Mladen Radujković

EFQM excellence model as the TQM model of the construction industry of southeastern Europe

AbstractOver the years the European Foundation for Quality Management Excellence model (EFQM) has become a popular performance management tool and representation of Total Quality Management (TQM) in Europe. Although the model has been tested and supported by many questionnaire surveys, EFQM has never been validated on real self-assessment scores obtained from companies. Therefore this study validates the model on scores from 34 construction companies in South Eastern Europe. The analysis shows that: a) there is an enabler excellence construct that is obtained by each enabler criteria; b) there is a result excellence construct that is obtained by each result criteria; and c) the EFQM model is most suitable for Contractor type organizations. Furthermore, we have found that the EFQM weights do not entirely correspond with the construction industry. Therefore we present new weights for the better use in the construction. Although this study proves EFQM to be a good representation of TQM in the construction in...

Internal and external risk based assesment and evaluation for the large infrastructure projects

AbstractThe level of sensitivity to project success of large infrastructure projects is significantly greater in front-phase than in execution phase. Yet, due to focus on execution phase, methods for project assessment and on-going evaluation during front phases are insufficiently developed. On the other hand, risk management approaches has been moved from risk management towards holistic uncertainty management which is the most beneficial in front end phase of the project. This research identifies that majority of methods and techniques available does not support uncertainty management concept. The purpose of this paper is to develop and new method for risk based project assessment and evaluation integrating risk impact modelling using cumulative distribution curves (CDC) and multi-criteria project evaluation approach. Research is based on in-depth risk analysis of 15 large infrastructure projects using risk model of components and characteristics. The conclusion of the paper is verification and validati...

The balanced scorecard and EFQM working together in a performance management framework in construction industry

In the recent years the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) and EFQM Excellence Model (EFQM) became very popular performance management (PMM) models. However, many studies showed their flaws, especially in communicating, integrating and aligning Key Performance Indicators (KPI) with strategy, setting targets and conducting benchmarking. BSC or EFQM have always been used alone and regarded as exclusive PMM tools. In contrast, this study introduces a novel PMM framework that relies on the strengths of both BSC and EFQM. The framework uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to connect these two models. At first, AHP is used for setting priorities among competitive strategic objectives and afterwards for selecting KPIs against SMARTER (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound, Encouraging and Rewarding) criteria. By verifying the framework on the construction industry we discovered that companies can integrate EFQM and BSC to conduct benchmarking, identify best practice, align strategy with the competitive surroundings and selecting strategy aligned KPIs. Using this framework, construction companies can thus achieve strategic control that otherwise by just using BSC could not be achieved. These findings are important because they bring a new perspective on managing organizations and confront many authors who have put EFQM and BSC against each other.

Development of a project management performance enhancement model by analysing risks, changes, and limitations

U radu se prikazuju rezultati istraživanja uspjeha projekta i uspjeha upravljanja projektom. Objašnjen je aktualni kontekst upravljanja građevinskim projektima u RH, s glavnim izazovima i utjecajima na uspjeh upravljanja projektima u praksi. Dana je detaljna komparativna analiza svjetskih istraživanja uspjeha projekta i uspjeha upravljanja projektima. Kroz povezivanje tri organizacijske uloge, strateška projektna operativna, razvijen je model za potporu povećanja uspješnosti upravljanja projektom.U radu se prikazuju rezultati istraživanja uspjeha projekta i uspjeha upravljanja projektom. Objasnjen je aktualni kontekst upravljanja građevinskim projektima u RH, s glavnim izazovima i utjecajima na uspjeh upravljanja projektima u praksi. Dana je detaljna komparativna analiza svjetskih istraživanja uspjeha projekta i uspjeha upravljanja projektima. Kroz povezivanje tri organizacijske uloge, strateska - projektna - operativna, razvijen je model za potporu povecanja uspjesnosti upravljanja projektom.

