Identification of failure factors in large scale complex projects: an integrative framework and review of emerging themes

Project cost and time overruns have been the subject of much debate in large scale complex project management, however, there is no study of its determinants. This study identifies some specific factors contributing to poor performance in the large scale complex project - none of these is uncommon but here they come together in a more systematic and an integrative way. By providing an integrative framework of failure factors, this study fills an existing gap in the project management literature regarding the lack of understanding of determinants of project cost and time overruns and, from a practice perspective, assists in more effectively distributing limited resources, such as budget, time and manpower.