Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis, PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

The focus of this study is on the application of cost-benefit analysis as a methodological technique for evaluating alternatives in the urban planning process. It is hypothesized that cost-benefit analysis, by identifying the effects and the incidence of various courses of action, provides a basis for objective evaluation of alternative plans. It is assumed that cost-benefit analysis, an economics tool, is a framework within which the various effects can be considered comprehensively. The method of study is primarily a critical review of the literature. Within the available time and resources, an attempt is made to apply the cost-benefit techniques to selected areas in the City of Vancouver. Because of the magnitude of the problem involved in the collection of considerable data, most of which is apparently unavailable in a readily applicable form, evidence for the verification of the hypothesis is largely drawn from the critical evaluation of the literature. The study first focusses on the general concept of cost-benefit analysis, as it appears to be traditionally applied, in a broad perspective of various methodological techniques of plan evaluation. A review of the cost-benefit techniques advanced by Nathaniel Lichfield, Jerome Rothenberg and James CT. Mao reveals the fact that there is a difference in their basic approach to urban development. Lichfield's "balance sheet" traces the effects of development in relation to the various sectors involved in the development process. Mao suggests that the repercussions be traced in relation to the basic objective of the project. Rothenberg is primarily concerned with the distribution of income among the relevant populations involved in the process of development. The authors point out the limitations of their techniques. There are many intangible and non-measurable items which are not treated by the authors. There is also the question of whether these tools are valid for evaluating urban plans. Though adequate data are not available to fully employ the above cost-benefit techniques, the limitations of the case studies, partly imposed by the theoretical formulation of these techniques lead to questions about the operational validity of these tools in evaluating the implications of these policies in the study areas. The study results reveal the practical problems encountered in obtaining comparable data, particularly on property value, social costs of slum living, and municipal expenditure and revenues for such small areas. A specific methodology needs to be developed for each to take these items into account. The problem of isolating certain effects and ascribing them to the redevelopment policy in the study areas is a critical one. Thus no valid conclusion with regard to the verification of the hypothesis can be drawn in the light of the case studies. It is concluded that the traditional concepts of "costs" and ""benefits" are not applicable in evaluating alternative urban plans and that cost-benefit analysis requires a broad interpretation as a framework within which the implications of a plan can be considered comprehensively and objectively in relation to the defined goals and objectives. The formulation of goals and objectives, it is evident, is an integral part of the analytical techniques. There are many intangible and non-measurable aspects which can not be treated adequately within the cost-benefit framework. However, one of the advantages of cost-benefit analysis is that the planners and the decision-makers may both become acquainted in greater detail with the trade-offs. Various other analytical methods lead to a more refined cost-benefit calculus for an objective evaluation of urban plans. It is important that the validity of methodological techniques should be judged not only by its operational aspects but also by its conceptual approach to achieve the goals of the urban planning process. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

No description available.

University of Technology, Sydney. Faculty of Design, Architecture & Building. / Past analyses of design solutions for building projects have concentrated on initial capital costs, often to the extent where the effects of subsequent operating costs are completely ignored. However, even in cases where a wider view of cost has been adopted, the discounting process has commonly disadvantaged future expenditure so heavily as to make performance after the short term irrelevant to the outcome, resulting in projects which display low capital and high operating costs to be given favour. Thus design solutions that aim to avoid repetitive maintenance, reduce waste, save nonrenewable energy resources or protect the environment through selection of better quality materials and systems, usually having a higher capital cost, are often rejected on the basis of the discounting process. Furthermore, the formulation of the discount rate has normally lacked rigour and has often resulted in an assumed rate that has implied profit and risk and has ignored taxation. Discounted present value is a measure of equivalence for time-phased costs and benefits derived from consideration of the theoretical investment return, preferably after tax. As it takes account of the cost of money, discounting can be described as leading to the determination of equivalent value using an investment-based or capital productivity approach. It is hypothesized and verified that the value of future costs and benefits is additionally susceptible to fluctuations in their base worth over time as reflected by changes in incremental escalation and the affordability of goods and services between present and future generations. Making adjustments for changes in worth may thus be described as contributing to the determination of equivalent value using a prosperity-based or time preference approach. The analysis of Australian sectorial income and expenditure data over a forty-year period shows that affordability changes can be measured and represented as an index. The discount rate is identified as a combination of the real weighted cost of capital, differential price level changes and diminishing marginal utility, where the latter is depicted by changes in the affordability of goods and services. This results in a composite discount rate that encompasses project-related, product-related and investor-related attributes. Tangible (financial) costs and benefits are discounted by this rate while intangible (environmental and social) costs and benefits are left as real value. Recommendations concerning the determination of equivalent value should ensure that the future operating performance of projects is more equitably assessed and that sustainable development remains an achievable objective in life-cost studies.

