Brady, D A; Tzortzopoulos, P; Rooke, J; Formoso, C T and Tezel, A (2018) Improving transparency in construction management: A visual planning and control model. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 25(10), pp. 1277-1297. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to discuss a production planning and control model known as the Lean construction management (LCM) model, which applies a number of visual tools in a systematic way to the planning and control process. The application of the visual tools in this way facilitates the flow of information, thus improving transparency between the interfaces of planning, execution and control. Design/methodology/approach: Design Science research is adopted for this investigation, which analyses the original development of the model and reports on its testing and refinement over different types of projects. The research is divided into three parts, each part focussing on a different stage of development and construction project type. Findings: The main findings are related to the benefits of visual management in the construction planning and control process, such as maintaining consistency between different planning levels, so that feasible execution plans are created; control becomes more focussed on prevention rather than correction, and creates opportunities for collaborative problem solving. Moreover, the physical display of the visual tools in a discrete planning area on-site encourages a regular exchange between participants on actual work progress as it unfolds, leading to more timely reaction to the problems at hand. Originality/value: The problem of a lack of transparency in construction planning and control leads to communication issues on-site, poor process orientation and high levels of waste. LCM improves process transparency by making information related to system-wide processes more readily available to project participants. This enables them to foresee problems in a timely manner and to take necessary measures to resolve them or to adapt the process to current circumstances. The LCM model proposes a new way of applying visual tools and controls systematically to improve transparency in construction planning and control.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction planning; organization; project management |
| Index terms: | transparency, project management, construction planning, testing, prevention, investigation, execution plan, visual management, problem solving, construction project, methodology, production planning, design science research, process transparency, lean construction |
| Subjects: | professional practice, project delivery, construction planning, data collection methods, project controls, building construction, management, design practice, decision-making and reasoning, research methods, production management, professional development, project management theory and practice, financial risk |
| Topics: | Information Management, Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Project Management, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Design Practice, Time Control, Site Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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