The development of a benchmark model that uses historical data for monitoring the progress of current construction projects

Abstract

Conventional methods of project duration control primarily rely on comparing contracts programs with actual progress. Detailed barcharts are often produced and progress is measured and recorded for monitoring by site based practitioners. Head office managers that are responsible for a group or groups of contracts running simultaneously depend on the reports generated on site for their control mechanism. There are many drawbacks in relying solely on site based reports, including concerns about accuracy, misrepresentation of facts, competence of site based staff, time taken to interpret these reports, etc. This paper develops and proposes the use of a new system that can be used as an additional tool whereby significant discrepancies in projects' progress performance can be highlighted. The system is based on stochastic models developed to simulate the cost commitment curves of traditional construction projects. The paper describes how the system is developed and how it can be used. The system has been developed as part of a pilot study to validate its usefulness in principle. Hence the factors used to distinguish projects characteristics were only based on broad terms. It is hoped that an improved model would be developed when more variables are considered and incorporated.

Citation

KAKA, A.P. (1999), "The development of a benchmark model that uses historical data for monitoring the progress of current construction projects", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, Vol. 6 No. 3, pp. 256-266. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb021116