ABSTRACT
This study focuses on effect of earned value management (EVM) and critical chain (CC) on successful project implementation in construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria. Here 7 objectives was explored to undertake this study and the hypotheses structured in line with these 7 objectives. A sample size of 759 was determined from the population of 14868 drawn from the employees of 12 selected construction companies in South East Nigeria using a combination of the Godden (2004) sample formula, and the sample estimation technique of Unyimadu (2005), Nwanna (1922) and Israel (1922). The major instruments used for primary data collection was the questionnaire and oral interview. The questionnaire was structured using 5-point Likert scale in line with the 7 objectives of the study. Cronbach Alpha was objectively used in testing the validity and the reliability of the research instrument. The result was above 0.70 in all, indicating a high degree of relationship. The tests of hypotheses 2 and 3 were carried out using the multiple regression analysis and hypotheses1, 4, 5, 6 and 7were tested with t-test. The findings showed that there is significant perception of EVM and CC on successful project implementation in construction companies in South Eastern, Nigeria. The study disclosed that the issues relating to these techniques for project performance measurement are significant on successful project implementation in construction companies in South Eastern, Nigeria. It was also revealed from the study that CC factor in implement EVM process and CC as a performance indicator for effective measurement significantly ensures successful project implementation in construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria. The study identified inadequate budgeting and schedule/ work-breakdown structure (WBS) integration as the key challenges of EVM and CC on successful project implementation in construction companies in South Eastern, Nigeria. Furthermore, the study discovered that EVM and CC make significant and positive contribution to improved project management practice on construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria. The study also revealed that there are positive implications of EVM and CC in management control, cost performance index on success of project execution. Finally, that there are significant correlation between the use of EVM and CC with each phase of the project life cycle and success in construction companies in South Eastern, Nigeria. The study concludes that the effective practice of EVM and CC shall lead to a number of benefits to the organization as in maximizing performance, enabling time and cost management and synergistically driving project performance measurement strategies to a fruitful end. The study recommended that, the construction companies should adopt the use of EVM and CC thereby focusing on the key criteria of well defined project spectrum, goals, parameter, and project control mechanism in order to enhance successful project implementation, also that the construction companies should embrace well formulated procedures for performing work, integrate planning and teamwork in order to monitor and control their daily task to attain successful end.
CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The crucial need to reduce project delay and costs in project implementation and the need to improve project performance in terms of time of delivery, within budget, and scope while attaining the required quality led to the idea of implementing new methods of project management techniques in an organization. As a project monitoring, scheduling and controlling techniques, the earned value management (EVM) and critical chain (CC) propel the project management and implementation success. In this sense, EVM and critical chain helps an organization reduce project development time, utilization of limited resources, handle technological complexity, respond to stakeholder satisfaction and increase global market competition (Cleland, 1998). To execute a project successfully, a project manager has to become adept at initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling and closing (PMI, 2008). In doing so, project managers typically use several tools and techniques to aid them orchestrate activities along a project life cycle. This seems to be the correct approach since several studies have suggested that the proper use of project management tools and techniques impact on the success of a project (Cash and Fox, 1992).
At this point it becomes pertinent to discus and adopt an operational definition for the three principle terms, Project, EVM, and CC that shall form the basics of this studies.
In this vein, Duncan (1996a) see projects as a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique product or service where it has definite start and end time and also the end product itself is unique and different from others. For a construction industry, any project must be completed in record time (time bound) as it can gain advantage from the competitors. The Project Management bodies of knowledge have defined a project as a temporary endeavour undertaken to create a unique product, service or result and unique, transient endeavours undertaken to achieve a desired outcome (APM, 2006).
Kerzner (2003) defines a project more specifically, as any series of activities and tasks that (1) have a specific objective to be completed within certain specifications, (2) have defined start and end dates, (3) have funding limits (if applicable), (4) consume human and non- human resources, and (5) are multi-functional (i.e. cut across several functional lines). This is our operational definition of projects in this study as it typifies an EVM traditional recognition of projects as it involves the creation of a physically large and technically complex deliverables within multi-faceted organizations.
Though, Kerzner appears to be unnecessarily prescriptive. For example: some projects have vague objectives or lack defined end dates; many do consume only human resources; others are delivered by just one functional group. So, these five stipulations may be useful in forming an image of a typical project, but tend to eliminate many valid projects that do not fit the mould to be propelled by EVM.
