The Strategic Management of Large Engineering Projects

The Strategic Management of Large Engineering Projects
Author: Roger Miller
Publisher: MIT Press
Total Pages: 268
Release: 2001-03-12
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780262263511

The book is based on an international research project that analyzed sixty LEPs, among them the Boston Harbor cleanup; the first phase of subway construction in Ankara, Turkey; a hydro dam on the Caroni River in Venezuela; and the construction of offshore oil platforms west of Flor, Norway. As the number, complexity, and scope of large engineering projects (LEPs) increase worldwide, the huge stakes may endanger the survival of corporations and threaten the stability of countries that approach these projects unprepared. According to the authors, the "front-end" engineering of institutional arrangements and strategic systems is a far greater determinant of an LEP's success than are the more tangible aspects of project engineering and management. The book is based on an international research project that analyzed sixty LEPs, among them the Boston Harbor cleanup; the first phase of subway construction in Ankara, Turkey; a hydro dam on the Caroni River in Venezuela; and the construction of offshore oil platforms west of Flor, Norway. The authors use the research results to develop an experience-based theoretical framework that will allow managers to understand and respond to the complexity and uncertainty inherent in all LEPs. In addition to managers and scholars of large-scale projects, the book will be of interest to those studying the relationship between institutions and strategy, risk management, and corporate governance in general. Contributors Bjorn Andersen, Richard Brealey, Ian Cooper, Serghei Floricel, Michel Habib, Brian Hobbs, Donald R. Lessard, Pascale Michaud, Roger Miller, Xavier Olleros

The Strategic Management of Large Engineering Projects

The Strategic Management of Large Engineering Projects
Author: Roger Miller
Publisher: Mit Press
Total Pages: 237
Release: 2000
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780262122368

The authors studied sixty large engineering projects (LEPs), projects as various as a hydro dam in Venezuela, offshore oil platforms in Norway, a subway in Turkey, and the Boston Harbor cleanup. What they found during their research will allow managers to understand and evaluate the relationships between institutions and strategy, risk management, and corporate governance in general.

Strategic Project Management Made Simple

Strategic Project Management Made Simple
Author: Terry Schmidt
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 314
Release: 2009-03-16
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 047044293X

When Fortune Magazine estimated that 70% of all strategies fail, it also noted that most of these strategies were basically sound, but could not be executed. The central premise of Strategic Project Management Made Simple is that most projects and strategies never get off the ground because of adhoc, haphazard, and obsolete methods used to turn their ideas into coherent and actionable plans. Strategic Project Management Made Simple is the first book to couple a step-by-step process with an interactive thinking tool that takes a strategic approach to designing projects and action initiatives. Strategic Project Management Made Simple builds a solid platform upon four critical questions that are vital for teams to intelligently answer in order to create their own strong, strategic foundation. These questions are: 1. What are we trying to accomplish and why? 2. How will we measure success? 3. What other conditions must exist? 4. How do we get there? This fresh approach begins with clearly understanding the what and why of a project - comprehending the bigger picture goals that are often given only lip service or cursory reviews. The second and third questions clarify success measures and identify the risky assumptions that can later cause pain if not spotted early. The how questions - what are the activities, budgets, and schedules - comes last in our four-question system. By contrast, most project approaches prematurely concentrate on the how without first adequately addressing the three other questions. These four questions guide readers into fleshing out a simple, yet sophisticated, mental workbench called "the Logical Framework" - a Systems Thinking paradigm that lays out one's own project strategy in an easily accessible, interactive 4x4 matrix. The inclusion of memorable features and concepts (four critical questions, LogFrame matrix, If-then thinking, and Implementation Equation) make this book unique.

Understanding and Managing Risks in Large Engineering Projects

Understanding and Managing Risks in Large Engineering Projects
Author: Donald R Lessard
Publisher: Legare Street Press
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2023-07-18
Genre:
ISBN: 9781021227430

This book addresses the challenges of managing risk in large-scale engineering projects such as infrastructure development, aerospace systems, and defense programs. It provides a framework for identifying, assessing, and managing risks, and includes case studies and practical guidance for project managers and executives. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Industrial Megaprojects

Industrial Megaprojects
Author: Edward W. Merrow
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 388
Release: 2011-05-03
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 047093882X

Avoid common pitfalls in large-scale projects using these smart strategies Over half of large-scale engineering and construction projects—off-shore oil platforms, chemical plants, metals processing, dams, and similar projects—have miserably poor results. These include billions of dollars in overruns, long delays in design and construction, and poor operability once finally completed. Industrial Megaprojects gives you a clear, nontechnical understanding of why these major projects get into trouble, and how your company can prevent hazardous and costly errors when undertaking such large technical and management challenges. Clearly explains the underlying causes of over-budget, delayed, and unsafe megaprojects Examines effects of poor project management, destructive team behaviors, weak accountability systems, short-term focus, and lack of investment in technical expertise Author is the CEO of the leading consulting firm for evaluating billion-dollar projects Companies worldwide are rethinking their large-scale projects. Industrial Megaprojects is your essential guide for this rethink, offering the tools and principles that are the true foundation of safe, cost-effective, successful megaprojects.

