My research focuses on how operational actors sustain the reliability of operations managed by Complex Temporary Technical Organizations (CTTOs). It looks into the complexities arising from the organizing, technical and governance interconnectivity in these operations, especially in regulated environments where operational failure can have severe consequences. Examining the practices of interorganizational operational actors collaborating for limited durations, the research highlights the limitations of current management and external governance approaches in this context. It emphasizes the necessity of adaptive practices among operational actors to align work designs with actual work situations and offers insights into the dynamic, often informal, interpretive strategies that complement design strategies to sustain operational reliability.
By offering insights into day-to-day practices aimed at sustaining CTTO operational reliability, the research contributes to a better understanding of how these organizations deal with increasingly complex operational challenges. In addition, this research contributes to the broader discourse on managing and externally governing complex, temporary, technical organizations operating in uncertain and ambiguous contexts, providing constructive insights for both practitioners and researchers interested in coordinating and governing CTTO operations.