An Inquiry to Move an Underutilized Best Practice Forward: Barriers to Partnering in the Architecture,Engineering, and Construction Industry

There is an obvious need in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry for improved project team integration through project delivery to ensure improved project outcomes. The literature reports that, among other methods, project partnering, when followed successfully, provides a great opportunity to improve project performance via improved collaboration among key project stakeholders (e.g., owner, designer, contractor) and reduce claims as a result while letting all project members stay in their traditional roles and work under any contractual framework, including design‐bid‐build. Despite its potential and history in the United States since the late 1980s and being classified as one of the best practices by the Construction Industry Institute in 1996, partnering continues to be underutilized. Existing research on partnering is mostly limited to public projects such as mega roadway and bridge projects. Guided by the literature, the aim of this research is to understand and report barriers to project partnering in the United States from both vertical/horizontal and public/private construction sectors. Via a comprehensive literature review, followed by a Delphi survey of partnering experts, this study systematically classified barriers to project partnering. In study results, implementation barriers to partnering during project delivery are more frequently pronounced than the barriers to its adoption. Of the top reported barriers to project partnering, the majority are cultural; project team related barriers show the greatest area of potential for improvement; and contrary to the literature, none is legislative. The study contributes to the body of knowledge by drawing attention to project delivery and management practices in the AEC industry to improve team collaboration and chances of successful implementation and adoption of integrative practices.     

项目挣值的绩效差异分析方法缺陷与解决方案

随着各种项目管理体制和方法的全面转型,我国需要借鉴和运用国际通行的项目挣值管理(EVM)绩效评估方法。然而,现有EVM绩效评估方法中存在着将实际多个项目要素影响简化为项目成本和进度两要素造成的绩效评估失真和信息缺失的实际问题与理论缺陷。本文将全面讨论现有的EVM方法,并给出有关解决方案及实务验证。     

Government and governance: The value of project management in the public sector

Governance is an emerging theme that has been associated in the public sector with a real political need to satisfy stakeholders by demonstrating accountability and transparency while effectively implementing policy. Many initiatives relating to governance are generated by a need for improvement of organizational performance and ability to implement and adapt to change. These generally take the form of projects and programs encouraging a variety of project management implementations in the public sector. This article reports on examination of the expectations and realization of value from investment in project management in four Australian public‐sector organizations with particular reference to the government context, the perspective of public value management (PVM), and the support that project management provides in meeting the demands of public‐sector governance.     

The selection of supply chain management projects: A case study approach

Organizations undertake strategic supply chain initiatives through project implementation. However, selecting the right supply chain projects can be difficult due to high levels of organizational risk and technical complexity. Although the literature is rich in quantitative and qualitative methods for project management, prior research into best management practices specific to supply chain management (SCM) project selection is limited. This paper examines the methods used in evaluating and selecting SCM projects used by the management at three publically held multi-national organizations. The primary objective of this research is to identify a set of generalizable good practices in the selection and evaluation of SCM projects. Nine useful business practices in SCM project selection have been identified based on cross-case comparisons and a close examination of the literature. Eight practices had been previously identified, but were scattered throughout the literature on ERP, IT management, and R&D management. A new practice calls for the consideration of supply chain partners’ return-on-investment (ROI) in the project selection process. Highest preference should be given to win-win projects for the organization and its partner(s). The practices identified here sho`uld provide the foundation of practical guidelines that can be used during the planning stage of SCM projects. This paper reduces the knowledge gap in SCM project management by analyzing organizations with significant supply chain experience and synthesizing these results with the current related literature.     

Managing global projects: A structured approach for better performance

The purpose of this research effort is to develop a model for improving the performance of global projects using the underlying relations among the important enablers and barriers of global project performance. A number of factors are identified in the study, using a literature review to develop the model. A survey was used to determine the impact of these factors on global project performance. The model suggests different management practices for global projects versus traditional, co‐located projects. Different from the outcomes of traditional projects, research results suggest that leadership and establishing trust is a first step in the initial stages of the global project.     

