The role of system dynamics in project management

Rodrigues, Alexandre Gomes; Bowers, John

doi:10.1016/0263-7863(95)00075-5

Cited by 192 publications

(98 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The methodology was first proposed in 1956 by MIT professor Jay Forrester with a foundation of decision-making, dynamic relationships, feedback analysis and simulation [25]. In the past few decades, SD has been comprehensively used to analyze many complex social systems, particularly in industrial contexts [26]. SD emphasizes how the focus of the study interacts with the other constituents of the system.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Project-Based Market Competition and Policy Implications for Sustainable Developments in Building and Construction Sectors

Yan

2015

Sustainability

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Building and construction sectors are significant contributors to the global economy, but their energy consumption necessitates greater commitment to sustainable developments. There is therefore a growing demand for green innovation in the form of cleaner production and policies to meet the modern requirements of sustainability. However, the nature in which public work is undertaken is in an environment of project-based market competition, whereby contractors routinely bid for contracts under specific project awarding systems, and variations are accompanied with the unique scope of individual projects before the final goods or services are delivered. A comprehensive understanding of the characteristics and contractors' behavior in systems could help to identify the leverage points of policies. This paper proposes a system dynamics model, with quantitative analysis and simulations, to demonstrate the problems of a system with different project awarding systems and ineffective market performance. The framework of market efficiency and performance measures has been proposed to evaluate the project-based competition mechanism. Managerial policy implications for market efficiency and sustainable developments can thus be systematically discussed and compared through iterative computer simulations and scenario analysis.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Project-Based Market Competition and Policy Implications for Sustainable Developments in Building and Construction Sectors

Yan

2015

Sustainability

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“…SD models are providing a systematic analysis of the strategic issues of project management (Rodrigues & Bowers, 1996). SD models have been successfully applied to construction project management (Chang, Ogunlana, & Saeed, 1991); effect of rework on project performance ; change management in construction (Lee, Peña-Mora, & Park, 2006); decision making in construction (Bank et al, 2010); delay and disruptions in construction (Howick et al, 2009); procurement strategies (Park et al, 2009); outsourcing construction services (Lisse, 2013) and analyzing project cost overruns (Eden, Williams, & Ackermann, 2005), among others.…”

Section: Journal Of Surveying Construction and Property (Jscp)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Design Change Dynamics in Building Project: From Literature Review to A Conceptual Framework Formulation

Hui

Abdul‐Rahman

Chen

2017

JSCP

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Building construction projects worldwide routinely fail to meet their schedule and cost objectives. This paper focuses on design changes as the principal contributing factor to delay and cost overruns. Substandard project coordination and futile communication management are sustained problems with the construction industry, particularly as to the management of design changes. To rectify the captioned issues, this study is aimed at exploring the underlying causes of design changes, the resulting rework that is damaging to project performance, communication management process and collaboration in a project-based setting through the review of the literature. Qualitative analysis technique using content analysis method was employed to synthesise the literature and establishing relationships based on the key themes identified. A conceptual model for design change management was then formulated to be the notable outcome of this study. The framework describes the importance of applying effective communication process and informed management decision in dealing with design changes. It provides a coherent and holistic view to understand the dynamics of design changes in a building construction project. It aims to address the current methodological gap in construction management research that lacks demonstrable causality. The findings contribute useful starting point for future overrun causation and mitigation studies.

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“…SD models have been successfully applied to construction project management [98]- [101]; effect of rework on project performance [2], [52], [102]; change management in construction [65], [103]; decision making in construction [88], [104]; delay and disruptions in construction [5], [105]; procurement strategies [106], [107]; outsourcing construction services [108] and analyzing project cost overruns [109], among others. SD models can complement the shortcomings of traditional tools and techniques [110].…”

Section: System Dynamics In Managing Design Changesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Conceptual Framework for Managing Design Changes in Building Construction

2016

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Abstract. Design changes have always been an innate feature of the construction industry. Despite the various project management techniques, many building construction projects still fail to achieve their time and cost objectives. This paper aims to focus on design changes as a major cause of time delays and cost overruns. It seeks to discuss the causing factors of design changes in building construction projects and highlighting the resulting rework that is detrimental to project performance. Hence, this paper also aims to present a conceptual framework which was developed to better manage design changes through clued-up management decision to avoid future claims and disputes. Recent and current literature is examined and reviewed. The review approach was based on related literature to identified themes. The existing literature is summarised into five discrete themes of "design changes", "rework", "time and cost overruns", "communication" and "decision-making". The synthesised literature is subsequently utilised in the development of conceptual map which provided the direction for designing the conceptual framework. Extensive review of preceding studies on causes of time and cost overruns reveals that design changes is identified as one of the significant factors. However, there are limited studies in this domain. The discussion presents a knowledge gap of linking design changes and rework with decision-making in project management. This finding suggests the need for further empirical study. The framework stresses the importance of communication and management decision as the control mechanism. Researchers and practitioners in construction management field will find this study useful in understanding the causing factors of design changes and its detrimental impacts to project performance which risk the project to claims and disputes. The conceptual framework presents an imperative outcome to encourage further research in developing conceptual causal model of design changes which shows the key causal variables and their feedback loops.

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The role of system dynamics in project management

Cited by 192 publications

References 7 publications

Project-Based Market Competition and Policy Implications for Sustainable Developments in Building and Construction Sectors

Project-Based Market Competition and Policy Implications for Sustainable Developments in Building and Construction Sectors

Design Change Dynamics in Building Project: From Literature Review to A Conceptual Framework Formulation

A Conceptual Framework for Managing Design Changes in Building Construction

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