Robin S. de Graaf

Implementing Systems Engineering in the Civil Engineering Consulting Firm: An Evaluation

This study explores the challenges that civil engineering consulting firms face in their projects when they apply Systems Engineering SE. It is also explained were these firms should focus when improving the use of SE. To conduct this study, the methodology of Eisenhardt Building theories from case study research, Acad Manage Rev 14 [1989], 532-550 for building theory from case study research is used. The extent, to which SE is applied, is assessed in six civil engineering projects, using a newly developed framework containing an extensive list of questions about how and why SE was applied. Based on this assessment, it is shown that there are three major reasons why SE was not applied to the full extent. First, SE procedures and responsibilities were not always clearly established and communicated to team members. Second, team members were in a learning process and did not yet possess all the SE knowledge and skills required. Finally, there was a lack of a demanding client to enforce the use of SE. This paper also presents recommendations for improving the application of SE in projects, related to methods, skills, and the client. Further research should focus on different kinds of companies within the civil engineering industry.

Why local governments rarely use PPPs in their road development projects: Understanding the barriers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify barriers that prevent local governments from applying PPPs in their road development projects. Design/methodology/approach – Based on insights from a literature review, interviews were held with relevant staff to identify barriers. These were verified and their relative significance was determined through the use of a questionnaire, before being reflected upon and compared with literature findings. Findings – The research identified 37 barriers to local governments using PPPs in road development projects and showed that four barriers consistently stand out. First, the application of PPPs requires local governments to adapt their current working methods, which amounts to a large impediment to local governments applying PPPs. Second, local government employees believe that applying PPPs might effectively exclude local contractors from involvement in projects. Finally, local governments experience the whole PPP approach (the third barrier) and the PPP contract (the fourth) as overly complicated. Practical implications – To increase the use of PPPs for infrastructure provision at the local level, one has to focus on removing dominant local barriers as identified in this research. Originality/value – Although local-level PPPs have seen increasing interest, this is one of the first studies paying attention to the barriers to using PPPs for local road development projects

Successful verification of subcontracted work in the construction industry

Due to specific characteristics of the construction industry, such as a highly fragmented supply chain, suppliers play an essential role in construction projects. A major shift in tasks and responsibilities in the construction industry from client to contractor, has an effect on the verification problems contractors face when subcontracting work to suppliers. To manaage the design and verifictation process, systems engineering is increasingly used in the construction industry. This paper explores, by using a literature review and cast study, which verification problems are faced. A conceptual framework, is applied to categorize these problems and to find suitable solutions, using systems engineering tools, for improving a contractors procurement strategy and for solving verification problems once they do occur. The major finding in this paper is that causes of verification problems can be found at both the contractor and the supplier side. Some improvements are suggested for both these sides.