Academics at UCL have identified 18 reasons why megaprojects such as HS2 and Crossrail often fail, as well as 54 preventative solutions. The study found that no isolated factor could account for the poor performance of megaprojects. Instead, the paper is the first to identify several causes and suggest a systemic approach to enhance understanding of megaprojects.
The team list the six themes as decision-making behavior; strategy, governance and procurement; risk and uncertainty; leadership and capable teams; stakeholder engagement and management; supply chain integration and coordination. They were found to be all of equal importance when analyzing why such projects seem doomed to fail. (1)
Aim high. Fall hard.
Does it matter?
Failures are signposts for success anyway. Why fear of them?
The question is not whether failure is good or bad, but whether we should strive for success in the first place! What is success really? Would you celebrate for a mega-project? Would you celebrate for changing the world? Or would that be a cause for sadness?
We admire those who succeed in life.
But they are essentially those who fail to accept death.
We admire change imposed by us.
But this only disguises failure to adapt to what already Is.
Can you see your feet?
Can you feel your heart?
In the midst of your journey…
Do you dare to ask?
