Multi-level project governance: Trends and opportunities

Project governance is important in ensuring successful project delivery. In this article we conduct a systematic investigation of previous research to provide a content-driven review of the literature, and to provide future research direction. We use the textual data mining software Leximancer to identify dominant concepts and themes underlying project governance research. Our findings indicate that agency and stakeholder theories have been adapted to the project governance context to a greater extent than other theories. Furthermore, we find differences in project governance research, published in project management journals compared to general management, IT and engineering journals. We conclude the paper by presenting a framework that links governance theories to the multiple organizational levels relevant to project governance.     

工程供应链中物流管理的关键问题与对策研究

工程供应链物流管理对于工程系统绩效具有十分重要的意义。根据工程物流的实际运作情况,构建出工程供应链物流管理的概念模型并对其进行系统分析。在此基础上,提出了工程供应链物流管理的特点及其面临的关键问题;并遵循工程供应链物流管理的协调优化思想给出几点策略建议:构建"集成"、"协调"与"共享"的物流运作原则;统一规划物流运作系统,构建可靠的物流运作网络;与供应商构建战略伙伴关系,整合物流运营商的运输能力;构建施工承包商与物资供应商的信息共享机制等,旨在为提高工程供应链中物流管理的绩效提供理论依据。     

Relationships between project governance and information technology governance and their impact on project performance

This research endeavors to address the question of how to enhance project performance through exploring the relationships among information technology (IT) governance, project governance and project performance. The research utilizes an empirical survey methodology. The survey of 533 working professionals in various industries renders 282 usable responses or a response rate of 53.91%. The results suggest that both IT governance and project governance have a positive impact on project performance. Moreover, we found that three dimensions of IT governance (i.e., strategy setting, value delivery, and performance management) are positively associated with project performance while all three dimensions of project governance (i.e., portfolio direction, project sponsorship as well as project effectiveness & efficiency, and disclosure & reporting) are positively associated with project performance. Additionally, the alignment between IT governance and project governance is also found to be positively associated with project performance. These findings provide evidence to project management professionals in regard to IT governance and project governance being part of the operational strategy in facilitating the success of projects. It also demonstrates the importance of the alignment strategy between IT governance and project governance in enhancing project performance.     

Scenarios for applying RFID technology in construction project management

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology has been widely applied in various areas such as retail, electronic transaction, logistic and supply chain management, scientific research, security, etc. It has brought about great benefits in these areas through improving real-time information visibility and traceability. However, a widespread application of RFID in the construction industry has not taken place. One possible reason is that construction practitioners may have not been fully informed of its potentials. This paper aims to investigate various scenarios that can illustrate the uses of RFID technology in construction project management. The research starts from a brief summary of recent developments of RFID technology in different industrial sectors including construction. 16 researchers were split into 3 groups to investigate how RFID can be used in the management of materials, men, and machinery (M³) for construction projects. Perspectives for future studies are proposed in order to fully realise the potentials. The research encourages a wider adoption of RFID technology in improving current PM practices. It also provides academia with a platform for further exploring the innovative uses of RFID technology in construction.     

The integration of CPM and material management in project management

The problem of scheduling a project for which expensive, long-lead inventory items have to be ordered from outside vendors is addressed. A logic aimed at minimizing the cost of such projects is presented along with an illustrative example. The logic is based on adding a material management module to the CPM analysis, evaluating the feasibility of the CPM schedule, and rescheduling the project in case long-lead items make the schedule generated by CPM infeasible. An attempt to integrate CPM and material management in a large-scale construction project is reported and possible extensions of this research are suggested.     

A new governance approach for multi-firm projects: Lessons from Olkiluoto 3 and Flamanville 3 nuclear power plant projects

We analyze governance in two contemporary nuclear power plant projects: Olkiluoto 3 (Finland) and Flamanville 3 (France). We suggest that in the governance of large multi-firm projects, any of the prevalent governance approaches that rely on market, hierarchy, or hybrid forms, is not adequate as such. This paper opens up avenues towards a novel theory of governance in large projects by adopting a project network view with multiple networked firms within a single project, and by simultaneously going beyond organizational forms that cut across the traditional firm-market dichotomy. Our analysis suggests four changes in the prevailing perspective towards the governance of large projects. First, there should be a shift from viewing multi-firm projects as hierarchical contract organizations to viewing them as supply networks characterized by a complex and networked organizational structure. Second, there should be a shift in the emphasis of the predominant modes of governance, market and hierarchy towards novel governance approaches that emphasize network-level mechanisms such as self-regulation within the project. Third, there should be a shift from viewing projects as temporary endeavors to viewing projects as short-term events or episodes embedded in the long-term sphere of shared history and expected future activities among the involved actors. Fourth, there should be a shift from the prevailing narrow view of a hierarchical project management system towards an open system view of managing in complex and challenging institutional environments.     

