ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book sets the scene for readers by contemplating what is meant by ‘project success’, both in tactical and strategic terms. It offers advice as to which issues need to be considered when defining a project’s strategic success, and illustrates the effects of governance mechanisms, and various analytic tools and practices that may be helpful in this phase. The book relies on the notion of ‘project representation’. It looks at the process of cost estimation in the early phases of projects. The book makes a significant contribution to understanding fundamental difficulties relating to cost estimation at the front end of projects. It ends with a discussion on how ex post evaluation can be helpful in overcoming each of the ten paradoxes.
