In a series of prior papers, the authors have explored the theoretical foundation of project mana... more In a series of prior papers, the authors have explored the theoretical foundation of project management. In this paper, this theoretical foundation is consolidated and used for explaining the novel features of two project management methods, which radically deviate from the conventional doctrine of project management: Last Planner and Scrum. Both methods have emerged since mid-nineties as practical responses to the failure of conventional project management methods, Scrum in the field of software projects, Last Planner in the field of construction projects. It is shown that both methods reject the underlying theoretical foundation of conventional project management and instead subscribe, implicitly or explicitly, to alternative theories, which better match the situation in question.
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 2004
This paper presents "work structuring," a term used to describe the effort of integrating product... more This paper presents "work structuring," a term used to describe the effort of integrating product and process design throughout the project development process. To illustrate current work structuring practice, we describe a case study involving the installation of door frames into walls in a prison. We analyze why various problems existed. To improve the work structuring effort, we apply the "five whys" to develop local and global fixes for the system of precast walls and door frames. The five whys is a technique to elicit alternative ways of structuring work without being constrained by contractual agreements, traditions, or trade boundaries. We discuss the importance of dimensional tolerances in construction and how these affect the handoff of work from one group of workers to the next. We argue that these constraints and tolerance management practices are so embedded that project participants can miss opportunities to better integrate product and process design. We propose shifting the focus of work structuring from maximizing local trade efficiency to improving overall performance in the delivery system of a capital project.
The relationship between capacity utilization, wait time and variation is well understood in traf... more The relationship between capacity utilization, wait time and variation is well understood in traffic and industrial engineering where the relationships are stated as fundamental laws. This paper will explain this concept and its implications for construction, and will challenge the current view that time and cost must always be in tension. The paper will show that reducing variation in work
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Oct 1, 2011
This paper follows "Construction Engineering: Reinvigorating the Discipline." That paper argued t... more This paper follows "Construction Engineering: Reinvigorating the Discipline." That paper argued that a new flow-based operating system was poised to replace the activity-centered operating system of traditional project management and that a coherent organizational and contractual approach would evolve. Shifting to new operating system based on the theory, principles, and practices of production system design will deliver more value to clients and other participants, reduce waste, and spur learning and innovation. After a reflection on a model for making sense, the paper explores the consequences of this shift from a number of perspectives and speculates on the impact on practice and research. The paper closes with a brief reflection on teaching in times of rapid change.
The relationship between capacity utilization, wait time and variation is well understood in traf... more The relationship between capacity utilization, wait time and variation is well understood in traffic and industrial engineering where the relationships are stated as fundamental laws. This paper will explain this concept and its implications for construction, and will challenge the current view that time and cost must always be in tension. The paper will show that reducing variation in work flow will improve performance and that the resulting improvement can be applied to reducing duration and/or cost.
Construction Engineering—Reinvigorating the Discipline
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Oct 1, 2011
Construction engineering is all about production, and producing something useful is the very reas... more Construction engineering is all about production, and producing something useful is the very reason for projects to exist. How then to explain why construction engineering has progressively fallen out of focus in construction project management education and research? For an answer, the development of the discipline of construction management since the 1950s must be understood, a development that yielded a non-production-oriented approach to project management, one that provides the currently accepted operating ...
The paper examines the relationship between Lean Construction and Performance Improvement program... more The paper examines the relationship between Lean Construction and Performance Improvement programs in construction organizations. The authors argue that the structure and focus of existing performance improvement programs are a barrier to Lean Construction's entry into the organization. The paper first analyzes the characteristics of successful performance improvement programs, and develops a model that identifies three critical elements: 1) Time
Lauri Koskela (1992) identified the first task for academics &#x2... more Lauri Koskela (1992) identified the first task for academics 'is to explain the new philosophy in the context of construction'and this is first objective here. The second is to provide a foundation to understand the contributions of Glenn Ballard which follow. The chapter first discusses changes in the construction industry to suggest why a new (or for that matter any) production theory is required. The extent of the uncertainty experienced on projects leads to yet another comparison between manufacturing and construction. A new understanding of ...
Factors affecting project success in the piping function
Later, on the next job, a lead pipe fitter explained to a visitor why he was installing the parti... more Later, on the next job, a lead pipe fitter explained to a visitor why he was installing the particular spool just rigged. He replied that it was the longest they could find. Pressed to explain the decision he said,'Look�I'm getting beat up for productivity and long pieces make me look good'.
Applicability of lean principles to construction might seem to require that construction's di... more Applicability of lean principles to construction might seem to require that construction's differentiating characteristics be softened or explained away. This is the strategy employed by those who advocate making construction more like the manufacturing from which lean thinking originated. Following that line of thought, successive waves of implementation would leave ever smaller remainders that are not yet reduced to manufacturing,
Lean thinking is a new way to manage construction. Born in manufacturing , the goals demand a new... more Lean thinking is a new way to manage construction. Born in manufacturing , the goals demand a new way to coordinate action, one that is applicable to industries far removed from manufacturing. Implementation requires action be shaped by a deeper understanding of the goals and techniques. This paper explains the implications of the goals and key production principles, and how
Construction safety has substantially improved, but has reached a plateau. Further improvement wi... more Construction safety has substantially improved, but has reached a plateau. Further improvement will come from spreading Best Practice throughout the industry, or from Breakthrough that transcends Best Practice. We are working on Breakthrough and propose that what is needed is a new theory of accidents. Current Best Practice is described along with its underlying theoretical assumptions. An alternative theory is proposed, based on the work of Jens Rasmussen, a leading thinker on risk management in dynamic environments. A research program is proposed to test that theory and to develop a new approach to safety management.
Occupational accidents are unquestionably wasteful and non-value adding events in any system of p... more Occupational accidents are unquestionably wasteful and non-value adding events in any system of production. Safeguarding construction workers from occupational hazards, whether arising from traumatic, ergonomic, and/or exposure accidents, is part and parcel of the lean construction ideal of waste elimination. Howell et al. (2002) proposed a new approach to understand construction accidents based on Rasmussen's theory of cognitive systems engineering. One aspect of the model focused on worker training to recognize hazards (unsafe conditions). The underlying assumption here is that workers will always recall what constitutes a safe or unsafe situation as well as respond to perceived or actual risks in the same manner. Therefore, a methodology to assess worker sensitivity to unsafe conditions and risk orientation is needed. This paper proposes a methodology based on Signal detection theory that was originally developed as an assessment technique for tasks requiring the detection of...
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Papers by Gregory Howell