Governing projects under complexity: theory and practice in project management

In this paper we argue that the fledgling field of project and program governance has the potential to make a major scholarly and practical contribution. One that not only has the potential to mainstream project management within the broader business and management field, but to also cement its place as a dominant voice in the successful governance of the strategic intentions of organizations, societies, and nations. With this argument in mind three themes organize present discussion in this issue of International Journal of Project Management: the first concerns how we should make sense of governance, something that is clarified through a review of the current state of play in the literature; the second theme comprises papers that report research conducted on governance in projects, using insights from surveys, case studies and other systematic forms of empirical observation. The third theme focuses on theoretical models of governance, ranging from distributed knowledge management and learning perspectives on project governance to systems engineering approaches. While we do not claim that this issue is exhaustive, we do believe it provides a sign post about the current state of play, and the potential future of governance in project and program management as a mainstream domain of research, theory and practice.     

Towards sustainable infrastructure development through integrated contracts: Experiences with inclusiveness in Dutch infrastructure projects

Current complex society necessitates finding inclusive arrangements for delivering sustainable road infrastructure integrating design, construction and maintenance stages of the project lifecycle. In this article we investigate whether linking stages by integrated contracts can lead to more sustainable road infrastructure development by assessing public and private experiences with inclusiveness of integrated Dutch Design-Build-Finance-Maintain (DBFM) projects throughout the procurement, design, construction and maintenance and operation stages. Through semi-structured interviews and document analysis, we find that public and private parties experience that inclusiveness is increased by DBFM contracts, although differences between investigated actor, scope and time dimensions of inclusiveness exist. We conclude that integrated contracts can lead to more sustainable infrastructure development because of the lifecycle optimization incentives provided by the linked contract stages of design, construction and maintenance. Based on our findings we recommend to pursue three avenues towards more sustainable infrastructure development: green procurement, strategic asset management and relational contracting.     

Governing behavioral integration of top management team in megaprojects: A social capital perspective

Behavioral integration (BI), or the extent to which top management team (TMT) members engage in collective interactions, is a critical element for achieving business success in corporate management that has rarely been examined in megaproject studies. The organizational complexities of megaprojects contribute to biases in TMT's behavior. This study presents a team-level analysis of the drivers of BI in megaprojects through the theoretical lens of social capital. Based on a survey conducted with 128 senior managers from 48 megaprojects, the results showed that (1) both the structural and cognitive dimensions of social capital have a significantly positive effect on BI, with the structural dimension being more influential; (2) the relational dimension of social capital showed a partial effect on BI; (3) affective commitment plays a mediating role that bridges social capital and the TMT's BI. These findings shed new light on cultivating interactions among TMT members in governing megaprojects.     

(Un)bundling infrastructure procurement: Evidence from water supply and sewage projects

Public infrastructure has long been faced with difficulty in financing. Available public resources are often limited in many countries. Competitive bidding in public procurement systems is an important instrument to contain the public investment costs. But competition is often limited in the infrastructure sector. In such circumstances, better public procurement design can save a lot of public resources. There is a general tradeoff between the competition effect and economies of scale and scope; large contracts can benefit from the scale and scope effects but have to compromise competition. The unbundling approach can foster competition but may suffer from diseconomies of scale and scope. Using procurement data from water supply and sewage projects in developing countries, the paper analyzes the effects of the (un)bundling strategy on bidders’ entry and bidding behavior. It shows that the bidder cost structure exhibits significant diseconomies of scope between two main public works in this sector, i.e., treatment plant construction and distribution network installation. There is no clear evidence of the competition effect. Therefore, there is no rationale of bundling these two works into a single contract. Unbundling can help governments to contain public infrastructure costs.     

Effect of project complexity on cost and schedule performance in transportation projects

Project complexity is a contributing factor to project performance. Understanding how project complexity interacts with management actions and project performance is imperative. This study fills this knowledge gap by empirically exploring the relationship between construction project complexity and project performance and their interaction with resource allocation. Empirical data were collected from 79 transportation projects. Due to its capability to build several regression models by adding independent variables to previous models, moderated hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to identify the underlying effect of resource allocation on the project complexity and performance relationship. The results show that: (i) project complexity was significantly correlated with schedule growth (positive correlation) but not significantly correlated with cost growth; (ii) resource allocation was significantly correlated with schedule growth (negative correlation) but not with cost growth; and (iii) resource allocation had a buffering effect where increasing resource allocation significantly decreases the effect of project complexity on schedule growth. The findings from this study contribute to the extant literature on construction project complexity by empirically showing that the impact of project complexity on schedule performance interacts with the level of resource allocation. This understanding of the role of resource allocation may help construction managers and engineers to better administer and manage their complex transportation projects. The findings also imply that organizations should appropriately evaluate project complexity to allocate necessary resources to achieve project success.     