Strategic Management in Construction

Strategic Management in Construction
Author: David Langford
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 258
Release: 2008-04-15
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0470680040

This book reviews the general theory of strategy, relates it to the particular circumstances of the construction industry, and shows how it can be applied in practice. It brings together ideas from economics, marketing, management, business and politics to develop strategic management for both contractors' firms and the associated professions. Substantial changes have occurred in the industry since the book was first published in 1991. This Second Edition reflects the major developments that have followed the Latham and Egan reports, and includes new chapters on international strategy and marketing, showing how they can contribute to the strategic planning of construction organizations. The book will provide a valuable tool for the strategic development of construction firms. "Ten years separate the editions during which period a significant number of British, (and other), construction firms which had survived generations of proprietors merged, changed beyond recognition or ceased trading. One can not but wonder if publication of a work on strategic planning some twenty year earlier might have saved some of them." Construction Manager "The book presents the essential elements for managing at this higher level and should be a must for any construction professional who aspires to an executive position in industry as well as any student for construction management, project management and organizational management in construction. It comes highly recommended" Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

Project-Based Organizing and Strategic Management

Project-Based Organizing and Strategic Management
Author: Gino Cattani
Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing
Total Pages: 582
Release: 2011-10-12
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1780521936

Facilitates discussion about project-based organizations (PBOs) and how they increasingly pervade business dimensions, from R&D and new product development, to the production of complex capital goods and implementation of organizational change across very different industries such as management consulting, engineering or entertainment.

Building Tomorrow: Innovation in Construction and Engineering

Building Tomorrow: Innovation in Construction and Engineering
Author: André Manseau
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 184
Release: 2019-09-17
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 135195413X

In the past decade construction and engineering have changed dramatically, with an explosion of innovative new approaches to construction and new methodologies. By bringing together economic, social and construction/engineering management perspectives, this book offers a unique and comprehensive survey of these approaches and techniques. It presents a history of studies in innovation in construction and engineering, and then presents the most recent models of innovation brokering and risk-management, based on complex project-based industries. Innovation is defined and competing theories are discussed in the light of operational issues. The book covers all aspects, including the importance of construction and engineering 'cultures' in the trades for successful project innovation. It also discusses the role of government and policy makers, the implications of rapid change for the building trades and skilled labour, and the difficulty of measuring innovation quantitatively.

Public–Private Partnerships for Infrastructure Development

Public–Private Partnerships for Infrastructure Development
Author: Raymond E. Levitt
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Total Pages: 357
Release: 2019
Genre: Electronic books
ISBN: 1788973186

Large infrastructure projects often face significant cost overruns and stakeholder fragmentation. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) allow governments to procure long-term infrastructure services from private providers, rather than developing, financing, and managing infrastructure assets themselves. Aligning public and private interests and institutional logics for decades-long service contracts subject to shifting economic and political contexts creates significant governance challenges. We integrate multiple theoretical perspectives with empirical evidence to examine how experiences from more mature PPP jurisdictions can help improve PPP governance approaches worldwide.

Governance Frameworks for Public Project Development and Estimation

Governance Frameworks for Public Project Development and Estimation
Author: Ole Jonny Klakegg
Publisher: Project Management Institute
Total Pages: 288
Release: 2009-08-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1628251646

Governance Frameworks for Public Project Development and Estimation includes a thorough investigation into theoretical perspectives and theories, mainly from economy and social sciences. Thirty-two aspects of theory are assessed, and it is indicated whether each framework design seems to have put weak or strong emphasis on each of these aspects. The purpose of the report is to seek better understanding of how the governance framework and the projects interact and how the framework influences the project. Governance frameworks help to improve the initial and fundamental design of projects as well as avoid some of the common problems related to the implementation of projects. Implementation of governance frameworks represents a potential for considerable savings and added value by making cost estimation and time planning more effective.