Technical Papers
May 2, 2016

Recipes for Cost and Schedule Successes in Industrial Modular Projects: Qualitative Comparative Analysis

Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 142, Issue 10

Abstract

Modularization is a well-established method that can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the construction industry. However, the industry continues to struggle with its implementation, and not all executed modular projects have resulted in successful project performance. This study investigates the combinatorial effects of modularization critical success factors (CSF) on the cost and schedule performances of industrial modular projects and derives a conceptual model of cost and schedule successes using information from actual cases by applying crisp-set qualitative comparative analysis. The findings confirm that CSFs interactively and collectively affect modular industrial project performance. The most commonly involved CSFs for cost and schedule successes are timely design freeze, owner-furnished/long-lead equipment specification, vendor involvement, and management of execution risks. This work contributes to researchers and practitioners in the industrial sector to improve understanding of the recipes (i.e., CSFs or combinations thereof) for successful modular project planning and execution, which will lead to improved modular project performance in the construction industry.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank all the people involved in this research and the experts who participated in the survey for sharing their time and expertise. Especially, the Construction Industry Institute Modularization Community of Practice greatly supported this research.

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Go to Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 142Issue 10October 2016

History

Received: Dec 8, 2015
Accepted: Feb 29, 2016
Published online: May 2, 2016
Published in print: Oct 1, 2016
Discussion open until: Oct 2, 2016

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Authors

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Jin Ouk Choi, A.M.ASCE [email protected]
Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City Univ. of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Ave., Kowloon, Hong Kong. E-mail: [email protected]
James T. O’Connor, M.ASCE [email protected]
C. T. Wells Professor, Project Management, Dept. of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station C1752, Austin, TX 78712. E-mail: [email protected]
Tae Wan Kim [email protected]
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City Univ. of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Ave., Kowloon, Hong Kong (corresponding author). E-mail: [email protected]

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