International technology transfer through projects: A social construction of technology perspective

Despite the use of projects as vehicles for international technology transfer for over five decades, the results have been rather underwhelming. The consistent failure to produce the desired outcomes highlights a simplistic and inaccurate view of technology and its transfer that also fails to incorporate the practical complexity of the process in project settings. Using the social construction of technology lens, this paper contributes a complementary understanding of what occurs in a project-based attempt to transfer technology by focusing upon the nature of technology, the roles actors play, social artefacts, and the wider context. Focusing upon the case of the development of a new monolithic formwork technology on a mass housing project in Ghana, the analysis shows how introducing new technology can have far-reaching implications for the management of projects in terms of shaping project routines, production techniques, and end-deliverables. Consequently, the need for closer examination of the conceptual misnomer of technology transfer in project settings is highlighted, and the managerial implications are identified.     

The effects of organizational culture and environmental pressures on IT project performance: A moderation perspective

In this study we examine the impact of culture and environmental pressures on IT project performance. Specifically, the current study examines four dimensions of organizational culture (i.e., institutional collectivism, results orientation, positive work environment, leadership risk tolerance) and environmental pressures that are competitive and regulatory in nature. Within the context of these variables this study examines the moderating effect of environmental pressures (i.e., levels of competitive and regulatory pressure) on the relationship between organizational culture and IT project performance. The model was empirically tested with data from the United States and China. These two countries were chosen due to their very distinctive characteristics related to organizational resources and environmental factors.     

Examining the interdependencies among emotional intelligence,trust, and performance in infrastructure projects: A multilevel study

Regardless of the calls for a distinction between individual and team levels of analysis, studies regarding the multiple-level analysis of emotional intelligence are lacking in the project management literature. This research aims to address this shortcoming by examining the relationships between emotional intelligence, trust, and performance through multilevel analysis. Data were derived from 408 participants from 89 project teams in the large scale projects through three different surveys. We used hierarchical linear modeling and we found that emotional intelligence relates positively to performance and to trust at different levels of analysis. We also found that, at the team level, trust does not mediate the relationship between emotional intelligence and project team performance. This research offers a more realistic and comprehensive picture of the management and recognition of emotional intelligence in teams and individuals concurrently and addresses the implications for project leaders of inspiring individuals and teams.     

A monitoring and controlling system in managing infrastructure projects

This paper aims at providing an overview of the monitoring and controlling process, followed by analysing the monitoring and control systems in infrastructure projects in Gaza Strip. The author concludes that it is highly recommended that international management consulting firms should consider transfering know-how to Palestinian engineers to ensure that future monitoring and control systems can be effective.     

The role of task conflict in cooperative innovation projects: An organizational learning theory perspective

Drawing on organizational learning theory, this study aims to investigate the effects of task conflict on the success of cooperative innovation projects (CIPs) and to identify the mediating mechanisms through which such effects are achieved. Our conceptual model was validated by a cross-sectional sample of 291 Chinese manufacturing firms, in each of which multiple key informants provided data about CIPs. The results indicate that the relationship between task conflict and CIP success is achieved indirectly through the mediating effects of the tacitness and ambiguity of knowledge acquired from the CIP partner, and the knowledge base compatibility of the focal firm with the partner. The mediating mechanisms elaborated in this paper probe the influence of task conflict on CIP success more thoroughly and constructively. Our findings suggest that project managers should adopt a constructive debate approach for knowledge acquisition and assimilation from their CIP partners.     

TOT项目系统复杂性分析与复杂性集成管理研究

TOT项目作为一种引导民间资本参与基础设施领域发展的有效方式,具有整体性、层次性、动态性和开放性等系统复杂性特征。在对TOT项目进行复杂性分析的基础上,提出了基于集成管理思想,包括管理对象、管理要素、管理目标和管理过程的集成管理模式,并且对实施复杂性集成管理的流程进行了分析。     

工程项目供应链管理中的不确定性及应对策略

工程项目供应链管理是通过对工程项目中的信息流、物流、资金流的控制,将整个工程项目的各参与方连成一个有机整体。通过分析工程项目供应链管理的必然性及其特点,指出了其中存在的不确定性,并就如何应对这些不确定性提出了几点建议,以期使工程项目供应链能够更加有效地运作。     

Power in news media: Framing strategies and effects in infrastructure projects

During the construction and operation phases, infrastructure projects face social unrest, such as community protests, boycotting of services as well as negative press reports of these events and other aspects of the project. There is a need to consider the concerns and moral issues of the community throughout the lifecycle and not just at the inception phase. From an organizational power perspective, we use frame analysis as a suitable lens to understand how projects shape community perceptions to try and construct sustainable legitimacy. The research reports on a case study of a metro rail project in India. 166 daily news articles, 446 user comments and 30 semi-structured interviews with the project team were analysed. We observed framing strategies used in practice, such as need framing, pride framing, community-centric framing and blame framing. These framing strategies observed in the project community had impacts labeled as the solution frame, the trend-setter frame, the important frame and the own-up frame. The relationship between the framing strategies and their effects are theorized through four propositions. We argue that through these framing strategies some issues were strategically hidden while some were strategically promoted, thereby influencing the perception of the project. An improved perception of the project can reduce resistance and conflicts during the construction and operation of the project.     

