Project cost escalation is a major problem for State Highway Agencies (SHA). This problem is evident in cost estimating procedures that may not promote consistency and accuracy of costs over the project development process. The research proposes that a relationship exists between applying good estimating practices and minimizing cost escalation from the initial planning estimate to the engineer??s estimate at final design. The objective of this research is to develop a preliminary list of strategies, methods, and tools for project cost estimation practices aimed at achieving greater consistency and accuracy between the project development phases. A literature review was conducted that assisted in identifying factors that lead to the cost escalation of projects. The information from the literature was used to discover the core estimating assumptions that are the root causes behind cost escalation and lack of project estimate consistency and accuracy. After the cost escalation factors were determined, interviews with SHAs were conducted that lead to identifying unique and/or innovative approaches that will aid the SHAs in overcoming the cost escalation factors. The main methodology used to develop a potential list of strategies, methods, and tools was first focused on linking strategies to causes of cost escalation. Global strategies were identified by means of this approach. Methods and tools that would likely be effective in implementing the strategies are therefore directed at mitigating root causes of estimate problems in a focused approach. The strategies, methods, and tools are aligned with the project development phase where they would be implemented. Thus, a preliminary list of strategies, methods, and tools is provided in this study.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2009. / Thesis Advisor(s): Mutty, John ; Nussbaum, Daniel. "December 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on January 27, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: unmanned, Aerial Vehicle, UCAS, aircraft carrier, air wing, cost estimation. Includes bibliographical references (p. 69-71). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S. in Astronautical Engineering)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2009. / Thesis Advisor(s): Romano, Marcello ; Horning, Jim. Second Reader: Newman, Jim. "December 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on January 27, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Electrical Power Subsystem, EPS, CubeSat, TINYSCOPE, solar cell, solar panel, IBPS, depth of discharge, power management and distribution , PMAD, vibration test, thermal-vacuum test. Includes bibliographical references (p. 175-179). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S. in Computer Science)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2009. / Thesis Advisor(s): Michael, James Bret ; Shing, Man-Tak. "December 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on February 01, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Acquisition process, concept-refinement phase, GQM Method, use case analysis, activity diagram, workflow process, StateChart Assertions, runtime execution monitoring. Includes bibliographical references (p. 45-47). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2009. / Thesis Advisor(s): Euske, Kenneth J. ; Mutty, John E. "December 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on January 28, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Ticonderoga Class Cruiser, Oliver Hazard Perry Frigate, Continuous Monitoring Program (CMP), operating target (OPTAR), other consumable (SO), repair parts (SR), and administrative (SX), sub-account. Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-82). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S. in Management)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 2009. / Thesis Advisor(s): Nussbaum, Daniel A. ; Hildebrandt, Gregory G. "December 2009." Description based on title screen as viewed on January 29, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Maintenance, ground equipment, descriptive statistics, Table of Authorized Material Control Number. Includes bibliographical references (p. 69-71). Also available in print.

"Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Administration from the Naval Postgraduate School, December 2009." / Advisor(s): Jones, Lawrence R. ; Potvin, Lisa. "December 2009." "MBA Professional report"--Cover. Description based on title screen as viewed on January 28, 2010. Author(s) subject terms: Navy Working Capital Fund, Net Operating Result (NOR), Accumulative Operating Result (AOR), Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), Public Works Department (PWD), Utilities, Labor Hours, Expenses, Revenues, Break Even, Budget Forecasting, Business Model, Variance Analysis, Stabilized Rate, Financial Management, Operations, Policy, Workload, Industrial Business Information System (IBIS). Includes bibliographical references (p. 71-73). Also available in print.

Inaug.-diss.--Frankfurt sa Main. / Lebenslauf. "Literaturverseichnis": p. 149-151.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2004. / Thesis advisor(s): Brian D. Steckler, George W. Thomas, Juliette A. Webb. "MBA professional report"--Cover. Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-98). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S. in Computer Science)--Naval Postgraduate School, September 1990. / Thesis Advisor(s): Luqi. Second Reader:Shimeall, Tomothy. "September 1990." Description based on title screen viewed on December 16, 2009. DTIC Descriptor(s): Communications intelligence, work stations, command control communications, embedded systems, models, combat readiness, specifications, tools, computers, theses, prototypes, costs, evolution(general), fleets(ships), naval operations, budgets, economic impact, combat effectiveness, requirements, computer programs, software engineering Author(s) subject terms: Software specification, hard real time software, embedded systems, generic C3I workstation, next generation computer resources. Includes bibliographical references (p. 253-255). Also available in print.