Governance of Public Projects Learning Framework

This article is a research report that examines the Norwegian governance framework for major public projects, which has evolved since its introduction in 2000. The authors detail the transition from a hierarchical control model to a more holistic governance approach that emphasizes relationships among stakeholders. While the framework has shown promising results in controlling project costs and ensuring comprehensive project selection, the authors identify a significant gap in the ability to learn from past projects. They argue that the lack of effective learning cycles hinders the overall success of projects. The report discusses the importance of implementing systematic learning mechanisms, particularly through ex-post evaluations, to enhance knowledge transfer and improve future project practices. The authors propose a governance model that integrates evaluation and learning to foster successful project outcomes. The research draws on a wide spectrum of findings from the Concept Research Programme and highlights the need for project governance frameworks to facilitate knowledge sharing and learning among project-based organizations.