Thesis-1991-Kumaraswamy.pdf (17.02 MB)
Evaluating the management of construction projects
thesis
posted on 2010-12-03, 15:57 authored by Mohan M. KumaraswamyCurrent approaches to evaluating the success of construction projects are inadequate
in assessing and improving the management of ongoing and future projects. This is
concluded from a study of the relevant literature and of construction project management
in Sri Lanka and the U.K.
The main criticisms of current practice are the ad-hoc nature of the evaluation itself,
the failure to properly relate the evaluation: to the original project objectives; to contextual
conditions; and to realistic targets derived from historical databases of similar projects.
The absence of any such comprehensive database is a particular shortcoming in Sri
Lanka.
This research work develops and tests a framework for a comprehensive construction
project evaluation system that would overcome such shortcomings.The system would
help an evaluator generate a specific project evaluation framework depending on the
category (type) and stage of the project and the particular purpose of the evaluation. Such
a framework would contain criteria of project performance (eg: related to cost, time,
quality, safety, satisfaction etc. and associated sub-criteria), hierarchies of 'indicators'
by which to measure such criteria and typical target values (and ranges) of such indicators
in that category. Such target values are weighted by the specific project profile, based on
project priorities and contextual conditions.
The sub-systems of the proposed evaluation system are the criteria, the indicators
(with typical target values) and an expert system front-end. Supporting 'tools' modules
contain techniques for information elicitation, weighting, analysis and presentation.
The three sub-systems of criteria, indicators and the expert system were tested. For
example, groups of cost indicators and their average values within specific project
categories were derived from data obtained from 138 building, 35 roadworks and 38
bridge projects in Sri Lanka. Their validity was tested by their consistency within project
categories, by comparison with projects outside the original database and at a Workshop
with experts in Sri Lanka. A pilot expert system was developed to demonstrate the
viability of integrating appropriate modules.
It is concluded that the proposed system is viable and would provide comprehensive
and realistic evaluations of the management of construction projects.
History
School
- Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering
Publisher
© Mohan Maheswaran KumaraswamyPublication date
1991Notes
A Doctoral Thesis. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of Doctor of Philosophy of Loughborough University.EThOS Persistent ID
uk.bl.ethos.387076Language
- en