BEPAM-08-2016-0041.pdf (509.19 kB)
Process mapping for road works planning and coordination
journal contribution
posted on 2017-03-07, 14:36 authored by Rizwana S. Hussain, Kirti RuikarKirti Ruikar, Marcus EnochMarcus Enoch, Nigel T. Brien, David J. GartsidePurpose
Diminishing local government budgets and the need to reduce highway works activities necessitate cost effective and efficient processes. This paper investigates streamlining road works administrative processes to enhance coordinated working at Derby City Council.
Design/methodology/approach
Case study research of a local authority was undertaken using Business Process Mapping. Specifically, Swimlane analysis enabled re-engineering of business processes from design stage, to works permit issuance. Process improvement recommendations were validated by nine industry experts through a focus group and semi-structured interviews. A logic map was developed for transferability to other Councils, identifying key attributes for a successful administrative road works management process.
Findings
Research revealed inherent silo working and processes built around fragmented IT systems creating process inefficiency. Validation found numerous practices and management styles were culturally embedded and common across Councils. Peer reviewed recommendations are made to improve working practices, including improving IT systems, removing process bottlenecks, and training staff.
Research implications
Whilst road works management policy is generally under-researched, it’s strategic and negative impacts are widely acknowledged. This study highlights the day-to-day operational problems which are interconnected to the strategic impact, bridging an important gap in knowledge, as well as adding to Business Process Re-engineering literature.
Originality/novelty
The research adds to a limited of body of road works management policy research, and also presents a high-level logic map for Councils to adopt as appropriate.
Funding
This work was funded by the ESPRC (grant number EP/G037272/1) and Derby City Council.
History
School
- Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering
Published in
Built Environment Project and Asset ManagementVolume
7Issue
2Pages
157-172Citation
HUSSAIN, R.S. ... et al, 2017. Process mapping for road works planning and coordination. Built Environment Project and Asset Management, 7 (2), pp.157-172Publisher
Emerald Publishing Limited (© Rizwana Shaheen Hussain, Kirti Ruikar, Marcus P. Enoch, Nigel Brien and David Gartside)Version
- VoR (Version of Record)
Publisher statement
This work is made available according to the conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. Full details of this licence are available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Acceptance date
2017-02-01Publication date
2017-05-11Copyright date
2017Notes
This article was published by IET under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence may be seen at http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcodeISSN
2044-124XPublisher version
Language
- en