Project Delivery Approach For A Four-Storey Building In Malaysia

Defining Project Requirements

The paper is based on analyzing the project approach to the project delivery of proposed one block four storey building for SMK Mengkuang, Malaysia. It will critically analyze the selected project to understand context of the analysis. The process and tools are adopted by the project team for defining project requirements along with deliverables. Tendering methodologies are analyzed in this paper to acquire of goods and services for the project and approaching ways of the market or potential providers of goods and services. This paper will critically reflected in aspects of the contact formation and management for the project. The areas of reflection are included of achievement of the contract established, transfer of the knowledge in addition to information from the outworkers to the organizations are assisted. Finally, the findings of the analysis are described in forms of the lessons learned with proposals for the future project in addition to modifications to the project release activities. 

The project is based on an on-going project for one block four storey building for SMK Mengkuang, Malaysia. The main objective is to present the project approaches and delivery tools and techniques existing in Malaysia with examination of the problems associated with the project delivery. The project delivery is consisted of speed of construction, quality in addition to economic advantage of the selected project work. The one block four storey building is built based on the industrialized building system construction in Malaysia. Kerzner and Kerzner (2017) stated that in order to accomplish the building plan using the conservative building system, then it requires of extreme workforces since on standard one house is concluded per year. The idea of mass production for the excellence building is termed as built-up building system. Malaysia is presented a firm look as a reply to the housing shortage issues. There is clear understanding o current status will help to put the programs below Malaysian Plan.            

The project manager is involved in defining the project requirements. The hardware requirement of the project is concerned with the structure of one block four storey building. The software basics of the building system are worried with the data as well as information accessible on the system, customers, assembly layout and process, users and allocation of resources (Fleming & Koppelman 2016). Therefore, the project delivery work is based on overcoming with shortage of the software basics of the four storey building system. The main aim of the project management is complete the plan in specified time and cost with assured quality. Kerzner and Kerzner (2017) discussed that collection of requirements for the project is vital. It helps to define the project scope and processes and tools to gather the project requirements. Binder (2016) argued that the project manager is used of requirement gathering tools to gather documents and information through the project life. Collection of project requirements is process to determine, document and manage the needs of stakeholder to meet with the project objective. The processes are that the first step is to identify the requirements of stakeholders, document the project needs and requirements and second is management of the project to meet with the project goals (Kendrick 2015). Collect the project requirements and project deliverables are done with use of following project management tools such as:

Tools for Project Requirement Gathering

Expert judgment: The construction project is susceptible to both cost as well as overrun of time. Variations from the planned schedule along with cost estimation are result into huge losses for the project owners. While construction of the building, experts suggestions are required as they have more knowledge in respective to the construction areas. Expert judgment is used to forecast the completion time and cost variance of construction project (Martinelli & Milosevic 2016). Expert judgment based forecasting approach identifies the schedule variances from baseline map for the construction projects. It is applied to four storey building project under construction and found feasible for use into the construction projects. Therefore, mainly construction experts are required to be hired so that all the works and activities are done on time.   

Data gathering: Smartphone and tablets are used for accessing the geospatial data for the construction site where one block four storey building is constructed (Kerzner 2018). Grade location accuracy is enabled capabilities for broader case for the field workers; those can collect higher accuracy of the geospatial data.

Decision making: This tool is required to make decisions on design of four storey building and decision making are existed through the planning like investment into the project, decision making related to location, and decision processes indicated of weak structuring of the issues. Turner (2016) stated that decision making processes justifies choice to select the quality of raw materials required to construct the building, and increase quality of decision making in planning. Decision making process is started with the brainstorming session with the project stakeholders who are related to maximum realization of the construction work.    

Data representation: There is visual representation of the project planning as well as control data which are prepared by the civil engineer regarding the construction work of four storey building. The data representation of the construction project data are presented to modify the decision-making into planning as well as scheduling of project phases and analyzed the performance in execution and control phases (Fleming & Koppelman 2016). The visual representation of construction data also helps the stakeholders to validate the data which are previously gathered. Proper steps are to be taken when the users are provided misleading information and cannot recollect the tasks in how they are used the system.

