scholarly journals ESTABLISHING A COORDINATION SYSTEM FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT ORGANIZATIONS BY SIMULATING HUMAN BODY CIRCULATORY SYSTEM

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 492-504
Author(s):  
Fang-Ying Shen ◽  
Andrew S. Chang
Keyword(s):  
Human Body ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Circulatory System ◽  
Work Effectiveness ◽  
Coordination System ◽  
Project Organizations ◽  
Coordination Work ◽  
The Brain

Construction projects are highly fragmented with many participants and activities involved during construction, so coordination is complicated and critical for project organizations. The physiological functions of the human body such as the circulatory system are natural and effective. This study established a coordination system for construction projects by simulating the circulatory system to improve work effectiveness. The contractor has to coordinate the owner and suppliers, that is, like the heart does to the brain and various organs. A procedure was also developed and illustrated through a case study to use the system practically. The contractor engineer acting as a receptor evaluates coordination needs derived from project uncertainty and equivocality and collect time spent on coordination with various parties. Coordination time or amount is adjusted when coordination supply does not meet needs. This procedure can be applied on construction project organizations to plan and execute coordination work.

Testing Coordination System through a Case Study

2011 ◽  
Vol 58-60 ◽  
pp. 810-815
Author(s):  
Fang Ying Shen ◽  
Andrew S. Chang
Keyword(s):  
Task Performance ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Circulatory System ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Physiological Functions ◽  
Coordination System ◽  
Coordination Systems ◽  
Coordination Methods

Coordination has been regarded as a critical factor of successful projects. Because construction projects are highly fragmented with many participants involved at different construction stages, coordination is more complicated for contractors. A coordination systems and procedure developed by simulating circulatory system could improve coordination effectiveness of construction projects due to the natural and effective physiological functions of the human body. To verify the applicability and effectiveness of the system and procedure, two tools to quantify coordination needs and supply were proposed and a case project was tested for ten months. The results showed that the more fit between coordination needs and supply, the better the task performance, meaning that the coordination system and procedure is effective. During construction the contractor can follow the coordination procedure and assign an engineer to evaluate variation of coordination needs and supply periodically or at emergent conditions. As coordination supply does not meet needs, time and frequency of coordination methods should be adjusted.

Managing integration in infrastructure alliance projects

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Maija Hietajärvi ◽  
Kirsi Aaltonen ◽  
Harri Haapasalo
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Complex Projects ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Project Organizations ◽  
Integration Mechanisms ◽  
Organizational Integration ◽  
Time Critical

Purpose The effective management of inter-organizational integration is central to complex projects. Such projects pose significant challenges for integration, as organizations struggle with constantly changing inter-organizational interdependencies and must develop and adapt integration mechanisms to meet new demands. The purpose of this paper is to understand what kinds of integration mechanisms are used and how they are developed and adjusted during the infrastructure alliance projects. Design/methodology/approach This study provides empirical evidence of integration dynamics in project alliancing by analyzing two infrastructure alliance projects – a complex tunnel construction project and a railway renovation project. The research approach is an inductive case study. Findings This paper identifies integration mechanisms adopted in two case projects and three central triggers that led to changes in the integration mechanisms: project lifecycle phase, unexpected events and project team’s learning during the project. Practical implications Integration capability should be a precondition for alliance project organizations and requires the adoption of a wide range of integration mechanisms, as well as an ability to adjust those mechanisms in response to everyday dynamics and emergent situations. Originality/value Although unplanned contingencies and the responses to them represent important influences in organizations, there is limited amount of research on the dynamics of integration. The findings will be of value in supporting the management of inter-organizational integration in complex, uncertain and time-critical construction projects.

scholarly journals Normalising deviance in construction project organizations: a case study on the collapse of Carillion

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (12) ◽  
pp. 1122-1138
Author(s):  
Sara Hajikazemi ◽  
Kirsi Aaltonen ◽  
Tuomas Ahola ◽  
Wenche Aarseth ◽  
Bjorn Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Construction Project ◽  
Project Organizations

Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy in Project Risk Management - New Stadium Construction Project in Weifang City

2011 ◽  
Vol 243-249 ◽  
pp. 6362-6368
Author(s):  
Yan Zhang ◽  
Chang Jiang Liu
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Project Management ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Construction Project Management ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Project Risk ◽  
Management Case Study

In the field of engineering and construction, unqualified construction quality, time delays, cost more than expected phenomena to occur. Because of these characteristics such as its large-scale construction projects, long cycle, the production of single and complex, there is greater risk than the production of general products, the risk increases the difficulty of construction project management, operating costs and the possibility of potential losses, therefore, risk management emerged and become an increasingly important integral part of project management. In this paper, fuzzy analytic hierarchy be used to construction project risk assessment, and to order the sort of each risk in order to prevent significant risks. On an actual project - the new stadium construction in Weifang City risk management case study, the reduction of risk of project failure is expected, but also the project is hoped for other industries to provide some reference for risk management.

scholarly journals The Influence of Risk Management on Construction Project Performance: A Case Study.

