Moving goals and governance in megaprojects

Bourne, Mike; Bosch-Rekveldt, M.G.C.; Pesämaa, Ossi

doi:10.1016/j.ijproman.2023.102486

Moving goals and governance in megaprojects

Title

Moving goals and governance in megaprojects

Author

Bourne, Mike (Cranfield University)
Bosch-Rekveldt, M.G.C. (TU Delft Integral Design & Management)
Pesämaa, Ossi (Luleå University of Technology)

Date

2023

Abstract

Project management is known for its tools and techniques that are used to plan and deliver projects in a controlled context. Megaprojects don't always fit well into this paradigm due to their size, complexity and longevity. Megaprojects often start without precisely defined goals and without a detailed knowledge of how the project will progress or the outcomes will be delivered. We examine the requirements for governance of megaprojects by reviewing the literature and reflecting on practice. We use the analytical model of where, how and what to illustrate different units of analysis (i.e., context, governance and goals) in megaprojects in three countries and to illustrate how goals and governance move. Building upon the governance and performance management literature, the paper contributes to the understanding of moving goals and governance for ensuring performance. We propose a framework for diagnosing goals and we list six systemic errors that result in a misfit.

Subject

Goals
Governance
Megaproject
Project performance

To reference this document use:

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:8d54f161-1019-4966-91f7-47eee19d37e5

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2023.102486

ISSN

0263-7863

Source

International Journal of Project Management, 41 (5)

Part of collection

Institutional Repository