Khalife, Salam (2023) Developing advanced approaches to deliver value on construction projects: Integrating social dynamics, digital modelling techniques, and lean concepts. PhD thesis, University of Alberta, Canada.
Abstract
Construction projects are complex endeavors that involve multiple stakeholders, challenging processes, and diverse objectives. The effective management and alignment of project value propositions are crucial for ensuring successful outcomes and satisfying the needs and expectations of stakeholders. Value management practices have offered ways to support the identification and generation of project value. However, conflicting and unclear requirements among stakeholders hinder a shared understanding of project value, leading to issues such as varied work practices, rework, low productivity, and increased costs. Moreover, the lack of reliable tools and methods to track value attainment during design development undermines the effectiveness of value management workshops usually conducted in early phases. Additionally, insufficient attention is given to studying the impact of social dynamics on the delivery of value on projects. Accordingly, this research aims to improve project value delivery and value management practices by rethinking value identification and planning methods, and by proposing a digital simulation tool with metrics to track and control value throughout project phases. Specifically, the study recognizes the significance of social dynamics such as interactions, relationships, and behaviors of individuals and groups in shaping project outcomes, and the transformative potential of digital methods and lean principles in enhancing value management practices. Three major modules are outlined: (1) mapping factors influencing value delivery, recommending value identification strategies, and proposing a simple-warning dashboard for detecting value conflicts; (2) developing a socio-technical framework to track value attainment and evaluate design communication and team structures using social network analysis and lean practices; and (3) deploying simulation as a value management tool using agent-based modelling techniques to monitor value alignment and fulfillment throughout the project design. In addition, a portion of this research was dedicated to investigating architecture and engineering education with respect to teaching value and proposing essential practices to overcome the identified shortcomings. The overall objective of this research is to create value in the built environment for everyone by advancing both industry practices and educational systems toward a more human-centric design and management.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Hamzeh, Farook |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | value management; lean construction; agent-based modelling; social network analysis; team dynamics; social dynamics |
| Index terms: | simulation tool, digital-modelling, effectiveness, workshop, construction project, built environment, productivity, lean construction, engineering education, social network analysis, team dynamics, value management, dashboard, planning method, work practice, project design, agent-based modelling, mapping, project outcome, design development, interaction, module, strategy, socio-technical, dynamics, rework |
| Subjects: | urban planning, research methods, construction type, design process, production management, operations management, spatial and geospatial analysis, performance management, modelling and simulation, analytical methods, management, digital design, data science, infrastructure and transport systems, project completion, professional education, building construction, architectural elements, behavioral psychology, systems engineering, contractual arrangements |
| Topics: | Organizational Design, Engineering Principles, Digital Applications, Design Practice, Governance, Procurement, Quality Management, Site Management, Urban Studies, Project Management, Construction Technology, Research Practice, Education, Value Management, Business Strategy |
| 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