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The Oxford Handbook of Megaproject Management
The Oxford Handbook of Megaproject Management provides state-of-the-art scholarship in the emerging field of megaproject management. Megaprojects are large, complex projects that typically cost billions of dollars and impact millions of people, like building a high-speed rail line, a megadam, a national health or pensions IT system, a new wide-body aircraft, or staging the Olympics.
The book contains 25 chapters written especially for this volume, covering all aspects of megaproject management, from front-end planning to actual project delivery, including how to deal with stakeholders, risk, finance, complexity, innovation, governance, ethics, project breakdowns, and scale itself. Individual chapters cover the history of the field and relevant theory, from behavioral economics to lock-in and escalation to systems integration and theories of agency and power. All geographies are covered - from the US to China, Europe to Africa, South America to Australia - as are a wide range of project types, from "hard" infrastructure to "soft" change projects. In-depth case studies illustrate salient points.
The Handbook offers rigorous, research-oriented, up-to-date academic view of the discipline, based on high-quality data and strong theory. It will be an indispensible resource for students, academics, policy makers, and practitioners.
The book contains 25 chapters written especially for this volume, covering all aspects of megaproject management, from front-end planning to actual project delivery, including how to deal with stakeholders, risk, finance, complexity, innovation, governance, ethics, project breakdowns, and scale itself. Individual chapters cover the history of the field and relevant theory, from behavioral economics to lock-in and escalation to systems integration and theories of agency and power. All geographies are covered - from the US to China, Europe to Africa, South America to Australia - as are a wide range of project types, from "hard" infrastructure to "soft" change projects. In-depth case studies illustrate salient points.
The Handbook offers rigorous, research-oriented, up-to-date academic view of the discipline, based on high-quality data and strong theory. It will be an indispensible resource for students, academics, policy makers, and practitioners.
- GenresNonfictionBusiness
618 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2017
43 people are currently reading
327 people want to read
About the author
Bent Flyvbjerg
14 books98 followersBent Flyvbjerg is a Danish economic geographer. He is the Villum Kann Rasmussen Professor at the IT University of Copenhagen.
His research focuses on management of megaprojects, including the Olympic Games, and cities.
He is the author or editor of 10 books and more than 200 papers in professional journals and edited volumes. His publications have been translated into 19 languages.
Research interests:
Decision Making, Risk, Project Management, Infrastructure, Cities
His research focuses on management of megaprojects, including the Olympic Games, and cities.
He is the author or editor of 10 books and more than 200 papers in professional journals and edited volumes. His publications have been translated into 19 languages.
Research interests:
Decision Making, Risk, Project Management, Infrastructure, Cities
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 26, 2020
The Oxford Handbook of Megaproject Management edited by Bent Flyvbjerg is a treasure trove for anyone intellectually interested in the delivery of large-scale investment projects. Far from purely academic, the book is truly a handy and practical reference for anyone involved in delivering today’s megaprojects.
The beginning of the book puts the built world in perspective, informing us that we are in the largest investment boom in history. China used more cement in 2011-13 than the US did in the entire 20th Century. The world’s tallest building has increased in height by 160% over the past 80 years, the longest bridge by more than 260%.
The book traces the development of project management practice from the post-World War II military projects in the US such as Manhattan, Atlas, Polaris and Apollo, many of which offer important lessons for today’s megaprojects. Recent innovations in project management approaches are also highlighted. For example, the Heathrow Terminal 5 (T5) project relied on flexible contracts and proven contractors rather than simpler fixed price construction contracts to deliver an intensely complex project. When construction began in 2002, the project cost was equal to approximately two thirds of the British Airport Authority’s capital value. The megaproject consisted of 16 major projects and 147 subprojects. Although the opening of T5 was somewhat chaotic, the project is credited with on-time and on-budget delivery.
Crossrail is a 118-km rail project under development in the UK including 42km of new tunnels. The project is noted for its Innovation Strategy that included funding for specific proposals to develop technologies and approaches to increase efficient delivery. Innovate18, an online platform, was created as part of a wider Innovation Management System. During 2012-2014, the program held three rounds of competition and funded 30 specific innovations.
For its 787 Dreamliner production, Boeing outsourced an unprecedented amount of the plane’s design and production to more than 700 local and foreign suppliers. Its Production Operation Center relied on translators in 28 different languages. The megaproject recognized the axioms of contingency theory that, “there is no one best way,” and, “one size does not fit all”. However, the 787 program was not void of deficiencies. Remote design and supply led to mismatched components that had to be modified and the new plane model was eventually delivered 40 months beyond schedule.
While there are many success stories to cover, the book also highlights the shortcomings in many megaprojects. In fact, there is a general consensus that megaprojects are usually delivered late and over budget, in many cases by large multiples. These include iconic projects like the Sydney Opera House which was originally budgeted at A$7 million but whose final cost was A$104 million. In addition to cost overruns, megaprojects are also plagued by benefit shortfalls. The most conspicuous of these are the mega-events such as the Olympics and World Cup. While there are some success stories in this category including the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics that delivered a profit of $225 million, many other cases demonstrate a negative return on hosting such events. This experience highlights the danger of trying to replicate the success of other jurisdictions. For another example, many view the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao as a major success that helped put the city on the tourism map of Europe, but similar initiatives in other cities have not fared as well. Hydroelectric dams are another type of megaproject that has consistently delivered huge cost overruns and comparable benefit shortfalls. The huge debts caused by megaproject cost overruns can drag on national economies for decades as in the cases of Brazil and Pakistan with their large dam projects and Greece with the 2004 Olympics.