2018 ◽  
pp. 936-942
Author(s):  
Mazurina Mohd Ali ◽  
Sakinah Zahra Norman ◽  
Erlane K. Ghani ◽  
Noor Hasniza Haron
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Project Performance ◽  
Time Cost ◽  
Schedule Delay

Risk Management is recognized as an important exercise that creates value to a project and improves project performance. Time, cost and quality are the primary measures of a project performance in this industry. The success or failure in any construction project can be monitored through the attainment of these primary measures. Notably, Malaysian construction industry is considered as one of the important industries that positively contribute to the increase of Gross Domestic Product and subsequently the growth of the country’s economic development. Unfortunately, this industry suffers poor performance in which it leads to failure in accomplishing effective time, cost and quality performance. Most construction projects face a schedule delay, cost overrun and are poor in product quality. Thus, the aim of this study is to determine the influence of risk management on construction project performance of Malaysian companies based on these three primary measures. The degree of diffusion of risk management practice in the chosen construction project in Malaysia is also examined. The methodological approach exploited in this study is a case study approach involving analysis of documented data and face-to-face interviews with key players that hold different roles and responsibilities. They include a director, project managers, finance managers, contract managers and quantity surveyor managers. The results demonstrate that adopting effective risk management practices positively impacts project performance thus leading to project success. Nevertheless, the lack of knowledge and poor communication of risk management practices in construction projects contribute to the weak implementation of an effective and systematic risk management practices in Malaysia.

scholarly journals BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING AND PROJECT INFORMATION MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy O. Olawumi ◽  
Daniel W. M. Chan
Keyword(s):  
Information Management ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Project Staff ◽  
Management Framework ◽  
Construction Firms ◽  
Building Information ◽  
Key Indicators

The study aims to develop an effective BIM-project information management framework (BIM-PIMF) and associated assessment model for construction projects with a view to enhancing the functional management of project information. An explanatory case study technique and case study evidence from four BIM construction projects form the study’s research design. The study identified and established the three sub-criteria of the BIM-PIMF model which are the BIM process level factors, BIM product level factors, and the key indicators for a successful BIM deployment on construction project sites. These criterias were semantically linked to the development of the BIM-PIMF framework on a five-point metric scale. The deliverables of this study include the development of the BIM-PIMF framework, together with its analytical scoring system. The findings of the study will improve the information channels of and ease the integration of technological innovations in construction processes while improving the technical competencies of project staff. The study highlighted a basket of effective recommendations and strategies to enhance the deployment of BIM throughout a project lifecycle. Policymakers and government departments can utilize the model in assessing the level of usage of BIM in a construction project as one of the useful measures in gauging which construction firms to be provided subsidies.

scholarly journals Spanning the multilevel boundaries of construction organisations

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enoch Sackey ◽  
Julius Akotia
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Boundary Spanning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Execution Plan ◽  
Contractual Agreements ◽  
Project Level

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the interdependent boundary-spanning activities that characterise the level of permeability of knowledge, information flow and learning among construction supply chains involved in the delivery of building information modelling (BIM)-compliant construction projects. Construction projects are mobilised through a number of interdependent processes and multi-functional activities by different practitioners with myriad specialised skills. Many of the difficulties that manifest in construction projects can be attributed to the fragmented work activities and inter-disciplinary nature of project teams. This is nevertheless becoming ever more pertinent with the rise of technology deployment in construction organisations. Design/methodology/approach The study combined experts’ sampling interviews and a case study research method to help offer better insights into the kind of emerging multilevel boundary practices as influenced by the rapidly evolving construction technological solutions. The experts’ sampling helped inform better understanding by unravelling the key changes in contemporary boundary configurations and related boundary-spanning practices within technology-mediated construction project settings. The case study also helped to establish the manifestation of best practices for managing multilevel boundaries in BIM-enabled construction project organisations. Findings The study has revealed that different generic organisational BIM strategies as developed in specialised boundaries are reconfigured as appropriate at the project level to produce project-specific BIM execution plan (BXP). The outcome of project BXP is dependent on the project organisational teams that cooperate in creating new solutions and on conceding space for negotiations and compromises which conflicting interests at the project level can find to be both desirable and feasible. The implementation effort is therefore contingent on mutual translation in which different actors with different insights instigate their practice through negotiation and persuasion which eventually are reinforced by contractual agreements and obligations. Originality/value The paper has presented a novel and well-timed empirical insight into BIM-enabled project delivery and best practices that span multilevel boundaries of construction organisations.

