Assessment of Mega Project Initiation and Planning in Addis Ababa: The Case of Sectoral Office Megaproject
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Date
2022-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Megaprojects are large projects with a minimum cost of one billion dollars. Due to the size of megaprojects, they are usually prone to cost overruns, and not fulfilling their promised benefits. Literature in the European and African contexts attribute these shortcomings to the initiation and planning stages of the megaproject lifecycle, i.e. “Seeding failure”. In this regard, this study assesses the initiation and planning processes of the “Sectoral Office Megaproject” undertaken by the “Addis Ababa City Government Megaproject Construction Office”. The primary objective of this study is to provide an insight into the practice of megaproject planning. The study specifically aims to identify the preplanning, planning, and approval processes behind the megaproject; the tools and techniques used in the initiation and planning stages; critical stakeholders contributing to the decision-making process and their institutional relationships; and the stakeholder engagement and communication approach. The study follows a qualitative approach and a deliberate sampling technique. With the use of interviews and secondary data as its primary tool of data collection, data was collected from focal department personnel within the organization and from the project consultant. The collected primary and secondary data were then analyzed with the use of Content and Descriptive data analysis. The study findings indicate poor initiation and planning processes. Furthermore, the study identifies that the decision-making was non-data-driven (was highly politically driven) and filled with obscurities such as in the process of contract management. In conclusion, the findings of the study revealed that drawbacks such as optimism bias, and narrow planning perspectives were persistent. Accordingly, the study recommends thorough analysis based on concrete numeric data during project ideation, exhaustive execution of planning elements, and comprehensive incorporation of external stakeholders including professional associations, and the general public.
Keywords: Megaproject, Project Initiation, Project Planning, Optimism Bias, Seeding Failure