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1 – 10 of 930For a public project leader charged with a construction project, it can be crucial to meet the budget, while maximizing the qualities within a construction project. A method to…
Abstract
Purpose
For a public project leader charged with a construction project, it can be crucial to meet the budget, while maximizing the qualities within a construction project. A method to achieve this is to use the “opposite design build” procurement method, in which the price is fixed and the contractors compete on adding a wide range of qualities to the project. However, such procurement approaches are rare, and it is difficult to find models on how to implement such an approach.
Design/Methodology/Approach
This study firstly looks at the literature on design-build, quality-only as the main selection criterion and to some degree on constructors’ bidding behaviour. Secondly, it explains a model for a design-build, quality-only procurement designed within the public tendering legislations. Thirdly, it investigates the outcome of the model applied to a specific case in Norway.
Findings
There seems to be a research gap within literature and cases on design-build, quality-only selection with a fixed price. The developed model allowed for negotiations, which led to more comparable and improved bids. In the investigated case, and the client was able to implement more qualities in the project than expected within the budget.
Research Limitations/Implications
The researcher was himself partly involved in the process as an advisor.
Practical Implications
The developed method is relatively simple and might readily be applied by any client to maximise a project’s qualities within a given fixed price.
Originality/Value
The long-term value should be to widen the range of useful procurement methods.
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Marco A. Bragadin and Kalle Kähkönen
This paper is based on research addressing quality of construction schedules. The paper aims to structure a Schedule Health Assessment method and present it as a means to carry…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper is based on research addressing quality of construction schedules. The paper aims to structure a Schedule Health Assessment method and present it as a means to carry out the evaluation of construction schedules.
Design/Methodology/Approach
The development of the Schedule Health assessment method can be characterised as constructive research. The structuring of the method is based on analysis of factors forming the overall quality of construction schedules. The method has been tested in a proof of concept study. This comprised a case study in which four master schedules developed by junior production managers were evaluated using the Schedule Health assessment method.
Findings
It is possible to construct a method for the quality evaluation of construction schedules.
Research Limitations/Implications
The completed testing is still rather limited since it is based merely on experiences of junior production managers with a single case.
Practical Implications
The Schedule Health assessment method can in a useful manner make the quality evaluation of construction schedules easy to approach and effective process.
Originality/Value
This research has produced a novel method for the quality evaluation of construction schedules.
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Shiwei Chen, Kailun Feng and Weizhuo Lu
This paper aims to provide decision support for precast concrete contractors about both precast concrete supply chain strategies and construction configurations.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide decision support for precast concrete contractors about both precast concrete supply chain strategies and construction configurations.
Design/Methodology/Approach
This paper proposes a simulation-based optimisation for supply chain and construction (SOSC) during the planning phase of PC building projects. The discrete event simulation is used to capture the characteristics of supply chain and construction processes, and calculate construction objectives under different plans. Particle swarm optimisation is combined with simulation to find optimal supply chain strategies and construction configurations.
Findings
The efficiency of SOSC is compared with the parametric simulation approach. Over 70 per cent of time and effort used to simulate and compare alternative plans is saved owing to SOSC.
Research Limitations/Implications
Building simulation model costs a lot of time and effort. The data requirement of the proposed method is high.
Practical Implications
The proposed SOSC approach can provide decision support for PC contractors by optimising supply chain strategies and construction configurations.
Originality/Value
This paper has two contributions: one is in providing a decision support tool SOSC to optimise both supply chain strategies and construction configurations, while the other is in building a prototype of SOSC and testing it in a case study.
Details
Keywords
Tina Karrbom Gustavsson, Anna Kadefors, Sofia Lingegård, Ola Laedre, Ole Jonny Klakegg, Nils Olsson and Johan Larsson
The purpose of the study is to map previous and current construction procurement research to further develop the research in the Nordic counties.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the study is to map previous and current construction procurement research to further develop the research in the Nordic counties.
Design/Methodology/Approach
Mapping of previous and current research based on search in national database. The analysis is based on research perspectives, empirical contexts and research methods.
Findings
That the blind spots are partly overlapping, but that there is potential for knowledge transfer in some areas. There is also the potential for a Nordic research program on one or several of the blind spots.
Research Limitations/Implications
The study is limited to PhD and licentiate-thesis reports in Norway and Sweden. Further research should include the other Nordic countries and a more extensive literature review including journal articles to broaden the scope. Findings have implications on collaborative Nordic research initiatives, knowledge transfer and in a longer perspective on the level of procurement knowledge in industry and society.
Practical Implications
Findings provide a base for future research collaborations, initiatives and applications.
Originality/Value
Findings provide a comprehensive understanding of construction procurement research in the Nordic countries, starting with Norway and Sweden. This understanding is needed for developing research collaborations and applications.
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Keywords
Kajsa Simu, Christine Räisänen and Jarkko Erikshammar
A comprehensive intervention test platform, Valla Coach, including quantitative and qualitative methods to measure and improve work flows on site and promote coaching and…
Abstract
Purpose
A comprehensive intervention test platform, Valla Coach, including quantitative and qualitative methods to measure and improve work flows on site and promote coaching and collective learning has been developed jointly by researchers and practitioner. The study aims to describe the methodological underpinning of the platform, and discusses the preliminary results and implications.
Design/Methodology/Approach
Expansive Learning Theory grounded in a cultural–historical perspective underpins the conceptual realisation of the test platform. The viability of the platform was tested in four contextually different construction sites (and contractors), combining established and new measurement tools, qualitative intervention approaches and coaching according to the production challenges at hand.
Findings
Valla Coach created a space on site where researchers-as-coaches and operatives converged to co-construct (new) knowledge and learn together. The knowledge that emerged from the interactions gained legitimacy through its situatedness and practical value for the operatives.
Research Limitations/Implications
Valla Coach provides opportunities for researchers and practitioners to probe the taken-for-granted. Moreover, a variety of methods and tools are tested in different contexts. The interventions prompt questioning of assumptions and make contradictions visible. Valla Coach remains work-in-progress and needs further evaluation and validation.
Practical Implications
We contribute insights from negotiating socio-technical complexities, evaluating digital measurement tools and technologies and experiences of operatives. Tensions at the interface between the organisation and project are rendered visible.
Originality/Value
A bottom–up approach that is a combination of practice-based tools and methods and of theories of learning and sustainable and continuous improvements where the operators are the main actors that enable productive activity.
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Keywords
Ayodeji E. Oke, Seyi S. Stephen and Clinton O. Aigbavboa