scholarly journals Lean product development and agile project management in the construction industry

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felipe Albuquerque ◽  
Alvair Silveira Torres ◽  
Fernando Tobal Berssaneti
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Product Development ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Potential Application ◽  
Design Stage ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lean Product Development ◽  
Agile Project Management ◽  
Main Challenge ◽  
New Methodologies

Purpose In recent years, innovative methodologies of product development such as lean product development (LPD) and agile project management (APM) have emerged. Even though previous research studies focused on these subjects, only few of them were focused on traditional industries, as civil construction. The purpose of this paper is to cover a part of this gap by estimating the potential of the application of these two new approaches (LPD and APM) in the construction industry, more specifically on the design stage. Design/methodology/approach For this, a case study has been conducted in order to understand if some of LPD and APM tools and practices had already been used, and also to evaluate the potential application of these new methodologies. Three Brazilian companies have been evaluated, all of them were exclusive executors of the design stage and presented distinct characteristics (size, structure, business model, etc.). Findings The results show that there is currently little adherence to LPD and APM practices within the companies studied. In terms of potential application of these new methodologies, the study has identified evidence regarding technical similarities between the reported cases and others mentioned in literature. However, the interviewees’ reception of these concepts was mostly pessimistic, showing considerable resistance to changes in the current process. Originality/value According to the analysis, the study identified that the main challenge/hampering to the implementation of these tools in the cases studied herein are the functional organizational structures, the customer–supplier relationships and the internal cultural resistance to change.

Control of project data and team satisfaction as results of PMO effort in new product development projects

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanderson César Macêdo Barbalho ◽  
Gladston Luiz Silva
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Product Development ◽  
New Product Development ◽  
Portfolio Management ◽  
New Product ◽  
Success Factor ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Team Satisfaction ◽  
Project Data ◽  
And Control

PurposeThis paper aims to explore how new product development (NPD)-based project management offices (PMOs) work, their drivers to deliver performance and their project success impact.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a survey of 35 Brazilian and multi-national companies that identified the effort to perform a list of PMO functions, some PMO drivers in the company and five project performance perception indicators. The authors apply a specific set of statistics to uncover the relations between these dimensions of interest.FindingsThe factorial analysis allows us to find the main functions influencing each other. The project teams’ perception of project management (PM) performance is suggested as a success factor that drives PMOs when working on portfolio management issues, managing project files and promoting PM over the company.Practical implicationsThis paper contributes to a contingency approach for designing a project machine involving PMOs to support NPD projects. Managers can set the most suitable PMO functions avoiding mimicry when structuring their NPD efforts.Originality/valuePMOs have impacted team satisfaction and control of project data but not indicators related to triple constraints.

Investigating the adoption of social media in the construction industry: empirical evidence from project teams in China

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guofeng Ma ◽  
Shan Jiang ◽  
Jianyao Jia
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Project Management ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Project Teams ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Content Type

PurposeA lack of reliable and effective communication tools poses major barriers impeding the performance of construction projects consisting of diverse participants. Although some construction project teams (CPTs) begin to apply social media (SM) as an available approach for project management the entire mechanism of SM adoption in this specific context remains understudied. Therefore, this study aims to adopt a CPT's lens to investigate the critical antecedents and associated effects underlying SM adoption in the construction industry.Design/methodology/approachBased on the technology–organization–environment (TOE) theory, a conceptual model was proposed and tested by empirical data collected from 159 CPTs in China. Structural equation modeling technique was employed for data analysis.FindingsThe results demonstrate that all the five extracted TOE-based antecedents including two technological factors (i.e. compatibility and expected cost), one organizational factor (i.e. top management support) and two environmental factors (i.e. project partner collaboration and project fit) are crucial to the adoption of SM in CPTs. Besides, SM acceptance is found to mediate the relationships between organizational and environmental factors and SM use. Moreover, SM use significantly predicts the communication effectiveness of CPTs.Research limitations/implicationsA questionnaire study based on cross-sectional data from China may only unveil the logic of SM adoption in the context of Chinese construction industry within a shorter time interval. It is recommended that future research could develop longitudinal studies among various construction practitioners in different countries to further specify and generalize the current findings.Originality/valueThis paper provides a comprehensive understanding of SM adoption in the construction industry by exploring the preadoption antecedents and postadoption effects from the perspective of project teams. The empirical findings advance the current web-based project management literature and afford new insights for construction practitioners into better managing SM application to reap its full capabilities in projects.

