Large public projects represent major complex investment and whilst there has been much written about how to develop, manage and deliver such projects, practice still does not match up with expectations. In this book, researchers from the Norwegian Concept Research Programme explore the paradoxes between theory and practice in collaboration with experts in the field of project governance. This book delves into the reality of large public projects, to show how they can be managed effectively and efficiently, recognising the realities of their context. It offers a range of practical conclusions as to the paradoxes of the governance and management of public projects. The international spectrum of authors draw their examples from the UK, Norway, Canada, France, Australia and the Netherlands. Bridging the gap between research, theory and practice, this book will benefit academics and researchers in the field of project management and corporate governance as well as those in the practice of public project governance, civil servants and industry practitioners.

An in-depth look at how to improve decisions on major projects at the concept stage, when there is scant information available. This book describes how to evaluate judgemental information. It looks at how scant information can actually be a strength, and can help establish a broad overall perspective.

This special issue of the Project Management Journal presents a collection of six articles on managing projects in Africa. Providing a window into the important project activity taking place there, these articles extend both the empirical and theoretical understanding of the African project context and contribute to improving practice. Each article makes a unique contribution to either our understanding of the African project context or project management in general, and sometimes to both. After an introduction to the African project context at the start of the 21st century, the articles explore: three different countries as well as multinational projects; for-profit, public sector, and development aid projects; infrastructure and information and communication technology; project governance as well as project management; and partnering challenges.

Despite considerable investments in health facilities worldwide, little systematic evidence is available on how to plan, design and build new facilities that maximize health gain and ensure that services are responsive to the legitimate expectations of users. This book brings together current knowledge about key dimensions of capital investment in the health sector.

Although some people had doubts about the usefulness of such solutions in the past, artificial intelligence (AI) plays a growing role in modern business. It can be expected that the interest in it will also lead to an increase in support for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of projects. In particular, the proper functioning of multifaceted evaluation methods has a crucial impact on the appropriate planning and execution of various projects, as well as the effective achievement of the organization’s goals. This book offers a presentation of the complex problems and challenges related to the development of AI in project management, proposes an integrated approach to knowledge-based evaluation, and indicates the possibilities of improving professional practical knowledge in this field. The unique contribution of this book is to draw attention to the possibilities resulting from conducting transdisciplinary research and drawing on the rich achievements in the field of research development on knowledge-based systems that can be used to holistically support the processes of planning, evaluation, and project management. The concept of the integrated approach to knowledge-based evaluation is presented and developed as a result of drawing inspiration mainly from the systems approach, generative AI, and selected mathematical models. Presented in a highly accessible manner, the book discusses mathematical tools in a simple way, which enables understanding of the content by readers across broad subject areas who may be not only participants in specialist training and university students but also practitioners, consultants, or evaluators. This book will be a valuable resource for academics and upper-level students, in particular, across project management-related fields, and of great interest to all those looking to understand the challenges and effectiveness of AI in business.

Abstract: "This paper focuses on problems and their causes and cures in policy and planning for large infrastructure projects. First, it identifies as the main problem in major infrastructure development pervasive misinformation about the costs, benefits, and risks involved. A consequence of misinformation is massive cost overruns, benefit shortfalls, and waste. Second, the paper explores the causes of misinformation and finds that political-economic explanations best account for the available evidence: planners and promoters deliberately misrepresent costs, benefits, and risks in order to increase the likelihood that it is their projects, and not the competition's, that gain approval and funding. This results in the "survival of the unfittest," where often it is not the best projects that are built, but the most misrepresented ones. Finally, the paper presents measures for reforming policy and planning for large infrastructure projects, with a focus on better planning methods and changed governance structures, the latter being more important."--World Bank web site.

This volume outlines a progressively staged process focused on fostering a more effective, more efficient, and greener global construction industry. The research-based book commences with an evaluation of eight methodologies identified after a worldwide literature and compliance review. It is followed by a more detailed report on four of these options, with the ultimate objective of independent selection within the construction engineering community of a single most appropriate methodology as the approach for further, more-detailed investigation. The eight methodologies were selected against six key performance indicators developed as assessment criteria and include knowledge management, lean construction, construction contract procurement practices, optimal work duration on site, construction site waste, rationalization of construction safety regulations, sustainable construction labor force, and portfolio project development. A primary outcome of the selected methodology being a triple bottom-line benefit to key stakeholders, commercially and also to the ecology, along with the community at large. Front-end construction waste strategies to serve as best practices to minimize waste generated by construction projects was the methodology selected for detailed research. The text also covers the primary sources of construction waste. The book is ideal for civil and construction engineers as well as project developers; managers and public sector waste management specialists.