挣值法扩展与多维度分析

挣值法是项目管理中常用的一种评价项目绩效的综合管理技术,该方法集成了对项目时间和成本的管理,能够有效的反映项目在成本和时间上的执行状况并预测项目的未来发展态势,为项目管理提供了决策的依据。本文正是在对挣值法这一有效工具充分认识基础之上,结合项目管理知识体系的四大核心知识领域(时间、范围、成本、质量)提出对挣值管理方法的多维度思考。     

新型农业项目绩效审计机理及实施策略

农业是我国政府关注的重点领域。在农业现代化建设、供给侧改革和乡村振兴等多个契机的推动下,我国以农业创新、农业增效为主题,以农产品电子商务、农产品加工、农业资源循环利用等为主要形式的新型农业项目开始崭露头角。对新型农业项目绩效审计机理及实施策略进行研究,是审计职能发展、政府预算管理和项目自身管理的要求,有助于新型农业项目合理使用资金,促进行业健康发展。     

Impact of nontechnical leadership practices on it project success

This article examines the leadership practices utilized by information technology (IT) project managers that contribute to project success. Specifically, technical and nontechnical leadership practices are contrasted. The importance of nontechnical leadership practices in IT project management has been largely ignored in research until recently. The article identifies key nontechnical leadership practices that are important for the success of IT projects. The article is based on a qualitative study that gathered data from actual IT projects conducted at U.S. companies across several different industry segments. Study results are analyzed to determine the relevance and value of Heifetz's adaptive leadership framework to the area of IT project management. Study findings indicate that nontechnical leadership practices are important to the success of IT projects. Findings also indicate that Heifetz's adaptive leadership framework is consistent with the key nontechnical leadership practices that are important for the success of IT projects. A framework for the development of IT project managers is also proposed.     

科技项目管理中引入项目经理制的思考

科技项目是以科学研究和技术开发为内容而单独立项的项目,其目的在于解决经济和社会发展中出现的科学技术问题。当前,随着国家创新驱动战略的贯彻实施和科学技术对人类社会发展的巨大影响,使得科学研究越来越多的得到国家和地方的重视,政府科技投入逐年增加。不同层次、不同类别的政府科技项目已经成为推动我国科技、经济发展的主导。如何科学、合理、有效的进行科技项目管理,保证项目实施可以产生预期的社会、经济效益,愈发显得十分迫切和需要,改革现有科技项目管理机制,逐步提高实施项目效益,已成为各级科技管理部门的当务之急。     

Relationships between implementation of TQM, JIT, and TPM and manufacturing performance

Research on Total Quality Management (TQM), Just-in-Time (JIT) and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) generally investigates the implementation and impact of these manufacturing programs in isolation. However, many researchers believe and argue conceptually the value of understanding the joint implementation and effect of manufacturing programs. This study investigates the practices of the three programs simultaneously. We find that there is evidence supporting the compatibility of the practices in these programs and that manufacturing performance is associated with the level of implementation of both socially- and technically-oriented practices of the three programs.     

PPP项目政府补偿决策研究综述

随着越来越多的PPP项目签约落地,政府补偿作为促进PPP项目可持续发展的重要策略已经成为研究热点。论文采用内容分析法对选自CNKI数据库2006年以来分析PPP项目政府补偿决策的样本文献,从模型方法、补偿方式、研究内容和研究趋势四个维度进行了研究,总结了PPP项目政府补偿决策的研究现状,从不同角度分析了研究的不足,提出了相应的建议,并对未来的研究方向进行了探讨,具有一定的理论价值。     

高速公路项目PPP模式的物有所值决策研究

为大力发展PPP模式在高速公路项目领域的应用,采用物有所值评价方法分析PPP模式在该类项目中是否适用是决策阶段不可或缺的部分。通过实地项目调研及文献研究,归纳总结高速公路PPP项目的政府与社会资本合作模式,确立相应的物有所值定性评价指标体系,采用模糊综合评价法进行定性评价,结合定性评价和定量评价论证高速公路PPP项目的可行性,选取ZN高速公路PPP项目为案例论证该项目的物有所值,为我国PPP项目建设的物有所值评价提供一定借鉴意义。     

Impact of organizational and project factors on acceptance and usage of project management software and perceived project success

This study surveyed 497 participants to determine the factors that affect project professionals' acceptance of project management software and the perceived impact of software usage on their performance. The study finds that greater information quality and higher project complexity are the dominant factors explaining higher levels of system utilization, that greater system functionality and ease of use have a significant positive relationship with increased software usage, and that a strong positive relationship exists between higher usage of project management software and perceived project managers' improved performance. Inconsistent with prior research, more training was not found to be associated with project management software usage. The study explains more than 40% of the variation in project management software acceptance and adds project management software usage to project success factors by empirically confirming for the first time that project management software enhances project professionals' perceived performance and provides a positive impact on the results of their projects. The study provides practical implications for project professionals, their organizations, senior management, decision makers, software developers, and vendors. These findings support the call for further research that investigates the diffusion of information technologies in the project management field and their impact on project success and competitive position.     

