42 research outputs found
A Complexity Science Based Approach to Programme Risk Management
Programme management has rapidly gained acceptance as a vehicle for achieving organisational strategic objectives and as a means of aligning projects with the overall strategy of the organisation. Managing programme risk poses challenges which are different from those in project management. Attempts to modify and apply project risk management techniques to programme risk management have experienced difficulties. The implications of the challenges of programme risk management extend beyond the tools and techniques. Recent research shows that that programme management is neither an extension, nor a scaled up version of project management. Philosophically, a paradigm shift from the predominantly mechanistic and reductionist mindset to a more appropriate paradigm based on complexity science and the theory of complex adaptive systems is required. This leads to the conclusion that the classic event based view of risk is inappropriate in modelling and analysing programme risk which need to be treated as holistic and dynamic
A Complexity Science Based Approach to Programme Risk Management
Programme management has rapidly gained acceptance as a vehicle for achieving organisational strategic objectives and as a means of aligning projects with the overall strategy of the organisation. Managing programme risk poses challenges which are different from those in project management. Attempts to modify and apply project risk management techniques to programme risk management have experienced difficulties. The implications of the challenges of programme risk management extend beyond the tools and techniques. Recent research shows that that programme management is neither an extension, nor a scaled up version of project management. Philosophically, a paradigm shift from the predominantly mechanistic and reductionist mindset to a more appropriate paradigm based on complexity science and the theory of complex adaptive systems is required. This leads to the conclusion that the classic event based view of risk is inappropriate in modelling and analysing programme risk which need to be treated as holistic and dynamic
Defining the intelligent public sector construction client
Recent efforts and aspirations to transform the delivery of major capital programmes and projects in UK public sector construction by focussing on achievement of value for money, whole life asset management and sustainable procurement have led to the adoption of integrated procurement routes characterised by multiplicity of stakeholders with a diversity of differing and often competing requirements. A study of the challenges faced by the public sector to deliver present and future major capital programmes and projects gravitates to the role of the intelligent client, and concomitant skills and capabilities. The results of the multiple case studies research show that the challenges of this role are especially evident at the interface between the internal organisation and the external suppliers and advisors from the private sector. The research concludes that the intelligent client role requires an individual champion with a unique set of skills working in an environment of a supporting team and capable organisation
Managing the delivery of iconic football stadiums in England
The English football premier league has become the most
popular sports league in the world; with ardent fans and
audiences all over the world. The potential business
opportunities that this growth holds have therefore
attracted investors who are keen to buy shares in the
clubs and sign up the best footballers that money can buy.
Underpinning the growth in all of the premier league clubs
is a desire to make a distinct statement of identity as part
of a competitive strategy. One way to achieve this is
through the design and construction of iconic football
stadiums. This paper explores the specific project
management challenges associated with delivery of iconic
football stadiums in England and draws lessons for the
management of similar iconic infrastructure projects. A
study of project management best practice and some case
studies shows that key issues which are common to these
projects are centred on design management; choice of
procurement route; client management; and stakeholder
expectation management. These issues are not necessarily
unique to the project management of iconic football
stadiums but are amplified by the context of these
projects. The emphasis on iconic status in a competitive
market also means that stadium projects should be
conceived and delivered in the context of other strategic
projects which should be clearly understood by the project
management team
Design management: changing roles of the professions
This paper sets out to explore how recent changes in
procurement in construction have affected the roles that
professions play in the design process. It discusses how
professions that traditionally took the role of design
manager now find themselves participating within
previously unforeseen contexts, working in multidisciplinary
teams led by contractors and with changed
responsibilities at the design stage. Supply chain members
who were not previously involved during the early project
phases are being engaged at the earliest phases of the
project life cycle and even taking leadership roles while
designers sometimes work as supply chain partners.
A study of design in construction and other sectors shows
that in dealing with design management issues it is critical
to deepen appreciation for the unique characteristics of
design and the design process. The paper argues that
contractors and designers taking on design management
roles in a dynamic industry seeking to explore best
practice and innovative approaches to procurement and in
the delivery of projects need to acquire new skills,
management education and develop the necessary
qualities
Private finance for the delivery of school projects in England
This paper analyses the use of the private finance initiative (PFI) approach to deliver school projects in England. The findings are based on case-study research in the Building Schools for the Future scheme (BSF), the largest single capital investment in SO years to rebuild and renew all of England's secondary schools. Up to half of the school infrastructure is to be procured by PFI contracts. A major concern has been the high cost associated with PFI procurement and any subsequent changes to scope. Furthermore, in some cases PFI-funded schools have been closed soon after completion; at great cost to the public sector. The aim of this research was therefore to
understand the underlying reasons for these problems.