Decision support model for seismic strengthening technology selection of masonry buildings

When the decision has been made to seismically strengthen a building, in order to mitigate possible damaging effects of an earthquake, choice of seismic strengthening is entirely left to the expert. The choice is often made without any specific analyses of the need and implementation possibilities, but depends completely on the expert’s knowledge and experience. The article presents the development of the innovative approach to strengthening technique selection for existing buildings that incorporates all important elements that influence the strengthening selection process. The presented model is simple, quick, precise allowing analytically supported decision making. Although the developed model is designed particularly for masonry buildings, decision support model for strengthening technique selection is adaptable to any building type. technique selection for existing buildings that incorporates all important elements that influence the strengthening selection process. The presented model is simple, quick, precise, allowing analytically supported decision making. Although the developed model is designed particularly for masonry buildings, decision support model for strengthening technique selection is adaptable to any building type.

A Neural Network Model for Predicting Cost of Pre-Fabricated Housing

Low performance of the construction industry stresses the need for improving current practices - especially in regard to cost. In this study the authors have found a critical set of variables for predicting total cost of pre-fabricated housing. A neural network model was applied on more than 30 projects. The model relies on 17 critical cost prediction variables. Verification, on 28 buildings, showed that: 85.7% of predicted values had the deviation lower 5%, while 10.7% had the deviation lower than 10%, in relation to the actual cost. After validating the model on new data the performances were as follows: 83.8% of predicted values had the deviation lower 5%, while 12.9% had the deviation lower than 10%. Thus, using this model, construction companies can influence project performance during project early phases, and acquire more competitive position on the market.

Razvoj modela za poboljšanje uspješnosti upravljanja projektom analizirajući rizike, promjene i ograničenja

U radu se prikazuju rezultati istraživanja uspjeha projekta i uspjeha upravljanja projektom. Objašnjen je aktualni kontekst upravljanja građevinskim projektima u RH, s glavnim izazovima i utjecajima na uspjeh upravljanja projektima u praksi. Dana je detaljna komparativna analiza svjetskih istraživanja uspjeha projekta i uspjeha upravljanja projektima. Kroz povezivanje tri organizacijske uloge, strateška projektna operativna, razvijen je model za potporu povećanja uspješnosti upravljanja projektom.U radu se prikazuju rezultati istraživanja uspjeha projekta i uspjeha upravljanja projektom. Objasnjen je aktualni kontekst upravljanja građevinskim projektima u RH, s glavnim izazovima i utjecajima na uspjeh upravljanja projektima u praksi. Dana je detaljna komparativna analiza svjetskih istraživanja uspjeha projekta i uspjeha upravljanja projektima. Kroz povezivanje tri organizacijske uloge, strateska - projektna - operativna, razvijen je model za potporu povecanja uspjesnosti upravljanja projektom.

Risk management tool for improving project flows for construction projects on existing buildings

Old cores of European cities make more than 35% of the entire building stock in Europe, which and often form the social, financial, and touristic centers of cities. These old buildings require constant investments in terms of renewal and preservation to retain their usefulness. Existing risk management tools do not provide sufficient support when managing these types of projects. Hence, previously developed risk breakdown structures (RBSs) for projects on existing buildings were extended to enable simpler project management and clear visibility of critical risks. Previous studies focused on RBSs for construction projects in general. Research with respect on real life projects showed that some risk sources posed a greater threat and had more risk triggers than other risk sources. This study identified critical risk sources with respect to existing RBS and conducted a further analysis of these risk sources. The results of the study examined the fully developed RBS for existing building construction projects with further structuring of specific risk sources. Furthermore, the study identified stakeholders and assigned their risk resolution responsibilities.

Quality Management Through Process Management in Construction

Each participant in a construction project manages a great number of processes, which are very much interdependent and always appears in three roles: as a supplier, a contractor and as a user. Thus, successful realization of construction project requires very developed organizational structure, determination of managerial and executive processes and the way of their realization, control and determination of efficiency. The quality management system simulates the development process approach - indentification of processes in construction, their analysis, measurement and continuous improvement. For each quality control process in civil engineering it is necessary to define control parameters to be measured, objectives and standards, necessary instruments, data to be noted, find out criteria and determine responsibility for each individual decision.