Vahabi, A; Nasirzadeh, F and Mills, A (2023) Assessing the impact of project brief clarity using project definition rating index tool and system dynamic. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 30(2), pp. 697-713. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: Briefing in a project delivery context is one of the most critical factors in the project success. It defines client requirements, translates these needs into design criteria and generates a design concept. A lack of briefing clarity is one of the main causes of design changes and may lead to project cost and time overruns. This research aims to assess the brief clarity and its influence on project cost and duration. Design/methodology/approach: This research created the PDRI-SD technique by utilising a system dynamic (SD) approach and project definition rating index (PDRI) tool to model the complex system of project briefing and associated variables. Stock and flow diagrams of the main subsystems including the briefing, the detailed design and the construction process, were developed to assess the influence of brief clarity on project cost and time. The PDRI was adopted to measure the briefing clarity and apply in the model. PDRI-SD was then tested in Australian building refurbishment projects to assess the model's effectiveness. Findings: The simulation results indicated that a minor reduction of the lack of clarity throughout the initial briefing process could significantly mitigate unpredicted delay and cost overruns during the detailed design and the construction stage. Originality/value: This research contributed to the existing body of knowledge by developing an effective technique to measure the impact of lack of brief clarity on project cost and time performance. PDRI-SD can also aid project clients to predict the influence of the initial defined brief on the detailed design and construction process using the historical data of similar previous projects. It provides clients with feedback, indicating whether the brief meets project requirements or whether parts of the project brief require more clarification/rectification before the project handover to the builders.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | brief clarity; building refurbishment; detailed design; project definition rating index; system dynamic |
| Index terms: | briefing, project briefing, body of knowledge, time performance, methodology, construction process, project cost, builder, design change, project client, project delivery, duration, client requirements, design and construction, effectiveness, complex system, critical factor, building refurbishment, cost overrun, project success, time overrun |
| Subjects: | contractual arrangements, knowledge management, project delivery, financial and cost management, scope management, practitioner, risk assessment, systems engineering, project controls, building construction, sociology, asset management, professional development, project management theory and practice, research methods, performance management, economics |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Time Control, Site Management, Research Practice, Project Management, Information Management, Engineering Principles, Business Strategy, Cost Management, Procurement, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here