Managing Megaproject Supply Chains: Life After Heathrow Terminal 5

A megaproject is an extreme case of the temporariness phenomenon faced by the construction industry, where a number of firms will work together during an extended (but still limited) period of time to deliver a final one‐off asset to the client. This chapter theoretically frames the megaproject phenomenon towards supply chain management literature in order to illuminate the reasons why those projects are critical in a global scale, the importance of their supply chains, and the opportunities for interorganisational coordination. In a project‐based environment, supply chain management and integration are not appropriate for all projects. The industry needs to focus on the supply chain structure, the umbrella under which technologies are included. If an efficient operation is automatised, efficiency will maximise. Data‐driven technology will enable the necessary visibility to inform strategic decisions and avoid awarding contracts to companies likely to fail from the outset through lack of capacity

The dynamics of systems integration: Balancing stability and change on London's Crossrail project

Systems integration is essential for the design and execution of large, complex projects, but relatively little is known about how this task develops over time during the life cycle of a project. This paper builds on the concept of “disciplined flexibility” to describe how systems integration can be conceived as a dynamic process of maintaining stability, while responding flexibly to changing conditions. We examine the dynamics of systems integration through a case-study of Crossrail, the construction of London's new urban railway system, which will be called the Elizabeth Line when it opens for service. The balancing act of stability and change manifests during critical periods of the project life cycle as various interdependent systems evolve with different degrees of maturity. We identify how various types of reciprocal interdependencies in complex projects such as Crossrail – at the system and system of systems levels – require ongoing monitoring and control, and the mutual adjustment of tasks