Modeling the supply chain configuration problem with resource constraints

In this paper, we study the supply chain configuration problem (SCCP) under resource constraints. We present a new modeling framework based on multi-mode resource-constrained project scheduling (MRCPSP) for configuring the supply chain subject to explicit resource constraints. It establishes a bridge between the areas of project scheduling and supply chain design. Our model is also able to handle additional practical issues such as quality level requirements and general temporal constraints, which are often encountered in the real world. A constraint programming (CP) based solution approach is proposed and implemented in our case study. Conclusions and future research directions are discussed.     

Psychosocial aspects of project work: a comparison between product development and construction projects

Different project goals provide different prerequisites for project work and team processes. Two important aspects of project goals are technological certainty/uncertainty and adequacy of goal definition. Product development projects and construction projects are different in these respects. The study explores differences between the two types of projects with regard to psychosocial aspects of the work situation. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire study (n=98). The items in the questionnaire were designed to investigate social processes, individual work environment, and input/output factors. Results indicate that there were more developed team processes in the product development projects, and that co-workers on such projects experienced development of professional skills to a greater extent. In general, social processes requiring conceptual co-operation and communication were less pronounced in the construction projects investigated. The paper discusses how the differences found between the two kinds of projects can be related to work settings. Possible implications for future research are considered.     

Project governance and its role in enabling organizational strategy implementation: A systematic literature review

Project governance is widely recognized to be among the most critical factors for successful project delivery and benefits realization. However, the literature on project governance is fragmented and, despite past efforts by researchers in the field, there is yet a lack of consensus on what project governance is and the fundamental elements it constitutes. Furthermore, although project governance occupies the prime position to ensure that projects are aligned with organizational strategic objectives, the guidelines for how project governance can enable organizational strategy implementation through projects is a crucial yet under-researched area in the literature. Accordingly, building on the insights from past reviews and an initial scoping study, a systematic literature review was conducted on project governance examining and comparing 271 publications from both academic and professional literatures. The findings of this study build upon the efforts of its predecessors to shed light on the discourse on project governance pertaining to its definition, theoretical underpinnings, forms, and role in enabling organizational strategy implementation. Furthermore, a typology of projects is proposed to help link project governance guidelines to specific project contexts. Finally, future research directions for progressing the theoretical and practical understanding of project governance are identified.     

The transformative effect of top management governance choices on project team identity and relationship with the organization — An agency and stewardship approach

This study focuses on the relationship and identity changes within and between a project team and its organization following top management intervention in the context of a large international construction project. The study follows the project-as-practice orientation, examining the actions and behaviors of the project team through participant ethnography in the “praxis” of the project site over its entire duration. The longitudinal case allows the examination of the way the transition process established a new governance culture undermining the initial trust-based one and changed it from a virtual absence of mechanisms toward far more potent mechanisms of control, monitoring, and punishment. Simultaneously, the initial stewardship relationships and collectivist identity of the project team shifted toward agency relationships and individualistic identity. The triggers for the transformation process were identified as CEO succession, project failure, top management intervention driven changes in governance mechanisms, and perception of organizational betrayal of the project team.     

Governing the project process: a conceptual framework

There has been considerable development in a process approach in construction management research in recent years. However, such work begs the question of how those processes are governed. Processes, be they flows of information or materials, need to be channelled in the desired direction as they are handed from team to team. This paper aims to present a conceptual framework for understanding the governance of construction project processes, drawing on transaction cost economics. Earlier attempts to apply this theoretical framework in construction management research have been partial, in that they have focused on only one type of transaction, typically that between client and principal contractor. This paper aims to be comprehensive in covering all the different transactions throughout the project lifecycle within one conceptual framework, and thereby it is hoped that more incisive empirical research can be developed and executed.     

