Applying institutional theories to managing megaprojects

This paper contributes to Rodney Turner's initiative to develop a theory of project management from practice. Organizational scholars studying strategy suggest that more attention needs to be paid to practices involved in organizing, as well as the institutional contexts in which these practices are embedded. Taking a cue from strategy-in-practice approaches, it is proposed that institutional theories can be used to address some questions that have not been answered adequately regarding megaprojects. Institutional theories also seem to be gaining the attention of scholars investigating large, global, infrastructure projects as reported in engineering, management and construction journals. Increasingly, it is evident that the problem areas attached to these projects stretch beyond technical issues: they must be considered as socio-technical endeavours embedded in complex institutional frames. The authors suggest that studying how to deal with institutional differences in the environment of megaprojects has both theoretical and practical implications.     

The unlearning dimension of organizational learning in construction projects

It has been suggested that contracting organizations in construction projects do not seem to adapt resiliently under changing market conditions. Interestingly, recent organizational management literature reveals the essential role of practicing unlearning for generating more resilient performance improvement actions. This paper reports on a study that aims to test empirically the contingent effect of unlearning on the relationship between organizational learning (OL) and organizational success. A conceptual model which depicts the hypothesized relationship among OL, unlearning and organizational success is presented. Data were obtained from a questionnaire survey. To test the conceptual model, Pearson Correlation Analysis and Multiple Moderated Regression Analysis were employed. The study hypothesized that interaction between the practice of OL and unlearning have a moderating effect on organizational success. The hypothesis was only partially supported by the results of the MMR analysis. Only the practice of double-loop learning was found to be symbiotic with the practice of unlearning for achieving organizational success. The effect was found to be more significant when organizational success was evaluated in terms of meeting the client's expectations on project cost.     

Rethinking Project Management: Researching the actuality of projects

This paper puts forth the somewhat controversial position that what is needed to improve project management in practice is not more research on what should be done or the frequency and/or use of traditional project management practices. We argue that while a great deal is written about traditional project management we know very little about the “actuality” of project based working and management. This paper formulates a research approach that takes seriously practitioner’s lived experience of projects. We explore the ontological, epistemological and methodological assumptions underlying this kind of research and provide examples of some project management research originating from this perspective. We conclude by summarizing the findings from these studies and providing insights into the map ahead for future such research. In this kind of work the attention is refocused on praxis, on context-dependent judgement, on situational ethics and on reflexivity which enables social actors to see how power actually functions in context.     

建设工程中的可持续设计

通过介绍建设工程可持续设计提出的背景,叙述了建设工程可持续设计的概念、内涵及特性,并给出了其设计原则和设计重点,旨在说明可持续设计的必要性及发展趋势。     

Delivering complex engineering projects: Reexamining organizational control theory

The delivery performance of complex engineering projects, such as infrastructure projects, is poor and shows no sign of significant improvement. Most of these projects have been delivered by a contractor organization for a client—usually a public or statutory agency. To ensure expected outcomes, the client typically employs “control instruments”, such as specifying outputs, directing behaviors, selecting contractors and building relationships, to influence, or control, delivery by the contractors. The dominant literature informing the choice of control instruments is derived from organizational control theory, which primarily focuses on the exercise of control within a single organization and assumes that different types of control function independently. The persistent poor delivery performance of infrastructure projects suggests a need to revisit the recommendations of organizational control theory. While a number of papers have identified the potential of combining control instruments and the need to take into account the influence of operating in a client–contractor context the mechanics and influence of specific interactions remain little understood.     

Performance metric development for pharmaceutical construction projects

Pharmaceutical facility construction projects tend to exhibit uniqueness in procedures and methods of deliveries, and thus require a distinct project management approach. Based on inputs from five leading pharmaceutical companies, a set of cost, schedule, and dimensional metrics were developed and tested. First, a hierarchical structure of pharmaceutical project types was established as a framework enabling projects to be properly grouped and compared. Next, within the framework, industry-specific metrics tailored to the processes were produced. For better industry acceptance, surveys and analysis on the developed metrics were finally conducted. The result shows that the framework and metrics have considerable value as an efficient tool for measuring pharmaceutical construction project performance, ultimately providing a chance to improve performance for the industry. By employing the metrics, the industry can find solutions to more effectively manage cost, schedule, and other resources for the delivery of pharmaceutical construction projects.     

The utopia of order versus chaos: A conceptual framework for governance,organizational design and governmentality in projects

Images of utopia of order and chaos can serve to depict paradoxes observed in projects by illustrating the ongoing challenges presented by formal organization and informal social structure at the interface of temporary/permanent organizing. This paper develops a conceptual framework that shows that governance, organizational design and governmentality are all essential to an understanding of projects. We seek to clarify these concepts and to consider temporalities in the organizational project management context. This implies examining temporary/permanent organizing interaction at macro-meso-micro levels and challenging the traditional categorization of the formal and the informal aspects into two different and isolated streams of research. The paper offers a theoretical contribution to project studies by creating a bridge between process theory, the sensemaking perspective and the study of organizational project management. It also contributes to practice through the framework's analytical potential and improved understanding of the relationship between governance and organizational design.     

Major problems in renovation projects in Finland

Construction is a very complex process. It involves a multidisciplinary approach. There has been concern that construction projects are running behind schedule and many have failed resulting in a loss of money. It is important for construction industries to have a proper management structure that can co-ordinate the various sections of the project. The authors have been asked by the industry to identify the causes of the problems. Four renovation projects were chosen for our studies. There were successes and failures with these four projects. Data gathered consist of observations and interviews carried out with the four participants of these projects. The collected data were analysed to identify problems. In this paper, we describe our findings and point out the reasons why projects failed and what we believe could help to resolve some of the problems.     

