Songer, A D (1992) Toward an improved understanding of public sector design-build planning. PhD thesis, University of California, Berkeley, USA.
Abstract
Using a knowledge modeling methodology, this research provides a systematic, improved approach to owner planning of the design-build contract management process for public sector agencies. The model provides a bottom-up, systematic framework of how the design-build process should be administered. The model is a hierarchical-sequential map of the design-build activities, associated decisions, and relationships. One particularly interesting characteristic of the model and an extension to existing process models is the identification, analysis and processing of pivotal decisions. Pivotal decisions are those decisions critical to the success of the project which require expert input. These decisions were identified during the knowledge acquisition stage of this research. Although the pivotal decisions were validated by the primary expert and other reviewers of the model, the concept of pivotal decisions and development of a verification or ranking procedure provides excellent future research. The underlying knowledge of design-build contracting gained from this research results in an improved understanding of design-build planning. This was accomplished through the collection, analysis, and synthesis of general process and project specific knowledge. General process knowledge contributing to an improved understanding of design-build includes general suggestions or cautions concerning activities or decisions. Such knowledge was not previously documented or formalized. Project specific knowledge is the heuristic problem solving knowledge specific to a particular project. This knowledge for pivotal decisions was not previously represented in a usable, understandable, disseminatable format. Additionally, this study introduces the concept of intent as it pertains to the owner planning process. Intent is the rationale or purpose behind a decision outcome. It is generally not explicitly included or understood in decision output. However, it is valuable information which should be captured and made available to project personnel as it traverses the project. This research defines and categorizes different types of intent for a managerial process such as design-build. Computer-based representation of intent provides an excellent topic for future research. (Abstract shortened by UMI. )
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Ibbs, C W |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | personnel; contract management; problem solving; owner; heuristic |
| Index terms: | personnel, contract management, agency, methodology, problem solving, owner, public sector, planning process, heuristic, modelling, knowledge acquisition |
| Subjects: | decision-making and reasoning, research methods, management, contract management, sociology, project controls, student development, administrative law, risk assessment, analytical methods |
| Topics: | Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Contract Administration, Time Control, Education, Legal Issues, Human Resources |
| 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