Partnering with community—an option for infrastructure procurement

This paper is about community partnered procurement (CPP) of infrastructure. It looks at a changing role for the community in a general sense, but for householders in settlements in particular. The paper puts CPP in the broad context of different procurement options. It describes the mechanisms, both conventional and unconventional, governmental and non-governmental, that have been adopted to deliver improved urban services in partnership with community. The mechanisms and processes of agreements, procedures and contracts, which are the basis for implementation of infrastructure improvement in low-income communities, are also introduced. The specific focus of the paper is the situation where communities have undertaken the role of the contractor. The paper provides both general experience and case study evidence from Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India. The potential benefits and implications of adopting CPP are described

Performance indicators for 'micro-projects' in developing countries

The majority of public works contracts undertaken in developing countries have a total cost of less than US$15,000. They include the provision of enhanced water and sanitation, access ways and pavements, small community buildings and solid waste related construction. We term these projects, ‘micro-projects’. There is a general lack of information for such projects. This paper describes the development and testing of sixty seven performance indicators for use on ‘micro-projects’. They include not only general performance indicators but also indicators for inter-organisational and socio-economic issues. These indicators are based on data from a total of over 800 micro-projects undertaken in developing countries. For each indicator we provide a statement of why the indicator was selected, the key sources of information, and how to determine the indicator. Examples of the use of the indicators are also presented

Urban infrastructure procurement in low-income countries

The high rate of urban growth in most low-income countries has resulted in ever-increasing demands for improvements in urban infrastructure. The scarce financial, technical and managerial resources in such countries require efficient and effective management if they are to be used to optimum effect. Equally, any enhancement in performance of the delivery mechanisms for urban infrastructure is to be welcomed. Community partnered procurement (CPP) has been used in South Asian countries (India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka), as well as in African countries, to increase the access of low-income communities to urban infrastructure, and has resulted in improved access and quality of urban infrastructure. The missing link in the monitoring and evaluation of projects is a review of the wider impacts of urban infrastructure procurement, or indeed of whether community procured infrastructure actually meets users’ needs and expectations. Thus a knowledge gap has been identified in terms of ‘how to’ trace the wider effects of urban infrastructure procurement at the neighbourhood level. This paper proposes participatory impact assessment as a tool for development professionals interested in exploring the changes brought about by an infrastructure procurement project, in the broader social, political and economic context in which the project is implemented

Principal considerations in the use of community partnered procurement for sustainable urban infrastructure

There is an increasing desire to involve the community in the procurement of infrastructure on the grounds of good governance and sustainability of urban services. One such emerging option to meet such demands is Community Partnered Procurement, (CPP), whereby community groups act as ‘stakeholders’ in the procurement process particularly with respect to ‘micro contracts’, contracts costing less than US$20,000 and duration of less than one calendar year. This paper reviews the results from some 800 contracts of this nature and provides a framework to help the practitioner decide when to use this option or more importantly, when not to use it. Perceptions and experiences of technocrats and professionals concerning the existing capacity of the community to undertake work as contractor have a strong influence on the decision whether to use community as contractors. Similarly the perceptions and experiences of community about the complexity of the work involved can influence their decision whether to undertake such work. This paper provides an overview of CPP based on cases studies from countries in South Asia and East Africa. The results show that this type of procurement is not only viable but can achieve comparable performances in time, cost and quality and have wider socio-economic impacts such as income generation, empowerment and micro-enterprise development

Designing to encourage waste minimisation in the construction industry

The process of waste minimisation through ‘designing out waste’ is in its infancy. Many barriers and opportunities exist in developing waste minimisation strategies in design. The paper will summarise the initial findings of the authors’ recent research. It is intended to stimulate thought into the concept of designing out waste. By outlining the causative factors of waste through design and the principle strategies for waste reduction, the paper highlights the present status of this important subject and question whether adequate emphasis is being put on the initial stages of the waste hierarchy – reduce, reuse, recycle. The paper introduces the various options for waste minimisation in design, including designing for recycling, extended life, disassembly and designing out waste. It concludes by highlighting the links between ‘designing out waste’ and the future waste management and recycling industries, indicating where opportunities may exist

