Narratives in Megaprojects

This book is a novel contribution to a field dominated by conventional approaches to project management; it is about narratives in megaprojects. Among the questions examined in this original new book are:

• What are narratives?
• Why are they important in megaprojects?
• How are they formed and used in megaprojects?
• How do promotors of and protestors against megaprojects craft narratives to their advantage?
• What strategies can project managers employ to effectively use narratives in megaprojects?

Built from longitudinal research studies in combination with internationally recognised teaching materials, this book will provide readers with a theoretical understanding of narratives and projects, as well as practical international case studies, including HS2, the Dakota Access Pipeline, the Eden Project and Thames Tideway, to support their understanding. The authors explain the different types of narrative, and how and why they are important in general and in relation to a megaproject and its lifecycle, but also explore how to craft narratives in different situations, and how they are changed and maintained over a project’s lifecycle.

Narratives in Megaprojects doubles as a text supporting more advanced courses on project management or aspects thereof, and as a reflection of the state of the art in this particular perspective on megaprojects. It is essential reading for all students and professionals in project management, construction and infrastructure as well as executive leaders involved in megaprojects and infrastructure delivery.

Dr Natalya Sergeeva (https: //orcid.org/0000-0003-4026-7431)is an Associate Professor at the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, University College London (UCL). Natalya lectures on project management and innovation management at the postgraduate and executive levels. She has some practical experience managing construction and infrastructure projects and consultancy. Natalya’s research explores the nature and role of narratives in leading projects and firms, individual and organisational identities, and the ways leaders articulate and translate narratives and identities. She has published a number of articles in leading journals, such as Industrial Marketing Management, International Journal of Project Management, Project Management Journal, International Journal of Innovation Management, and Creativity and Innovation Management.

Dr Johan Ninan (https: //orcid.org/0000-0002-0255-0511) is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), the Netherlands. Previously, he was a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction at University College London (UCL). His research focuses on megaprojects, stakeholder engagement, collaboration, innovation, and project organizing with a particular emphasis on the role of digital media. He has published in leading project management journals such as International Journal of Project Management, Project Management Journal, and Construction Management and Economics. He was awarded the 2020 IPMA Global Young Researcher Award and the 2020 APM Paper of the Year Award.