Despite careful planning, projects often deviate from their assigned paths. Delays, cost overruns, benefit underruns, stakeholder disappointments, and sustainability shortfalls are common challenges during project initiation and execution. The Cambridge Handbook of Project Behavior addresses the underlying causes of project behavior and misbehavior, while offering evidence-based strategies for remediation. Featuring guidance for anticipating project outcomes and practical advice for dealing with projects when they branch off assigned paths and veer off track, this Handbook is a valuable resource for practitioners, policymakers, and project professionals responsible for delivering high-profile and complex projects. It includes contributions from leading experts in the field of project management, providing a unique international perspective. As mega-projects become increasingly prevalent on the global stage, understanding the dynamics of project behavior and misbehavior has never been more critical. The Cambridge Handbook of Project Behavior offers essential insights and solutions for successfully navigating the challenges of project management.

‘Lavagnon A. Ika and Jeffrey K. Pinto offer a timely theory of project behavior to explain (under and over) performance of projects. This rich and well-argued book with carefully selected practice examples is a must read for scholars and practitioners alike. Nothing is more practical than a good theory.'

Martina Huemann - The Project Hub, University College London and WU Vienna

‘Explanations of project behaviour have been increasingly (sometimes vociferously) discussed recently. Here is a welcome, thorough and coherent assembly of the issues in one handbook. Many well-known names are here – including major figures outside the sometimes limited ‘project management' world. In his afterword, Professor Clegg summarises the whole in reflections which are thoroughly well-grounded theoretically, but also practical.'

Terry Williams - Professor of Management Science and Director of the Risk Institute, University of Hull