Power and Trust in Mega Project Governance : Multi-Case Studies in China

Research on power and trust in mega project delivery is still at the infant stage particularly in the emerging economy. This paper proposes a governance framework that examines how a broad range of factors that interplay with power and trust in affecting project performance. Based on literature review and case studies over public infrastructure projects in China, we suggest that project governance variables, such as price adjustment, change and claim, have varying driving influences on project performance. These influences are mediated by a collaborative climate embodied as trust and power relationships among partners, and moderated by project characteristics - i.e. the challenging dynamics of complexity, customization, uncertainty, value/size, and time pressure. This hybrid governance framework of four states empirically examined has hopefully enriched our knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms and strategies in dealing with complex project governance and project performance