Abdirad, H and Nazari, A (2015) Barriers to effective implementation of quality management systems in public design projects in Iran. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 11(6), pp. 457-474. ISSN 1745-2007
Abstract
The goal of this research is to investigate why architectural design practice in the public domain in Iran has not implemented quality management systems (QMSs) as effectively as expected. Through an in-depth review of the literature and a set of interviews, a framework of challenges is identified and validated, and it served as the basis of a survey among high-ranked design firms active in public projects. This study shows that there are many barriers to reach design excellence, rooted in general policies and standards, characteristics of clients' organizations, and strategies and organizational factors in design firms. Although many design firms and agencies in Iran have certification of accredited QMSs, realities of architectural design practice show that norms in public projects clearly contradict principles of QMSs and make them ineffective. This study reveals a strong need for developing QMSs that address (1) true definition of design quality in standards and guidelines, (2) importance of final users and public community as true customers of public projects, (3) strategies in design firm management and organizational structures, (4) prerequisites of learning cycle in design projects, and (5) modifications in cultures and interactions among parties involved in design decision-making.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | architectural practice; design management; design quality; public buildings; quality management |
| Index terms: | survey, strategy, organizational structure, design quality, certification, design firm, organizational factor, interview, architectural design, design decision, public building, norms, implementation, interaction, quality management, agency, quality management system, design management, architectural practice, public project |
| Subjects: | business, data collection methods, construction type, practitioner, project delivery, professional practice, contractual arrangements, management, design practice, infrastructure engineering, design process, sociology, quality assurance, behavioral psychology, administrative processes |
| Topics: | Contract Administration, Organizational Design, Design Practice, Quality Management, Roles and Professions, Procurement, Construction Technology, Business Strategy, Engineering Principles, Research Practice |
| 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