This research project constitutes an attempt to improve the construction industry's change management process by introducing the Form 'X' Control Mechanism as the means of establishing an effective method of project control. The traditional practice in the construction industry of appointing the principal designer as team leader has been challenged with the main criticisms on the traditional practice being his, or her, lack of managerial ability and his, or her, failure to control the financial aspects of the project. The traditional approach has remained essentially unchanged for more than a century but it has become increasingly questioned as the primary means of design management. One aim of the research, therefore, was to ascertain whether the traditional practices currently is use in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong could be improved upon. The research began by examining basic systems and project management concepts and noted the development of project management systems and structures for the construction industry. This was illustrated by reference to a number of articles and it was possible to argue that the industry lacked a comprehensive change control methodology. The research also provided evidence that the mechanisms used to exercise control in manufacturing industries could not be used to exercise control over construction projects. This is due, in the main, to the relatively short duration of construction projects and the transient nature of project personnel. Having examined the difficulties, it has been possible to devise a control methodology which couples communication and control and this mechanism has been adapted to fit existing industry practices. Using this criterion it was possible to formulate a control procedure which obviates the difficulties which can arise using the traditional approach to change management. The Form 'X' mechanism requires the design team to quantify, in financial and programme terms, the effect of design or construction changes, and to obtain the client's specific authority prior to revising the works. In doing so the Project Manager is able to determine the magnitude of all changes in terms of time, money and quality. The system is sufficiently flexible to enable it to be used world-wide, on projects of varying contract values and duration, and it requires only minor modifications to meet the provisions of the standard building and civil engineering conditions of contract. A variant of the proposed methodology was introduced by Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway Corporation and utilised on a number of projects. These contracts were examined in detail, as were a number of Mass Transit Railway Corporation contracts which utilised the traditional approach to project control. The analysis showed that all of the projects on which the Form 'X' system had been used had been completed close to their original contract value whilst a number of the projects which did not use the control methodology suffered from significant cost over-runs. It was concluded that the Form 'X' methodology successfully eradicates many of the control problems which permeate the traditional approach to change management embodied in the standard conditions of contract for building and civil engineering works. The Form 'X' control approach was also shown to be popular with the Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway Corporation's senior management team, as well as with the consultants employed in the construction of the railway. The conclusion of the research project is that the Form 'X' procedure is a highly successful change control methodology which could be used throughout the world on a wide variety of building and civil engineering projects.

University of Technology, Sydney. Faculty of Design, Architecture & Building. / Past analyses of design solutions for building projects have concentrated on initial capital costs, often to the extent where the effects of subsequent operating costs are completely ignored. However, even in cases where a wider view of cost has been adopted, the discounting process has commonly disadvantaged future expenditure so heavily as to make performance after the short term irrelevant to the outcome, resulting in projects which display low capital and high operating costs to be given favour. Thus design solutions that aim to avoid repetitive maintenance, reduce waste, save nonrenewable energy resources or protect the environment through selection of better quality materials and systems, usually having a higher capital cost, are often rejected on the basis of the discounting process. Furthermore, the formulation of the discount rate has normally lacked rigour and has often resulted in an assumed rate that has implied profit and risk and has ignored taxation. Discounted present value is a measure of equivalence for time-phased costs and benefits derived from consideration of the theoretical investment return, preferably after tax. As it takes account of the cost of money, discounting can be described as leading to the determination of equivalent value using an investment-based or capital productivity approach. It is hypothesized and verified that the value of future costs and benefits is additionally susceptible to fluctuations in their base worth over time as reflected by changes in incremental escalation and the affordability of goods and services between present and future generations. Making adjustments for changes in worth may thus be described as contributing to the determination of equivalent value using a prosperity-based or time preference approach. The analysis of Australian sectorial income and expenditure data over a forty-year period shows that affordability changes can be measured and represented as an index. The discount rate is identified as a combination of the real weighted cost of capital, differential price level changes and diminishing marginal utility, where the latter is depicted by changes in the affordability of goods and services. This results in a composite discount rate that encompasses project-related, product-related and investor-related attributes. Tangible (financial) costs and benefits are discounted by this rate while intangible (environmental and social) costs and benefits are left as real value. Recommendations concerning the determination of equivalent value should ensure that the future operating performance of projects is more equitably assessed and that sustainable development remains an achievable objective in life-cost studies.

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-85).