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Labyrinth of labels: Promoters' and protesters' narrative constructions in mega projects

Sergeeva, N; Ninan, J; (2021) Labyrinth of labels: Promoters' and protesters' narrative constructions in mega projects. International Journal of Project Management , 39 (5) pp. 496-506. 10.1016/j.ijproman.2021.03.003. Green open access

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Abstract

Labels as part of narratives are instrumental in the process of organising, particularly in megaprojects that seek to garner legitimacy and support of external stakeholders. While organisation scholars acknowledge that the process of labelling is contested, research on how different organisations navigate these labels remain limited. Within megaproject settings, labels such as largest, sustainable, efficient, etc., are frequently exercised and there is currently a dearth in megaproject management literature on how these labels come into becoming, are contested, and are maintained. Using the case study of the shaping phase of the High Speed Two Limited (HS2) megaproject in the UK, this research explores the multiple labels given to the megaproject, people, and practice by the promoters and protesters, and the ways labels play a role in shaping organisational identity. The processes that maintain and contest the labels such as using the same label, using other labels, explaining the label, and using labels in the title of the organisation are discussed. Thus, labels exist in megaproject arenas as a labyrinth with multiple labels for megaproject, people, and practices, from different agencies, which are then contested and maintained through more labels. This research therefore theorizes label creation, maintenance, and contestation in megaproject settings.

Type: Article
Title: Labyrinth of labels: Promoters' and protesters' narrative constructions in mega projects
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijproman.2021.03.003
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2021.03.003
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: External stakeholder management, Identity, Labels, Megaproject narratives, Organising, Resistance
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment > The Bartlett Sch of Const and Proj Mgt
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10123724
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