A Network View of Relational Behavior Diffusion in Mega Construction Projects Incorporating Reciprocal Preference

The benefits of relational behavior among participating organizations in megaconstruction projects (megaprojects) are well-established, yet achieving widespread relational behavior diffusion to promote collective relational behavior (CRB) remains a significant challenge. This study addresses this gap by incorporating heterogeneous and changeable reciprocal preferences of participating organizations in distinct megaproject task networks to examine the dynamic diffusion of relational behavior. A networked evolutionary game (NEG) model was developed to simulate the relational behavior diffusion of multiple participating organizations. Results indicate that the equilibrium state of relational behavior diffusion results in either CRB emergence or CRB collapse. Organizations with high reciprocal preferences significantly enhance relational behavior diffusion, particularly when they occupy positions of higher degree centrality in the task network. Regarding network structure, the scale-free network—characterized by a few organizations holding the majority of task connections—demonstrates the highest effectiveness in encouraging relational behavior diffusion across three task scenarios: simple, innovative, and interdependent. These findings provide insights into how network structure and reciprocal preference jointly influence the dynamics of relational behavior diffusion and CRB emergence in megaprojects.