5. Lean, heavy, and disruptive projects

2017 ◽  
pp. 83-102
Author(s):  
Andrew Davies
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Product Development ◽  
Portfolio Management ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Management Styles ◽  
Lean Product Development ◽  
The Past ◽  
Development Approach ◽  
Manage Innovation

‘Lean, heavy, and disruptive projects’ considers how project management was transformed in the 1980s and 1990s to manage innovation in increasingly competitive global markets. The ‘lean’ product development approach was created by Honda and Toyota to develop a wider range of products faster and with fewer errors than their Western car manufacturer counterparts. Over the past two decades, lean development has spread to many industries experiencing rapid product obsolescence and shorter product life cycles. It has also been supported by the rise in digital technology. Different project management styles for different types of projects are discussed, including those for breakthrough innovations, as well as portfolio management and project team structures.

Testing relevance and applicability: reflections on organizational anthropology

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mette Marie Vad Karsten
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Settings ◽  
Organizational Ethnography ◽  
Development Processes ◽  
Anthropological Fieldwork ◽  
Organizational Anthropology ◽  
Key Aspects

Purpose Starting from the challenges and implications of doing organizational ethnography within the organization which the researcher is also employed by, the purpose of this paper is to reflect upon the idea of “passing the test” in relation to such ethnographic endeavor. The paper discusses how “collaboration” on projects and in product development processes with colleagues/informants is a precondition for passing “tests,” which unfolded as subtle, verbalized demands made by colleagues/informants during fieldwork. Design/methodology/approach Longitudinal anthropological fieldwork was carried out as part of an industrial PhD project, which investigates digitization as organizational, professional and social practices in the Danish construction industry. The fieldwork lasted on/off from April 2017 to December 2018. Various forms of participant observation and collaborative ethnographic methods were used during fieldwork. Findings The paper investigates how these “tests” focused on two key aspects: the relevance of anthropology in a profit-oriented, technical corporate organization; and the application of anthropological theories and ethnographic methodologies for the benefit of product development, usability studies and organizational change. It is argued that the tests were passed through collaborative engagements, where the author oscillated between positions as collegial insider and outside researcher for the dual benefit of both commercial interests and research interests. Originality/value The paper suggests that daring to collaborate and co-create products (as something different than texts) during organizational fieldwork for the benefit of both corporate and ethnographic interests offers strong possibilities for keeping ethnography relevant and applicable, passing tests in organizational settings and advancing ethnography’s impact in the world.

Who is attracted and why? How agile project management influences employee's attraction and commitment

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Koch ◽  
Carsten C. Schermuly
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Sensation Seeking ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Psychological Empowerment ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Agile Project Management ◽  
Indirect Relationship ◽  
Work Structure

PurposeIn times of market volatility and uncertainty, finding effective strategies to attract and retain individuals continues to be a challenge for organizations. Based on the psychological empowerment process (Spreitzer, 1996), this paper strives to examine if the application of agile project management could serve as such a strategy.Design/methodology/approachIn two independent studies, the authors used an experiment with students as potential applicants (N = 121) and a field study with employees (N = 229) to test the predictive quality of agile project management for attracting individuals toward the organization.FindingsUsing structural equation modeling, the authors identified an indirect relationship between agile project management and attraction toward the organization via psychological empowerment. The authors found this relationship for potential applicants as well as employees. Furthermore, individuals high in sensation seeking are found to be more attracted toward organizations that apply agile project management than individuals low in sensation seeking.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings contribute to the empowerment literature by establishing agile project management as a work structure that fosters feelings of psychological empowerment.Practical implicationsTaken together, these results suggest that agile project management can attract individuals who seek novel, complex and intense sensations. Where applicable, organizations may highlight their practice of agile project management methodologies as part of their employer brand to attract future specialists for agile projects.Originality/valueThis paper is the first to integrate the research streams on agile project management and attraction toward the organization using quantitative data.

scholarly journals Elaborating factors affecting visual control in a big room

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-47
Author(s):  
Jukka Majava ◽  
Harri Haapasalo ◽  
Kirsi Aaltonen
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Visual Control ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
And Control

Purpose The “big room” concept and lean philosophy have become increasingly popular in the construction industry. Visual control is a central part of lean philosophy and the big room concept; its aim is to improve information flow, joint problem-solving and real-time decision-making. Visual control facilitates effective project management by providing information on what work is performed and why, customer requirements, deadlines, work status and potential problems. This study aims to explore how visualisation supports project management and control in a big room and the factors that facilitate good visual control. Design/methodology/approach This research is based on the case study method, and the objective is to elaborate the current understanding of factors that affect visual control. The study includes a literature review and an empirical study of a large construction project. Findings The results indicate that many factors facilitate visual control. Despite the importance of facilities and tools, communication and teamwork are identified as the key factors. On a broader level, the results indicate a need for a holistic approach in developing visual management strategies and practices in the construction industry and in complex projects in particular. Research limitations/implications A single case may not be able to offer a generalised picture of this complex topic. However, the study provides novel insights for practitioners and researchers interested in the development of visual control and big rooms. Future research topics are also proposed. Originality/value While previous studies have identified many elements of successful big room implementation – including integration and early involvement, information sharing, tools and facilities – this study focusses specifically on the factors that facilitate visual control.

