Examining the effect of project planning on megaproject performance: The conditional mediating role of integration

While the project planning-performance relationship received much attention, the effects of project planning on megaproject performance have not been investigated empirically and little is known about the conditional mediating process between them. This study builds a moderated mediation model to examine the indirect effects of project planning on megaproject performance via process integration and information integration under the contingency of project complexity. 214-megaproject data through a questionnaire survey in China was used to test hypotheses with hierarchical multiple regression and moderated mediation model. Results show that process integration and information integration mediate the positive relationship between project planning and megaproject performance and the mediating effect of process integration is weaker under a higher level of project complexity. This study advances the understanding of project planning-performance relationships considering integration and project complexity. It also offers practical guidance for managers on improving megaproject integration and performance through appropriate planning skills. © 2024 Published by Elsevier Ltd.