Sustainable Management Of Transnational Megaprojects

This book analyses the seminal role of megaprojects for sustainable development, and the related, complex challenges they bring. It provides insights into the growing social responsibilities that megaprojects have, not only to be environmentally sustainable, but also towards the multitude of stakeholders involved, whether directly or indirectly. After an historical overview of the increasingly necessary links between sustainable infrastructure and megaprojects, the book builds on and applies stakeholder theory to stakeholder engagement and management in megaprojects. It also emphasizes the importance of building impact assessment frameworks that consider the unheard voices that are often passively sitting at the receiving end of a megaproject, as well as the local context where the megaproject is embedded. The book then proceeds to analyse the case of a very contested transnational railway megaproject between Italy and France, the Turin-Lyon high-speed railway, which has been suffering from stakeholder and communication issues for over thirty years, as well as from notable managerial and legal differences in the two countries. In this way, the book informs both theory and practice and encourages scholarly interventions into wicked problems. It contains a comprehensive review of the academic literature on the sustainability, sustainability challenges, and sustainability reporting of megaprojects. Conceptual models, frameworks and future research opportunities are provided to clarify the empirical challenges and highlight the gaps and opportunities to be explored by researchers and practitioners in future. The audience for the book is both academic researchers and practitioners in the field of megaprojects and more specifically, those dealing with managing transnational megaprojects. It also includes several topics that will be of interest to policy and decision-makers.

"This scholarly work delves into the intricate realm of megaprojects, characterized by their colossal scale, complexity, and societal impact. It offers a comprehensive analysis of the multifaceted challenges that confront these ventures, spanning stakeholder conflicts, environmental, social, and economic sustainability concerns, and the unique characteristics of each project. The book presents a structured exploration, spanning seven chapters, which combine theoretical frameworks and empirical insights. It elucidates the fundamental components essential for sustainable megaproject management, emphasizing the significance of social responsibility. It establishes a crucial link between critical infrastructure and sustainable development, unraveling paradoxes. Furthermore, it scrutinizes the state of research in the field, highlights critical areas in accounting studies within the context of megaprojects, and identifies emerging research trends. The book concludes by examining a specific case study of a transnational megaproject. In sum, this scientific endeavor aims to address the pressing challenges of sustainable megaproject management, providing a holistic and systemic approach that accounts for all dimensions of sustainability and inclusive stakeholder engagement. It contributes to the evolving discourse on the governance and management of transnational megaprojects in a dynamically changing world"--

The book investigates the various aspects characterizing Megaprojects from numerous perspectives and by integrating different disciplines: engineering, economics, business organization, human resource management, law, etc. It represents the first output of MeRIT (the Megaproject Research Interdisciplinary Team), and focuses on the intrinsic and unavoidable complexity of Megaprojects. The chapters have intentionally not been standardized, and humanistic topics are not separated from technical ones: this way of reading and interpreting Megaprojects through the cross-pollination of various disciplines reflects the MeRIT approach. Addressing the complexity involved in Megaprojects requires the use of a hermeneutic circle of sorts: understanding the project as a whole is achieved by referring to the specific parts, while each part can only be understood in relation to the whole. This circular approach appears to be the only one applicable to Megaprojects: no final destination, no final synthesis can be achieved. This volume consists of eight chapters written by researchers in law, economics, sociology, business organization, engineering, architecture and landscaping. The topics covered will be relevant to researchers, practitioners involved in the development of Megaprojects, and policymakers at the EU level.

Megaprojects, also referred to in the literature as Large Engineering Projects or Major Projects, are generally defined as large-scale investment initiatives worth 1b€/$ or more and, facing similar problems independent of the country where they are implemented and the industry they belong to. The common feature of most megaprojects is that they are difficult to design and manage so that their realization and completion is always extremely expensive, often over budget and delivery deadlines also are not met. In the worst-case scenario, they remain unfinished. This book, through its multidisciplinary approach, offers food for thought and alternative interpretations for the complex world of megaprojects. While much research has been conducted and differing approaches have been developed over the last 20 years, there is still a lot of debate surrounding the topic, and a holistic approach for effectively managing these initiatives is still missing. What is clear to all researchers and experts in the field is that a traditional-linear management approach is simply not sufficient, as at many stages of a megaproject, iterative and feedback effect occurs due to stakeholder involvement and increasing and continuous interaction between them. The book promotes the debate among all categories of stakeholders involved in the megaproject’s supply chain, in order to increase the awareness of complex phenomena relating to the critical issues and common problems they face, all over the world, and to seek performance improvement across the whole life cycle of a megaproject, including the selection, design, construction, operation and de- commissioning.The multidisciplinary approach cultivated in the book conveys an innovative way to study megaprojects and their inherent complexities.

