Torbjørn Bjorvatn

• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn & Örtenblad, Anders (2025). Praksis i disiplinutdanninger på masternivå: Læringsmål og vurderingskriterier. In Örtenblad, Anders & Rypestøl, Jan Ole (Ed.), Praksisorientert og studentaktiv læring: Arbeidslivsrelevans og akademiske verdier i høyere utdanning. Cappelen Damm Akademisk. ISSN 9788202870478. p. 329–346. doi: 10.23865/cdf.244.ch13. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Practice is becoming increasingly widespread as a learning activity at universities and university colleges, including academic education programs at the master’s level. Nevertheless, the purpose of practice is often unclear. This also makes it difficult to formulate learning objectives, define learning activities and develop suitable assessment criteria. While previous research has focused mostly on practice in vocational education, this chapter focuses on academic education (generalist education). The chapter assumes that practice in academic education has a different purpose than in vocational education. Thus, learning objectives and assessment criteria will also be different. With support from literature, the authors propose the following learning objective for practice-based teaching in academic education at the master’s level: The student should understand the connection between theory and practice. The same objective is common in empirical research within social science. Thus, established quality criteria in research can also be used as a basis for assessing practice-based learning. In this chapter, we take this approach a step further and propose practice as data collection.

• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn & Randøy, Trond (2022). The “costs of doing business abroad” in a cross-border context characterised by extreme political volatility. Review of International Business and Strategy. ISSN 2059-6014. doi: 10.1108/RIBS-03-2022-0032. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Purpose – The purpose of this study is to describe and explain the organisation design antecedents of coordination, learning and trust in an international strategic alliance in a cross-border context characterised by extreme political volatility. Design/methodology/approach – The research was carried out as a single-case study in situ in a humanitarian international strategic alliance in Pyongyang, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea). Findings – In addition to explaining the effects of interface, specialisation, formalisation and centralisation on coordination, learning and trust, the study demonstrates the influence of classic international business (IB) “costs of doing business abroad” (Hymer, 1960/1976) on the same organisational outcomes. Moreover, the study identifies intergovernmental engagement/containment/disengagement as a contextual antecedent of both organisation design and outcomes. Originality/value – The study extends IB theory by indicating that mainstream IB perspectives may not fully explain intraorganisational outcomes in cross-border contexts characterised by extreme political volatility. Notably, the study suggests that complementary constructs such as intergovernmental engagement are needed to account for the additional costs incurred by such settings. Keywords Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, DPRK, North Korea, Costs of doing business abroad

• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn & Wald, Andreas Erich (2021). Antecedents of knowledge transfer effectiveness in international teams. European Journal of International Management. ISSN 1751-6757. 23(4), p. 622–647. doi: 10.1504/EJIM.2024.139613. Full text in Research Archive
• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn (2021). Internal projects as strategic tools: An organisation-level perspective and a research agenda. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business. ISSN 1753-8378. 15(1), p. 216–240. doi: 10.1108/IJMPB-05-2021-0118. Full text in Research Archive
• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn & Wald, Andreas Erich (2020). The impact of time pressure on knowledge transfer effectiveness in teams: trust as a critical but fragile mediator. Journal of Knowledge Management. ISSN 1367-3270. 24(10), p. 2357–2372. doi: 10.1108/JKM-05-2020-0379. Full text in Research Archive
• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn & Wald, Andreas Erich (2019). Complexity as a Driver of Media Choice: A Comparative Study of Domestic and International Teams. International Journal of Business Communication (IJBC). ISSN 2329-4884. 62(1), p. 22–43. doi: 10.1177/2329488419874367. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  International dispersed (virtual) teams are becoming increasingly prevalent in complex international business environments, and their ability to handle internal communication is critical to their performance. Modern information and communication technology offer a variety of media to support team communication. Nonetheless, research is trailing behind practice and offers no established framework to explain media use in contemporary teams. Here, we seek to address this void. In a comparative study of domestic and international teams’ choice of media, we extend media-richness theory by focusing on the construct of complexity. Using structural equation modelling and multigroup analysis to assess a multinational sample of 285 project teams, we find partial support for media-richness theory and demonstrate the specific relevance of this theory to the study of communication in international teams. Complexity affects international teams more strongly than domestic teams, prompting international teams to intensify their use of rich and semirich communication media to an extent not observed in domestic teams.

