Integrated project team performance in early design stages – performance indicators influencing effectiveness in bridge design
Journal article, 2019

To create multi-functional and integrated project teams, and to adopt a team perspective in the early design stages, it is recognised in the literature that a more effective process is required; one that reduces the probability of costly changes and difficulties during construction. This paper presents an evaluation of project team collaboration during early design and development of construction documents for bridges in Sweden. The purpose was to study key variables influencing the performance of integrated project teams by using importance performance analysis (IPA). A self-evaluation questionnaire addressed clients, contractors, and structural engineering consultants in the Swedish bridge construction industry. The questionnaire addressed three essential cornerstones of value-creation during the engineering design process; culture, structure and competence. These were addressed at three organisational hierarchy levels, the organisation, project, and the individual level. Our results show that increased support and resources are required at the project level for better project team performance. Results further identify that project culture needs to be developed including both collaboration and social relationships as well as project competence, especially the ability to solve mutual issues. This research offers a ‘generalised’ and prioritised view of the challenges in the Swedish bridge construction industry in terms of creating integrated project teams.

project competence

project culture

organisational hierarchy

Importance performance analysis (IPA)

organisational structure

integrated project teams

Author

Daniel P T Ekström

WSP Sverige

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering

Rasmus Rempling

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering

Mario Plos

Chalmers, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering

Architectural Engineering and Design Management

1745-2007 (ISSN) 1752-7589 (eISSN)

Vol. 15 4 249-266

Ibridge - Efficient industrial bridge construction by integrating structural design and construction process

Swedish Transport Administration (2013/29042), 2013-09-01 -- 2018-08-31.

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Innovation and entrepreneurship

Areas of Advance

Transport

Building Futures (2010-2018)

Production

Subject Categories

Construction Management

Infrastructure Engineering

Business Administration

DOI

10.1080/17452007.2018.1563521

More information

Latest update

9/22/2019