A service-oriented integrated information framework for RFID/WSN-based intelligent construction supply chain management

As buildings are now taller, larger, and more complex, it has become increasingly more difficult to secure stockyards for materials and to resolve the surrounding traffic problems, creating an increased need for Just-In-Time (JIT) delivery. To support JIT delivery, it is necessary to build a framework that can facilitate the collection and share of information on construction components and material flow throughout the whole supply chain process. Many researchers have suggested that radio frequency identification (RFID) and wireless sensor network technologies could improve the effectiveness and efficiency of JIT management. In addition, service-oriented architecture (SOA), the services of which enable the interfacing of a heterogeneous system environment of parties involved in the supply chain management process, is suggested in the manufacturing industry as one of the solutions for effective collection and sharing of information in supply chain management. However, the construction industry has limits in applying the framework suggested in the manufacturing industry since the supply chain process in the construction industry is extremely dynamic due to frequent changes in the design and plans of construction projects. Therefore, the objective of this research is to develop a seamlessly integrated information management framework that can provide logistics information to project stakeholders for their decision making. The pilot test of the framework developed in this research showed that it can improve time efficiency by about 32% compared to the traditional supply chain management. The result of this research is expected to be utilized effectively as a basic framework to manage information in RFID/WSN based construction supply chain management (CSCM) environments.     

基于模拟和混凝土材料特性的SCM混凝土施工方案表现计量与决策研究

全球混凝土庞大的消耗量带来了对环境的巨大负担，辅助胶凝材料混凝土（简称SCM混凝土）为降低混凝土的碳排放提供了可能。然而，目前还鲜有研究分析混凝土从供应链和施工的环境-经济综合表现，导致企业难以应用SCM混凝土，阻碍了SCM混凝土的推广应用。为此，结合离散事件模拟和混凝土材料特性数据建立方案分析-收集与拟合-模拟与计量-决策方法，并将该方法应用于工程案例。结果表明，建立的方法能够有效地计量SCM混凝土供应链和施工的环境-经济表现，并为施工方应用SCM混凝土提供决策辅助，为以后的相关研究提供了参考。     

Requirements for BIM platforms in the concrete reinforcement supply chain

Despite increasing adoption of Building Information Modeling for reinforced concrete, there is a lack of research to identify system requirements for BIM platforms to efficiently perform various activities throughout reinforcement supply chain. In this study, we evaluate current tools' capabilities and performance from this perspective. We first develop the information flow process model for concrete reinforcement over its supply chain. This process model provides the basis to identify the necessary capabilities for BIM tools to efficiently support and improve the entire reinforcement supply chain. The identified capabilities were compared to the implemented capabilities of the major BIM tools supporting the reinforced concrete domain. BIM tools are evaluated in four areas: design and modeling; editing, updating and optimization, interoperability, and project and construction management. This assessment illustrates development trends in the BIM software industry with regard to concrete reinforcement. Recommendations are proposed for future enhancements of BIM platforms to address current shortcomings.     

Crucial tactical variables for value delivery in virtual projects

The use of the progressively, important virtual model in project delivery is currently not well understood. This study fills part of this gap, by examining the critical, tactical elements which can enhance value delivery in projects supported by the virtual model. The research used triangulated research methods to examine the topic. Initial data from qualitative semi-structured interviews (supported by desk studies) were examined further via quantitative survey studies. Triangulated statistical analysis was used to provide deeper understanding of the empirical data. The results were then examined by experts to illuminate the findings of the study. The research found critical, tactical issues under selection, technology leverage and associated factors, training and continuous development, trust, shared understanding, and integration and systemic alignment as elements which require attention in virtual project value delivery. The integrated perspective which accounts for all the key elements in value delivery is recommended to support research and practice.     

基于供应链的预制构件数字化精益建造平台研究

建筑工业化是我国建筑业发展的必然趋势,大力推进两化(信息化/工业化)深度融合是促进建筑业转型升级的必由之路。本文以此作为研究背景,从供应链优化管理的角度将项目参与各方纳入到统一的平台,并将关键环节的核心要素放在统一的平台上协同运转,建立以BIM模型为基础,集成虚拟建造技术、物联网技术、云服务技术、远程监控技术和高端辅助工程设备的数字化精益建造平台,实现对整个建筑项目供应链的管理,达到项目业务流程最优、周期最短、成本最低、库存最小、资金周转更快、各企业价值最大化的目标。本文通过实际案例,对基于供应链的预制构件数字化精益建造平台的阶段性成果进行了展示,并对未来平台的发展做了展望。     

