Demir, S; Bryde, D J; Fearon, D J and Ochieng, E G (2012) Re- conceptualising agile for lean construction: The case for "agilean" project management. In: Smith, S D (ed.) Proceedings of 28th Annual ARCOM Conference, 3-5 September 2012, Edinburgh, UK.
Abstract
To address limitations of Lean in construction, new paradigms linked to Agile management methods are receiving increased attention. Agile approaches to management in manufacturing and information technology [IT] developed independently and with different objectives. However in applying Agile to construction, theorists have not made a distinction between the two paradigms. Hence the aim of this research is to analyse the appropriateness of Agile manufacturing and Agile IT to construction. A review of the extant literature on both is undertaken and from this it is concluded that Agile IT is more suitable to construction project management [PM] than Agile manufacturing. Then interviews were undertaken with Agile experts and project managers to assess how Agile IT could be applied. The results of the interviews suggest that concepts from Agile IT need to be integrated with those of Lean to be effective in the construction environment, i.e. Agile needs to be re-conceptualized for Lean construction. This paper presents a potentially unifying framework, called "AgiLean PM", which illustrates how waste elimination, through Lean, and the ability to react to change, through Agile, is achieved at the operational level; with PM methods providing the necessary strategic oversight.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | agile; agilean; leagile; lean; project management |
| Index terms: | management method, construction project management, paradigm, project management, information technology, agile manufacturing, project manager, interview, lean construction |
| Subjects: | building construction, education and knowledge transfer, management, project management theory and practice, profession, data collection methods, business, computing systems |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Project Management, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Digital Applications, Site Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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