Elmahroug, M H; Tutesigensi, A and Smith, N J (2016) A problem solving approach to identifying civil engineering infrastructure projects. In: Chan, P W and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 32nd Annual ARCOM Conference, 5-7 September 2016, Manchester, UK.
Abstract
Infrastructure projects are solutions to problems facing communities, societies or even an entire nation. However, decision makers often invest in projects that do not address clearly defined problems. This results from the lack of an overarching and independent process for identifying infrastructure needs. Therefore, the aim of this research is to contribute towards improving the identification process of infrastructure projects through the means of an effective external stakeholder involvement in a problem solving process. A process modelling method showed that if infrastructure projects are viewed as solutions to problems, the project life cycle can be mapped onto a problem solving process. It was found that ideas of a problem solving process can be adapted and incorporated into the identification process of infrastructure projects. This resulted in a two-stage identification process for infrastructure projects. The two-stage identification process brings together infrastructure developers and affected external stakeholders at a sufficiently early stage to: first agree the problem to be addressed, and second generate solutions, assess them and then choose a preferred solution to be implemented. Identifying infrastructure projects in this manner ensures that public funds are spent on projects that provide the greatest benefits to society, and that they are spent in the most efficient way.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | civil engineering infrastructure; project identification; problem solving |
| Index terms: | problem solving, external stakeholder, infrastructure project, process modelling, society, life cycle |
| Subjects: | infrastructure and transport systems, communities and social development, sociology, decision-making and reasoning, design analysis, value management |
| Topics: | Design Practice, Stakeholder Management, Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Project Management |
| 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