Governance performance in complex environment: The case of a major transformation in a university hospital

Project-based organisations have emerged as new forms of organisation in the last few decades. However, hierarchy persists. Both serve their own purpose, but entail different sets of values. This is particularly true in relation to the contribution of project management to organisational performance. The competing values framework has been used to highlight different sets of values and preferences underlying the evaluation of PMO performance and emphasizes the competing aspect. The research adopted a participatory action research approach in a university hospital where a major organisational transformation is taking place. Findings reveal the existence of paradoxes between the executives and the PMO regarding the PMO performance and show how these paradoxes evolved over time. This sheds light not only on the paradoxes, but also on the dynamic process related to performance evaluation within a transformation project.     

关于建筑工程施工技术管理的探讨

结合多年实践经验,重点对建筑工程施工阶段的施工技术管理问题进行了详细的阐述和分析,包括施工人员管理、材料质量管理、设备管理、施工进度和质量管理等内容,希望可以对同行提供一些有价值的参考和借鉴。     

Owner organization design for mega industrial construction projects

The characteristics of Mega construction projects bring great difficulties and challenges to project management, as in the aspects of complexity, uncertainty, integrated management, etc. Mega industrial construction is more difficult to managers. Traditional project management with even appropriate method and data can not meet mega construction projects, so with integrating projects objectives with strategic view, managers should design project organization on the basis of every project characteristics, establish good communication and cross-functional coordination mechanism, create unity and cooperation partnership culture in the project process. This paper has designed an owner organization of a mega industrial construction project according to relevant literature and determining factors of organization, and has also proposed that cross-functional and cross-professional coordination is key to continuous improvement and successful implementation of the organization.     

试论建筑工程设计管理

从建筑工程设计的影响因素入手,针对建筑工程设计管理方法进行了探讨,分别阐述了设计人员的素质、制度、技术交底等环节的管理措施,并提出应避免建设工程设计人员边缘化,以指导实践,从而对建筑工程设计进行有效控制。     

On the broadening scope of the research on projects: a review and a model for analysis

In recent years, we have witnessed an increased interest in the research on projects and project management. The aim of this article is to review, classify and analyze the recent contributions within the field. This paper is based on two sets of data: (1) project-related research published in major management and organization scientific journals, and (2) articles published between 1993 and 2002 in the International Journal of Project Management. The article offers a framework suitable for analyzing the developments made and the different perspectives launched. It is submitted that “project research” instead of project management research might be a better concept for capturing the current state of the field. We also show that papers in the International Journal of Project Management have devoted little attention to research on contexts of multi-projects and multi-firms, a context that is considered to be of great importance for the future of project studies. The recent developments illustrate the need to better integrate project management with the general developments in management and organization. Of special importance, we conclude, is the one that we label project ecologies. We also believe that this concept, and research focus, might be of value for practitioners as it describes the way many modern industries work. The paper contributes to the internal debate about the content and identity of project research.     

文峪河橡胶坝蓄水工程设计方案

根据文峪河综合整治工程的基本概况,就文峪河橡胶坝蓄水工程设计标准及工程等级作了简要介绍,并从总平面布置、河道治理横断面设计、蓄水工程水源方案、建筑物设计方案等方面具体阐述了该工程设计方案,为同类工程设计提供参考。     

巴新铁路桥梁工程设计

以巴新铁路建设为工程背景，对该工程中的桥梁工程特点进行了分析，介绍了桥梁设计中多项关键技术问题，如常规桥梁式样、孔径的选择、桥墩台的选择及地基式样的选择等，对于特殊地区桥梁设计进行了说明。     

水利工程勘察设计招标过程中的几点思考

结合目前的水利工程建设形势,基于水利工程勘察设计工作的特点,分析了招标工程中应重点考虑的因素,并结合水利工程勘察设计招标实践,对水利工程勘察设计招标工作进一步提出了问题和思考,以期指导水利工程建设。     

中国银行忻州市分行营业办公楼设计

以中国银行忻州市分行营业办公楼为例,对此办公楼的项目定位、项目确定过程及建筑方案做了详细的介绍和阐述,为建设生态型的建筑尽可能的节约能源和减小日常能耗,以期为同类项目在运作过程中提供参考。     

Competencies for managing change

Organisational changes are recognised as a specific project type that can benefit from the application of project management skills, tools and techniques. Associated with this trend is evidence of rivalry in the marketplace between Project Managers and Change Managers concerning who should be managing business change. And these are not the only contenders. Corporate executives and senior managers, although they may engage the assistance of both Project Managers and Change Managers, generally see themselves as taking the leading roles in managing major organisational changes and transformations. As such endeavours are most likely to take the form of programs, comprising multiple projects across the organization, Program Managers are seen by some as being most likely to be responsible for managing organisational change initiatives. This paper reports on research undertaken to explore the differences in approach and practice of Project, Program and Change Managers as a basis for determining the competencies required to effectively manage change initiatives.     

A contingency estimation model for software projects

A contingency estimation model for software development projects is presented. The proposed model considers the estimated cost and the risk of software projects to estimate contingency resources; hence, contingency estimates are correlated to the cost and risk of software projects. The model uses a generic probabilistic representation of the estimated cost; hence, it can be deployed with any project development environment and provides a flexible choice to software managers. Furthermore, the proposed model considers the risk tolerance of software organizations to estimate the contingency and helps to abate the maximum impacts of risk events within the risk tolerance. The proposed model is scalable to a portfolio of software projects. The model produces sub-additive contingency estimates which is essential to optimize a software project or a portfolio of software projects. The results of a case-study show that the contingency estimates are comparable with the actual contingency resources needed for the development of real software development projects.