Ma, T; Wang, Z; Skibniewski, M J; Ding, J; Wang, G and He, Q (2021) Investigating stewardship behavior in megaprojects: An exploratory analysis. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 28(9), pp. 2570-2591. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: This research aims to analyzes how megaproject top managers engaged in stewardship behaviors. Studying megaprojects from the micro-foundations rooted in individual action and interaction, this research examines the gaps between literature and top managers' positive behavior to challenge the current theoretical underpinnings of megaproject governance research and practice. Design/methodology/approach: An extensive literature review was performed in the initial phase. Then, a case study of South-to-North Water Diversion project was conducted based on following this project and on access to its top executives. Data was collected from multiple sources and analyzed by Nvivo (version 12). Further analysis was then carried out in two stages to identify megaproject stewardship behavior and related governance patterns. Findings: Results show that stewardship behavior is prevalently existing and is possibly to be identified through psychological, situational, relational dimensions. Also, 16 factors have been found to describe the precise nature of megaproject stewardship behavior. Further explorative findings were discussed from three perspectives: possible theoretical development, self-actualization motivation and temporalities of megaprojects. Originality/value: Building upon the ideas on how to extend steward theory towards project field, this research conducts a first exploration of stewardship behavior in megaprojects. This study contributes to complement the research into top-level organizational behavior in megaprojects, and it provides helpful implications for how to govern top managers in the following megaprojects with the cooperative spirit that can be valued by megaproject stakeholders.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | megaproject; organizational behavior; project governance; stewardship theory; top manager |
| Index terms: | temporality, case study, governance, organizational behaviour, executive, interaction, dimension, foundations, top manager, literature review, motivation, methodology, exploration, megaproject |
| Subjects: | business, data collection methods, practitioner, environmental resource management, psychology, strategic project management, health monitoring assessment and metrics, data analysis and analytics, research methods, structural engineering, behavioral psychology |
| Topics: | Human Resources, Organizational Design, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Research Practice, Project Management, Engineering Principles, Roles and Professions, Sustainability, Governance |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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