Rwelamila, P D and Hall, K A (1995) Total systems intervention: An integrated approach to time, cost and quality management. Construction Management and Economics, 13(3), pp. 235-241. ISSN 01446193
Abstract
Historically there has been an attempt within the construction industry to manage projects by attempting to find the most efficient way of managing time and cost with little recognition of the importance of the aspect of quality. This paper proposes that traditional scientific methods have been utilized in order to determine the optimum method of managing time, cost and quality. These mechanistic models have promoted concepts that lack the aspects of viability and culture associated with the human dimension of the management function. This has resulted in a heuristic, trial-and-error approach to the management of projects and the suggestion, both directly and indirectly by participants to the construction industry, that the construction industry is characterized by the 'endemic crisis'. The paper concludes that the balance between these three factors in conjunction with a consideration of the social/behaviourial aspects, and therefore the endorsement of a total time, quality, cost management system can be achieved via the utilization of an approach to 'problem-solving', namely, total systems intervention.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | cost; culture; management theory; quality; time; total systems intervention |
| Index terms: | heuristic, cost management, quality management, construction industry, dimension, integrated approach, management theory |
| Subjects: | quality assurance, industry analysis, accounting and finance, management, health monitoring assessment and metrics, contractual arrangements, risk assessment |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Business Strategy, Cost Management, Health and Safety, Research Practice, Risk Management, Procurement |
| 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