Kristen Hurtado

Project Risk Distribution during the Construction Phase of Small Building Projects

AbstractEarly identification and communication of risks throughout the construction phase allows project teams to manage and minimize cost increases and schedule delays while increasing customer satisfaction. A better understanding of the distribution of risks during a construction project can improve risk management. This research created a new term, risk encounter, which measures and defines when a risk is communicated on a project, relative to the project schedule. This paper examines risk-management data regarding 229 small building projects at a U.S. university. The project teams encountered 1,229 risk events. A risk encounter was calculated for each risk event and plotted against a project lifecycle timeline. Individual risks were found to have unique characteristics related to the impact on the project cost, the impact on the schedule, and the nature of the risk. This study attempted to identify whether the characteristics of risk affect the distribution of risks during construction. ANOVA results ...

Planning in Construction: Longitudinal Study of Pre-Contract Planning Model Demonstrates Reduction in Project Cost and Schedule Growth

Planning is known to enhance construction project performance in terms of cost, schedule, and quality. Yet, project teams oftentimes do not incorporate effective planning methodologies, typically citing a lack of time or capability to conduct detailed planning. This article proposes a brief yet rigorous project planning method, known as the pre-contract planning model, which is uniquely implemented between the owner and selected contractor project teams prior to contract award with the intent of increasing project team alignment and facilitating greater risk transfer from owner to contractor. Results from a multi-case longitudinal study documented the impact of the pre-contract planning model in terms of three success criteria: cost growth, schedule growth, and owner satisfaction, where cost and schedule growth were measured as percent increase of initial contract values. Projects that implemented the pre-contract planning model were compared with a control group that operated via a traditional project delivery process where the selected contractor directly proceeded to contract award without a formal planning process. Analysis revealed that the pre-contract planning model reduced cost and schedule growth by as much as 54% and 70% percent, respectively, indicating that pre-contract planning may be a viable planning mechanism to be implemented in the construction industry.

Public School Facility Underfunding: A New Tool to Maximize Construction Dollars and Improve Performance Outcomes

ABSTRACT Public education systems are facing pressure on the performance of existing infrastructure amid a growing population, while also decreasing costs and meeting tight deadlines. However, this area also presents opportunities to improve the students’ experience, produce high-performing infrastructure, and positively impact learning conditions. A longitudinal study of improvement projects at a Midwestern school district was conducted to analyze project performance and contractor response to a selection and project management initiative. The initial data reviewed were: hit rate, proposal performance, proposal cost, and interview performance. The school district also achieved exceptional performance results: the overall contractor-generated cost and schedule changes was .001%, with overall cost and schedule changes at 3.5%. Charting contractor response over time shows that the number of contractors proposing did not significantly impact cost. Public school districts can use this research as they seek to improve efficiencies through alternative selection and management initiatives.

Utilization of Value and Risk Assessments in Transportation Procurement: A Case Study of a New Highway Corridor

The Queen Elizabeth II Highway provides the sole transportation link between the city of Edmonton and the city of Leduc. Over 35,000 vehicles commute between these areas on a daily basis, while the Edmonton International Airport is strategically positioned between them. The Canadian government has recognized the need for an alternative transportation corridor in this area. The necessary funding for Phase 1A of the 14.4 mi of new road construction was provided under the Building Canada Fund. The proposed Nisku Spine Road will be completed in four separate phases. The objective of this study was to draw analysis from a government’s implementation of a value-based procurement model and risk management approach to minimize project cost. Under this procurement model, the overall project costs were reduced through past contractor experience, risk assessment plans, and value added options. The selected firm’s proposal was 30% below the original anticipated cost of

Best Value Case Study: Procurement Results within the GSA

21.8 million dollars. Furthermore, the contractor was able to offer a value added option that resulted in additional savings of approximately

An assessment tool for using videos and rich media in construction management curriculum - A case study

1 million dollars. In all, a total savings of

The Effect of Project Type on Risk Timing and Frequency

7.5 million dollars was realized by the utilization of the value-based procurement method for this publicly funded heavy/civil construction project.