Ali DiyaProject Manager| Arabian Construction CompanyJeddah, Saudi Arabia
Development’s life cycles for most mega construction projects are always a combination of more than one approach, a hybrid; examples of factors that affect selection of a certain life cycle approach are but not limited to requirements stability, degree of complexity, project size, location and size of project team, availability of critical resources etc…. Please share your thoughts. Saving Changes...
Tailoring our PM approach and helping the team decide on the best delivery lifecycle for a given project is critical in almost all projects, not just mega-construction ones.
As complexity increases, adaptive approaches which will be more tolerant of uncertainty are often preferable or at least rolling wave ones.
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1 reply by Rami Kaibni
Aug 21, 2019 12:14 PM
Rami Kaibni
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Kiron,
I agree with you for the most part but I beg to differ with your last statement. In big construction projects, as complexity increases, adaptive approaches are not preferable (Rolling wave maybe).
I've worked on large jobs especially oil and gas ($1 Billion Projects with more than 15,000 people working in one project). You have to plan in advance, set your budget, scope and schedule as there are huge penalties for any changes because while your doing the O&G Project, the other parties who has already contracts in place to start receiving gas, are also building their own receiving docks so an adaptive approach won't be even acceptable. You can use an agile mindset for certain things, but it is limited.
For small jobs and medium complexity, hybrid approaches work well especially the DSDM Approach.
I am not sure if I was able to express the idea clearly in a small paragraph but I am happy to discuss further if needed.
Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
The key item mostly forgotten when you decide about an approach/life cycle/method are two: 1-the environment (internal and external) 2-product characteristics and strategy. I have practical experience in construction and I used agile based methods like DSDM, waterfall based life cycles, most of the times both convined. For example, until the construction, you can use agile practices in this type of initiatives. Agile approach can be still used at construction time but the product characteristic will impact in using waterfall/sequential life cycle. It does not matter that you still can use Agile practices. And so on. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
I would say the use of multiple approaches - as opposed to a blended approach - is indicative that your megaproject may really be a program with multiple projects. If you have the resources, it's never a bad idea to break bigger projects into smaller ones, anyway. Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Aug 21, 2019 7:31 AM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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Ali -
Tailoring our PM approach and helping the team decide on the best delivery lifecycle for a given project is critical in almost all projects, not just mega-construction ones.
As complexity increases, adaptive approaches which will be more tolerant of uncertainty are often preferable or at least rolling wave ones.
Kiron,
I agree with you for the most part but I beg to differ with your last statement. In big construction projects, as complexity increases, adaptive approaches are not preferable (Rolling wave maybe).
I've worked on large jobs especially oil and gas ($1 Billion Projects with more than 15,000 people working in one project). You have to plan in advance, set your budget, scope and schedule as there are huge penalties for any changes because while your doing the O&G Project, the other parties who has already contracts in place to start receiving gas, are also building their own receiving docks so an adaptive approach won't be even acceptable. You can use an agile mindset for certain things, but it is limited.
For small jobs and medium complexity, hybrid approaches work well especially the DSDM Approach.
I am not sure if I was able to express the idea clearly in a small paragraph but I am happy to discuss further if needed.
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1 reply by Kiron Bondale
Aug 21, 2019 12:36 PM
Kiron Bondale
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Rami -
no argument from me that a pure adaptive approach is not applicable in highly regulated, fixed contract scenarios, but as you've suggested, a rolling wave approach will at least ensure that the level of planning is appropriate to the level of information available so we aren't wasting effort in premature planning.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Ali,
I agree with the factors that you've mentioned which plays a role in deciding the approach to be used and I would add Project Type & Purpose to those factors. An approach to building an Oil & Gas Plant will be different from that one use to build a high rise which will differ from the one used for building a hospital. Saving Changes...
I agree with you for the most part but I beg to differ with your last statement. In big construction projects, as complexity increases, adaptive approaches are not preferable (Rolling wave maybe).