The non-adoption of supply chain management

Largely taken for granted within the UK construction sector has been a view that supply chain management theory is robust, relevant and reliable. As such it has formed a substantial aspect of previous and contemporary policy and government funded research. Despite this, the general view of its development and diffusion over the last 15 years within the construction industry has been problematic. Coincidentally, prevailing debates within the supply chain management academic community point to the lack of unified theory, models of diffusion and strong connections to organization theory. Using Straussian grounded theory, iterations between data and organization theory provided a fresh perspective on the development and diffusion of supply chain management in construction. This inductive research provided contextually rich explanations for development and diffusion that explicitly connected with and drew upon robust, relevant and reliable theories of institutions, innovation diffusion, triads, quasifirms and mechanisms of organizational governance. These explanations challenge the simplistic assumption that chains and networks of organizations are holistically managed and controlled by any single organization or institution in the construction industry. The debate therefore shifts away from proselytizing supply chain management towards research that explores the rigour, relevance and reliability of supply chain management assumptions in construction. The gap between industry practice and policy is exposed and the question is posed: to what extent policy and practice do, or should, constitute a recursive relationship.     

Project planning practices based on enterprise resource planning systems in small and medium enterprises — A case study from the Republic of Macedonia

This paper examines whether Macedonian SMEs plan for the implementation of ERP projects and studies the effect of project planning practices on project success. Four project planning measures were taken into consideration: business case development, scope planning, baseline plan development and risk planning along with three measures of project success; customer satisfaction, perceived quality of the project and success of the implementation process. The study was based on a survey that was conducted on 30 SMEs in the Republic of Macedonia. Data dimensionality was reduced through factor analysis and relationships between the two sets of variables were analyzed by correlation and regression analyses. The findings demonstrated that Macedonian SMEs implemented general project planning practices, even though they did not consider the planning process as a separate phase of the ERP implementation. However, they did not use any particular project planning tools, such as the Gantt chart or WBS. Of the project planning practices that were surveyed, the most practiced were the development of a business case, project scope and baseline plan. The least practiced were risk planning practices. Considering the success of the ERP implementations, this study demonstrated that most of the companies' representatives perceive this undertaking as successful in terms of client satisfaction and perceived quality measures. A higher percentage of respondents found their ERP implementations unsuccessful in terms of implementation process measures, when compared to the previous two success parameters.     

Subcontractor perspectives on supply chain alliances

Since the publication of the Egan report in 1998, there has been a strong and consistent emphasis on the need to integrate the project delivery process via partnering and strategic alliancing agreements throughout the UK construction industry. However, given the continued reliance on subcontracting within the sector, future performance improvement also requires an acceptance of the benefits of supply chain partnering and integration from the small-to-medium size businesses who carry out the majority of construction work. This paper presents the findings of a research project that examined subcontractor perspectives on supply chain alliances. The study has uncovered serious concerns among subcontractors that point towards a fundamental mistrust and scepticism within existing supply chain relationships. These have the potential to inhibit further improvements in the efficacy of the project delivery process. A range of attitudinal change requirements for integrating smaller companies into the drive for continuous improvement are identified. It is suggested that leading clients should take responsibility for engendering the necessary attitudinal change throughout their supplier networks if further performance improvement is to be realized within the sector.     

Effects of project governance structures on the management of risks in major infrastructure projects: A comparative analysis

Large infrastructure construction projects are prone to risks. Using desktop review and interviews with stakeholder organizations in two major infrastructure projects (the Yi-wan Railway Construction Project in China and the Northern Gateway Toll Road (NGTR) Project in New Zealand), this study investigated how different project governance structures affect the management of risks. Comparative analysis shows that project governance provides a structured mechanism to identify and address risks as they occur. Despite varied context, two projects relied upon flexible contractual arrangements to leverage risks among project participants. While a centralized, single-agent governance was adopted in the form of Project Management Headquarters (PMH) in Yi-wan Railway project, an alliance governance structure was used in the NGTR project. The former enabled top-down risk allocation whereas the latter encouraged proactive solutions to risk sharing. The research outcomes will inform the decision making among project stakeholders on establishing appropriate project governance arrangements in order to achieve target risk management outcome. By comparing real-time projects of varied scope, complexity and significance, the findings contribute to an improved understanding of the relationship between project organizations and project risk management.