Towards Systems Integration Theory in Megaprojects: A System-of-Systems Framework

Megaprojects are large-scale, complex projects composed of various interconnected constituents. Recent research suggests that effective systems integration is one of the major challenges affecting the success of their delivery and that we hence need new taxonomies to characterise and evaluate integration in this context. This paper draws on and contributes to a growing literature on systems integration in megaprojects by proposing a formalized framework for characterization and evaluation of integration between constituents of megaprojects. In this study, megaprojects are conceptualized as systems-of-systems (SoSs). Based on this conceptualization, a SoS framework towards a systems integration theory in megaproject SoSs is proposed. The proposed framework includes two aspects. The first articulates the different dimensions of systems integration. It identifies the types of integration; focuses of integration; integration at different levels; and integration in different phases in megaproject SoSs. The second aspect is related to the indicators of systems integration. Seven indicators are discussed for evaluating the degree of integration in megaprojects. The proposed SoS framework provides a theoretical basis for future research on systems integration in megaprojects and can be used as a guide for developing corresponding empirical studies.