Development of a benchmarking model for BIM implementation in developing countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 1210-1232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy O. Olawumi ◽  
Daniel W.M. Chan
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Information Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Developed Economies ◽  
Adoption And Implementation ◽  
Building Information ◽  
Project Organizations

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore building information modeling (BIM) implementation and practices in developed economies by developing a benchmarking model that will enhance BIM adoption and implementation in developing countries. Design/methodology/approach The research design adopted a qualitative approach which includes the desktop review of the extant literature as well as case study reviews of ten BIM projects using an explanatory case study technique to form the foundation upon which the study proposed the model. The moving basis heuristics technique was adopted to develop the scoring system. Findings The BIM benchmarking model and assessment template were developed which consisted of three-level concepts modeled to aid project organizations and project team in developing countries to assess and score the level of improvement and implementation of BIM in a project. A desktop review of BIM projects in developed countries demonstrated the significant improvements and benefits possible through the implementation of the established BIM benchmarking model. Practical implications The assessment template in conjunction with the benchmarking model is useful for a comparative evaluation of similar BIM projects and benchmarking purposes. The study also discussed how current findings extends and contradicts previous findings. Originality/value The findings have provided policymakers, construction stakeholders and professional bodies in the construction industry in developing countries with valuable insights and counter-intuitive perspective that could facilitate the uptake of BIM in construction projects.

scholarly journals Three Theoretical Perspectives for Understanding Inter-firm Coordination of Construction Project Supply Chains

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Torres Formoso ◽  
Eduardo Luis Isatto
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chains ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Complementary Role ◽  
General Contractors ◽  
Coordination Process

The success of construction projects is highly dependent on the coordination of a fairly large number of stakeholders, such as client organizations, designers, general contractors, and subcontractors. Each of those stakeholders can both affect and be affected by the way a project is managed, and none of them usually has the power or the ability to coordinate project supply chains. However, the existing literature on supply chain management does not provide a comprehensive theoretical foundation for describing or explaining the coordination of construction project supply chains. This paper discusses the role of three different theoretical perspectives for understanding the inter-firm coordination process of project supply chains in the construction industry: the Theory of Coordination, the Transaction Cost Theory and the Language-Action Perspective. The contribution of each theoretical approach is pointed out in the paper, and their complementary role is illustrated in a case study carried out in a petrochemical construction project in Brazil.

The role of formal and informal mechanisms in implementing lean principles in construction projects

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (10) ◽  
pp. 1322-1338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lena Elisabeth Bygballe ◽  
Maria Endresen ◽  
Silje Fålun
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Lean Construction ◽  
Single Case Study ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lean Principles

Purpose Previous research shows that implementing lean construction is not a straightforward task. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of formal and informal mechanisms in implementing lean principles in construction projects. Design/methodology/approach The paper draws on a single case study of the implementation of innovative lean principles in a public construction project in Norway. The study is based on qualitative data, including 17 semi-structured interviews with 21 individuals, document analysis, and observations in meetings and seminars, in addition to informal conversations. Findings Formal mechanisms, including contractual arrangements, have the potential to both facilitate and hamper the implementation of innovative lean principles in a construction project. They might create coherence, but at the same time they might limit the scope of the concept in such a way that others do not accept it. Informal mechanisms, including social and lateral relationships and trust aid implementation, both directly by creating commitment and by modifying the challenges that the formal mechanisms potentially incur. Formal mechanisms may, in turn, nurture the informal ones. Research limitations/implications The research is based on a single case study within the Norwegian public sector, which is dependent on specific public procurement regulations and subject to strong contractual traditions. Originality/value The research extends the existing knowledge of implementation of lean construction in the construction industry. It helps refining the understanding of the role played by formal and informal mechanisms, and the interplay between them in the implementation process. This knowledge is also relevant for process innovations in construction in general.

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