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An investigation of sponsor attributes on six megaproject cases

Willem Louw (Business School, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Bellville, South Africa)
Herman Steyn (Engineering and Technology Management, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa)
Jan Wium (Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa)
Wim Gevers (Business School, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Bellville, South Africa)

International Journal of Managing Projects in Business

ISSN: 1753-8378

Article publication date: 16 November 2021

Issue publication date: 13 January 2022

349

Abstract

Purpose

Executive sponsors play a significant role in the success of megaprojects which, in turn, affect national economies and millions of people. However, the literature on the requisite attributes of project sponsors on megaprojects is still sparse. The purpose of the paper is to provide guidelines to company boards and executives who are tasked to appoint suitable executive sponsors to megaprojects. Thus, the paper contributes to the sparse literature on megaproject sponsors.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 26 senior managers, with experience in megaprojects ranging from 8 to 15 years – and who were involved in 6 recent megaprojects with a combined value of US$13.75bn – were interviewed on the attributes of megaproject sponsors. Transcriptions of semi-structured, open-ended interviews were analysed with computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS).

Findings

The study identified the most essential attribute as appropriate seniority, being empowered and accountable, with appropriate seniority, being empowered and accountable, with apposite credibility and with both personal and positional power. The study also uncovered 13 attributes – all components of “competence” – which have not previously been explicitly identified in literature as elements of sponsor “competence”.

Originality/value

In the current study guidelines are provided for the selection and appointment of appropriate megaproject sponsors.

Keywords

Citation

Louw, W., Steyn, H., Wium, J. and Gevers, W. (2022), "An investigation of sponsor attributes on six megaproject cases", International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, Vol. 15 No. 1, pp. 58-81. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMPB-11-2020-0343

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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