Integrated planning, control and improvement of building design

The construction industry is acutely aware of the need to improve the integration, planning and control of its design and production processes. A number of projects undertaken within Loughborough University’s Department of Civil and Building Engineering, in collaboration with other academic institutions and construction industry organisations, are addressing this issue by investigating, and developing tools to assist, the design and construction process. Emerging from these projects is the common need for IT systems and support that will facilitate the capture, storage and retrieval of project knowledge. It is only by relating these compatible IT applications to a common and recognisable project process framework that construction industry organisations will be able to make optimum use of the available technological developments. This paper describes the development of techniques and strategies to support the integrated planning and control of design through the collaboration of the main designers, suppliers and contractor working on complex building projects, and discusses the relevance of clustering these in relation to the phases and activities of a generic model of design and construction

Improving building design through integrated planning and control

The construction industry is acutely aware of the need to improve the integration, planning and control of its design and production processes. A number of projects undertaken within Loughborough, Salford and Cambridge Universities, in collaboration with a number of construction industry organisations, are addressing this issue by investigating, and developing tools to assist, the design and construction process. Emerging from these projects is the common need for IT systems and support that will facilitate the capture, storage and retrieval of project knowledge. It is only by relating these compatible IT applications to a common and recognisable project process framework that construction industry organisations will be able to make optimum use of the available technological developments. This paper describes the development of techniques and strategies to support the integrated planning and control of design through the collaboration of the main designers, suppliers and contractor working on complex building projects, and discusses the relevance of clustering these in relation to the phases and activities of a generic model of design and construction

Process modelling for planning, managing and control of collaborative design

Process modelling has become an established tool whereby the information requirements of the design team may be identified, mapped, modelled and then reviewed to ensure that the final design and the design process take cognisance of all the stakeholders involved within the project. Over the last decade several techniques and products based on this approach have emerged. The ADePT technique developed from initial research at Loughborough University has been used for the management of the design of a range of infrastructure projects and engineering products. The methodology that has subsequently evolved has helped to: ensure the rigorous planning of design; control design deliverables; manage customer expectations, assist with change management; and ensure the development of robust process and control systems. Over this period the approach described in this chapter has been implemented on over 40 projects in the UK and worldwide, with a total contract value of over £4Bn Evidence of the overall impact of ADePT implementations has been gathered by ongoing research undertaken by the writers, feedback from individual project teams and by independent assessment. The writers’ close association with the initial research that led to the ADePT technique, and the subsequent methodology and its implementation have enabled them to fully monitor and review not only the development of the methodology but also its adoption and use for collaborative design across project teams. This chapter considers collaborative design to be project based design involving multi-disciplinary teams. It outlines both the ADePT technique, the original method, the subsequently developed methodology, the body of methods that have been produced, and their adoption within a collaborative design environment. Three case studies are introduced to highlight the use of process mapping, the repeatable nature of design, and the control of workflow. Lessons learned for the transfer of innovations are also discussed

Analytical design planning technique (ADePT): a dependency structure matrix tool to schedule the building design process

Current planning practice takes little account of the interdisciplinary, iterative nature of the building design process. This leads to a compromised design process containing inevitable cycles of rework together with associated time and cost penalties in both design and construction. The analytical design planning technique (ADePT) is a planning methodology which helps to overcome these difficulties. The central part of ADePT is a dependency structure matrix (DSM). This paper describes DSM techniques and a tool developed to optimize the design process

Application of the analytical design planning technique to construction project management

Current construction project planning practices take little account of the interdisciplinary, iterative nature of the design process. This, combined with work packaging devised to suit construction and other influences on design planning, leads to a compromised design process containing inevitable cycles of redesign. This paper describes the Analytical Design Planning Technique (ADePT), a project planning methodology that helps to overcome these problems by providing a structured approach based on information flow rather than the production of design deliverables. It takes in account the iterative nature of design enabling coordinated, integrated design solutions to be developed within budgetary and time constraints