Many research investigations have indicated that projects have a higher chance of success when thorough front end planning is performed. Previous research efforts have sought to determine a statistical link between front end planning and the performance metrics for both building and industrial projects. The author of this thesis intends to supplement prior research with case study analysis that provides situational insight that supports business decision making of business managers and project representatives. The research conducted in this study was performed in conjunction with CII Research Team 213, Support for Pre-Project Planning. The data for this thesis was gathered through a series of questionnaires and interviews with project representatives from 17 projects totaling $1.5 billion. Case studies were written by the author, reviewed by supervising professor and project representatives for accuracy and anonymity. The lessons learned from the case studies were distilled and evaluated to uncover correlations between front end planning issues and project success. A matrix of issues was created, and along with pattern-matching techniques, project data were sorted. The conclusions were drawn using expert knowledge of the author, supervising professor and research team. The case study analyses identified several planning related issues that affect project success, including: defined front end planning process, adequate scope definition, existing conditions definition, correct contracting strategy, alignment, teambuilding, participation of owner and contractors in the front end planning process, leadership, experience, and labor availability and skill. Anecdotal evidence is provided to support the proper implementation of these issues. / text

abstract: The International Energy Agency (IEA) anticipates the global energy demand to grow by more than 25% by 2040, requiring more than $2 trillion a year of investment in new energy supply (IEA, 2018). With power needs increasing as populations grow and climate extremes become more routine, power companies seek to continually increase capacity, improve efficiency, and provide resilience to the power grid, such that they can meet the energy needs of the societies they serve, often while trying to minimize their carbon emissions. Despite significant research dedicated to planning for industrial projects, including power generation projects as well as the pipeline projects that enable power generation and distribute power, there are still endemic cost overruns and schedule delays in large scale power generation projects. This research explores root causes of these seemingly systemic project performance issues that plague power generation projects. Specifically, this work analyzes approximately 770 power and pipeline projects and identifies how project performance indicators (i.e., cost and schedule performance) as well as planning indicators, compare in two regulatory environments, namely nonregulated and regulated markets. This contributes explicit understanding of the relationship between project performance and regulatory environment, both quantitatively and qualitatively, to the pipeline and power project planning and construction bodies of knowledge. Following an understanding of nonregulated versus regulated markets, this research takes a deeper dive into one highly-regulated power sector, the nuclear power sector, and explores root causes for cost overruns and schedule delays. This work leverages gray literature (i.e., newspaper articles) as sources, in order to analyze projects individually (most academic literature presents data about an aggregated set of projects) and understand the public perception of risks associated with such projects. This work contributes an understanding of the risks associated with nuclear power plant construction to the nuclear power plant construction body of knowledge. Ultimately, the findings from this research support improved planning for power and pipeline projects, in turn leading to more predictable projects, in terms of cost and schedule performance, regardless of regulatory environment. This enables power providers to meet the capacity demands of a growing population within budget and schedule. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering 2020

abstract: Planning efforts conducted during the early stages of a construction project, known as front end planning (FEP), have a large impact on project success and significant influence on the configuration of the final project. As a key component of FEP, front end engineering design (FEED) plays an essential role in the overall success of large industrial projects. The primary objective of this dissertation focuses on FEED maturity and accuracy and its impact on project performance. The author was a member of the Construction Industry Institute (CII) Research Team (RT) 331, which was tasked to develop the FEED Maturity and Accuracy Total Rating System (FEED MATRS), pronounced “feed matters.” This dissertation provides the motivation, methodology, data analysis, research findings (which include significant correlations between the maturity and accuracy of FEED and project performance), applicability and contributions to academia and industry. A scientific research methodology was employed in this dissertation that included a literature review, focus groups, an industry survey, data collection workshops, in-progress projects testing, and statistical analysis of project performance. The results presented in this dissertation are based on input from 128 experts in 57 organizations and a data sample of 33 completed and 11 on-going large industrial projects representing over $13.9 billion of total installed cost. The contributions of this work include: (1) developing a tested FEED definition for the large industrial projects sector, (2) determining the industry’s state of practice for measuring FEED deliverables, (3) developing an objective and scalable two-dimensional method to measure FEED maturity and accuracy, and (4) quantifying that projects with high FEED maturity and accuracy outperformed projects with low FEED maturity and accuracy by 24 percent in terms of cost growth, in relation to the approved budget. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Construction Management 2019

The complex and challenging process of construction supply chain management can involve tens of thousands of engineered components, systems, and subsystems, all of which must be designed in a multi-party and collaborative environment, the complexity of which is vastly increased in the case of megaprojects. A comprehensive Advanced Construction Supply Nexus Model (ACSNM) was developed as a computational and process-oriented environment to help project managers deal efficiently and effectively with supply chain issues: fragmentation, resource shortages, design delays, and planning and scheduling deficiencies, all of which result in decreased productivity, cost and time overruns, conflicts, and time-consuming legal disputes. To mitigate the effects of these difficulties, four new prototype systems are created: a front-end planning tool (FEPT), a construction value packaging system (CVPS), an integrated construction materials management (ICMM) system, and an ACSNM database. Because these components are closely interdependent elements of construction supply nexus management, the successfully developed model incorporates cross-functional integration. This research therefore effectively addresses process management, process integration, and document management, features not included in previous implementations of similar models for construction-related applications. This study also introduces new concepts and definitions, such as construction value packages comprised of value units that form the scope of value-added work defined by type, stage in the value chain, and other elements such as drawings and specifications. The application of the new technologies and methods reveals that the ACSNM has the potential to improve the performance and management of the enterprise-wide supply chain. Through opportunities provided by our industry partners, Coreworx Inc. and Aecon Group Inc., the elements of the developed model have been validated with respect to implementation using data from several construction megaprojects. The model is intended to govern current supply nexus processes associated with such megaprojects but may be general enough for eventual application in other construction sectors, such as multi-unit housing and infrastructure.

The complex and challenging process of construction supply chain management can involve tens of thousands of engineered components, systems, and subsystems, all of which must be designed in a multi-party and collaborative environment, the complexity of which is vastly increased in the case of megaprojects. A comprehensive Advanced Construction Supply Nexus Model (ACSNM) was developed as a computational and process-oriented environment to help project managers deal efficiently and effectively with supply chain issues: fragmentation, resource shortages, design delays, and planning and scheduling deficiencies, all of which result in decreased productivity, cost and time overruns, conflicts, and time-consuming legal disputes. To mitigate the effects of these difficulties, four new prototype systems are created: a front-end planning tool (FEPT), a construction value packaging system (CVPS), an integrated construction materials management (ICMM) system, and an ACSNM database. Because these components are closely interdependent elements of construction supply nexus management, the successfully developed model incorporates cross-functional integration. This research therefore effectively addresses process management, process integration, and document management, features not included in previous implementations of similar models for construction-related applications. This study also introduces new concepts and definitions, such as construction value packages comprised of value units that form the scope of value-added work defined by type, stage in the value chain, and other elements such as drawings and specifications. The application of the new technologies and methods reveals that the ACSNM has the potential to improve the performance and management of the enterprise-wide supply chain. Through opportunities provided by our industry partners, Coreworx Inc. and Aecon Group Inc., the elements of the developed model have been validated with respect to implementation using data from several construction megaprojects. The model is intended to govern current supply nexus processes associated with such megaprojects but may be general enough for eventual application in other construction sectors, such as multi-unit housing and infrastructure.

abstract: Front End Planning (FEP) is a critical process for uncovering project unknowns, while developing adequate scope definition following a structured approach for the project execution process. FEP for infrastructure projects assists in identifying and mitigating issues such as right-of-way concerns, utility adjustments, environmental hazards, logistic problems, and permitting requirements. This thesis describes a novel and effective risk management tool that has been developed by the Construction Industry Institute (CII) called the Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI) for infrastructure projects. Input from industry professionals from over 30 companies was used in the tool development which is specifically focused on FEP. Data from actual projects are given showing the efficacy of the tool. Critical success factors for FEP of infrastructure projects are shared. The research shows that a finite and specific list of issues related to scope definition of infrastructure projects can be developed. The thesis also concludes that the PDRI score indicates the current level of scope definition and corresponds to project performance. Infrastructure projects with low PDRI scores outperform projects with high PDRI scores. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Built Environment 2010

abstract: Front end planning (FEP) is an essential and valuable process that helps identify risks early in the capital project planning phases. With effective FEP, risks can potentially be mitigated through development of detailed scope definition and subsequent efficient project resource use. The thesis describes the FEP process that has been developed over the past twenty years by the Construction Industry Institute (CII). Specifically, it details the FEP tools developed for early project planning and the data gathered to analyze the tools used within the CII community. Data from a March 2011 survey are given showing the tools commonly used, how those tools are used and the common barriers faced that prohibit successful FEP implementation. The findings from in-depth interviews are also shared in the thesis. The interviews were used to gather detail responses from organizations on the implementation of their FEP processes. In total, out of the 116 CII organizations, 59 completed the survey and over 75 percent of the respondents used at least one CII tool in their front end planning processes. Of the 59 survey respondents, 12 organizations participated in the in-depth interviews. The thesis concludes that CII organizations continue to find value in CII FEP tools due to the increase tool usage. Also the thesis concludes that organizations must have strong management commitment, smart succession planning and a standardized planning process to increase the likelihood of successful FEP strategies. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Construction 2012

abstract: Project teams expend substantial effort to develop scope definition during the front end planning phase of large, complex projects, but oftentimes neglect to sufficiently plan for small projects. An industry survey administered by the author showed that small projects make up 70-90 percent (by count) of all projects in the industrial construction sector, the planning of these project varies greatly, and that a consistent definition of “small industrial project” did not exist. This dissertation summarizes the motivations and efforts to develop a non-proprietary front end planning tool specifically for small industrial projects, namely the Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI) for Small Industrial Projects. The author was a member of Construction Industry Institute (CII) Research Team 314, who was tasked with developing the tool in May of 2013. The author, together with the research team, reviewed, scrutinized and adapted an existing industrial-focused FEP tool, the PDRI for Industrial Projects, and other resources to develop a set of 41 specific elements relevant to the planning of small industrial projects. The author supported the facilitation of five separate industry workshops where 65 industry professionals evaluated the element descriptions, and provided element prioritization data that was statistically analyzed and used to develop a weighted score sheet that corresponds to the element descriptions. The tool was tested on 54 completed and in-progress projects, the author’s analysis of which showed that small industrial projects with greater scope definition (based on the tool’s scoring scheme) outperformed projects with lesser scope definition regarding cost performance, schedule performance, change performance, financial performance, and customer satisfaction. Moreover, the author found that users of the tool on in-progress projects overwhelmingly agreed that the tool added value to their projects in a timeframe and manner consistent with their needs, and that they would continue using the tool in the future. The author also developed an index-based selection guide to aid PDRI users in choosing the appropriate tool for use on an industrial project based on distinguishing project size with indicators of project complexity. The final results of the author’s research provide several contributions to the front end planning, small projects, and project complexity bodies of knowledge. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Construction 2015

abstract: Project teams expend substantial effort to develop scope definition during the front end planning phase of large, complex projects, but oftentimes neglect to sufficiently plan for small projects. An industry survey administered by the author showed that small projects make up approximately half of all projects in the infrastructure construction sector (by count), the planning of these projects varies greatly, and that a consistent definition of “small infrastructure project” did not exist. This dissertation summarizes the motivations and efforts of Construction Industry Institute (CII) Research Team 314a to develop a non-proprietary front end planning tool specifically for small infrastructure projects, namely the Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI) for Small Infrastructure Projects. The author was a member of CII Research Team 314a, who was tasked with developing the tool in September 2015. The author, together with the research team, scrutinized and adapted an existing infrastructure-focused FEP tool, the PDRI for Infrastructure Projects, and other resources to develop a set of 40 specific elements relevant to the planning of small infrastructure projects. The author along with the research team supported the facilitation of seven separate industry workshops where 71 industry professionals evaluated the element descriptions and provided element prioritization data that was statistically analyzed and used to develop a corresponding weighted score sheet. The tool was tested on 76 completed and in-progress projects, the analysis of which showed that small infrastructure projects with greater scope definition (based on the tool’s scoring scheme) outperformed projects with lesser scope definition regarding cost performance, schedule performance, change performance, financial performance, and customer satisfaction. Moreover, the author found that users of the tool on in-progress projects agreed that the tool added value to their projects in a timeframe and manner consistent with their needs, and that they would continue using the tool in the future. The author also conducted qualitative and quantitative similarities and differences between PDRI – Infrastructure and PDRI – Small Infrastructure Projects in support of improved planning efforts for both types of projects. Finally, the author piloted a case study that introduced the PDRI into an introductory construction management course to enhance students’ learning experience. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Construction Management 2017