Turner (1999) defines a project as an endeavour in which human material and financial
resources are organized in a novel way, to undertake a unique scope of work of given specification, within constraints of cost and time, so as to achieve unitary, beneficial change, through the delivery of quantitative and qualitative objectives. Projects have a purpose, a life cycle, interdependencies, uniqueness and conflicts (Meredith and Mantel, 2003). Those five characteristics respectively lead to: dedicating resources for their completion, time schedules for their organization, relationships between their components, responses to their uncertainty and the communication between their stakeholders.
EVM as a management technique was initially conceived by industrial engineers in United States of America (USA), such as Fredrick W. Taylor, Henry L. Gantt, and others in late 19th century (Fleming and Koppelman, 2005). They compared ‘planned standards’ with ‘earned standards’ and ‘actual expenses’ in their early concepts, and identified ‘cost variance’ as the difference between the actual costs of performing work, and value of the achievements according to their estimated or budgeted costs (Moski, 1951). The earned value approach was found to be more valuable in a project environment – rather than ongoing operations (Fox,
1996).
Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) was introduced by the US Navy in 1958. The technique simulated development planning with a logic diagram, and could assess statistical probability of achieving the project plan objectives. Unfortunately, computers were not widely available to implement the complex PERT calculations. The PERT approach was not as successful as the Critical Path Method (CPM) which was being used in construction at the time. PERT/Cost in 1962 included calculation of actual cost, and comparison of that with the value of work performed (now EV) to indicate cost status. It also compared value of work performed with the cost and work value budget (now PV) to show schedule status (Paige,
1963). PERT/Cost was ultimately not widely adopted, but its underlying concepts became the basis for EVM.
Similarly the US Air Force in 1965 initiated the Cost/Schedule Control Systems Criteria (C/SCSC) which included earned value methodology (Christensen, 1990). It was later developed by US Department of Defense (DoD) in 1967 and applied to new weapons systems
development, such as the Minuteman Missile program. C/SCSC established 35 criteria or standards for compliance by industry contractors, and provided DoD with some assurance of the final cost of new systems on open-ended contracts. At the same time, corporations in the USA were investigating planning and control systems such as Cost and Schedule Planning and Control (CSPC) (Saitow, 1969) and the Accomplishment/ Cost Procedure (ACP) (Block,
1971) for reporting cost and schedule to executive levels in meaningful ways. Both of these
approaches have marked similarities to EVM techniques.
Indeed the Earned Value Management System (EVMS) was developed by US industry associations in 1996, with the National Defense Industry Association (NDIA) as the lead In the process, the team rewrote and simplified the 35 criteria in C/SCSC into 32 criteria, but retained the essential components. Some key terms were renamed (e.g. BCWS to Planned Value) in order to increase acceptance in industry. At the same time, many practitioners and academics were documenting the costs and benefits of EVM (Christensen, 1998). The EVMS standards were issued (NDIA, 1998) by ANSI/EIA (American National Standard Institute / Electronic Industry Association) and were subsequently adopted by the Project Management Institute as a Practice Standard (PMI, 2005).
Kerzner (2003) recognizes the value of EVM as a risk monitoring tool. Specifically, “it provides a basis to determine if risk handling actions are achieving their forecasted results.” According to Kerzner, (2003) one of the best ways of reducing executive meddling on projects is to provide executives with frequent, meaningful status reports. He suggests that variance reports should be as brief as possible, and provides an example that includes the following items: Variance Analysis Chart, Estimate at Completion (cost only), Cost Summary, Schedule Summary, and Milestone.
Admittedly, Earn value management (EVM) is one of the performance measurement tool or technique used to measure project performance. As a result, EVM is one of the effective performance measurement and feedback tool for managing projects. EVM can give answer to project managers on whether the project is ahead or behind schedule, either the project is under or over budgeted or what the remaining work is likely to cost. The Project Management Institute defines earned value management (EVM) as a management methodology for integrating scope, schedule, and resources, and for objectively measuring project performance and progress. Performance is measured by determining the budgeted cost of the work performed (i.e. earned value) and comparing it to the actual cost of the work performed
(i.e. actual cost). Progress is measured by comparing the earned value to the planned value (PMI, 2004). Earned value management (EVM) is a project performance evaluation technique that has origins in industrial engineering, but which has been adapted for application in project management. Earned Value Management (EVM) is a method that enables measuring the performance of a project in terms of cost and time during its execution. EVM is widely recognized as a core project management technique with obvious benefits; however, its utilization is not widespread beyond a few specific industries, notably the defence and aerospace organizations in the United States.
