This paper aims to systematically analyze the reasons for the differences in the relationship between transformational leadership (TL) and project success and apply meta-analysis to summarize which dimensions of TL are the main driving forces for project success. Adopting the meta-analysis approach, we investigated 31 independent studies (N = 6475) and studied the theoretical moderators of this relationship from the perspectives of mediating variables, cultural background, and document type to test whether the moderating effects can explain the inconsistent research results. The results reveal that TL positively affects project success and leadership charm is the primary driver of TL. Also, the existence of a mediating mechanism has a more significant impact on the success of the leading project. Meanwhile, compared with project construction under the Western cultural background, countries with Eastern culture are more inclined to use a people-oriented philosophy for project management to promote project success. This research provides an empirical perspective to help project leaders select management talents, regulate leaders’ words and deeds, and cultivate technical and soft leadership skills. Besides, this paper proposes a unique and nuanced view of the relationship between TL and project success, enhancing people’s understanding of the TL’s role in influencing project success.

The construction industry has made an indispensable contribution to China’s environmental and economic development. With the advent of the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) era, cross-organizational collaboration has enabled megaproject participants to engage significantly in problem-solving and technological innovation. The impact of innovation organization network on the synergy of cross-organizational technological innovation (COTI synergy) in megaprojects is imperative for theoretical researchers and engineering practitioners. Therefore, this study aims to develop a hypothetical model of innovation organization network and COTI synergy, focusing on the mediating role of interorganizational relationships and the moderating effect of the technological innovation environment. The results of 211 questionnaires from the Chinese construction industry show that innovation organization network improves COTI synergy. Trust and communication play a vital mediating role between innovation organization network and COTI synergy. Moreover, innovative culture has a significant positive moderating effect on innovation organization network and interorganizational relationships. From the perspective of organization network, this study provides new insights into the development of technological innovation management research on megaprojects, theoretical references, and practical suggestions for project teams in developing countries to improve collaborative technological innovation efficiency.