Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Because of the silo mentality often seen in construction and other
industries, (Egbu, 2006, and Towill, 2003), programmes may be viewed
by managers as a project management solution multiplied by the number
of projects in the programme. This approach is fundamentally fl awed.
The strategic view of multiple projects requires a higher level of vision
over the interactions and interdependencies of fi rms working on the
different projects in a programme. This cross-programme horizontal
vision or bird's-eye view of the programme is necessary to replace the
silo mentality adopted by some managers resulting in projects being
built in isolation, regardless of the impact each one may have on the
others. A programme is more than the sum of its parts.
Applying gestalt theory loosely to construction programme manage-
ment, a common component strategy looks for linkages that may not be
immediately apparent. The strategy can then be used to provide shared
benefi ts in terms of schedule, cost and logistics. Also, by anticipating
potential problems in supply, such as extended supply lead times and
competition from other purchasers, early intervention to buy inputs or
reserve supplier capacity can help to reduce the risk of delay and avoid
unanticipated cost increases.
Using common components strategies to achieve commonality across
a programme can also potentially reduce future maintenance costs, for a
number of reasons. For example, a store of common parts would help to
standardise maintenance procedures and reduce the number and variety
of parts held in stock. Common components tend to reduce maintenance
cycles through the leveraged purchase of better-quality components,
made affordable through the discounts of bulk buying. The common
component approach also takes advantage of economies of scale by
reducing the management costs of testing and commissioning relatively
small batches of components. Finally, a common component procure-
ment strategy can assist with compliance with certain design require-
ments, including minimum standards and the use of particular materials
to meet certain building regulations.
The common component procurement strategy
The common component procurement strategy is the document that
sets out the approach to procuring the designated common components,
including the different options for delivery. The procurement may be by
either the client or the programme manager, directly or indirectly by