Analyze the existing documents: It is a useful technique for the project requirement gathering and review existing processes and documentation which help the analyst to appreciate the business in addition to building system (Remington & Pollack 2016). Existing documentation helps to provide titles along with names of the stakeholders those are involved with the building system. The construction principles along with rules of the organization are discovered by analyzing the project documents. It is used to supplement of information obtained from the interviews, in addition to observations. The building system can interact with various facets of business that have larger amounts of documents to review. The documents should relate to the construction work for the storey buildings and based on the construction rules and regulations of Malaysia.

Procurement Methodologies for Acquiring Goods and Services

The entire procurement process to acquire of goods as well as services is done by the procurement manager. The procurement management plan is detailed how the procurement processes are to be managed. Suominen (2018) stated that running of the individual purchasing events via the tendering reduces cycle time as well as there is an increase of efficiency of buying processes. When similar items are being procured by various departments, then it adds procurement planning tools as well as techniques to the platform. The procurement planning is a process to plan procurement activities over the time (Serio et al. 2017).  Into the selected construction project, there is tendering where bids are invited from the contractors for carrying out the packages of the construction work. The methods of tendering are:

Open tendering: Under this tendering method, the employer advertises the proposed building project, and permitted as various contracts are involved to recount for the tender documents. The contractors are not studying the agreement in detailed to labor out with low price, but a value is certain to convey profit when they win the contract (Liu, Wang & Wilkinson 2016). The employer can confirm for the incomes and knowledge with lower bidder and refuse the tender if the enquiry is established.

Selective tendering: Under the selective tendering, the manager can promote the project as well as request the contractors to apply for placing on chosen list of the contractors those are requested to bid for the construction project. The contractors are relating list of information they bring to pre-qualify. The advantage of this method to administrative is that they can choose the contractors, those have proper understanding and resources, and skills too work into the construction project (Mohd et al. 2016). The problem with this selective tendering is that the contractor’s circumstances are changed after the organization has submitted the tender.

Negotiated tendering: This tender is obtained by the employer to invite the contractor of choice for submission prices for the project. The negotiated tenders are used when there is a strict deadline for completion of project work. The negotiated tender has a proper chance to satisfy the client (Peng & Lu 2014). When invited to tender, then the contractor can submit a price. Therefore, mistakes into the pricing are reduced, such that the engineer can advise the employer along with contractor that the job is completed to budget when there are no issues arise (Mohd et al. 2016). When negotiated tender is being adopted, then it can prepare the contract documents such that the contract is done on regular basis.

Procurement Tools for Streamlining Purchasing Functions

The procurement tools streamline the purchasing functions for the business which are included with raising and approving the purchase orders, maintenance of inventory, supplier management and receiving as well as matching with the invoices in addition to orders (Ongpeng 2018). The tools which are used to procure goods and services into the construction project for building of one block four storey building are:

Precoro: This tool incorporates of the budget tracking, purchase order approval routing, along with supplier on-boarding into the rich feature to streamline the procurement lifecycle. The users can create of customized reports included with analytics and auto the allocation cost centers (Arundel, Bloch & Ferguson 2016). The notifications are make sure that the users can aware of budget overspends.

Coupa: This tool manages the entire procurement lifecycle which are included with approval workflows, budget as well as inventory management. The users can able to manage the construction approvals from use of email along with mobile application (Liu, Wang & Wilkinson 2016). It allows for visibility of the invoices in approval along with payment processes.  

Design and build processes means the same contractor is meant to design in addition to construct the project that a close collaboration is needed a process and risks are allocated to contractor. In this process, the single design team is contracted until planning are being ensured as well as the team is transferred to building team (Serio et al. 2017). A prime contractor is established of supply chain that includes of collaboration among the sub-contractors. The major contractor is compensated for filled cost of construction in addition to accountable to mitigate the construction risks. Collaborative working is involved with lone term relations in shape to framework of the agreements and strategic partnering is required on large collaboration than the single project (Suominen 2018). Therefore, all the construction materials are acquired so that the construction work is carried out on scheduled time based on scheduled project plan.