Earned Value Management (EVM) systems have been developed to provide project managers with crucial information on the performance and progress of their projects through the unique interaction of three project management elements – the holy trinity – scope, cost and time. In addition, it provides project managers with an early warning sign for poor performance. Corrective actions can be taken in time to bring their projects back on track. Where traditional performance measures compare only actual and budgeted costs, in EVM however, actual and budgeted costs are compared to the earned value. Since its introduction in 1967 by agencies of the US Federal Government, EVM has seen a rapid growth in government and later on also in private industry projects. The development and maturation of earned value project management systems has led to a broad field of study.
EVM also addresses uncertainty, particularly the uncertainty surrounding time and cost performance. The use of EVM measures, variances and indicators provides management with useful advance warnings as to the degree of risk that time and cost objectives will be met. It can also identify sources of past performance successes and difficulties, by calculating indices and variances on the performance of specific groups (vendors, departments, etc.) or types of activities (e.g. control accounts, work packages). Despite these obvious links with earned value methodology, most recent books and papers on risk management do not address EVM directly; however, some do refer to project management techniques that are shared by both EVM and Project Risk Management. An example is the study in Megaprojects and Risk, by Flyvbjerg et al (2003) which concluded that both staff and directors must be conversant with the implications of performance management and the notions of risk and accountability. Managers wishing to implement project performance measurement require some specifics around goals and objectives, so that the necessary cost estimating and activity planning can be performed as a necessary prerequisite to finalizing a budget and time schedule. Conventional EVM is best suited to projects with highly defined goals and methods, as that
will facilitate creating the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and plotting the Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB). Projects that lack well defined goals or objectives appear to be unsuited to conventional EVM.
EVM is a multidimensional control system, as it integrates cost and time; however, it does not encompass other dimensions such as quality and risk. Any control system requires optimal timing of the points at which the measurement and control take place.
Comparatively, there is a difference between earned value and earned value management systems (EVMS) criteria. Earned value is a special metric that can be used to manage any project. The criteria are standards for management control systems that use earned value. Since 1967 the criteria have been required on large, flexibly priced defense contracts. The purpose of the criteria was to assure the reliability of the earned value metric. Although earned value does not require the criteria, it does require a management control system which meets at least some of the standards described by the criteria. In this paper, the term “earned value management process” includes both earned value and the EVMS criteria. Cost variances result when the actual cost of the work and its flexible budget (earned value) differ. Significant variances are analyzed to identify and correct problems before they worsen. A major difference between a flexible budget and earned value is the time dimension associated with earned value. Initially, the work on a project is divided into pieces, assigned a budget, and assigned a schedule. Because each increment of work is time-phased, a schedule variance is determined if work is completed (earned) at a different time than when it was planned to be completed. The flexible budget used in cost accounting does not provide any information about schedule variances. Like the cost variances, significant schedule variances are analyzed and corrected when possible. When variance analysis is conducted properly (e.g., on time, and at the proper level), it can be an effective control against further cost and schedule problems that may jeopardize the successful completion of a project. Unfortunately, variance analysis can be untimely or excessive and even contribute to project failure by drawing project managers, engineers, and others away from more urgent problems.
The EVMS Criteria are key to the effective use of earned value and is an adequate management control system that fosters the proper planning and integration of work on a project. Earned value management systems (EVMS) criteria define the attributes that management control systems must possess for earned value to be used effectively. Recently, the criteria have been slightly revised and renamed “Earned Value Management Control Systems Criteria” (DOD 1996). Despite the multiple names, the criteria have not changed significantly since their inception. Presently, there are 32 EVMS criteria that are organized
into five categories that pertain to major project management activities: (1) organization, (2) planning and budgeting, (3) accounting, (4) analysis, and (5) revisions. Each criterion addresses a major principle necessary for effective management of large, flexibly priced defense projects. Here, one criterion requires that each element of work on the project has a budget. Another criterion requires that each element of work has a schedule. Without a budget and a schedule, it would be difficult to properly manage a project of any size, much less a major construction project that can cost over a billion naira and last for many years. Thus, criteria are often described as “common sense” management practices that any well- managed construction contractor would use.
Over the years, however, implementing the criteria became an administrative burden that was eventually viewed as a non-value added activity by contractors and program managers (GAO
1997). Like many government documents, the DOD’s Joint Implementation Guide (JIG) which described how to implement the criteria, grew in size and complexity (DOD 1987). Additionally, earned value data was mistakenly judged “guilty by association” and occasionally ignored by project managers who may have benefited from it.
