Submit to Sustainability Review for Sustainability Propose a Special Issue

Journal Browser

Applications of System Engineering Approaches in Complex Project Management

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Engineering and Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 40754

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Indra Gunawan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Adelaide Business School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
Interests: applications of system approaches in complex project management; analysis of system maintenance and reliability; implementation of system dynamics in critical infrastructures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As the complexity of projects increase, systems thinking is needed to analyze how these projects should be managed. In this special issue, we would like to invite you to submit papers on applications of systems engineering approaches in complex project management. Various applications of models and methods to manage the complexity of projects are welcome including modelling and simulations tools based on discrete event simulation, systems dynamics and agent based modelling. It is expected that the papers will provide innovative ideas to project management academics and practitioners to implement systems approaches in complex projects.

Assoc. Prof. Indra Gunawan
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

systems engineering
complex project management

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

25 pages, 2538 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Payment Delays at Two Links in Payment Chains on the Progress of Construction Projects: System Dynamic Modeling and Simulation

by Hongtao Xie, Junwei Zheng, Yunhua Zhang and Hongyang Li

Sustainability 2019, 11(15), 4115; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11154115 - 30 Jul 2019

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5137

Abstract

Payment is the lifeblood of construction projects. However, steady fund flow is rare in construction projects. This paper focused on a quantitative evaluation of the impact of payment delays at the two links (i.e., from owner to general contractor and from general contractor to subcontractor) on the progress of a construction project. A hybrid research method combining the interpretative structural modeling (ISM) method and system dynamics was used to simulate the complex relationships between a payment delay and project progress. Four distinct payment policies are quantitatively simulated to reveal the impact of payment delays at the two links on the progress of a construction project. The results show that shortening the payment period at the two links in the payment chain will accelerate the flow of funds and relieve the burden on contractors in providing advance funds in terms of amount and duration, making them powerful measures to ensure smooth progress. The other three payment policies require that the subcontractor provide large sums of advance funds for lengthy periods to ensure smooth project delivery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of System Engineering Approaches in Complex Project Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 4443 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improving the Efficiency of Highway Construction Project Management Using Lean Management

by Xueying Wu, Wenyi Zhao, Tianshan Ma and Ziyu Yang

Sustainability 2019, 11(13), 3646; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11133646 - 02 Jul 2019

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 9240

Abstract

The construction industry is often ranked top in producing the largest amount of waste during a project, be it the waste of material resources or the waste of manpower. This has elevated the need for an improved and more structured management technique. This study will look into the principles and practices of lean management pertinent to highway construction projects to analyze whether lean management practices can improve the management efficiency for complex projects. This study adopted a quantitative approach, and a linear regression model has been used to investigate correlations between the lean test factors and the efficiency-dependent variables. It was found that lean management tools that are used repeatedly and the ones that require a high level of detailing are positively associated with efficiency improvement in highway construction projects. In particular, LPS, JIT, and VM were found to be more commonly used in highway construction projects. The research results will aid in the initial decision-making process of the project managers, as they will be able to map different lean tools with their benefits and limitations and then select the one that best suits the project needs and deliverables. Future studies can adopt the interpretivism paradigm to explore new theories and concepts related to highway construction management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of System Engineering Approaches in Complex Project Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 771 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interpretive Structural Model Based Factor Analysis of BIM Adoption in Chinese Construction Organizations

by Guofeng Ma, Jianyao Jia, Jiyong Ding, Shanshan Shang and Shan Jiang

Sustainability 2019, 11(7), 1982; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11071982 - 03 Apr 2019

Cited by 49 | Viewed by 5321

Abstract

The adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) will definitely improve the efficiency and quality of the AEC (architecture, engineering and construction) industry. However, many factors need to be improved before BIM adoption. Based on the interaction between institutions and technology, factors affecting BIM adoption in AEC organizations, within the context of China, are identified and analyzed. Firstly, 21 factors are identified by literature research. Then, an interpretive structural model (ISM) technique is used to establish a hierarchical structure, and matrix impacts cross-reference multiplication applied to a classification (MICMAC) is used for factor classification. The results indicate that corporate/project leadership and software functionality are the two fundamental factors. What’s more, the dynamic mechanism has gradually changed from top-down to a combination of top-down and bottom-up. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of System Engineering Approaches in Complex Project Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1019 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Root Cause Analysis in Post Project Phases as Application of Knowledge Management

by Radek Doskočil and Branislav Lacko

Sustainability 2019, 11(6), 1667; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061667 - 19 Mar 2019