The negotiation is a process where various parties are discussed with the problems and attempt to solve them to reach the resolution. Due to unforeseen conditions along with delays, and actions, the contract change orders are inevitable. When a change order is being unsettled, it leads to claims as well as disturbance to the project conclusion. In order to make sure about the project success, the parties can negotiate modify orders in compromise along with contractor administration (Macaulay 2018). The participants into negotiation of the construction project are provided with negotiation processes and tools to map and negotiate the contract change orders. The contractors come with details about how the construction business is going to conduct whether it will be with the clients and subcontractors. The initial contract negotiations tools are as follows:

Conclusion

EasyBuild: It is a construction ERP solution which is overseeing the construction projects from starting to ending. On contract end, this tool is offering the customer relationship management builds right into system, such that the workers can attach the contracts with the project clients (Menkel-Meadow et al. 2018). Each of the system is searchable. It provides with higher quality debtor reporting and software acts as completed end-to-end solutions.

ExplorerEclipse: This management tool has feature of document management where the documents are tagged, GPS tagging such that the users can tag, file, store as well as find of documents easily. When the documents are updated, then related items are also updated as well (Haapio & Siedel 2018). This type of tool is best use for building construction, as it has proper in-depth reporting features.

Fluid contract manager: This cloud based tool is used by the construction manger help to create of documents as well as contracts with templates and store communication furthermore documentation into the cloud so that it can access from anywhere (Potter 2017). The stakeholders and construction employees receive the contracts along with documents and respond via email. This tool permits to make as well as track of changes to projections with each date stamped such that the contractor can know the exact status and progress of the project work (Wallensteen 2015). This software is simple to use and provide clear indications of who are responsible for what the project is all about.    

Into this particular construction project, the construction disputes are raised due to disagreements among the parties on the contract. It is because of perceived and real violation of the construction contract along with obligations set forth (Knapp, Crystal & Prince 2016). The disputes are raised because of lack of understanding of the contract, delays on the contract, breakdown to manage the contract as well as unfinished claims ended by the involved parties into the construction project. The construction disputes are reduced by making upfront planning, understanding the contract and negotiating the clauses (Goldberg et al. 2014). It should make sure that the schedules are real, executable and plan for the delays. During the execution phases, when any issues are raised, documentation of those issues reduces the possibility of disputes. A system is adopted that can increase predictability of each processes and provide greater information clearness into the parties. The construction disputes are varied in nature, size along with complexity (Menkel-Meadow et al. 2018). When it is not resolved on time, then financial along with opportunity cost are added.

Following are construction dispute resolution methods such as:

Negotiation: It is included the agreement that it cause for the dispute is raised among the contractor and construction project owner, the parties can attempt to resolve them before moving to others (Wallensteen 2015).

Mediation: It is inclusion of third party into the dispute situations to help in mediation process to resolve the dispute. This dispute resolution method is not legally binding in way, but it can be an effective way of situations which could worsen (Macaulay 2018).

Expert determination: This method is used to determine the disputes of expert nature and in case where there is assessment of the disputes required specialist’s opinion (Haapio & Siedel 2018). Determination is cannot legally enforced, if the parties are agreed to this declaration, then it may keep from time consuming processes.

Litigation: The litigation is included with the dispute clause, in case the parties are not findings of ways to resolve the issues that are come up. It is involved with trial and legally binding as well as enforceable, though it is appealed. It is complex, slow as well as costly method to resolve the dispute (Knapp, Crystal & Prince 2016).

