Link to thesis - Concept - NTNU

6. Project flexibility categorisationsPaper 5 questions the possibilities to actually achieve reliable information related tobenefits. The effects of investments do not materialise until the combined investmentson a line reach a certain level. Dividing an investment into a series of sections,decided upon individually, may therefore result in lower benefits in terms of, forexample, travel time, compared to an integrated project approach. These results arecontrary to common understanding in the project management field, where flexibilityusually is seen as a means of achieving increased benefit from a project, as describedin Paper 4.If modularisation of railway investments has disadvantages related to the realisationof benefits, it appears to provide cost control. These results are in accordance withFlyvbjerg et al. (2004), who point out that cost escalation of major transportationinvestments is highly dependent on the length of the project implementation phase.Longer implementation causes higher cost escalation.34