The definitive guide to international megaprojects from an undisputed authority in the field In Global Megaprojects: Lessons, Case Studies, and Expert Advice on International Megaproject Management, distinguished international megaproject researcher and consultant Virginia A. Greiman delivers a comprehensive and incisive discussion of a key topic in global infrastructure development: the international megaproject. In the book, readers will find indispensable guidance and insights from experienced megaproject experts, as well as over 20 case studies highlighting practical solutions to common and pressing issues faced by project stakeholders around the world. This book was written to demonstrate that megaprojects can and have accomplished major economic, social, and technical advancements thought impossible but achieved by successfully confronting the challenges of the time. This book offers solutions and prescriptions for megaproject participants to overcome the complex challenges presented by these projects. It incorporates the latest evidence-based theory and a wealth of practical experience and provides a truly international perspective, showcasing viewpoints from a diverse collection of regions, cultures, and industries. Global Megaprojects also presents: Thorough introductions to megaprojects and their lifecycles, including the megaproject ecosystem and the world’s emerging megaprojects In-depth examinations of megaproject finance and economics, including innovation and value-driven program management Extensive explorations of complex project leadership, including the characteristics of uncertainty, complex projects, and cross-cultural dynamics Comprehensive discussions of megaproject implementation management, including global delivery methodologies and strategic objective alignment Perfect for, Global Megaprojects: Lessons, Case Studies, and Expert Advice on International Megaproject Management will also earn a place in the libraries of project managers, policymakers, academics, contractors, engineers, suppliers, investors, and sponsors of large international projects.

This book showcases the discussion about megaprojects carried out at the MeRIT (Megaproject Research Interdisciplinary Team) workshop 2022: the crisis, discontinuity, rising prices, and supply chains disruption force radical reflection for those involved in megaprojects. It raises a modern-day challenge, the creation of value for stakeholders. Indeed, the aim of the volume is to encourage readers to think more broadly, articulately and less stringently than the mainstream claims. There is a need to design, implement, and manage megaprojects by abandoning the old paradigm that leveraged solely on time and cost. We need to move beyond that by going to explore the value generated, the positive impact on people, communities and territories. Economic, social and environmental sustainability takes on a new and broader articulation: issues of the circular economy applied to megaprojects are addressed and ample space is ensured for the inclusion of social needs in current practices.

This book collects recent work presented at the 31st IPMA Congress, which was held in Merida, Mexico, from September 30th to October 2nd, 2019. It covers a range of project, programme and portfolio management contexts, with the general aim of integrating sustainability into project management. The book is structured into three parts. The first part covers concepts and approaches related to the integration of sustainability in project management. The second part presents research on integrating sustainability into project management in different industries and regions. The final part takes specific perspectives on integrating sustainability into project management related to learning and continuing competence development. The book offers a valuable resource for all researchers interested in studying the emerging trends in incorporating sustainability in project, programme and portfolio management.

The concept of sustainability has grown in recognition and importance. The pressure on companies to broaden their reporting and accountability from economic performance for shareholders, to sustainability performance for all stakeholders is leading to a change of mindset in consumer behaviour and corporate policies. How can we develop prosperity without compromising the life and needs of future generations? Sustainability in Project Management explores and identifies the questions surrounding the integration of the concepts of sustainability in projects and project management and provides valuable guidance and insights. Sustainability relates to multiple perspectives, economical, environmental and social, but also to responsibility and accountability and values in terms of ethics, fairness and equality. The authors will inspire project managers to be aware of these considerations, and to apply them to the role they play in projects, not just 'doing things right' but 'doing the right things right'.