The main conclusion is that the difficulties in BSF arise
from not sorting out strategic issues and instituting
appropriate organisational frameworks before engaging
the private sector. The result of this is a lack of clarity
about the long-term needs and end user aspirations. A
brief outline of current programme management methods
is given and it is suggested that this might be integral to
the successful delivery of schools using private finance. A
clear strategic vision that cascades into projects via
programmes will ensure that the school infrastructure is
appropriate for the anticipated strategic benefits and is
aligned to the overall service delivery ambitions
Project manager-to-project allocations in practice: an empirical study of the decision-making practices of a multi-project based organization
Empirical studies that examine how managers make project manager-to-project (PM2P) allocation decisions in multi-project settings are currently limited. Such decisions are crucial to organizational success. An empirical study of the PM2P practice, conducted in the context of Botswana, revealed ineffective processes in terms of optimality in decision-making. A conceptual model to guide effective PM2P practices was developed. The focus of this study is on deploying the model as a lens to study the PM2P practices of a large organization, with a view to identify and illustrate strengths and weaknesses. A case study was undertaken in the mining industry, where core activities in terms of projects are underground mineral explorations at identified geographical regions. A semi-structured interview protocol was used to collect data from 15 informants, using an enumeration. Integrated analysis of both data types (using univariate descriptive analysis for the quantitative data, content and thematic analysis for the qualitative data) revealed strengths in PM2P practices, demonstrated by informants’ recognition of some important criteria to be considered. The key weaknesses were exemplified by a lack of effective management tools and techniques to match project managers to projects. The findings provide a novel perspective through which improvements in working practices can be made
Ralstonia syzygii, the Blood Disease Bacterium and Some Asian R. solanacearum Strains Form a Single Genomic Species Despite Divergent Lifestyles
The Ralstonia solanacearum species complex includes R. solanacearum, R. syzygii, and the Blood Disease Bacterium (BDB). All colonize plant xylem vessels and cause wilt diseases, but with significant biological differences. R. solanacearum is a soilborne bacterium that infects the roots of a broad range of plants. R. syzygii causes Sumatra disease of clove trees and is actively transmitted by cercopoid insects. BDB is also pathogenic to a single host, banana, and is transmitted by pollinating insects. Sequencing and DNA-DNA hybridization studies indicated that despite their phenotypic differences, these three plant pathogens are actually very closely related, falling into the Phylotype IV subgroup of the R. solanacearum species complex. To better understand the relationships among these bacteria, we sequenced and annotated the genomes of R. syzygii strain R24 and BDB strain R229. These genomes were compared to strain PSI07, a closely related Phylotype IV tomato isolate of R. solanacearum, and to five additional R. solanacearum genomes. Whole-genome comparisons confirmed previous phylogenetic results: the three phylotype IV strains share more and larger syntenic regions with each other than with other R. solanacearum strains. Furthermore, the genetic distances between strains, assessed by an in-silico equivalent of DNA-DNA hybridization, unambiguously showed that phylotype IV strains of BDB, R. syzygii and R. solanacearum form one genomic species. Based on these comprehensive data we propose a revision of the taxonomy of the R. solanacearum species complex. The BDB and R. syzygii genomes encoded no obvious unique metabolic capacities and contained no evidence of horizontal gene transfer from bacteria occupying similar niches. Genes specific to R. syzygii and BDB were almost all of unknown function or extrachromosomal origin. Thus, the pathogenic life-styles of these organisms are more probably due to ecological adaptation and genomic convergence during vertical evolution than to the acquisition of DNA by horizontal transfer
Delivering better outcomes through customer-led project management: the case of the major project BT 21st Century Network in the UK
Traditional approaches of major project management take the strategy of selecting a supplier-led prime/systems integrator. Although this strategy pushes a significant amount of risk to the supplier, project performance may suffer due to lower engagement of the customer in the anticipation of potential issues involving a major project. Thus, this research investigates the implications of the customer, as opposed to a selected external supplier, assuming the role of systems/prime integrator, as a Problem Structuring Method (PSM) to better deal with the soft side and uncertainties of the project. A case study approach is conducted on the major project BT 21st Century Network (BT21CN) to demonstrate that customer-led systems integration projects may provide more balance in the relationship and distribution of risks between supplier and customer, having a positive impact on project performance, accelerating the development of BT’s organisational capabilities, and producing better project outcomes in the long term