According to Abba (1995), large cost overruns on some major defense projects were foreseeable from contractor earned value reports but not recognized by program managers. There are several factors that contributed to the implementation problem (e.g., a lack of industry ownership, inadequate training, and an awkward technical jargon). A major factor was a failure in the early years to make the earned value process the responsibility of program managers and contractors. Based on a two-year review of the DOD’s earned value management process, the GAO (1997) concludes that while the process was intended to serve the needs of several user groups, financial personnel managed the process. It was natural for this group to focus on their oversight responsibilities and stress criteria compliance. But it was also natural for other user groups, including the program managers, to perceive earned value as a purely financial reporting requirement. According to the DOD, the needs of the program manager were often not met when EVMS were viewed primarily as a financial reporting system (GAO, 1997). Through the years, the criteria implementation problem has prompted studies that addressed either the benefits or the costs of the earned value management process. In general, studies that focused on benefits concluded that earned value and the criteria concept were sound, while those which focused on cost reported the cost of compliance to be relatively small, ranging from less than one to five percent of contract cost.
On the other hand, in 1997 a self-proclaimed guru, Goldratt published a novel, “Critical Chain”, which describes a new, supposedly superior approach to project management based on identifying and managing a critical chain of activities. The Critical Chain does away with milestones, multitasking and per-activity contingency time and advocates project contingency buffers and a roadrunner mentality instead (Goldratt, 1997). Due to this radical disregarding of established project management concepts the audience has ever since been split. Many conservative researchers and practitioners claim that Critical Chain Project Management is nothing new and therefore a waste of time, while a growing movement of Goldratt-disciples touts it as the new silver bullet of project management. So, what is the straight dope on Critical Chain Project Management? There has been some detailed and critical research (Herroelen and Leus, 2001, Leach, 1999 and Steyn, 2000), but as usual a definite answer cannot be given. In a nutshell, the Critical Chain (CC) approach is found to be intuitively appealing, but many a doubt is cast on its general applicability and utility.
Much of the debate is focused on determining or refuting the superiority of the specific paradigm presented by Goldratt in his 1997 novel `Critical Chain’. In contrast, the critical chain five principle constituent concepts are identified and appear to be of general use in project management: (i) the consideration of resource constraints in determining activity criticality, (ii) the aggregation of contingency time at an activity chain’s end, (iii) the explicit accounting for uncertain activity durations, (iv) the monitoring of contingency time buffers for project control and (v) the timely alerting of project resources. Goldratt (1997) had observed this phenomenon and proposed the Critical Chain technique, in which those individual hidden periods or buffers are pooled to create an explicit project buffer that is placed at the end of the schedule. Also, a feeding buffer may be placed at the end of a non- critical group of activities, so that they do not become part of the critical path, should they become delayed. Finally, a resource buffer may be created as a virtual task prior to critical chain tasks that require critical resources.
Initially, some authors tended to support Critical Chain (Leach, 1999). A recent critique of Critical Chain has concluded that although it presents a number of valuable concepts, it does not provide a complete solution to project management needs, and that organizations should be very careful about the exclusion of conventional project management techniques (Raz, Barnes, and Dvir, 2003). Although this thesis disagrees specifically on the above assertion, Critical Chain appears compatible to the notions of recognizing the significance of project phases, and assessing performance on phase completion. Goldratt bases the Critical Chain
approach on a number of undesired side effects in traditionally managed projects. The conjecture is that these effects, through direct or indirect means, impair the project output (White and Fortune, 2002). Therefore, this analysis starts by explaining their rationales, in order to counter these effects. The Critical Chain approach tries to identify, exploit and elevate the project’s constraints, i.e. the chain of critical events. Now, this approach can only succeed when human factors receive appropriate consideration. Therefore, the basic human resource management challenge associated with Critical Chain Project Management, Goldratt (1997) also proposes a way of controlling the project during the course of its execution by managing its buffers.
Consequently, on these established argument this study posit EVM as a measure of cost, budget, monetary and incentive management to project success in construction companies. While critical chain is seen as a measure in time, scope, scheduling, monitors and control management to project success in construction companies.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Delays, project reviews and abandonment of construction projects have negative effects for all parties involved. Accurate definitions of project scope, Time and budget deliveries are key competitive factors for any construction project. Setbacks in such factors have negative effects both for owners and contractors. While owners might suffer loss of revenue or damages, the contractors might face higher overhead costs, longer work periods and also decreased chances in future bids. Thus, having tools to limit or eliminate these setbacks (i.e. earning value management and critical chain) that are capable of foreseeing such delays and overruns are in the interest of every party involved.
In recent times, organizations adopts effective management method to aid them achieve maximum output in their project. EVM and CC are some of the effective performance measurement and feedback tool for managing projects. They provide the capacity to avoid project setbacks and offer real time information to both contractors and stakeholders on whether the project is ahead or behind schedule, either the project is under or over budgeted or what the remaining work is likely to cost. By EVM and CC contractor and stakeholders are on the same page throughout the project construction life circle. This EVM and CC capacity to eliminate setbacks on projects construction forms the basis for this investigation.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The broad objective of this study is to investigate the effect of earned value management (EVM) and critical chain factors on successful project implementation in construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria. However, the specific objectives are:
1. To examine the extent of perception of EVM and critical chain factors on successful project implementation in construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria.
2. To determine the effect of the issues relating to technique of project performance measurement on successful project implementation in construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria.
3. To ascertain the relevance of critical chain factor in implementing EVM process and critical chain as a performance indicator for effective measurement on successful project implementation in construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria.
4. To investigate the challenges of EVM and critical chain in successful project implementation in construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria.
5. To establish how EVM and critical chain improve project management practice in
construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria.
6. To identify the essential benefits of EVM and critical chain on success of project execution.
7. To assess the extent of correlations between the use of EVM and critical chain on each phase of the project life cycle and success in construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions will guide this study.
1. To what extent are the perception of EVM and critical chain factors in successful project implementation in construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria?
2. Of what effect are the issues relating to technique of project performance measurement in successful project implementation in construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria?
3. What is the relevance of critical chain factor in implementing EVM process and critical chain as a performance indicator for effective measurement on successful project implementation in construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria?
4. What are the key challenges of EVM and critical chain in successful project implementation in construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria?
5. How do EVM and critical chain improved project management practice in construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria?
6. What are the essential benefits of EVM and critical chain on success of project execution?
7. To what extent is there correlation between the use of EVM and critical chain on phases of the project life cycle and success in construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria?
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
The following formulated hypotheses served as an aid in finding answers to the research questions and in fulfilling the objectives of the study;
1 There is significant perception of EVM and critical chain factors in successful project implementation in construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria.
2. The issues relating to technique of project performance measurement are significant
in successful project implementation in construction companies in South Eastern
Nigeria.
3 Critical chain factor in implement EVM process and critical chain as a performance indicator for effective measurement is significant on successful project implementation in construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria.
4 Inadequate budgeting and schedule/ work breakdown structure (WBS) integration are the key challenges of EVM and critical chain in successful project implementation in construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria.
5 EVM and critical chain significantly improved project management practice
in construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria.
6 There are positive essential benefits of EVM and critical chain in management control, cost performance index on success of project execution.
7 There is significant correlation between the use of EVM and critical chain on phases of the project life cycle and success in construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study will be of immense benefits to the management and shareholders of the companies, the general public or customers and researchers/students. Management/Shareholders: It is expected that the study will inform the management of companies and other organizations that to increase productivity, there is the need to have and implement well screened project management techniques. It will also help management develop and maintain a quality work plan, which will provide an opportunity for them real- time and cost project completion for their client satisfaction. Finally, it will aid shareholders of the companies to measure and monitor progress trend that will sustain and strengthen their confidence against the changing future.
General Public or Customer: The act of effective EVM and critical chain technique in project management and execution restore public confidence and satisfaction. Thus, the quality of project completed is a reflection of the employee competence and skill will stabilize and improve the performance of the companies and strengthen their competitive advantage.
School and Student: This study will serve as a reference point and precision for future researchers and students as it add to their knowledge data bank. Also specifically to the researcher as it will lead to the award of Ph.D in management of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study intends to investigate the effect of earned value management (EVM) and critical chain factors on successful project implementation in construction companies in South Eastern Nigeria. The study concentrated on South- Eastern states as the area scope. In this study 12 construction companies were selected viz: C & C Construction Company and Groups, BILFINGER Berger (Julius Berger) Nigeria Limited, HAMMKOPP Consortium, MASTER Holdings Nigeria Limited, Grand Star Limited (GS), Marlum Nigeria Limited, Setraco Nigeria Limited, A.G. Vision Construction Nigeria Ltd, CODUC Industries Limited, The Arab Contractors (AC) Nigeria Limited, Delattre Bezons Nigeria Limited (DBN), and AGON Continental Ltd. The time scope covers from 2002-2012.
This material content is developed to serve as a GUIDE for students to conduct academic research
EFFECT OF EARNED VALUE MANAGEMENT AND CRITICAL CHAIN FACTORS ON SUCCESSFUL PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION IN CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES IN SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA>
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