‘Iconic’, or ‘big’ projects are an important component in infrastructure. They can provide significant benefits and focus, but not if they are mismanaged and do not meet clear performance criteria. Public cynicism towards politicians and public organisations is reinforced when taxpayers see examples of where more and more of their funds are seemingly squandered on projects that run seriously over cost estimates and well exceed scheduled completion dates.

More importantly, the failure of ‘big’ projects to meet performance criteria through poor project management can mean that an otherwise important ‘icon’ can present an ongoing reminder of the failure and inefficiency of public administration. Successful projects on the other hand, while often not attracting the same degree of spectacular media reporting as problematic projects, can deliver the lasting economic and social benefits that were intended and build a positive image for a government.

‘Good’ government is not just about having grand visions and building ‘big’ projects. These have their place, but ultimately, ‘good’ government is about allocating funds in a timely manner to maximise benefits and meet real needs. Project management is tools to assist governments achieve these goals, nothing more and nothing less. Project management cannot make up for poor policy choices and craven political behaviour. However, adherence to project management principles and processes can help improve public policy outcomes if it accompanied by the same features that improve all aspects of accountability – transparency and integrity of process. Too often in the past the ‘Let’s do it’ approach, the obsession with project prestige and the electoral cycle driven timeframe has so overwhelmed project management as to render it useless. The result has been poor project conception, design and execution, resulting all too often in ‘white elephant projects. This is bad policy and ultimately bad politics when the money runs out, the roads become clogged and taxes have to be increased to pay for urgent and overdue infrastructure repair.