Managing Technology-Based Projects: Tools, Techniques, People and Business Processes

Chapter 9

The Tools for Integrated Project Planning and Control

2012 LONDON SUMMER OLYMPICS

On July 6, 2005, London was selected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the host city for the 2012 Olympic Games, outscoring the competing cities of Paris, Madrid, New York and Moscow. After the successful bid, the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) was formed to continue the work started by the proposal team, and to oversee many of the developments needed for successfully hosting the games in 2012. This included everything from the site preparation and construction of the Olympic Park, to the Aquatics Centre, Velopark, and Stratford-Channel rail link. The need for considerable redevelopment created many environmental concerns regarding sustainability that required highly innovative solutions, such as utilizing a former industrial site in East Landon for the Olympic Park. The initial budget estimates of $3.75 billion (£2.4) for preparing and hosting the Olympic Games grew eventually to $14.5 billion (£9.3), not even including the 70,000 volunteers who supported many of the operations.

The scope of this undertaking is staggering (Edworthy 2012). Twenty-six Olympic sports and 21 paralympic sports across 29 venues in 27 days, plus 11,000 athletes, 1,000,000 spectators, worldwide media attention and urban impact. Managing such a mega-project required highly structured, yet detailed planning. LOCOG decided to use as the backbone for their overall ...