Can Agile Project Management Be Adopted by Industries Other than Software Development?

This research paper presents evidence from an exploratory survey on the use of agile project management (APM) practices and the presence of APM enablers in 19 medium‐ and large‐sized companies from different industry sectors considering innovative projects. The results show that these companies are possibly struggling to use their current management practices in the face of different project challenges. Additionally, the presence of some APM enablers indicates opportunities to adapt the APM theory for different companies other than those in software development. Future research should explore the correlation between APM practices and enablers in order to develop “hybrid” management models for different industries.     

Translating single project management knowledge to project programs

Over the past decade, the efficient implementation of project programs became of great importance. Many authors are concerned with improving the professionalism of implementing project programs, and most of them identify context‐related factors that are considered the bases of successful implementation. However, little has been written on how to use the project management toolkit in project programs. In mid‐2007, a research program was initiated to highlight the role of the single project management toolkit in implementing programs. During the research, both case‐based and interview‐based research methods were used. The primary question addressed in this article is how to translate single project management knowledge to program management.     

政府投资项目“代建制”模式研究

政府投资项目在传统的"自建制"项目管理模式下存在着很多弊端,为进一步提高政府投资建设项目的建设管理水平和政府投资效益,应积极推进政府投资项目代建制工作。本文首先对发达国家和地区的政府投资项目管理模式进行了对比,分析了现阶段代建制存在的问题,并提出进一步完善代建制的建议。     

刍议政府投资建筑工程项目的造价控制与管理

结合工程实践经验,论述了建筑工程项目造价控制与管理,从决策投资阶段、设计阶段、施工阶段以及及竣工结算等阶段论述了政府投资项目进行全过程造价控制与管理措施。旨在为今后类似建设工程项目提供设计、监理及项目管理提高相关参考资料。     

Accountant's Truth: Knowledge and Ethics in the Financial World

Performance auditing, or value for money (VFM) auditing, has been a long-standing component of accountability in public administration. During the 1980s and 1990s performance auditing has allegedly been increasingly adopted in the new public management. While there has been much research on public management and performance auditing in central government, local government has been relatively neglected in the literature. Municipalities and counties in local government have an important role in public sector service production in most European countries, and especially in the Nordic countries. It is therefore surprising that performance auditing in this context has received so little scholarly attention. This study is aimed at filling some of this gap. The purpose of this comparative study is, therefore, to explore how performance auditing practices, including performance measurement, are used to assess and verify value for money in local government and to enhance the accountability of municipalities and counties. This study analyses how informants from both auditors and auditees in Finland and Norway perceived the efficiency of conducting performance audits in local government. Despite some problems related to the quality of the performance audit reports, the informants perceived performance audit to function as a useful, rational public management tool.     

Formulation of financial valuation methodologies for NASA's human spaceflight projects

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) must continually evaluate proposals to upgrade its human spaceflight systems. These proposals may be initiated to enhance safety, improve performance, or provide improved cost value. In the current restrictive budget environment, the cost valuation should be strengthened to ensure the best use of limited funding. NASA has not frequently utilized financial analysis in project consideration, and business case analysis is often lacking during annual budgetary assessments. Some of the reasons inhibiting financial analysis are uncertainty in the projections of long life‐cycle costs, gains that may seem intangible and difficult to monetize, and the political environment. This paper explores ways in which some financial valuation methods, coupled with reformulation of project cash flows, might enhance NASA's analysis process. Among these methods is real option analysis (ROA), which is discussed in the context of several NASA upgrade projects.     

What project strategy really is: The fundamental building block in strategic project management

Strategic project management is gradually becoming a popular and growing trend within the discipline of project management. The general idea is that project management teams must learn how to deal with the business aspects of their projects, as well as better support their company's business strategy and sustainability, rather than just focus on meeting traditional time, budget, and performance goals. Although this approach has been gaining popularity, strategic project management has not yet become an explicit and widely used approach in the practice of project implementation. One of the concepts mentioned as an important element is project strategy; however, no universal framework or even a clear definition of what project strategy is has so far emerged. The goal of this article is to fill in this gap and provide a useful definition and a framework for the further study and implementation of the project strategy concept. Specifically, to achieve this goal, we first look at the origins of strategy in military and business research to discuss the question of what, exactly, project strategy is; we follow this discussion with an explicit definition of a project strategy. We then outline a framework for building a dedicated project strategy document for an individual project, and show how this framework can guide the project planning and execution processes. Using a case study approach, which included an action research phase, we demonstrate how project teams can adopt the strategy concept in a natural way that would lead their project to better business results.