Ramanayaka, C and Rotimi, J (2011) Strategy: Towards its applicability for successful project delivery. In: Egbu, C and Lou, E C W (eds.) Proceedings of 27th Annual ARCOM Conference, 5-7 September 2011, Bristol, UK.
Abstract
Successful project delivery is somewhat elusive because cost overruns, time extensions and quality failures have become common features on construction projects. Advanced database software packages and computer aided design, using nD modelling and artificial intelligence have been developed, but these solutions are inadequate to mitigate construction failures. Some studies suggest strategic approaches as the ideal alternative for successful construction project delivery. The pros and cons of this suggestion are reviewed in this paper. The key objective is to proffer strategy-led approaches as the best practice in construction project management, recognising the drawbacks in current project management practices. It is part of an on-going initiative to determine the applicability of a strategy-led approach to successful construction project delivery. The study on which this paper is based reviews different solutions available to planning for successful construction project delivery. The larger study aims to gather successful project delivery strategies that project managers use in project delivery. Successful project managers will be recruited and questionnaire surveys and structured interviews will be employed to evaluate their abilities to cope with project complexities, dynamisms, uniqueness and uncertainties. Contextual information on the larger study programme is provided while concluding with postulations for the adoption of a strategy-led approach to construction project planning. The strategy led approach is suggested as a root for the adoption of both reflective practice and technical rational paradigms. The authors believe there are benefits that could be derived from taking this conceptual approach to construction project delivery.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | project failures; project success; strategies |
| Index terms: | cost overrun, strategy, database, construction project delivery, survey, software package, programme, interview, project management practice, nD modelling, project manager, reflective practice, project success, project failure, project delivery, artificial intelligence, project complexity, best practice, paradigm, construction project, questionnaire, computer aided design, construction project management |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, computational design, profession, business, project completion, artificial intelligence, financial and cost management, project delivery, production management, organizational theory, professional development, project management theory and practice, digital design, management, education and knowledge transfer, software systems, project controls, data management |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Procurement, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Project Management, Information Management, Engineering Principles, Time Control, Digital Applications |
| 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