Conférence: «Can Elephants Dance? Flexibility and Adaptation in Megaprojects»

The persistent disappointment with megaproject delivery performance is well documented. This is a concern because needs for water, transport and clean energy. While some scholars have recommended better planning processes at the front end of the megaproject to combat cost and time overruns, others have suggested that flexibility and adaptation to emergent challenges are keys to better megaproject performance. Using quantitative and case-study data from a five-year study of the Australian Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) industry I show that the internal organisation of these multibillion dollar projects has a large influence on their capacity to solve problems before they impact upon project performance. Furthermore, the ability of megaprojects to change decision clusters called 'domain' decisions through flexible management and executive leadership is key to success adaptation during project construction. I conclude with some thoughts on innovations in megaproject delivery models. My colleagues Sam MacAulay, Jerad Ford and Paul Spee have been co-investigators in this research.

John Steen is Associate Professor in Strategy at the University of Queensland Business School in Brisbane and Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Institute of Business and Economics. John is currently leading major international research studies on the subject of innovation and sustainable development in the resources sector and in developing economies. This includes the transition to new digital business models and performance in megacapital ($1 billion +) projects, particularly in the resources sector. Current partners in these projects include University College London, Cambridge University, University of British Columbia, Government of Vietnam, Queensland Government, UQ Sustainable Minerals Institute and Ernst and Young (EY). John is highly sought after as a guest speaker and commentator and has given talks on strategy and innovation to businesses and governments in Australia, Asia and Europe. In 2014 he relased two reports on the future of the global mining industy with EY that received international media coverage, including commentary in the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times. John is currently editor for the Project Management Journal - the research journal of the Project Management Institute.