Megaprojects as organizational platforms and technology platforms for value creation

Megaprojects are multi-actor and multi-technology constellations that create value for society. Previous research on joint and coordinated activities to create value for multiple actors in megaprojects over system lifecycle is scarce. This study explores how the actors in a megaproject jointly create value. We analyze value creation in megaprojects by theorizing on the research on organizational platforms, which draws together knowledge from research on other types of platforms, ecosystems and networks. In our empirical study, we analyze a city district renewal megaproject, by focusing on the actors' joint activities that contribute to synergetic project processes, solutions and outcomes both tangible and intangible that participating actors find beneficial. We derive five propositions that explain how actors in a megaproject create value through jointly planned and governed design principles, and through value-leveraging activities. Jointly planned and governed design principles include inter organizational coordinating bodies and joint activities that share ownership and decision-making. In value-leveraging activities, leader actors facilitate megaproject actors' competition and value capture that determine most suitable participants to value-creating activities. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd, APM and IPMA. All rights reserved.