Abstracts – Browse Results

Search or browse again.

Click on the titles below to expand the information about each abstract.
Viewing 32 results ...

Abu Aisheh, Y (2011) Climate change and the built environment: an evaluation of sustainable refurbishment options for higher education buildings in the UK, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Birmingham.

Ahmad, H S M (2011) Development of knowledge management model for knowledge management implementation and application in construction projects, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham.

Al-Saqer, K M (2001) An investigation into the development processes and project management practices of government construction projects in Saudi Arabia, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Birmingham.

Alsabban, A (2019) A study on analysing mega-project failures in Saudi Arabia by using agency theory, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Birmingham.

Ballard, H G (2000) The last planner system of production control, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham.

  • Type: Thesis
  • Keywords: case study; contracts; control system; design process; liability; productivity; project control; project management; quantification
  • ISBN/ISSN:
  • URL: http://etheses.bham.ac.uk//id/eprint/4789/
  • Abstract:
    Project controls have traditionally been focused on after-the-fact detection of variances. This thesis proposes a control system, the Last Planner system, that causes the realization of plans, and thus supplements project management’s concern for management of contracts with the management of production. The Last Planner system has previously been successfully applied by firms with direct responsibility for production management; e.g., specialty contractors. This thesis extends system application to those coordinating specialists, both in design and construction, through a series of case studies, one of which also explores the limits of unilateral implementation by specialists. In addition to the extended application, two questions drive this research. The first question is 1) What can be done by way of tools provided and improved implementation of the Last Planner system of production control to increase plan reliability above the 70% PPC level? Previous research revealed substantial improvement in productivity for those who improved plan reliability to the 70% level, consequently there is reason to hope for further improvement, possibly in all performance dimensions, especially with application across an entire project rather than limited to individual specialty firms. That question is explored in three case studies, the last of which achieved the 90% target. The second question is 2) How/Can Last Planner be successfully applied to increase plan reliability during design processes. That question is explored in an extensive case study, which significantly contributes to understanding the design process from the perspective of active control, but unfortunately does not fully answer the question, primarily because the project was aborted prior to start of construction. However, it is argued that Last Planner is especially appropriate for design production control because of the value-generating nature of design, which renders ineffective traditional techniques such as detailed front end planning and control through after-the-fact detection of variances. Issues for future research are proposed, including root cause analysis of plan failures and quantification of the benefits of increased plan reliability for both design and construction processes.

Daheshpour, K (2018) Network level decision support system to assess railway track maintenance needs, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Birmingham.

Debela, G Y (2021) Assessment of government policies and regulations in the process of adopting Public-Private Partnership for infrastructure development in Ethiopia, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Birmingham.

Delgado-HernaÌndez, D J (2005) A framework for building quality into construction projects, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Birmingham.

Gomez, C P (2002) A study of the situated practice of benchmarking in the UK construction industry, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Birmingham.

Goodfellow-Smith, M (2019) How can finance and insurance institutions help deliver sustainable city infrastructure?, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Birmingham.

Hackett, J A (2011) The role of cost estimators in UK construction: a case for, and steps towards, an estimating profession, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham.

Haji Md Yusof, I (2019) Development of lean design process for building construction projects, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham.

Hasan, N (2006) Developing a balanced scorecard model for evaluation of project management and performance, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Birmingham.

Hughes, P M (1990) Buildings and the building trade in Worcester 1540-1650, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of History, University of Birmingham.

Ireland, P N (2005) Supply chain management in construction: an analysis of the appropriateness of proactive supply chain management thinking for the construction industry, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham.

Jabang, S-W (2017) An investigation into the use of public procurement and commissioning to deliver community (societal) value, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Government and Society, University of Birmingham.

Jacobs, A (2007) Will the new offence of corporate manslaughter motivate companies to prioritise safety over profit?, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Law, University of Birmingham.

Kalyviotis, N (2022) Balancing economic, social and environmental value in transport infrastructure business models, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Birmingham.

Kamat, K J (2003) Decision making and negotiation: Establishing social order on a construction site, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Birmingham.

Kavishe, N W (2018) Improving the delivery of PPP housing projects in developing countries, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham.

Keskin, F S (2021) Integration of lifecycle assessment into structural intervention scenarios for assessing environmental impacts of vulnerable buildings, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Birmingham.

Kugonza, S (2010) Influence of formal and informal institutions on outsourcing of public construction projects in Uganda, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Government and Society, University of Birmingham.

Low, S P (2012) Strategic development of the built environment through international construction, quality and productivity management, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham.

McCarthy, S C (1991) BOT and OMT contracts for infrastructure in developing countries, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham.

Mulekezi, L (1990) The design of project estimating systems, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Birmingham.

Naghashian, M H (2015) Generalised cost benefit analysis for large infrastructure projects: the case of the Channel Tunnel rail link, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham.

Perera, T G U P (2019) Achieving sustainable housing affordability through an institutionalist approach to communicative planning: a case study of a new settlements and sustainable urban extensions in England, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences , University of Birmingham.

Rooke, J A (2001) Researching culture on construction projects, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Birmingham.

Rowlands, A S (2016) Effective collaboration in construction: the importance of managing power, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham.

Sansakorn, P (2018) Development of a risk assessment methodology and safety management model for the building construction industry: case studies from Thailand, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham.

Sasidharan, M P (2020) A risk-informed approach to setting economically-justifiable maintenance strategies for railway tracks, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , University of Birmingham.

Soe, Y (2017) Construction supply chain risk management framework for construction projects: case studies in Myanmar, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham.