Thesis (doctoral)--Tampere University of Technology, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

Purpose: The purpose is to gain a better understanding in how a construction com-pany like Held & Francke calculate the price of an offer for a building project and what role cost calculation, in relation to quality and time, plays in achieving competi-tive advantage. Method: Since the method of cost calculation only was investigated at one company we found it suitable for us to use a holistic single case study as the research strategy. The method used in this study is a qualitative research method since our empirical data, to a large extent, is based on interviews. Further, because our study is of a quali-tative nature, we have chosen to perform semi-structured interviews. Conclusions: After examining Held & Francke we found that they manage very well to use some of the theoretical methods for cost calculations. Their main method of calculation is ABC, where the project is broken down into smaller work steps. Cost calculation plays a large role as a competitive advantage for Held & Francke. Cost is the sole as-pect where Held & Francke has full control and providing competitive project prices therefore becomes imperative in order to generate sales. With the focus on costs the cost calculation becomes an important role in achieving a competitive advantage.

<p>Purpose: The purpose is to gain a better understanding in how a construction com-pany like Held & Francke calculate the price of an offer for a building project and what role cost calculation, in relation to quality and time, plays in achieving competi-tive advantage.</p><p>Method: Since the method of cost calculation only was investigated at one company we found it suitable for us to use a holistic single case study as the research strategy. The method used in this study is a qualitative research method since our empirical data, to a large extent, is based on interviews. Further, because our study is of a quali-tative nature, we have chosen to perform semi-structured interviews.</p><p>Conclusions:</p><p>After examining Held & Francke we found that they manage very well to use some of the theoretical methods for cost calculations. Their main method of calculation is ABC, where the project is broken down into smaller work steps. Cost calculation plays a large role as a competitive advantage for Held & Francke. Cost is the sole as-pect where Held & Francke has full control and providing competitive project prices therefore becomes imperative in order to generate sales. With the focus on costs the cost calculation becomes an important role in achieving a competitive advantage.</p>

Conference proceeding from the Living the Future 6 Conference, April 5-8, 2006, University of Arizona Libraries, Tucson, AZ. / A concrete (pun intended) method of team building is managing a new building program from wish list to grand opening. Using Appalachian State University’s experience with its new $30 million, 215,000 square foot building as a starting point, Lynne Lysiak and Mary Reichel will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a library team approach to a building project. At Appalachian State, the Library’s Internal Building Group comprised of 15 faculty and staff was the coordinating group for library decisions related to the building and its furnishings. This experience has helped the presenters think about questions such as how do you shape a building to meet future needs of personnel and users? How do you balance the necessity for keeping the big picture in sight while dealing with thousands of details and individual decisions? How do you have technology which is pervasive, user friendly, and flexible enough to meet today’s and the next decade’s need? How do you weigh the investment of many people’s time in the building project while still running the library? And, overall, was building with a team, a true team building experience? The presenters will share their thoughts and ideas and ask the audience to engage in discussion and participation on building for the future.

The Research has developed protocols for effective adoption of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) for Building Project Management by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Indian construction industry. Project Managers are required to facilitate the integration of work of all the agencies and project team organizations are geographically separated beyond national boundaries or in context of large countries like India, within the national boundaries. In doing so, there is a need to make better use of information and knowledge generated in all stages of development. The key to project information management is the information flow associated with inter-organizational communication and the effectiveness of the project manager to communicate with and feedback to the rest of the project team throughout the project life cycle. Better communication can be achieved by using computer tools for effective data processing and information management, through Information Communication Technologies (ICT). As the majority of the construction organizations are Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), the communication management research is required to address management and communication processes adopted by SMEs. These issues can be addressed by global research, but also require clear understanding of the management and communication processes followed by SMEs of each distinct regional area or country. The research was conducted through a sequential mixed methods approach focusing on collecting and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data in the study in a sequential manner. To develop a balance check mechanism, the research was divided into four phases: Interpretive analysis of perceived benefits of use of ICT for building project management, conducted by Interpretive Structural Modeling analysis; Questionnaire survey data collection and empirical analysis of data including Structural Equation Modeling analysis (quantitative method); Semi-structured interview survey data collection and analysis including Data Envelopment Analysis (quantitative and qualitative method) and case studies analysis conducted by SAP-LAP analysis (qualitative method) leading to synthesis of the results of the four phases. The purpose of this four-phase, sequential mixed methods study was to start with the pragmatic assumptions; obtain statistical, quantitative results from a broad sample of organizations to analyze or study research variables at industry and organization levels and then follow up with a few organizations and projects to study the research variables at the level of the organization and people. Synthesis of the knowledge enhancement from the literature survey, data analysis results and their interpretation led to the proposed 'IT Enhanced Communication Protocols for Building Project Management'. The protocols are proposed as a 'Strategic Model for Enhancing ICT Diffusion in Building Projects'. The model is based on Everett Rogers's 'Diffusions of innovations theory' and is formulated at three levels of study i.e industry, organization and people. It is discussed as a generic framework of five stages of Roger's 'Diffusions of innovations theory' i.e Knowledge, Persuasion, Decision, Implementation and Confirmation.

