GCM-Research

Research Vision »
The construction industry is shifting away from the traditional paradigm that separates the phases of a built entity’s life-cycle, and that situates planners, designers and construction engineers on different sides of the professional field. This move is towards an integrated approach to the planning, design, construction, and management of the built environment. In contrast to this evolving industry scenario, traditional project management discipline lacks models and explanations for understanding, interpreting, and predicting the outcome of practices emerging from this change within the construction sector. Other industry sectors are suggesting a systemic approach to project management that can provide the needed integration. Approaching projects as systems provides new interpretations of the complexity of managing civil and building engineering projects. My goals are both to build up explanatory models of the new approach and to develop tools for producing construction projects more efficiently from such a sustainable perspective.

Research Interests »
Specific areas of interest include (1) the relationship between management of infrastructure projects and their organizational, environmental and social context, and (2) innovative procurement, delivery and financing practices for infrastructure projects. I am also interested in the following research areas: sustainable decision making in engineering and construction; constructability; life-cycle cost analysis; building energy consumption analysis; facility operations and management; organizational change; organizational learning and knowledge management; and benchmarking of construction projects.

Project Management »
While I am interested in the broad area of project management as applied to engineering and the construction industry, a specific area of interest is the relationship between construction projects and their organizational, environmental and social context.

Project Delivery Methods »
A main research theme is aimed at providing the engineering profession with an improved understanding of the issues related to integration of services for project delivery. Over the last four years, I have investigated the issues related to the adoption of innovative project delivery approaches; these approaches integrate the delivery of more services under the umbrella of fewer service providers. My research objective has been both to identify issues surrounding the implementation of an integrated delivery approach and to capture emergent practices. Because I have focused on understanding different viewpoints, mindsets, and processes, my research has been qualitative in nature. My work has produced a diverse academic portfolio, generating publications, grant proposals, and new interesting research propositions involving the areas of strategic management and organizational behavior for engineering organizations.

Project Financing and Economics»
Project financing and economics is another area that is affected by the use of the integration of services for project delivery. Different approaches to shifting risks and buying services broaden as well the opportunities for project financing. Therefore, this area of study is complementar to the one on project delivery. My current research agenda is designed to expand knowledge on this area, and some of the specific topics pertaining to this research agenda are:

Identification and selection of concurrent engineering practices to be implemented on integrated delivery projects;
Development of a systematic approach to project delivery by investigating relationships between financing and procurement; and
Identification of best practices for including life-cycle considerations into procurement decision-making processes.

Construction Safety »
Changes in the construction workforce among other factors is affecting the industry, but it is also posing serious challenges to the implementation of safety practices among a workforce that is multi-cultural and speak different languages.