In contract administration, practitioners are concerned about project performance as it relates to time, cost, quality, scope of work, and contract changes. For example, they want to know why a project was or was not completed on time, why a project was or was not on budget, why the quality goals for a project were or were not met, and why the scope of work on a project changed or did not change. To help practitioners who administer highway projects effectively answer such questions, this project developed a framework for classifying project types.
Although construction projects are unique—they are of different types, sizes, materials, locations, construction methods, and complexity—a proper classification system for project types does not exist. So within state departments of transportation (DOTs), it is difficult to find consistency in data gathering and reporting, or validity in the analyses of contract performance, when such efforts use inconsistent and ad hoc classification systems. A concern that was raised by one Washington State DOT program administrator is that without a standardized system to classify project types, it is difficult for administrators of state DOT programs to look at trends and patterns within the projects they deliver.
To address this issue, this study employed qualitative synthesis and gained participation from Pacific Northwest state DOTs to develop a new framework for classifying project types. The classification system is based on several parameters and corresponding measures that define highway projects, such as type of construction, geographic location, controlling scope of work, level of complexity, contract value and time, and contractor’s experience. The researchers also developed a data input wireframe for implementing the framework into a searchable database.
The new framework should allow practitioners to more effectively evaluate and administer highway projects. A standard classification system will help eliminate the need to use ad hoc classification systems and will enhance the application of basic project performance analytics within and across states.
Author: George Okere, WSU School of Design + Construction
Sponsor: PacTrans