Managing Megaprojects: Conceptual Framework and International Experience
Date issued
Dec 2021
Subject
Project Cost Overrun;
Budget;
Investment;
Institutional Capacity;
Economy;
Public Investment Program;
Public Investment System;
Investment Project;
Ministries
JEL code
H43 - Project Evaluation • Social Discount Rate;
H54 - Infrastructures • Other Public Investment and Capital Stock;
O22 - Project Analysis
Country
Norway;
United Kingdom
Category
Discussion Papers
The discussion paper analyzes international experience in megaproject management, identifying problems and delivery performance. The most important distortions are optimism bias and strategic misrepresentation. it explores the approaches of Norway and the United Kingdom. Both countries have strengthened the robustness of planning and appraisal for megaprojects and have established specific methods and institutional arrangements for these projects to strengthen governance and transparency. Finally, some lessons are put forward that could help other countries, especially in Latin America, when embarking on megaprojects.