Mladen Vukomanović

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.

COMPARISON OF TRENDS IN RISK MANAGEMENT THEORY AND PRACTICES WITHIN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

This study considered the problem of understanding and use of risk management methods in construction projects and their representation in the literature and their practical application. Research of trends in risk management was conducted using studies from the EBSCO database that were published in the period from 1999 to 2015. The focus included the development of two terms, namely traditional and holistic approach to risk management as well as to uncertainty and opportunity management. The trend of leading standards in the field of project management, PMBoK and ISO 31000 indicated full support for the modernization of risk management that focused on the risks as well as potential opportunities in the project. The findings also revealed that the global practices continued to lack awareness of risk management and its benefits for project goals. A similar situation was found in Croatia by observing project management practices in two case studies, namely Project Zagrebačka obala in Rijeka and a Project of SEECEL Zagreb. Primarily, the lack of education and communication between experts are important issues requiring attention in practice and academics. It is necessary to gradually introduce standards over time to prepare for progress in managing uncertainties and adopting more holistic approaches.

Gap Waveguide Leaky-Wave Antenna

A novel leaky-wave antenna, realized using gap waveguide concept, is here proposed. Both, the feeding structure and the antenna are realized in groove gap waveguide technology, thus simplifying the whole structure. A complete design procedure, starting from a given groove waveguide to the final radiation mechanism, is described in this communication. The results are supported with measurements of a prototype that operates in the X-band. The realized antenna has a gain around 18 dB between 9 and 11.5 GHz, demonstrating the potential of the proposed radiation technology.

Efficient analysis of gap-waveguide structures through a rigorous mode-matching approach

Gap waveguide structures combine the ideas of parallel plate waveguides and electromagnetic bandgaps to form novel efficient high frequency waveguiding structures. Since the concept relies on the use of periodic structures with bandgap properties the analysis is very complex. Our proposed analysis approach is based on efficient use of Method of Moments/Mode-matching to rigorously determine the scattering of each element in the grid. To achieve this, the currents on the elements are first determined by using the Greens function of a single element in a parallel-plate waveguide. The solution is then expanded to all the elements from which dispersion properties can be determined. The results of our approach are verified using full-wave commercial software. They show excellent agreement, but it is important to point out that they are obtained in a fraction of the time compared to the full-wave software.

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.

Assessing the influence of project management on quality during the early phases of construction projects

Abstract Although the quality of a process affects the quality of the end product, there is currently an insignificant amount of knowledge about the quality of project management (PM) processes that directly affect the quality of the delivered product (constructed building). This study presents a proposal for modeling the impact of the quality of the PM process on the quality of the constructed building. The quality of the PM process is represented by the main quality factors and product quality indicators. It presents the results of the interviews that were conducted and study cases that were analyzed in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a variety of project participants (with different managerial perspectives) in terms of the indicators of quality of the delivered product. All participants, regardless of managerial perspective, believe that the most important indicator of the quality of products for each phase of the project is “customer satisfaction in the end phase”, the measurement of which is different for each project phase that is presented. The results of the factor analysis of the definition and the planning phases show that 11 variables, namely, the quality factors of the PM process, can be grouped into three new factors, which is described as 66.61% (77.046%) of the basic set of variables.

Accessing educational approaches to Building Information Modeling (BIM) at construction management master studies in Croatia

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is the current trend of the Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry today. For its successful

Istraživanje važnosti ključnih faktora kvalitete pri upravljanju građevinskim projektima

Istraživanje ključnih faktora kvalitete procesa građevinskih projakata u Bosni i Hercegovini te Hrvatskoj, pokazalo je da te faktore ne prihvaćaju jednako investitori, izvođači/podizvođači i voditelji projekta/konzultanti/projektanati. Prva četiri rangirana faktora su: koordinacija među sudionicima, komunikacija; stručnost/ znanje...; planiranje i kontrola, s različitim prioritetom unutar spomenutih sudionika. Istraživanje je nadalje pokazalo kako tijekom različitih faza građevinskog projekta važnost se pojedinih faktora kvalitete razlikuje s obzirom na različita upravljačka gledišta.