Supply chain complexity and resilience management strategies in megaprojects: a literature review

Megaprojects involve complex, multi-tier supply chains characterised by high interdependence, diverse stakeholders, and significant uncertainty. Despite their strategic and economic importance, many megaprojects continue to experience persistent cost overruns and schedule delays, suggesting that performance challenges stem largely from difficulties in managing supply chain complexity rather than technical issues alone. This study adopts a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed publications from 2015 to 2025, sourced from Scopus and Web of Science. Using PRISMA-guided screening and eligibility procedures, 94 relevant articles were analysed to examine the drivers of supply chain complexity, their performance implications, and resilience strategies applicable to megaproject contexts. The review identifies various supply chain complexity drivers that intensify coordination challenges, reduce supply chain visibility, and increase disruption risks, contributing to inefficiencies, delays, and cost escalation. Proactive and reactive resilience strategies, such as multi-sourcing, collaboration, flexibility, redundancy, and contingency planning, are found to strengthen adaptive capacity and recovery. The study concludes that integrating complexity management with resilience-oriented practices provides a critical pathway for improving megaproject supply chain performance and offers a conceptual foundation for future empirical validation.