Liu, C; González, V A; Lee, G; Cabrera-Guerrero, G; Zou, Y and Davies, R (2024) Integrating the last planner system and immersive virtual reality: Exploring the social mechanisms produced by using LPS in projects. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 150(7): 04024070, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Over the last 30 years, the last planner system (LPS), as a Lean-driven production planning and control tool, has consistently demonstrated its capability to improve planning reliability and overall performance in construction projects. Recent research provides evidence suggesting that the LPS ability to do good to projects has not reached its full potential yet. In fact, it has been observed that by identifying the missing social mechanisms in its implementation process and managing more effectively the complex socio-technical nature of the LPS, its implementation effectiveness is improved. However, commonly used research approaches, such as the case study method, have been criticized for lacking scientific control, replicability, and external validity. Alternatively, immersive virtual reality (IVR)-based simulation games have the methodological capability to enable the study of the social mechanisms that the LPS engenders when implemented in projects, by providing a highly controlled, reproducible, and ecologically valid experimental environment. However, how to leverage effectively IVR-based gaming technology to study the social mechanisms that the LPS engenders in construction organizations is not well understood. In order to bridge this gap, this paper established the conceptual and technical foundations to set IVR-based experimental environments and developed an IVR prototype encompassing nonlean and LPS-based rounds. The evaluation of the IVR prototype involved both quantitative and qualitative research approaches, focusing on its functionality, user-perceived presence and usability, task performance, and lean expert feedback. The results demonstrated the prototype’s capability to create a controlled experimental environment while offering participants a user-friendly, immersive, and realistic LPS simulation experience. The contributions of this study are twofold: (1) the addition of a new method to the research methodology toolbox in construction engineering and management; and (2) the generation of design insights to develop IVR prototypes for research in construction engineering and management, and preliminary evidence for its ecological validity.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | controlled experiment; evaluation; immersive virtual reality; last planner system; simulations games; social mechanism |
| Index terms: | gaming, production planning, experiment, functionality, prototype, usability, evidence, construction project, last planner system, qualitative research, socio-technical, case study, construction organization, validity, research methodology, presence, effectiveness, construction engineering, virtual reality, foundations, implementation |
| Subjects: | contractual arrangements, environmental science, project delivery, design features, modelling and simulation, evaluation and assessment methods, data collection methods, research design and methodology, user-centered design, organization, virtual reality, project controls, production management, structural engineering, engineering methods, research methods, decision-making and reasoning, performance management |
| Topics: | Design Practice, Digital Applications, Quality Management, Time Control, Business Strategy, Project Management, Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Procurement, Sustainability |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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