Lean product engineering in the South African automotive industry

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 703-724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaudia Mund ◽  
Koot Pieterse ◽  
Sheila Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Product Development ◽  
Product Design ◽  
South African ◽  
The South ◽  
Lean Thinking ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lean Product Development ◽  
Local Product ◽  
Product Engineering

Purpose – The puropse of this paper is to explore the extent to which principles of lean product development are applied to product design and engineering at automotive companies in South Africa (SA). Survey, interview and observational data form the basis for an adaptation of Toyota’s lean product development system (LPDS) (Morgan and Liker, 2006) to the South African automotive product engineering context. Design/methodology/approach – All seven automotive manufacturers then operating in SA (including Toyota) were investigated, together with sample of those suppliers carrying out product engineering and/or design locally. A questionnaire based on the LPDS, and follow-up interviews were used to ascertain the extent to which lean principles informed product engineering, and identify areas where there was scope for improvement. Findings – The survey established that while SA automotive companies have a strong manufacturing focus there is very limited local product design and development (PD&D), as this tends to be carried out centrally for multinationals. However, global product designs require modifications to suit local conditions and many decisions about manufacturability are taken locally. This broad area of design-related activity will be termed product engineering. The study found considerable scope for increasing the extent to which aspects of product engineering were influenced by lean thinking. An adapted version of the LPDS is proposed to aid lean thinking in product engineering in this context. Originality/value – This study provides information on the application of lean thinking in product engineering, an area that has attracted far less attention than manufacturing and PD&D. Furthermore it addresses a significant sector of an important emerging economy, and contributes a practitioner perspective to what is predominantly a theoretical literature.

The impact of balanced agile project management on firm performance: the mediating role of market orientation and strategic agility

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 457-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randy Kurniawan ◽  
Dyah Budiastuti ◽  
Mohammad Hamsal ◽  
Wibowo Kosasih
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Firm Performance ◽  
Market Orientation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Telecommunication Technology ◽  
Agile Project Management ◽  
Strategic Agility ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of balanced agile project management (balanced APM) on firm performance through the mediating role of market orientation and strategic agility of medium and large telecommunication technology providers in Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach Research data was collected from the executive management of telecommunication technology providers in Indonesia via a questionnaire survey to obtain 150 valid questionnaires for analysis. This study analyzed the overall model fit through confirmatory factor analysis and causal relationships through structural equation modeling. Findings The results indicate that market orientation mediates the link between balanced APM and strategic agility and that strategic agility mediates the link between market orientation and firm performance. Research limitations/implications The choice of single telecommunication industry in a single country, Indonesia, provides a limitation on external validity. It is, therefore, suggested to extend the research efforts to other industry sectors in multi-country environments. Originality/value This study extends the knowledge about agile project management by embracing balancing control enforcement and tests it empirically. This study also re-conceptualizes strategic agility to embrace business partner switching capability and market orientation to embrace the inter-partner coordination dimension. Finally, the results highlight that agile project management needs to be framed by market orientation to create higher value for customers. However, market orientation alone is not enough and that the organization requires strategic agility to achieve firm performance.

Impact of critical chain project management and product portfolio management on new product development performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 1692-1705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Octaviano Rojas Luiz ◽  
Fernando Bernardi de Souza ◽  
João Victor Rojas Luiz ◽  
Daniel Jugend ◽  
Manoel Henrique Salgado ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Product Development ◽  
New Product Development ◽  
Portfolio Management ◽  
New Product ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Product Portfolio ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Chain Project Management ◽  
Critical Chain

Purpose This study aims to analyze the relationship between the adherence to critical chain project management (CCPM) practices and the new product development performance, in terms of the results of product development programs and product portfolio management (PPM). Design/methodology/approach A survey was conducted with 79 innovative companies operating in Brazil. Data were analyzed using correlation analysis and non-parametric tests. Findings Significant and positive correlations were found between CCPM adoption and the performance factors proposed. The adoption of CCPM offered stronger correlation with PPM performance than with the adoption of traditional methods. The results further indicate a possible indirect contribution of CCPM practices to the product development program by means of PPM improvement. Originality/value This study deepens the knowledge of the joint study between project management and new product development, by bringing empirical evidence that the adoption of specific practices suggested by CCPM is used by organizations with superior performance. Moreover, the results broaden CCPM literature by attesting that companies do not necessarily have to apply the CCPM approach in a formal and explicit way to obtain the performance results given. The analyses still have practical value when indicating which CCPM practices should be prioritized by managers seeking high performance in PPM.

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