Mao, X (2008) The framework of TRIZ-enhanced-value engineering analysis and its knowledge management. PhD thesis, University of Alberta, Canada.
Abstract
VE has become an integral aspect of the development of many major construction projects over the years. However, there are some shortcomings in the conventional VE process: (1) The use of a function analysis system technique (FAST) diagram as the basis for the VE exercise may restrain the VE team's creativity, as the FAST diagram usually provides too many details upfront regarding the lower-level project functions. (2) The creativity phase, which is the critical stage of the VE process, relies mainly on freethinking-based creativity tools, such that the chance of generating an innovative solution is limited by individual VE team members' experience, knowledge, and creativity. (3) There is a lack of direction in problem solving and a lack of effort in developing and evaluating alternative plans, both of which serve to reduce the efficiency and effectiveness of the VE exercise. (4) Finally, VE analysis usually starts from scratch without adequately utilizing the knowledge generated from previous VE exercises, which leads to an increased likelihood of "reinventing the wheel" and consequently the waste of resources. To overcome these shortcomings, this thesis first presents development of an enhanced VE framework (referred to as the TRIZ-enhanced-VE framework), which incorporates inventive problem-solving techniques (Russian abbreviation: TRIZ) in order to enhance the creative capability of the VE team and guide the VE process to effectively and efficiently generate "focused" ideas toward innovative solutions to the essential problems. Moreover, this study proposes a value engineering knowledge management system (VE-KMS) to facilitate the creativity phase of VE through live capturing, extracting, and reusing the best engineering and construction knowledge obtained from this stage. The architecture of the proposed database for VE knowledge management copes with the workflow of the creativity phase of the TRIZ-enhanced-VE study. While reviewing TRIZ theories, this research also identifies the difficulty involved in finding solutions for Substance-Field (Su-Field) analysis and therefore has condensed 76 standard solutions into seven general principles. As a result, the logic of TRIZ in general is improved and the application of Su-Field analysis becomes more efficient.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | creativity; knowledge management; problem solving; value engineering; function analysis; workflow |
| Index terms: | construction project, problem solving, workflow, knowledge management, value engineering, TRIZ, effectiveness, knowledge management system, efficiency, creativity, exercise, function analysis, database |
| Subjects: | professional development, production management, decision-making and reasoning, performance management, management, information systems, innovation and creative processes, data management, value management, health behaviours and lifestyles, problem-solving, data science |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Health and Safety, Engineering Principles, Project Management, Digital Applications, Design Practice, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Information Management, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCA |
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