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The Role of Early Contractor Involvement in Facilitating Exploration and Exploitation of Innovations in Megaprojects

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This article demonstrates how early contractor involvement (ECI) facilitates the exploration and exploitation of innovations in megaprojects. Contractors possess knowledge of innovations that project owners often lack. By involving them in the front end, owners can explore this knowledge when there is more flexibility to change design. Additionally, this article contributes to understanding project ambidexterity by illustrating how collaboration between contractors and project owners represents a form of structural ambidexterity. Last, the findings suggest the development of a model of ECI that enables project owners to simultaneously evaluate multiple alternatives with several contractors in an organized convergence process.

Source: Project Management Journal

DOI: 10.1177/87569728251322152

Author: Tércio Pinho Filho

Institution: Escola Brasileira de Administração Pública e de Empresas

Language: English

Topic: Construction Project Management and Performance

Subfield: Management Science and Operations Research

Field: Decision Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,900