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 7244

Abstract

This paper is focused on the root cause analysis of post project phases. The research has been linked to the identification of the 21 most common reasons for not executing post project phases. The main aim of this paper is to identify the root causes of not executing selected post project phases. The empirical research was performed as qualitative research employing the observation and inquiry methods in the form of a controlled semi-structured interview. The research was realised in the Czech Republic in 2017 and 2018. The key performances for ensuring a functional, effective and systematic post project process are based on the principles of knowledge management. The identified causes were used as inputs for the proposed measures with the aim to make the post project process more effective. The main contribution of the paper is the overview of techniques that may be recommended for post project analysis. These techniques are demonstrated in detail on particular examples of the analysis of the most common reasons for failure to implement post project phases. The described examples demonstrate the procedure to be followed in order to identify the root cause of the analysed phenomenon. At the same time, the paper also describes proposals of recommended measures that should minimize the root causes resulting in negative outcomes. The paper explicitly emphasizes and shows the connection between knowledge management and post project phase effectiveness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of System Engineering Approaches in Complex Project Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2070 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Model of Predicting Cost Overrun in Construction Projects

by Edyta Plebankiewicz

Sustainability 2018, 10(12), 4387; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10124387 - 23 Nov 2018

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 6897

Abstract

During the construction phase, significant differences between the planned and actual costs of construction projects frequently occur. The paper describes the concept of a model of prediction of the increase in the costs of construction works in relation to those planned. The assumption of the model is to determine the probability of the cost increase for the elements of the object for which it is the largest. A fuzzy Mamdani inference method was proposed for the selection of the elements to be evaluated. In the cost prediction model, fuzzy relations and the compound max-min relations were used. The result of the model are the probabilities of cost overrun for works most exposed to changes in costs. The model can be helpful mainly for the contractor who wants to know not only the probability of the total cost overrun but also the possibility and amount of increase in the costs of individual packages of works or detailed construction works necessary to complete a construction project. Such an approach may help to properly plan expenses related to the implementation and schedule of works along with the cash flow for the project. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of System Engineering Approaches in Complex Project Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 2105 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Innovative Method for Project Transaction Mode Design Based on Case-Based Reasoning: A Chinese Case Study

by Jiyong Ding, Jianyao Jia, Chenhao Jin and Na Wang

Sustainability 2018, 10(11), 4127; https://doi.org/10.3390/su10114127 - 09 Nov 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3210

Abstract

Aiming at the design of a project transaction mode, the case-based reasoning (CBR) method is used as a methodology to build a case-based reasoning system based on project performance predictions. Thirty-four cases are initially selected for the practical application. Based on the classical CBR, the performance forecast is added, an improved continuous variable interpolation scoring method is proposed, and three types of manual revision methods are proposed: owner’s preference for the project transaction mode, extreme value, and secondary learning. The innovative method is verified with Nanjing HF Project as an example, and the results show that the case-based reasoning system can optimize the selection and design of the project transaction mode, providing a certain guarantee for project performance and facilitating the transfer of construction experience and knowledge within the construction industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of System Engineering Approaches in Complex Project Management)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

25 pages, 3829 KiB

Open AccessReview

Enterprise Architecture Approach for Project Management and Project-Based Organizations: A Review

by Edison Atencio, Guillermo Bustos and Mauro Mancini

Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 9801; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14169801 - 09 Aug 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2914

Abstract

Project-based organizations (PBOs) derive income from conducting projects for their clients. Maintaining the most effective and efficient project governance style is an ongoing process for these organizations as the context continuously changes. Enterprise architecture (EA) is a systemic approach that supports organizations in modeling and describing themselves in different layers, such as strategy, business, application, and technology. This literature review describes the current state of EA usage in improving and quickly revising project management governance in PBOs to benefit practitioners and researchers for an integrated view of EA, PM, and PBO, and identification of future research gaps. This review used an EA model composed of layers as an analytical framework. The extracted bibliometric and content data from selected articles were processed using the VOSviewer tool for identifying and understanding the relationships between main concepts through network mapping. The selected articles are oriented to internal organization projects, mainly in information technology (IT). The need to align projects with business is highlighted, with EA positioned as a governance tool. It was found that application of EA in PBOs is rare. A trend toward using popular PM and EA frameworks, such as PMBOK and ArchiMate, was observed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of System Engineering Approaches in Complex Project Management)

► Show Figures