Project Management For Design Projects:Utilising Network Analysis Techniques

2008, the Chinese government had initiated a four-trillion-yuan(US$ 586 billion) stimulus plan spreading into ten infrastructures and welfare sectors. The plan was aimed to minimize the impact of the global financial crisis, and consequently started the largest infrastructure spending in the country’s history. This plan has brought unprecedented opportunities, and challenges in the meantime, to the engineering and designing industry associated with the infrastructure projects. To achieve a sustainable growth, the engineering companies must tackle some fundamental tasks, including how to improve the management of a project, enhance the resources utilisation, boost design quality, reduce design duration, build better team, and promote competitive edges.This paper investigates into the details of project control practices in design projects, and provides a methodology for managing progresses utilising network analysis approach, which could be applied to suit the specific conditions and characters of a design project. This paper also compiles the critical techniques and elements in managing the progress in a design project.This paper presents the procedures for ultilising network planning techniques in scheduling and controlling a design project, as follows: establish the project scope and work breakdown structures(WBS); determine the sequence, durations, and estimation of the work tasks; create working schedule and project control procedures; generate variation and change control plan. By applying these techniques and procedures into real project scenario, a practical execution methodology and plan can be obtained. Furthermore, from this detailed analysis, it reveals the critical elements in the different stages of the project, as follows. In preparation stage, establish project team, define scope of work, and identify key stakeholders; in design stage, determine work breakdown structure, critical work packages and activities, and plan and execute to schedule; in construction supporting stage, respond to design queries effectively, and control the variations and changes. This paper is structured into the following 6 chapters. Chapter 1 outlines the research fundamentals and methodologies, including backgrounds of project management and controls in engineering projects. Chapter 2, throughout the researches of work scopes and work flows, details a set of plan and procedure to utilise network planning techniques in an engineering project. Chapter 3 concludes the critical elements affecting project control and management. Chapter 4 describes the impacts of project manager and project team on the project control. Chapter 5 discusses the actual application of this project management and control approaches in Xiu Chuan Road and drainage project, and also the mitigation strategy. Chapter 6 concludes the research.