The contract into the construction project is represented entire as well as integrated agreement among the parties prior to the project negotiations and agreements. A checklist is used to verify the completion of contract. It reviews the key areas of the contracts which are addressed into the contract documents. The reviews are done on technical aspects of the four storey building, employer obligations, rely on the information, performance test and limits on the liabilities (Nicholas & Steyn 2017).  After ending of the construction project, handover as well as close out are taken place. The employer has to engage the growth while the contractor is liable to rectify the issues. A handover meeting is also conducted with inspection of the site where one block four storey building is constructed. The defects reporting procedures are approved and access the preparations for the contractor. Ebrahim, Mosly and Abed-Elhafez (2016) discussed that responsibility for the insurance, security are transferred. The project information are transferred to employer, which are included final published information and achieve those are provided record of the project activities in data environment. The asset information manager should uphold the information departing forward.

Liu,  Wang and Wilkinson (2016) stated that throughout the execution stage, the project information model is developed to comprise details of the modifications which are made into the construction documents, supplementary testing along with commissioning information, operational along with continuation information and data, actual performance information like metered utilities information (Pishdad-Bozorgi et al. 2018). The project information model is being established against what is actually constructed, it is given to the manager as asset information model. This particular model is used to compile the data along with information required to support the asset management. It is provided of both data and information related for operation along with continuation of finished development. At end of defects, the administrator can arrange for the final inspections of construction work and if content issues certificate to create good defects (Mayo & Issa 2014). The manager coordinates preparation of the final report provides with project activities throughout the construction phase. The consultant sets up for the concluding account along with contract administrator can issue the concluding certificate (Cavka, Staub-French & Poirier 2017). The construction manager should review entire project activities and its progress rate so that they can conclude if the project is going to complete on schedule time or not.     

The handover is required to make sure that all the parties are agreed to the focal points as well as efforts which are aligned to the common project goals (Knapp, Crystal & Prince 2016). Defining of the project handover is crucial in relation to the research along with help to manage it accurately. In to the construction project, there might be a practical completion. It is end of defects in addition to liability period. It is when the on-site support from the project team site, when there are no such snags noted on snagging list along with sign off the completed construction report. The members of the project team are being involved on scheme and the project is completed to the business as usual operations. Peng and Lu (2014) concluded that handover is considered a process not a date and there is natural inclination to be focused on date must fought. The project work has tendency to deliver the project on time so that there are lack of possibility of any time delays into the entire plan (Serio et al. 2017). Pre-handover preparation as well as post handover is supported from the key part of the transition preparations.

When the recommended solutions are approved, then the project is initiated to deliver the approved solutions along with approval from the construction manager. The project deliverables and work groups are to be recognized, and the project team will begin to acquire the shape. Approval from the construction manager is move on comprehensive planning phases. In the planning phase, the project solutions are being developed in details as probable and the steps are required to convene with the objectives of plan are being planned (Liu,  Wang & Wilkinson 2016). The manager is coordinating the project budget by giving an estimation of the cost for labor, materials and equipments cost. Budget is required to monitor along with control of cost expenditures throughout the project implementation (Martinelli & Milosevic 2016). Once the project team has being identified with the work, then preparation of project schedule and cost estimation is required to be completed.   

It is concluded that quality, speed of the construction along with cost savings are key advantages of the building system. The factors are key significant to the construction of one block four storey building in Malaysia. Into the construction project, the project manager is using of various requirement gathering tools in order to collect of data and information related to the work. In the project, expert judgment is required to identify the schedule variances from baseline plan. Decision making is done with the stakeholders to relate maximum realization of the construction work. The tendering processes reduces cycle time furthermore increase of efficiency of buying processes. The employer advertises the proposed building project for those who are interested to relate for the tender documents. The procurement tools are used to approve the purchased orders, maintain inventory and supply of the raw materials to the client organization. The users can able to manage the construction approvals through use of various tools and techniques to acquire goods and services. The construction materials are acquired so that the construction work is carried out effectively. The negotiation tools are used to overcome with the disputes which are occurred into the project plan.

It is recommended that the construction project related to selected topic should require of construction management tools for procurement, negotiation and planning entire project. The manager should implement a proper plan which consists of all the project activities so that on timely basis, all the works are to be completed. A procurement plan is recommended to include into the project so that list of materials are identified along with the elements which are required to complete the plan on time. The organization should implement of strict rules and regulations to overcome with the disputes into the construction project.

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