• Jiménez, Alfredo & Bjorvatn, Torbjørn (2018). The building blocks of political risk research: A bibliometric co-citation analysis. International Journal of Emerging Markets. ISSN 1746-8809. 13(4), p. 631–652. doi: 10.1108/IJoEM-12-2016-0334. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Purpose The purpose of this paper is to summarise the core literature on political risk and to suggest avenues for future research. Design/methodology/approach Applying bibliometric analysis as a starting point, this systematic review identifies the current core body of literature on political risk and uncovers the theoretical building blocks of the research field. Findings A synthesis of the key literature reveals three broad analytical foci: the sources of political risk; the effects of political risk; and actors’ (countries, industries, firms and projects) vulnerabilities, capabilities and responses to political risk. Research limitations/implications The authors propose a unifying conceptual framework for political risk research. Practical implications The paper provides managers with a tool kit to analyse political risk. Moreover, it aids policy-makers in addressing political risk in a comprehensive manner. Originality/value The paper represents the first systematic review of the political risk literature in over 30 years. By offering an integrated theoretical framework, it paves the way for new insights into an increasingly topical field.

• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn & Wald, Andreas Erich (2018). Project complexity and team-level absorptive capacity as drivers of project management performance. International Journal of Project Management. ISSN 0263-7863. 36(6), p. 876–888. doi: 10.1016/j.ijproman.2018.05.003. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Many believe that project complexity reduces project management performance. However, so far research has failed to establish this causal relationship conclusively. We extend research on project complexity by introducing the concept of team-level absorptive capacity and by studying its role as mediator between project complexity and project management success. Applying structural equation modelling to a sample of 285 respondents, we find an unequivocal, direct and positive statistical association between project complexity and delays and overspending. Further, we show that team-level absorptive capacity is critical for successful project management, but also that absorptive capacity can only partially offset the harmful impact of project complexity. Beyond adding to project management theory, the paper contributes to the wider management literature. We establish complexity as an antecedent of absorptive capacity and demonstrate how each dimension of absorptive capacity has unique determinants and outcomes.

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• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn (2022). Akademiske kvalitetsmål i praksisbasert læring i disiplinutdanninger på masternivå. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Politiske føringer tilsier mer bruk av praksis på universitetene. Imidlertid er det pedagogiske formålet med praksis ikke alltid åpenbart, særlig ikke i disiplinutdanningene, innbefattet de økonomisk-administrative studieprogrammene. I dette notatet går jeg løs på dette paradokset og antyder en løsning.

• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn (2022). Assessment criteria for work-integrated learning in a generalist postgraduate university programme. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Work-integrated learning (WIL) such as placements and internships are becoming increasingly common in generalist (i.e. not profession-oriented) postgraduate university programmes. Nevertheless, the justification for work-integrated learning in such programmes is not obvious. While various purposes have been proposed, this paper draws on the university’s traditional role in producing and disseminating research-based knowledge. The paper suggests that in generalist study programmes, learning objectives and, hence, assessment of work-integrated learning can profitably be molded on time-tested practices in academic scholarship. Central in this respect is the ability to reflect on the relationship between theory and practice. Adopting this ability as an intended learning outcome (ILO), the paper argues that generalist programmes should embrace work-integrated learning. Specifically, the paper advances a set of assessment criteria that offer a flexible yet rigorous basis for assessing work-integrated learning in generalist postgraduate university programmes.

• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn (2021). Tvilsomme regimer rykker stadig nærmere. p. 14–15. Full text in Research Archive
• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn (2019). International build-operate-transfer (BOT) infrastructure projects - The experience of China. Full text in Research Archive
• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn (2018). Agder i møte med globale trender. p. 24–24. Full text in Research Archive
• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn (2018). Betydningen av kultur i internasjonalt næringsliv. [Radio]. NRK Sørlandet. Full text in Research Archive
• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn & Wald, Andreas Erich (2018). Mediebruk i prosjekt. Prosjektledelse. ISSN 1500-0516. p. 19–21. Full text in Research Archive
• Wald, Andreas Erich; Velasco, Maria Magdalena Aguilar; Bjorvatn, Torbjørn; Grønvold, Aiste; Skeibrok, Jenny & Svensson, Frida Linnea (2016). Projektifizierung auch im Norden: Der Anteil der Projektarbeit in Deutschland und Norwegen im Vergleich. projektManagement aktuell. ISSN 0942-1017. 27(4), p. 50–55. Full text in Research Archive
• Wald, Andreas Erich & Bjorvatn, Torbjørn (2016). Nordmenn bruker 1/3 av arbeidstida på prosjekt. Prosjektledelse. ISSN 1500-0516. p. 16–19. Full text in Research Archive
• Wald, Andreas Erich & Bjorvatn, Torbjørn (2016). Norge på prosjekt. Dagens næringsliv. ISSN 0803-9372. Full text in Research Archive
• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn (2016). Å overvinne grensene som skiller oss. Full text in Research Archive
• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn (2016). "The costs of doing business abroad" and their effects on intra-firm processes: A dynamic, multi-level conceptual framework. Full text in Research Archive
• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn (2016). How does the international environment affect firm performance? The case of knowledge transfer effectiveness. Full text in Research Archive
• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn (2016). The building blocks of political risk research - Towards a theoretical framework. Full text in Research Archive
• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn (2016). Effective knowledge transfer within globally dispersed project teams. Full text in Research Archive
• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn (2016). A dynamic, multi-level framework for the analysis of the international environment: The moderating effects of dynamic capabilities on international knowledge transfer. Full text in Research Archive
• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn (2022). Kvalitet i praksisbasert undervisning i disiplinfag på masternivå. Universitetet i Agder. Full text in Research Archive
• Bjorvatn, Torbjørn (2018). The influence of the international business context and complexity on team-level outcomes. Universitetet i Agder. Full text in Research Archive
• Normann, Roger Henning; Kyllingstad, Nina & Bjorvatn, Torbjørn (2018). Utredning av alternative modeller for kommersialisering av forskning ved Universitetet i Agder. NORCE Research AS. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Denne rapporten er skrevet på oppdrag av Universitet i Agder, basert på et mandat fra universitetsstyrets sin behandling av dette i juni møtet 2018. Arbeidet er utført mellom 20. September og 2. november 2018. Utredningen behandler fremtidig organisering av kommersialisering av forskning ved Universitetet i Agder. Mandatet for prosjektet har vært å behandle følgende spørsmål: «Hvordan kan Universitet i Agder best ivareta samfunnsoppdraget om å kommersialisere forskning blant sine ansatte?» Vi har i samråd med oppdragsgiver valgt å ta utgangspunkt i fordeler og ulemper, som knyttet til tre ulike modeller for hvordan kommersialisering av forskning ved Universitetet i Agder kan organiseres. Disse er 1) å sette ut kommersialisering av forskning til en ekstern aktør, (2) innfase kommersialiseringsfunksjonen i Universitet i Agder organisasjonen, og (3) strategisk samarbeid om kommersialisering av forskning med en kommersialiseringsaktør. I tillegg har vi vurdert muligheten for å inngå i ett strategisk samarbeid med nasjonal aktør/aktørkonstellasjon. Utreder er også på bakgrunn av arbeidet bedt om å gi en anbefaling til oppdragsgiver om organisasjonsform. Prosjektet er blitt gjennomført ved hjelp data og innsikter fra forskningslitteratur, relaterte utredninger og intervjuer med nasjonale og regionale aktører, som både indirekte og direkte har kunnskap og erfaring med relevans for utredningens hovedspørsmål.

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