AN EXPLORATORY STUDY ON COMPLEXITY IN MEGA CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

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2021-4
Bilgin, Gizem
Megaprojects are known as complex projects that involve high levels of uncertainty. This thesis aims to explore perceived complexity in mega construction projects by lived experiences of project managers. For this purpose, data were obtained through semi-structured interviews with 18 participants from 11 mega construction projects carried out by construction professionals. The data was processed with a grounded theory approach and analyzed using the QSR NVivo qualitative data analysis software. Findings show that while some factors contributing to project complexity stem from the known characteristics of the project, such as size, novelty, and the strategic importance of the project (static complexity factors), others are due to uncertainty stemming from operational, political, economic and financial conditions (emergent complexity factors). In this respect, the findings regarding the grounded theory approach closely matched with the existing literature on factors of project complexity. Research findings also showed that the coexistence of and interdependencies between the complexity factors that reveal a “pattern of complexity” has to be considered to understand complexity level rather than individual complexity factors. This finding reinforces the idea that project complexity should be better conceptualized and assessed by a pattern rather than a list or hierarchy of individual complexity factors. Findings may have some implications for assessment and management of complexity during risk management and developing organizational responses considering the type and level of complexity in mega construction projects.

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Citation Formats
G. Bilgin, “AN EXPLORATORY STUDY ON COMPLEXITY IN MEGA CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS,” M.S. - Master of Science, Middle East Technical University, 2021.