The Impacts on Interorganizational Project Coordination: A Multiple Case Study on Large Railway Projects

Interorganizational transportation projects are increasingly difficult to manage because of a need to coordinate complex interdependencies pertaining to railway organizations with increasing levels of connectedness. In this article, the perceived dynamics of coordination mechanisms in the decision-making processes of interorganizational projects of the Dutch railway system are investigated. The results of this study suggest that the perceived effectiveness of interorganizational decision-making can be positively impacted during the pre-project phase, by emphasizing relational coordination. A reinforcing relationship between trust and mutual understanding among stakeholders by means of relational coordination mechanisms is one explored explanation.