The book presents a balanced view of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP or P3). It indicates that the knowledge base of PPP remains disappointingly low. The Scandinavian countries have proven that private finance is not a prerequisite for efficient project delivery whereas the Australian experience with toll road PPPs is plagued with failure.
Overall, the Oxford Handbook of Megaproject Management is a refreshing and insightful survey on the field of megaprojects. It is a must-read for researchers and practitioners alike in the field of program management.
The beginning of the book puts the built world in perspective, informing us that we are in the largest investment boom in history. China used more cement in 2011-13 than the US did in the entire 20th Century. The world’s tallest building has increased in height by 160% over the past 80 years, the longest bridge by more than 260%.
The book traces the development of project management practice from the post-World War II military projects in the US such as Manhattan, Atlas, Polaris and Apollo, many of which offer important lessons for today’s megaprojects. Recent innovations in project management approaches are also highlighted. For example, the Heathrow Terminal 5 (T5) project relied on flexible contracts and proven contractors rather than simpler fixed price construction contracts to deliver an intensely complex project. When construction began in 2002, the project cost was equal to approximately two thirds of the British Airport Authority’s capital value. The megaproject consisted of 16 major projects and 147 subprojects. Although the opening of T5 was somewhat chaotic, the project is credited with on-time and on-budget delivery.
Crossrail is a 118-km rail project under development in the UK including 42km of new tunnels. The project is noted for its Innovation Strategy that included funding for specific proposals to develop technologies and approaches to increase efficient delivery. Innovate18, an online platform, was created as part of a wider Innovation Management System. During 2012-2014, the program held three rounds of competition and funded 30 specific innovations.
For its 787 Dreamliner production, Boeing outsourced an unprecedented amount of the plane’s design and production to more than 700 local and foreign suppliers. Its Production Operation Center relied on translators in 28 different languages. The megaproject recognized the axioms of contingency theory that, “there is no one best way,” and, “one size does not fit all”. However, the 787 program was not void of deficiencies. Remote design and supply led to mismatched components that had to be modified and the new plane model was eventually delivered 40 months beyond schedule.
While there are many success stories to cover, the book also highlights the shortcomings in many megaprojects. In fact, there is a general consensus that megaprojects are usually delivered late and over budget, in many cases by large multiples. These include iconic projects like the Sydney Opera House which was originally budgeted at A$7 million but whose final cost was A$104 million. In addition to cost overruns, megaprojects are also plagued by benefit shortfalls. The most conspicuous of these are the mega-events such as the Olympics and World Cup. While there are some success stories in this category including the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics that delivered a profit of $225 million, many other cases demonstrate a negative return on hosting such events. This experience highlights the danger of trying to replicate the success of other jurisdictions. For another example, many view the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao as a major success that helped put the city on the tourism map of Europe, but similar initiatives in other cities have not fared as well. Hydroelectric dams are another type of megaproject that has consistently delivered huge cost overruns and comparable benefit shortfalls. The huge debts caused by megaproject cost overruns can drag on national economies for decades as in the cases of Brazil and Pakistan with their large dam projects and Greece with the 2004 Olympics.
The book presents a balanced view of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP or P3). It indicates that the knowledge base of PPP remains disappointingly low. The Scandinavian countries have proven that private finance is not a prerequisite for efficient project delivery whereas the Australian experience with toll road PPPs is plagued with failure.
Overall, the Oxford Handbook of Megaproject Management is a refreshing and insightful survey on the field of megaprojects. It is a must-read for researchers and practitioners alike in the field of program management.
June 4, 2019
The topic of this book is fascinating. The first surprising realisation is that how critical MegaProjects are to Global economy yet how often these are treated as regular projects. No wonder the success rate of such Megaprojects is dismal. Most projects go over budget, are delayed as well as have less than the projected impact.
The book provides the full context and examples of issues as well as possible cures to better manage such MegaProjects.
Another fascinating discussion in the book pertains to the myth of "Hiding hand". The mistaken belief that since we underestimate both the risks as well as our creativity to resolve the risks - the megaprojects end up delivering larger benefits. This myth is deconstructed and analysed thoroughly which makes it an interesting read.
As this is a collection of academic papers - the language and the pace at times is too scholarly which may put off the average reader.
Great read but only for highly motivated readers.
The book provides the full context and examples of issues as well as possible cures to better manage such MegaProjects.
Another fascinating discussion in the book pertains to the myth of "Hiding hand". The mistaken belief that since we underestimate both the risks as well as our creativity to resolve the risks - the megaprojects end up delivering larger benefits. This myth is deconstructed and analysed thoroughly which makes it an interesting read.
As this is a collection of academic papers - the language and the pace at times is too scholarly which may put off the average reader.
Great read but only for highly motivated readers.
April 27, 2018
Excellent collection of independent articles. Many, perhaps most, focus on project economical elements and organizational structuring as opposed to what I consider as pure project management. I think the book would be more appropriately named “Megaproject Financing and Governance.” In which case it would warrant 4.1 stars!
March 31, 2020
I read this book for having insights on the possible research agenda, as the editor promises in the Introduction chapter. Based on what I read, the sections are designed to compile literature, structure present knowledge, and produce the agenda superficially. The conclusion of each chapter is incoherent, so I am still not sure how to use the book, either as a review works or as a commentary for empirical studies. Still, the book is useful to get me into the topic in a structured way and to locate scientific contributions which are already in place.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews