The last twenty years has seen a tremendous change in the way companies do business. Much of this change can be attributed to the so-called information revolution. The integrated interaction between Information Technology (IT) and business processes has changed from its initial function of automating clerical tasks (e.g. payroll, inventory) to providing pertinent information for operational, managerial and executive groups within the organisation. In more recent times, IT has enabled some organisations, including those in the construction industry, to transform or re-engineer their business processes in the face of the rapidly changing business environment. As international competition continues to intensify, significant numbers of construction organisations are investing large amounts of resources into IT as they seek to gain competitive advantage. IT is increasingly being implemented for strategic reasons, so as to enable improved efficiency, better control and enhanced productivity of internal processes. The failure of realising expected IT-induced benefits has led to a growing number of senior executives to question the value of IT investments. Thus, questions like the following are typical: Are we getting our money's worth from our IT investment? ; Are we spending too much or too little on IT? ; What IT projects make the best use of our resources? ; How can we improve the return on our IT investments? This Ph.D. research study was inspired by the perceived lack of a structured framework for the selection, implementation and performance evaluation of IT projects in construction. The development of such a generic framework that could capture the IT project lifecycle management process, and the associated guidelines and procedures for its effective implementation, is a young field of research, still struggling to define its place within the large family of academic disciplines. Being a young branch of science, it might be argued that IT in construction lacks a solid methodological foundation. An IT project lifecycle management process is an integrated approach that provides for the continuous identification, selection, implementation, monitoring and performance evaluation of IT projects. This structured process should provide a systematic method for construction organisations to minimise risks while maximising returns on IT investments. To effectively employ IT in construction, the IT project lifecycle management process should have elements of three essential phases: (1) IT project(s) selection; (2) strategic IT implementation and monitoring; and (3) IT performance evaluation. However, each phase should not be viewed as a separate step. Rather, each is conducted as part of a continuous, interdependent management effort. Information gained from one phase is used to support activities in each of the other two phases. With this in mind, this research study aimed to develop an appropriate framework and associated tools for each phase of the IT project lifecycle. The developed three frameworks are detailed individually in the following paragraphs. The developed IT project(s) selection framework utilised information economics theory to encompass the full spectrum of direct and indirect costs, tangible and intangible expected benefits and the intangible risks associated with IT project proposals, considered for funding by the organisation. To incorporate the uncertainty that normally surrounds quantifying costs, benefits and risks, the framework employed a simple but powerful fuzzy logic technique to integrate all the monetary and non-monetary factors into a form that enabled the ranking of proposals. A case study was undertaken with a large international project management and development organisation to demonstrate the framework's applicability. The case study illustrated the effectiveness of the proposed approach for ranking IT project proposals. Once a portfolio of IT projects is selected for funding by the organisation, it needs to be strategically implemented and monitored over its lifecycle. A strategic IT implementation and monitoring framework was developed to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of this phase. The framework is premised on a hybrid analysis utilising the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and SWOT analysis. A case study was undertaken to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed framework in the strategic implementation and monitoring of a Project Management Information System (PMIS) by a large Australian construction-contracting organisation. The framework application proved to be successful in helping the organisation to develop appropriate strategies for the effective and efficient implementation of the PMIS. An IT performance evaluation framework and method was then developed for the final phase of the lifecycle. This framework was the primary focus of this Ph.D. research study and was structured using the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) principles adapted to the specific requirements of the construction industry. The framework was structured using a hierarchy of IT performance perspectives, indicators and measures. Five definable perspectives were conceptually developed through analysis and synthesis of the 'IT business value' evaluation literature. These are: operational, benefits, technology/system, strategic competitiveness and user orientation. Indicators and measures were extracted from the mainstream IT literature and construction management literature, as well as the emerging literature on information economics. The preliminary list of indicators was initially screened through consultation with construction professionals and conceptual cause-and-effect mapping. The screened list of project-tier indicators was further refined through questionnaire dissemination. The questionnaire was sent to 322 construction project participants from large construction-contracting and project management organisations located within Australia. The five framework perspectives were statistically validated through the principal component factor analysis with varimax rotation. Each perspective and indicator's relative weight was numerically established using the questionnaire survey results as input to the recently developed Performance Measurement Process Framework (PMPF). The reason that the performance measures were not justified through a quantitative analysis was due to their dynamic nature. Most performance measures change, and will continue to change, with new technology. The developed perspectives, indicators and measures were all compiled into a generic 'Construct IT' BSC that can serve as a template for application at other decision-making tiers of a construction organisation. The problem of combining performance measures, with varying metrics, into commensurable units (utiles) was achieved by applying utility theory. Finally, the developed 'Construct IT' BSC was utilised for a project-tier survey to test the interrelationship between framework indicators and perspectives. Using information collected from 82 project professionals, from large construction-contracting and project management organisations, correlation and independent sample t-tests (one-tailed) provided support for the 'Construct IT' BSC. Specifically, findings suggest that the 'Construct IT' BSC can be used as a tool for monitoring the IT-induced value creation process. In addition, it appears that the proposed 'Construct IT' BSC framework and associated performance evaluation method is both flexible in design and can be modified to suit the needs of individual organisations. These characteristics make the framework continuously relevant to the dynamic nature of IT projects. In summary, the proposed IT project lifecycle management process, and its associated frameworks, provides a holistic view of IT implementation in construction and offers significant contributions to current body of knowledge on IT in construction.

Owner groups and Facility Managers of health care facilities interested in reducing operation and maintenance (O&M) expenses for new facilities have often been placed in the difficult position of making cost-benefit assessments without a complete understanding of the cumulative impact of building systems selection on their internal rate of return. This is particularly true when owners are evaluating the initial cost and operational benefit (if any) of obtaining various levels of "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" (LEED) certifications for their buildings. Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning, and Lighting (HVAC&L) loads comprise 51% of the total energy demand in the typical outpatient facility; however, in order to estimate the likelihood of achieving a particular LEED rating for a new building, a "Whole Building Energy Simulation" is necessary to evaluate HVAC&L system performance. The conventional of requiring a design upon which to base an analysis presents owner operators attempting to perform a Lifecycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) early in the concept phase with two unique problems - how to estimate energy use without an actual "design" to model, and how to estimate a system's first cost without knowing its performance requirements. This study outlines a process by which existing energy metrics from the Department of Energy (DOE), Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS), and Energy Star, can be made early during the developer's pro forma phase - without the need for a building design. Furthermore, preliminary business decisions targeted at determining the likelihood of obtaining a particular LEED rating, and specifying the corresponding building systems, can be estimated without the cost required to employ an Architect and Engineer (A&E) team, or the time necessary to develop a design. This paper concludes that regional factors can dramatically affect a building's required level of energy performance, and that the highest performing HVAC&L system, irrespective of cost, will not always provide the best return on investment. Accordingly, the national averages utilized to establish LEED EA1 thresholds do not reflect the cost particularities owners may encounter when developing in various climate zones, and therefor may be less relevant to lifecycle considerations that previously believed.

This thesis deals with the practical use of project methodologies in real business. Basic concepts of methodology, project management, project cycle and project roles are defined in the theoretical section as well as two concrete project methodologies. The practical part are these theoretical aspects bridged into practice and daily business on examples of specific projects. Afterwards their real use in practice is evaluated and compared.

The diploma thesis deals with project management in Business Intelligence, a relatively new area of information systems. The first part of the thesis describes basic background of project management in general and some specifics of information systems project management. As one of the fundamental concepts, thinking about a project within its lifecycle is accented. The practical part examines the challenges of managing BI projects in a real financial institution in the Czech Republic. The aim of this section is to fill gaps in the existing project methodology of the financial institution by creating a mapping between the project lifecycle and processes of world-renowned PMBOK methodology.

<p dir="ltr">The high stakes and complexities of infrastructure projects and megaprojects (IPMP) involves substantial financial investments, resources, time, construction experts and provide economic benefits to the host communities. Despite the benefits of these endeavors, they have experienced consistent failures resulting in monetary loss, cost overrun, time extension, environmental disruption and impact on financiers and stakeholders. These failures underscore the inadequacy of risk assessment and management, as well as the lack of effective control measures, highlighting the need for improved risk mitigation strategies to ensure successful project outcomes.</p><p dir="ltr">Existing studies have provided valuable insights and are widely relied upon by construction professionals, a notable gap in risk management remains. This research aims to address this gap by thoroughly investigating the risk factors that impact the lifecycle of projects and megaprojects, impacting scope, cost quality and safety. The study identifies and categorizes various risk factors, including Political, Economic & Financial, Planning and Design, Construction Management, Safety, and Quality, Contracts and Legal, Resources and Technology, and Health and Environment Risks, which arise during different project phases (Pre-planning, Planning, Execution, and Closeout). By exploring these risk factors and their behavior, this research seeks to enhance risk management practices and promote successful project outcomes.</p><p dir="ltr">A research questionnaire was administered to construction professionals, and their responses were analyzed using the research methodologies to achieve the study's objectives. The first objective was addressed using the Relative Importance Index (RII) method, which revealed that all risk factors occur in every project phase. However, the analysis showed that "Planning & Design" and "Construction, Quality, and Safety" risk factors have a significantly higher frequency of occurrence compared to other categories, highlighting their paramount importance in project risk management.</p><p dir="ltr">The second objective was addressed by analyzing the questionnaire data to examine the behavior and impact of project risk factors throughout the project phases. The Multinomial Logistics Regression (MnLR) technique was employed to investigate how risk factors evolve and impact the project metrics (scope, cost, quality and Safety) as they transition from one phase to another. The results revealed that risk factors follow different paths throughout the project lifecycle, their effects snowballs from one phase to the next, ultimately impacting project metrics.</p><p dir="ltr">This research highlights the crucial need for proactive risk management throughout all phases of projects and megaprojects. By embracing a forward-thinking and comprehensive approach to risk management, project teams and stakeholders can proactively identify potential risks, develop robust mitigation strategies, and effectively minimize the likelihood of cost overruns, schedule delays, quality issues, safety risks, and stakeholder concerns, ultimately ensuring successful project outcomes.</p>

Goal of the thesis is a detail description of the project methodology within the Telecommunication Company and pointing out the differences between current existing methodology and methodology standards. The thesis is not just simple description of the project methodology but addition to that it tries to (in given time & material framework) design new solutions for the project process optimalization. The aim of the proposed solutions is to increase competitiveness of the company on the market in current dynamic environment. Thesis has two main parts, theoretical and practical one. Theoretic part deals with general project methodologies and compares theirs main features and characteristics. One of the chapters is also describing Six Sigma process methodology, that will play a major role in the practical part of the thesis. In practical part, first of all I am introducing the company Vodafone Czech republic which allowed me the creation of the diploma thesis. Following chapter is focused on existing project methodology, project life-cycle and tools that the company uses in day-to-day practice. Next chapter deals with the detail analysis of the project process and by using of real samples of the company projects I try to find the optimalization of the project process in order to speed up the time to market and thus provide faster reaction to the market conditions and needs. Final chapter provides a summary and conclusion of the work done. Benefits of the diploma thesis should be following: 1)Detail mapping of the project methodology in mobile operator environment 2)Analysis of the current existing project process and project lifecycle 3)Possibility to get greater knowledge about the work of the Project management office 4)Design a possible solution that would help to increase competitiveness on the market

Un appel d'offres (AO) est une procédure qui permet au maître d'ouvrage (MOA) de faire le choix du prestataire ou maître d'œuvre (MOE) à qui il confiera une réalisation de travaux, fournitures ou services. Cette pratique, incontournable pour quasiment tous les secteurs professionnels, repose sur la mise en concurrence de prestataires potentiels vis-à-vis d'une demande client. Chaque répondant engage des ressources et du temps pour élaborer des propositions qui ne seront pas toujours retenues. Le processus de réponse à appel d'offres (PRAO) est fortement contraint car, pour être acceptées, les propositions doivent satisfaire aux exigences du Cahier des Charges (CdC) tout en restant économiquement viables pour le prestataire. Le PRAO est une pratique risquée. De façon générale, le premier niveau de risque est de ne pas répondre à l'AO et d'écarter un projet intéressant sur le plan technique et/ou économique ; ensuite, si la décision a été de répondre, un deuxième risque est de ne pas être accepté par le client ; enfin, en cas d'acceptation, si la proposition a été mal élaborée à cause d'une appréciation incorrecte par le prestataire des difficultés sous-tendues par la réalisation, celui-ci peut s'engager dans un processus très pénalisant (dépassements de budgets, non conformités aux exigences techniques, non-respect des délais,…). Afin de minimiser ces risques, nous proposons dans ce travail une amélioration du processus de réponse à appel d'offres (PRAO) par la mise en place d'une instrumentation renforçant ce processus et la définition d'une méthodologie de conduite adaptée. L'objectif est de fournir au MOE des outils d'aide à la décision pour détecter, rendre compte et minimiser les risques potentiels. La démarche consiste à adosser au PRAO un système de retour d'expérience, portant sur les PRAO passés et sur les cycles de développement associés, couplé à une démarche structurée de gestion des risques afin d'offrir au soumissionnaire les appuis nécessaires à la construction d‘une réponse « robuste » à l'AO. Cette instrumentation du cadre de travail du souscripteur et la proposition de conduite associée forment le socle de la méthodologie BiPRiM (Bidding Process Risk Management) que nous avons développée. Nous proposons dans celle-ci la mise en œuvre pratique des modèles de risques et d'expériences PRAO que nous avons développés ; nous nous appuyons sur les mécanismes d'acquisition, de traitement et d'exploitation du système de retour d'expérience sous-jacent pour conduire le processus de gestion des risques PRAO et, en élargissant, le processus décisionnel qui supporte le PRAO. / Call for tenders is a procedure that allows a client company to choose the provider of works, supplies or services. This practice is essential for almost all industry sectors and is based on the competition of potential providers according to a client request. Each bidder commits ressources and time to develop proposals that will not always be accepted. Bidding Process (BP) is highly constrained because, to be accepted, proposals must meet the client requirements while remaining economically viable for the provider. BP is a risky practice. In general, the first risk level is related to the choice of not responding to a call for tenders whereas it was an opportunity (i.e. an interesting project on technical and/or economic terms). Then, if the decision was to respond, a second risk level is not to be accepted by the client; finally, when the tender is accepted, a third risk level is related to the proposal realization potential problems. Indeed, if the related offer was poorly developed, due to an incorrect assessment by the bidder of the difficulties of the underlying realization, the bidder can be engaged in a very penalizing process (overruns, non-compliance of technical requirements, non-compliance of deadlines...). In order to minimize these risks, an improvement of BP has been proposed by setting up an instrumentation reinforcing this process and by the definition of a methodology for its appropriate management. The objective is therefore to provide to the bidder decision support tools to detect, report and minimize potential risks. The approach consists in the integration to the BP of an experience feedback system involving past bidding processes and associated development cycles, coupled with a structured approach of risk management to provide to the bidder the necessary support for the development of a "robust" response to new calls for tenders. This proposed bidder decision support system instrumentation and the associated management process establish the basis of the BiPRiM methodology (Bidding Process Risk Management) that was developed. In this development, a practical implementation of risk models and BP experiences has been developed. It rests upon the mechanisms of acquisition, processing and exploitation of the underlying experience feedback system in order to conduct the risk management process in the BP while broadening the associated decision-making process.

The main aim of this piece of work is to propose an adjustment to the ICE methodology with an increased applicability for small projects. The emphasis is especially given to the most important areas of the methodology that can be easily adjusted or simplified. The theoretical part of this paper consists of four main chapters. The first chapter is called "Project and Project Management". This chapter holistically explains the meaning of project and project management terms. It describes a project from a general point of view and looks at its individual components. The second chapter so called "Methodology" explores particular project management methodologies. It focuses on two basic project lifecycle models along with an analysis of traditional and agile methodologies. The third "Small Project Methodologies" chapter examines the modified methodologies suitable for management of small projects. The final chapter of the theoretical part is the "ICE Methodology Analysis". The analysis represents the key pillar for this work without which the practical part could not be concluded. The practical part of this piece of work focuses on specifics of the ICE methodology modification in accordance with the analysis carried out in the theoretical part. The basis for this modification is represented by the general methodology framework for small projects. The general framework is fully based on the analysis undertaken in the theoretical part of this paper and plays a significant role in the ICE methodology modification process. The main areas of the ICE methodology modification are defined in "The ICE Methodology for Small Projects - Simplification Proposal". The practical part's conclusion presents the unmodified and modified ICE methodology comparison.

One of objectives of practical part of the thesis is to perform an analysis of current state of project management in selected organization. Based on its specific environment and identified opportunities for improvement it follows up with formalization of recommended design and way of implementation of alternative approach for project management which uses appropriate agile elements but also reflects specific needs and limits of the organization. In its theoretical part the thesis describes basic terminology related to management of projects and portfolios, selected models of project lifecycle, popular standards and methods of traditional project management, core philosophy of agile and selected practices of agile project management.

Project managers must ensure risk management and business justification for their projects. Approximately, 53% of IT projects failed due to project managers not identifying risks early in the projects' lifecycle. The purpose of this single case study was to explore strategies IT project managers utilize to identify risks early in the project's lifecycle. The study population consisted of 5 lead IT project managers from a telecom company located in the Midwest region of the United States who had managed IT projects. The conceptual framework that grounded this study was the general systems theory. The data collection process involved semistructured interviews, a review of public documents, and member checking interviews to verify the authenticity of the participants' information. The data analysis process included the methodological triangulation, through interviewing and reviewing documents as well as using Yin's 5-step process for analyzing data to identify codes and themes. After the data analysis, the themes that emerged were self-development tools and risk identification (inputs, project tools and techniques, and output). The findings indicated it is crucial that the project team and all stakeholders who have an interest in the project continuously address risk management throughout the project's lifecycle. The implications for positive social change may help individuals understand risks better, interpret situations, and prevention of risk, which are essential to encourage economic inclusion, social protection, and environmental building.