Professor Bent Flyvbjerg

Emeritus Professor, Said Business School; Senior Research Fellow, St Anne's College

About

Professor Flyvbjerg’s research focuses on the better management of megaprojects, including the Olympic Games, and cities. He is the most cited scholar in the world in megaproject planning and management, and among the most cited in social science methodology. He is the author or editor of 10 books and more than 200 papers in professional journals and edited volumes. His publications have been translated into 19 languages.

He is a leading international expert within the field of programme management and planning. His book Megaprojects and risk: an anatomy of ambition is considered essential reading for project managers, sponsors and those involved in megaprojects.

He has worked as a consultant to regulators, corporations, banks, national audit offices, the EU Commission, and the United Nations, and has been an adviser to the UK, Dutch and Danish governments in formulating national policies for infrastructure, environment, transportation, and science. 

Expertise

  • Project management and planning, especially large projects
  • Project finance and risk; risk management
  • Cost and demand forecasting
  • Cost overruns and benefit shortfalls
  • Optimism bias and strategic misrepresentation
  • Investment decisions
  • Cost-benefit analysis
  • Infrastructure/public works management and planning

Media experience

Professor Flyvbjerg has extensive experience of working with the media. His research has been covered by Science, The Economist, the Financial Times, The New York Times, the BBC, Charlie Rose/CBS News, and many others.

Languages

English, Danish