensemaking is presented as a valuable resource for both researchers and practitioners seeking a deeper understanding of project work in today's turbulent environment.
project management, sensemaking, collective understanding, flexible methodologies, risk management
1. Warren L., Johnson M.B., Varadarajan Swetha. (2025). Fusion of Modern and Traditional Practices in Project Management. URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/387903634_Fusion_of_Modern_and_Traditional_Practices_in_Project_Management
2. Khan S.Y., Rasool R., Rehman F.U., Ahmad S.Z., Iqbal M.W. Agile Strategies in Software Project Management and Traditional Management Approaches // Contemporary Journal of Social Science Review. 2024, vol. 02, no. 04, pp. 1–9.
3. Dyer R. Cultural sense-making integration into risk mitigation strategies towards megaproject success // International Journal of Project Management. 2017, vol. 35, pp. 1338–1349. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2016.11.005
4. Fellows R., Liu A.M.M. Sensemaking in the cross-cultural contexts of projects // International Journal of Project Management. 2016, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 246–257.
5. McLeod L., Doolin B., MacDonell S.G. A perspective-based understanding of project success // Project Management Journal. 2012, vol. 43, no. 5, pp. 68–86.
6. Weick K.E. Sensemaking in Organizations. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 1995. 248 p.
7. Gudova E.A. Issledovanie smysla v organizaciyah: predposylki i elementy koncepcii sensemaking K. Veyka [Tekst] / E.A. Gudova // Sociologicheskoe obozrenie. — 2020. — T. 19. — № 1. — S. 283–304. — DOI:https://doi.org/10.17323/1728-192X-2020-4-283-304 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17323/1728-192X-2020-1-283-304; EDN: https://elibrary.ru/ENODMW
8. Pandza K., Thorpe R. Creative Search and Strategic Sensemaking: Missing Dimensions in the Concept of Dynamic Capabilities // British Journal of Management. 2009, vol. 20, pp. S118–S131. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8551.2008.00616.x
9. Maitlis S., Christianson M. Sensemaking in Organizations: Taking Stock and Moving Forward // The Academy of Management Annals. 2014, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 57–125. DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1080/19416520.2014.873177 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5465/19416520.2014.873177
10. Kalyazina E.G. Cifrovoy menedzhment v upravlenii proektami [Tekst] / E.G. Kalyazina // KE. — 2021. № 12. — URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/tsifrovoymenedzhment-v-upravlenii-proektami (data obrascheniya 03.04.2025)
11. Kjaergaard A., Kautz K., Nielsen P.A. Making Sense of Project Management — A Case of Knowledge Management in Software Development // Proceedings of the 40th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences. 2007, pp. 1–10
12. Kutsch E., Djabbarov I., Hall M. How managers frame and make sense of unexpected events in project implementation // International Journal of Project Management. 2021. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2021.04.002 EDN: https://elibrary.ru/ADIFQG
13. Ahlemann F., Bergan P., Karger E., Greulich M., Reining S. (2024). Making Sense of Projects—Developing Project Portfolio Management Capabilities. Schmalenbachs Zeitschrift für betriebswirtschaftliche Forschung, 76(1), 1–33. URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41471-023-00178-8 EDN: https://elibrary.ru/ALGTPR
14. Prieto R. Sensemaking in Project Management // PM World Journal. 2021, vol. 10, no. 10, pp. 1–7.
15. Azimina E.V. Innovacionnost' i effektivnost' — dva drayvera proektnogo upravleniya [Tekst] / E.V. Azimina // Aktual'nye voprosy razvitiya sovremennoy nauki: teoriya i praktika: sb. materialov nauch. konf. professorsko-prepodavatel'skogo sostava, nauch. sotrudnikov i aspirantov po itogam NIR za 2022 g. — SPb.: Izd-vo SPbGEU, 2024. — S. 3–7. EDN: https://elibrary.ru/ANWMSB
16. Ponomareva V.A. Ocenka effektivnosti realizacii proekta v usloviyah neopredelennosti [Tekst] / V.A. Ponomareva // Ekonomika i socium. — 2023. № 8. — URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/otsenkaeffektivnosti-realizatsii-proekta-v-usloviyah-neopredelennosti (data obrascheniya: 04.04.2025). DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8349108; EDN: https://elibrary.ru/GPSJJV
17. Ulendeeva N.I. Sovremennye tendencii razvitiya upravleniya proektami: sbornik trudov konferencii [Tekst] / N.I. Ulendeeva, E.N. Zvyaginceva // Pravo, ekonomika i upravlenie: aktual'nye voprosy: materialy Vseross. nauch.-prakt. konf. s mezhdunar. uchast. (Cheboksary, Feb 20, 2024). — Cheboksary: Laru-tăru («Sreda»), 2024. S. 109–112. EDN: https://elibrary.ru/ZSURHP
18. Sheng M.L. (2017). A dynamic capabilities-based framework of organizational sensemaking through combinative capabilities towards exploratory and exploitative product innovation in turbulent environments. Industrial Marketing Management, 65, 28–38. URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2017.06.001
19. Särner E., Yström A., Lakemond N., Holmberg G. Prospective Sensemaking in the Front End of Innovation of AI Projects // Research-Technology Management. 2024, vol. 67, no. 4, pp. 72–83. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/08956308.2024.2350407 EDN: https://elibrary.ru/PAGKOO
20. Karanec S.M. Modeli zrelosti upravleniya proektami [Tekst] / S.M. Karanec // Byulleten' innovacionnyh tehnologiy. — 2024. — T. 8. — № 2. — S. 30–35. EDN: https://elibrary.ru/MWXFNQ
21. Gephart R.P., Topal C., Zhang Z. Future-Oriented Sensemaking: Temporalities and Institutional Legitimation // Hernes T., Maitlis S. (eds.). Process, Sensemaking, and Organizing. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010, pp. 275–312.
22. Thomas J.L. Making Sense of Project Management // Projects as Business Constituents and Guiding Motives / edited by R.A. Lundin et al. N. Y: Springer Science + Business Media, 2000, pp. 25–43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4505-7_3
23. Graham M. Winch M.G., Maytorena E. Making Good Sense: Assessing the Quality of Risky Decision-making // Organization Studies. 2009, vol. 30, no. 2–3, pp. 181–203. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840608101476
24. Prohorova M.P. Gibkie instrumenty upravleniya proektami i trebovaniya k proektnym komandam [Tekst] / M.P. Prohorova, A.A. Shkunova, S.V. Bulganina, E.S. Tkachev // Russian Economic Bulletin. — 2024. T. 7. — № 1. — S. 194–198. EDN: https://elibrary.ru/WXVAJZ
25. Tashkinov A.G. Metodologiya upravleniya proektami v usloviyah cifrovoy transformacii predpriyatiya [Tekst] / A.G. Tashkinov // Nauchnye issledovaniya i razrabotki. Rossiyskiy zhurnal upravleniya proektami. 2024. — T. 13. — № 3. — S. 3–9 (data obrascheniya:07.08.2025). DOI: https://doi.org/10.12737/2587-6279-2024-13-3-3-9; EDN: https://elibrary.ru/NWUIHX
26. Funtov V.N. Gibkoe upravlenie v negibkoy otrasli [Tekst] / V.N. Funtov, D.V. Paramonov, S.N. Malozemov // Nauchnye issledovaniya i razrabotki. Rossiyskiy zhurnal upravleniya proektami. — 2017. — № 1. S. 25–36. — DOI: https://doi.org/10.12737/24620 (data obrascheniya: 10.08.2025). EDN: https://elibrary.ru/YITHXX