O termo de Banco de Dados Espacial tem sido usado frequentemente nas aplicações relativas a Sistemas de Informações Geográficas. Isto demonstra a aplicação de uma ferramenta computacional poderosa (Sistemas de Gerenciamento de Banco de Dados) na solução de problemas de Planejamento Urbano e Regional. Para que o Banco de Dados possa operar necessita uma Fonte de Dados ou Base de Dados que alimente a sua estrutura e garanta a qualidade e precisão dessas informações. Daí em diante se podeaplicar as suas próprias capacidades na solução dos problemas dos seus usuários. Reduzindo a escala podemos traçar um paralelo entre os Projetos de Planejamento Urbano e em Projeto de Edificações, logo as mesmas ferramentas podem ser utilizadas neste segundo tipo de projetos. Preparando caminho à utilização destas ferramentas, este trabalho relata o caminho escolhido, a implementação e a aplicação de uma abordagem de formação de Base de Dados Espaciais a partir do projeto de Edificações. / Spatial database is a term frequently used in Geographic Information Systems applications. This means the use of a powerful computing tool (Database Management System) in solving Regional and Urban Planning problems. A Database Management System needs a Data Source or Base of Data for the Data entry and quality and precise information guaranteening. Then we can use its own capacities in the solution of the problems of the users. Reducing the scale we can make a parallel between Urban Planning Design and Building Design and the same tools can be used for the second. Preparing the way of the utilization of these tools, this work speak about the choosing way, the implementation and an approach application of Base of Data formation from Building Design.

<p>Uppsatsen skall utreda och analysera en byggherres rätt till ersättning från en vårdslös underentreprenör när det föreligger samordnad generalentreprenad med AB 92 som avtalsvillkor mellan byggherren och generalentreprenören. Uppsatsens utgångspunkt är Bravidadomen, där en byggherre inte gavs rätt att utfå ersättning från en vårdslös underentreprenör. Flera frågor blir aktuella, t ex om det föreligger något avtalsförhållande mellan en byggherre och en underentreprenör och vilka avtalsvillkor som i så fall skulle vara tillämpliga dem emellan. Vidare undersöks om en underentreprenör kan hållas ansvarig gentemot en byggherre på utomobligatorisk grund, samt huruvida en skadelidande kan välja att utfå ersättning från skadevållaren på kontraktsrättslig eller på utomobligatorisk grund.</p>

The prime objective of a client in a building project is to attain a successful project, a project that has been properly planned, designed and constructed in accordance with plans and specifications, and completed within time and cost originally anticipated. However the success of a building project depends on a number of variables one of them is the way the building team approach conflicts facing the project. This study examines the causes and management approaches of conflicts in building projects in Tanzania. The main objective of the study is to identify issues/areas on which conflicts occur, factors causing them and how conflicts are managed in building projects in Tanzania. As a means to achieve the above objective, the study was structured into two main parts; the first part aimed at mapping up the nature of conflicts in building projects in Tanzania by establishing critical symptoms of conflicts, factors causing them and the approaches used in resolving the conflicts. This was done through literature review, interviews and questionnaire survey. The second part aimed at in-depth study of conflicts from their root cause, how they develop/progress and how they are managed in a real building project setting. Four case studies of building projects were studied for this part. The study found that factors causing conflicts are in several forms. There are those related to the nature of contracts, where the contracts are unclear and ambiguous they give room for contracting parties to develop opportunistic behaviour when post adjustments are needed. There are those factors which are related to role functions when the parties fail to perform as expected. As such the study confirmed that contractual incompleteness and consequent post contract adjustments and opportunistic behaviour of some project participants are root causes of conflicts in building projects in Tanzania. However, the study established that there are sufficient mechanisms to deal with conflicts in the standard forms of building contracts used and when the provisions are against the interests of the parties, the parties resort to amicable resolution approaches. Notwithstanding the availability of mechanisms in the standard forms of contracts to deal with conflicts, the study proposes the framework as a strategy that could reduce effectively the occurrences of conflicts in building projects. / QC 20110223

