Evaluating uncertainties to deliver enhanced service performance in education PPPs: a hierarchical reliability framework
Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
ISSN: 0969-9988
Article publication date: 20 June 2022
Issue publication date: 27 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to develop a hierarchical reliability framework to evaluate the service delivery performance of education public–private partnerships (PPPs) effectively and efficiently during long-term operations.
Design/methodology/approach
The research design included development and test phases. In the development phase, three performance layers, i.e. indicator, component and system, in the education service delivery system were identified. Then, service component reliability was computed through first order reliability method (FORM). Finally, the reliability of the service system was obtained using dynamic component weightings. A PPP school example in Australia was set up in the test phase, where performance indicators were collected from relevant contract documents and performance data were simulated under three assumptive scenarios.
Findings
The example in the test phase yielded good results for the developed framework in evaluating uncertainties of service delivery performance for education PPPs. Potentially underperforming services from the component to the system level at dynamic timepoints were identified, and effective preventative maintenance strategies were developed.
Research limitations/implications
This research enriches reliability theory and performance evaluation research on education PPPs. First, a series of performance evaluation indicators are constructed for assessing the performance of the service delivery of the education PPP operations. Then, a reliability-based framework for service components and system is developed to predict service performance of the PPP school operations with consideration of a range of uncertainties during project delivery.
Practical implications
The developed framework was illustrated with a real-world case study. It demonstrates that the developed reliability-based framework could potentially provide the practitioners of the public sector with a basis for developing effective preventative maintenance strategies with the aim of prolonging the service life of the PPP schools.
Originality/value
Evaluating education PPPs is challenging as it involves long-term measurement of various service components under uncertainty. The developed reliability-based framework is a valuable tool to ensure that reliability is maintained throughout the service life of education PPPs in the presence of uncertainty.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thanks for the support of Australian Research Council (LP160100259).
Citation
Geng, L., Herath, N., Hui, F.K.P., Liu, X., Duffield, C. and Zhang, L. (2023), "Evaluating uncertainties to deliver enhanced service performance in education PPPs: a hierarchical reliability framework", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 30 No. 9, pp. 4464-4485. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-10-2021-0896
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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