Evolving Power Structures in Megaproject Governance: A Temporal SNA and Powercube Analysis of the BSCU Project

Huda Almadhoob

doi:10.38027/smart.v2n1-12

Authors

Huda Almadhoob Department of Architecture and Interior Design, Faculty of Engineering, University of Bahrain, Bahrain Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9836-6008

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38027/smart.v2n1-12

Keywords:

adaptive governance, project governance, social network analysis, infrastructure projects, megaprojects, governance dynamics

Abstract

Megaprojects are crucial for developing urban systems, yet their governance is often characterised by disputed authority, shifting coalitions, and uneven stakeholder influence. This paper examines the evolution of power structures in megaproject governance through an integrated methodological approach, that combines temporal social network analysis with the PowerCube framework. Using the Bank Station Capacity Upgrade project in London as a case study, the research traces how visible, hidden, and invisible forms of power interacted across two stages of the project, identifying turning points where stakeholder centrality and influence shifted. This study contributes new knowledge to urban management and governance in three ways. First, it demonstrates that power in large infrastructure projects is not fixed but changes over time as new actors join, coalitions change, and governance spaces are reconfigured. Second, it introduces a novel way of studying these changes by combining social network analysis, which maps relationships between actors, with the PowerCube framework, which highlights visible, hidden, and invisible forms of power. Third, the paper provides original evidence from the Bank Station Capacity Upgrade project, demonstrating how governance mechanisms shaped decision-making and stakeholder legitimacy in one of London’s most complex transport systems. By connecting megaproject governance to urban management concerns, the paper offers both scholarly insights and practical recommendations for policymakers and practitioners seeking to enhance transparency, adaptability, and stakeholder engagement in complex infrastructure delivery.

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