Uppsatsen skall utreda och analysera en byggherres rätt till ersättning från en vårdslös underentreprenör när det föreligger samordnad generalentreprenad med AB 92 som avtalsvillkor mellan byggherren och generalentreprenören. Uppsatsens utgångspunkt är Bravidadomen, där en byggherre inte gavs rätt att utfå ersättning från en vårdslös underentreprenör. Flera frågor blir aktuella, t ex om det föreligger något avtalsförhållande mellan en byggherre och en underentreprenör och vilka avtalsvillkor som i så fall skulle vara tillämpliga dem emellan. Vidare undersöks om en underentreprenör kan hållas ansvarig gentemot en byggherre på utomobligatorisk grund, samt huruvida en skadelidande kan välja att utfå ersättning från skadevållaren på kontraktsrättslig eller på utomobligatorisk grund.

Relay networks and cooperative transmission have spurred considerable interest in recent years, promising performance improvements in, e.g., system capacity, robustness and transmission rate. In this thesis, the focus is on the so-called half-duplex relay channels, where in the system, a source node wants to transmit a message to a destination node and a relay node can potentially assist this transmission. The relay is said to be half-duplex in the sense that it cannot transmit and receive at the same time within the same frequency band. It is natural to categorize the potential relaying schemes (operations of the relay node) into two kinds. The relay can either decode the message of the source node, or it can process its received signal without decoding. The thesis investigates various schemes of the second kind and they are termed as ``relaying schemes without decoding.'' The first part of the thesis is devoted to the approach of instantaneous relaying. The instantaneous relaying schemes belong to the relaying schemes without decoding, where the relay node is implemented by a deterministic single-variable function. Both linear and non-linear functions are investigated and it is demonstrated that the functions with sawtooth-like shape give higher achievable rates than other functions investigated. Furthermore, the work is extended to half-duplex multiple-access relay channels, where an extra source node is present. For such channels, the relay's operation is ``instantaneous'' in the sense that it is represented by a deterministic function of two variables. Essentially, the function handles the received signals from the two source nodes, combining them together and transmitting the combined signal to the destination node. Novel functions based on the Archimedean spiral mapping and sawtooth-like functions are proposed and demonstrated to perform well, using achievable rate regions and achievable sum rates of the two source nodes as figures of merit. In the second part of the thesis, the class of relaying schemes without decoding and with memory is investigated, where for such schemes, information theoretic source and channel coding with long codewords is used at the relay node. The two predominant schemes of such kind are the so-called compress-and-forward (CF) and quantize-and-forward (QF) schemes. The achievable rate results of the two schemes and some of their variants are derived for static channels. Furthermore, under the assumption of slow fading channels, with transmitter channel state information (CSIT) not available at the source and relay nodes, outage probabilities, expected rates as well as diversity--multiplexing trade-offs (DMT) of the respective schemes are derived and compared. In addition, to compensate for the loss due to the absence of relay CSIT, a finite-resolution feedback link from the destination node to the source node is designed for the CF and QF schemes to provide the relay node with partial CSIT, and thus, the performance of the respective schemes can be improved. Lastly, the thesis considers the problem of lack of relay CSIT from another viewpoint. The concept of hybrid digital-analog coding, as is first investigated in source-channel coding, is adapted and applied at the relay node. Such relaying schemes are termed hybrid digital-analog relaying schemes and their performance in terms of expected rate is studied. It is shown that the hybrid schemes significantly outperform the conventional digital-only (e.g., the CF scheme) and the analog-only schemes (e.g., the so-called amplify-and-forward scheme). / QC 20110222