Within this study, we elaborate on the state-of-the-art within the academic literature ranging around flood protection, climate change and critical success factors (CSFs) by conducting a bibliometric analysis with subsequent snowball sampling procedure paired with a citation-network analysis. Further, we analyse CSFs in hindsight of an approx. 100 Mio. EUR pilot-project located in Germany and their implementation within the knowledge management framework of the latter project. Finally, we propose a guideline for mega- project realisations, concluding remarks and future avenues of research.