I've worked on large jobs especially oil and gas ($1 Billion Projects with more than 15,000 people working in one project). You have to plan in advance, set your budget, scope and schedule as there are huge penalties for any changes because while your doing the O&G Project, the other parties who has already contracts in place to start receiving gas, are also building their own receiving docks so an adaptive approach won't be even acceptable. You can use an agile mindset for certain things, but it is limited.
For small jobs and medium complexity, hybrid approaches work well especially the DSDM Approach.
I am not sure if I was able to express the idea clearly in a small paragraph but I am happy to discuss further if needed.
Rami -
no argument from me that a pure adaptive approach is not applicable in highly regulated, fixed contract scenarios, but as you've suggested, a rolling wave approach will at least ensure that the level of planning is appropriate to the level of information available so we aren't wasting effort in premature planning.
Kiron
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2 replies by Ali Diya and Rami Kaibni
Aug 21, 2019 12:40 PM
Rami Kaibni
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Kiron,
I agree with you on this regarding Rolling Wave Planning. However, unfortunately on highly regulated projects with rigorous contractual terms, clients would look at Rolling Wave Planning in a reverse way and it becomes challenging to convince them that this is the right way to go in order not to waste time in premature planning like you've said and things could become very political.
Regards, RK
Aug 21, 2019 12:44 PM
Ali Diya
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Kiron, Rami,
This concludes that a hybrid life cycle should always be adopted in mega projects were affecting factors I mentioned before always do exist.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Aug 21, 2019 12:36 PM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
...
Rami -
no argument from me that a pure adaptive approach is not applicable in highly regulated, fixed contract scenarios, but as you've suggested, a rolling wave approach will at least ensure that the level of planning is appropriate to the level of information available so we aren't wasting effort in premature planning.
Kiron
Kiron,
I agree with you on this regarding Rolling Wave Planning. However, unfortunately on highly regulated projects with rigorous contractual terms, clients would look at Rolling Wave Planning in a reverse way and it becomes challenging to convince them that this is the right way to go in order not to waste time in premature planning like you've said and things could become very political.
Regards, RK Saving Changes...
Ali DiyaProject Manager| Arabian Construction CompanyJeddah, Saudi Arabia
Aug 21, 2019 12:36 PM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
...
Rami -
no argument from me that a pure adaptive approach is not applicable in highly regulated, fixed contract scenarios, but as you've suggested, a rolling wave approach will at least ensure that the level of planning is appropriate to the level of information available so we aren't wasting effort in premature planning.
Kiron
Kiron, Rami,
This concludes that a hybrid life cycle should always be adopted in mega projects were affecting factors I mentioned before always do exist.
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1 reply by Rami Kaibni
Aug 21, 2019 12:47 PM
Rami Kaibni
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Ali,
That is absolutely not accurate at all. Deciding on an approach should be done on a case by case basis depending on the project and other factors mentioned. In highly regulated projects with fixed contracts, hybrid approach won't always work and you might need to adopt a pure waterfall approach.
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Aug 21, 2019 12:44 PM
Replying to Ali Diya
...
Kiron, Rami,
This concludes that a hybrid life cycle should always be adopted in mega projects were affecting factors I mentioned before always do exist.
Ali,
That is absolutely not accurate at all. Deciding on an approach should be done on a case by case basis depending on the project and other factors mentioned. In highly regulated projects with fixed contracts, hybrid approach won't always work and you might need to adopt a pure waterfall approach.
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1 reply by Ali Diya
Aug 21, 2019 1:00 PM
Ali Diya
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Rami,
That is why I mentioned "not limited to" in order to account for what you have mentioned. As for pure waterfall approach I think it should be revisited .
Saving Changes...
Ali DiyaProject Manager| Arabian Construction CompanyJeddah, Saudi Arabia
Aug 21, 2019 12:47 PM
Replying to Rami Kaibni
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Ali,
That is absolutely not accurate at all. Deciding on an approach should be done on a case by case basis depending on the project and other factors mentioned. In highly regulated projects with fixed contracts, hybrid approach won't always work and you might need to adopt a pure waterfall approach.
Rami,
That is why I mentioned "not limited to" in order to account for what you have mentioned. As for pure waterfall approach I think it should be revisited . Saving Changes...
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