Formation mechanism for collaborative behaviour among stakeholders in megaprojects based on the theory of planned behaviour

ABSTRACTIn megaprojects, the collaboration of all stakeholders reflects effective relationship management and is a key to project success. This research explores how collaborative behaviour among stakeholders in megaprojects is formed from a social-psychological perspective to improve the quality of collaboration. Based on the theoretical model of planned behaviour, this study established a conceptual framework for the formation mechanism for collaborative behaviour through a comprehensive literature review. The hypotheses of the model were statistically validated by using data collected from questionnaires of 235 respondents within the Chinese construction industry. The results showed that benefit perception attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control had a positive contribution to the collaborative intention and collaborative behaviour among stakeholders in megaprojects. Risk perception attitudes have a hindering effect on collaborative intention. Megaproject culture moderates the relationship between psychosocial factors and collaborative intention, thereby affecting stakeholders’ choice of collaborative behaviour. Collaborative intention plays a partially or completely mediating role between psychosocial factors and collaborative behaviour. The findings provide theoretical and practical implications for increasing the collaborative intentions of stakeholders and facilitating their selection of positive collaborative behaviours in megaprojects.KEYWORDS: Organizationalmegaprojectscollaborative behaviourcollaborative intentiontheory of planned behaviour model Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThis work was supported by Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities: [Grant Number 2022YJS050]; State Key Laboratory for Track Technology of High-speed Railway: [Grant Number 2021YJ111], China Academy of Railway Sciences.