End-to-end delivery for large-scale projects: on time, on budget and with benefits
Global investment in infrastructure, energy and production assets is accelerating at an unprecedented pace. From North America to Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region, governments and private entities are ramping up investments totaling more than USD 3 trillion in 2025 alone to bolster economic recovery and enhance resilience. This effort includes modernizing aging infrastructure and embracing new technologies, paving the way for a new era of digital transformation and decarbonization.
"Capital investment needs over the coming years will be massive. Developers will have to re-think project delivery."
A new wave of capital projects is being driven by factors including decarbonization, modernization and resilience. Governments and private investors are channeling funds into upgrading aging infrastructure, expanding renewable energy and water systems, reinforcing transportation and digital networks, and enhancing climate and disaster resilience. Rising geopolitical tensions are also prompting renewed investment in critical and defense-related infrastructure. Together, these trends are reshaping priorities across industry,
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The European Union is leading the charge with its Green Deal, mobilizing more than EUR 1 trillion in investments in renewable energy, smart transportation and climate-resilient facilities by 2030. North America, particularly the United States, is witnessing a historic investment surge through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which allocates USD 1.2 trillion to investments in areas such as transportation, broadband, energy and water infrastructure by 2026.
In the Middle East, countries are diversifying their economies through ambitious mega-projects, such as Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to transform the region’s infrastructure landscape. Meanwhile, the Asia-Pacific region is experiencing rapid urbanization, necessitating significant investments in transportation, utilities and digital infrastructure to accommodate growing populations and enhance connectivity. China alone has pledged the equivalent of more than USD 2.1 trillion in transportation investments and USD 1 trillion in green infrastructure as part of its 14th Five-Year Plan.
These trends underscore the need for robust capital project management practices. As projects become more complex and interconnected, project owners must navigate multifaceted trade-offs encompassing political, fiscal, social and environmental considerations, all while managing the complexities of new technologies and first-of-their-kind implementations.
"Risks of schedule and budget overruns in big projects are real. But the right delivery strategy can set them up for success."
Recent supply chain disruptions and a volatile logistics market have further exacerbated these challenges, leading to resource constraints and inflated costs. Technological advancements, while beneficial, can also introduce complexity, requiring project managers to stay abreast of the latest tools and methodologies to ensure successful implementation. Coupled with high levels of uncertainty in the global political and economic environment, many projects struggle to establish viable business cases. At the same time, shifts within the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) industry have led to budget cuts that have diminished the expertise and capabilities of numerous project developers and owners.
Consequently, capital project performance remains a challenge, and many fail to meet their required cost of capital. Studies indicate that a significant majority do not deliver on budget, on time or with the anticipated benefits – with Flyvbjerg (2022) reporting that nine out of ten projects fall short.
In this evolving landscape, Roland Berger’s expertise in capital project management is more critical than ever. Our firm offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to address the multifaceted challenges, catering to both public and privately funded investors. We invite you to explore our service offerings, delve into our case studies and connect with the right expert for your market. Together, we can navigate the complexities of today’s project landscape and drive successful project outcomes.
Our solutions
We deliver hands-on support across the entire lifecycle of your capital project:
Project definition: We help you transform your ideas into viable investment opportunities. Collaborating closely with your team, we identify market needs, refine early-stage project concepts, develop robust business cases and help form partnerships for success
Project development: We ensure your project is bankable and execution-ready. By optimizing project designs for maximum value, crafting tailored contracting strategies and addressing critical enablers such as permitting, financing and stakeholder alignment, we unlock the full potential of your project
Project execution: We strengthen your ability to deliver your capital projects successfully. From establishing effective project organizations to implementing robust governance, project controls and contract management, we help you accelerate schedules and manage costs while maintaining high-quality standards throughout the execution phase
Our approach
At Roland Berger, we combine top management advisory, deep asset class and functional expertise, and a suite of proven tools with hands-on delivery support to provide actionable insights and drive successful project execution:
Top-management advisory: We offer an independent, outside-in perspective to senior management, facilitating fact-finding, posing “what-if” scenarios and challenging assumptions and the status quo. Our approach ensures timely issue identification, maintains a “single source of truth” throughout the project and enables informed management decisions, keeping your capital project on track
Asset class and functional expertise: Our teams blend functional and industry-specific knowledge to deliver tailored solutions to your most pressing challenges across various topics and industries
Real-world data and proven toolbox: With over two decades of experience in capital projects, we have developed and refined a suite of proprietary solutions, including our digital project controls approach. This enables us to deliver immediate impact and effectively enhance your project’s performance from day one
Hands-on delivery support: To keep your capital project on track, we provide practical, hands-on implementation support. Our teams work side-by-side with yours, seamlessly integrating on the ground to drive tangible results. Throughout the project, we focus on building your team’s capabilities, ensuring they are fully equipped to take ownership once we step away
Examples of our work
End-to-end CAPEX procurement
A European public utility sought to develop a large waste-to-energy plant to support the decarbonization of its district heating network. We supported the client in redefining its procurement and contracting strategy, effectively minimizing overall capital expenditure and accelerating the project schedule to reach required start of production
Permitting, regulatory and stakeholder management
An international consortium developed a large oil and gas (O&G) infrastructure spanning multiple European countries. We helped the client compile the application documents, securing all necessary permits on time and ensuring full compliance throughout the project’s execution
Organizational design, governance and processes
An international diversified energy group launched an ambitious program to build a renewable energy portfolio and sought our support to strengthen their project management capabilities. We supported the client by designing an efficient project organization, implementing effective governance and establishing lean project management processes
Project controls and project execution
A leading global construction company was awarded the contract to build a major transit pipeline. We helped the client implement robust schedule and budget controls, progress reporting rhythms and effective contractor management processes, enabling completion of construction several months ahead of schedule
End-to-end executive project management support
A leading European steel producer initiated the construction of a first-of-a-kind green steel plant. Besides comprehensive operational support, we supported top management in crucial escalation, renegotiation and contract amendment meetings, focusing on risk mitigation and timeline acceleration. By fostering collaboration, we helped the client navigate the complexities of this large-scale construction project, ensuring a partnership-driven approach
We have developed – and continue to enhance – our capabilities, proprietary tools and methodologies, which include:
Owner organization readiness and maturity assessment: A structured approach to assess the maturity of the owner organization and identify potential shortcomings for successful project delivery
Organization benchmarking: A comprehensive dataset comparing organizational structures, design, scale and staffing of real-world capital projects across multiple industries
Capital project contracting best practices: Real-world insights into contracting models and scope segmentation, tender process design, pricing structures and other commercial terms for the selection of EPC contractors and other service providers (PMCs, owners’ engineers, construction managers)
Holistic project controls toolbox: Proven approach and digital toolbox for scheduling, progress tracking, budget control and management reporting, establishing a “single source of truth” within the owner organization
Red flag assessments: Well-established “sprint frameworks” to assess key project dimensions, including business cases, CAPEX estimates, schedule reviews, procurement strategies, tender design
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