Co-creation of value outcomes: A client perspective on service provision in projects

Client organisations, as financiers, owners, and users, face the challenge of generating and delivering value outcomes for a wide range of stakeholders. However, research has demonstrated that projects constantly fall short of providing valuable outcomes in the medium- and long-term. The value outcomes start to appear in the latter stages of a project, yet, they have a link back to the project definition phase, where value outcomes can be purposely designed for the long-term. Value outcomes per se have been historically researched from a supplier and financial perspective. However, the research around the client perspective has been scarce, particularly the exploration of the co-creation of value outcomes for the long-term. To this end, the Service-Dominant Logic is an established framework to analyse the co-creation of value outcomes in the long-term from a client perspective. Thus, this framework is being used in this research to analyse six project case studies from two public sector client organisations in the United Kingdom. The results show eight managerial value interactions, which may enhance a set of five value outcomes from a client perspective in the medium- and long-term. Additionally, tensions around the co-creation process have been identified, which require management attention to secure and to defend the value outcomes. Overall, this study may prompt project practitioners to undertake a set of co-creation practices in order to formulate projects as service provision, as well as to avoid negative financial impacts to business models.     

建筑材料供应链运作中物流资源整合问题的研究探索

众所周知,目前市场环境已经发生了较大变化,传统粗放的建筑材料供应链模式已经不能满足当前建筑材料的运作需求,因此必须及时对传统的经营模式进行改变。改变传统在一定程度上是对新经营模式的检验,在此种基础上产生了物流服务外包。物流服务外包已经成为提高物流行业的主要操作方法,对物流行业经济效益及市场地位的提升具有很大作用。同时还要加强机制整合,构建长期合作的战略关系,提高与第三方的整理力度,营造和谐统一的市场竞争氛围。建筑材料供应链的工作效率以及其实际运作水平在很大程度上决定着工程施工及项目建设成本,严重时还会影响整个工程链中所有人员的实际经济利益。对建筑材料的物流资源整合的研究和探讨俨然成为一个热门的话题。     

Evaluating stakeholder satisfaction during public participation in major infrastructure and construction projects: A fuzzy approach

Numerous different and sometimes discrepant interests can be affected, both positively and negatively, throughout the course of a major infrastructure and construction (MIC) project. Failing to address and meet the concerns and expectations of the stakeholders involved has resulted in many project failures. One way to address this issue is through a participatory approach to project decision making. Whether the participation mechanism is effective or not depends largely on the client/owner.This paper provides a means of systematically evaluating the effectiveness of the public participation exercise, or even the whole project, through the measurement of stakeholder satisfaction. Since the process of satisfaction measurement is complicated and uncertain, requiring approximate reasoning involving human intuition, a fuzzy approach is adopted. From this, a multi-factor hierarchical fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model is established to facilitate the evaluation of satisfaction in both single stakeholder group and overall MIC project stakeholders.     

东莞市城市基础建设项目后评价组织机制研究

为促进城市基础建设领域项目后评价工作的专业化、程序化和规范化,构建了一套后评价模式,主要包括组织机制、评价内容、评价方法和反馈机制。结合东莞市城建工程现有管理体制,提出了城市基础建设项目后评价管理部门设置的近期、中期和远期方案,建议后评价工作由社会化的中介咨询机构承担,并提出了后评价工作组织的程序。     

研制项目技术风险量化指标研究

针对研制项目中最为关键的技术风险量化难题,确保该类项目目标的成功实现,对原有的两参风险评估模型的技术风险量化指标的体系结构、等级标准和量化方法进行了研究,解决了此模型在调研问卷设计和调研过程中可能存在的含义不清晰的难题。该研究有助于准确地量化研制项目的技术风险度。     

Effects of project governance structures on the management of risks in major infrastructure projects: A comparative analysis

Large infrastructure construction projects are prone to risks. Using desktop review and interviews with stakeholder organizations in two major infrastructure projects (the Yi-wan Railway Construction Project in China and the Northern Gateway Toll Road (NGTR) Project in New Zealand), this study investigated how different project governance structures affect the management of risks. Comparative analysis shows that project governance provides a structured mechanism to identify and address risks as they occur. Despite varied context, two projects relied upon flexible contractual arrangements to leverage risks among project participants. While a centralized, single-agent governance was adopted in the form of Project Management Headquarters (PMH) in Yi-wan Railway project, an alliance governance structure was used in the NGTR project. The former enabled top-down risk allocation whereas the latter encouraged proactive solutions to risk sharing. The research outcomes will inform the decision making among project stakeholders on establishing appropriate project governance arrangements in order to achieve target risk management outcome. By comparing real-time projects of varied scope, complexity and significance, the findings contribute to an improved understanding of the relationship between project organizations and project risk management.