This book is the first to bring together academic and practitioner views of Value for Money (VFM). VFM has been used to assess whether or not an organisation has obtained the maximum benefit within the resources available to it. A concept used by the public sector to assess the benefits of major built environment projects, it has become a major tenet of public private partnerships, capital project infrastructure and civil engineering megaprojects. This book presents and discusses the various debates surrounding the concept of Value for Money. It provides an international perspective on VFM by drawing upon the existing and fast developing body of principles and practices for Capital Build Projects. Readers will gain a level of understanding of the issues involved, the challenges, opportunities and the support mechanisms and protocols required for implementation of VFM in capital building development. Ultimately, the book presents a protocol that has been developed to track and monitor the VFM of a capital project from day 1, an Equilibrium Testing Mechanism (ETM) developed by the authors. This testing mechanism allows each of the parties to a project to monitor their VFM position at any given stage of a project from the beginning to the end of the build stage and beyond as necessary. This book is both a useful reference for researchers and a practical guide for the construction and engineering industry.

Recurrent problems with project performance in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in the 1990s raised questions in Congress about the practices and processes used by the department to manage projects. The 105th Committee of Conference on Energy and Water Resources directed DOE to investigate establishing a project review process. Many of the findings and recommendations in this series of reports identified the need for improved planning in the early project stages (front-end planning) to get the project off to the right start, and the continuous monitoring of projects by senior management to make sure the project stays on course. These reports also stressed the need for DOE to act as an owner, not a contractor, and to train its personnel to function not as traditional project managers but as knowledgeable owner's representatives in dealing with projects and contractors. The NRC Committee for Oversight and Assessment of Department of Energy Project Management determined that it would be helpful for DOE to sponsor a forum in which representatives from DOE and from leading corporations with large, successful construction programs would discuss how the owner's role is conducted in government and in industry. In so doing, the committee does not claim that all industrial firms are better at project management than the DOE. Far from it-the case studies represented at this forum were selected specifically because these firms were perceived by the committee to be exemplars of the very best practices in project management. Nor is it implied that reaching this level is easy; the industry speakers themselves show that excellence in project management is difficult to achieve and perhaps even more difficult to maintain. Nevertheless, they have been successful in doing so, through constant attention by senior management.

The construction industry is undergoing great change particularly with the introduction of digital technologies and the increasing emphasis on sustainability and ethical practice. The fifth edition of New Aspects of Quantity Surveying Practice introduces and discusses these changes and their impact on the industry. The book champions the adaptability and flexibility of the quantity surveyor, whilst covering the hot topics which have emerged since the previous edition’s publication, including: • A new chapter on the impact of digital construction • Sustainable construction • Procurement trends • Ethics and ethical practice • The RICS Futures (2020) publication The book is essential reading for all quantity surveying students, teachers and professionals. It is particularly suited to undergraduate professional skills courses and non-cognate postgraduate students looking for an up to date understanding of the industry and the role.

In this unique and comprehensive textbook, the authors examine the challenges faced all around the world with regard to major infrastructure project management, and they champion a fresh approach that takes into account the interdependencies between economic, social, political, technological and legislative environments. Managing, developing and investing in crucial infrastructure is essential to keep up with the challenges of a fast-paced and globalised world, but affecting and overseeing change requires a deep understanding of complex interlocking systems. To this end the book is neatly divided into three key parts: project appraisal, maximising integrated supply chains, and implementing value-enhancing practices. This is the ideal companion for courses on any aspect of civil engineering and construction project management including modules in infrastructure planning, infrastructure management, construction management and business management. The book will also appeal to practitioners involved in the management of capital and infrastructure projects.

The role of the project manager continues to evolve, presenting new challenges to established practitioners and those entering the field for the first time. This second edition of Peter Fewings' groundbreaking textbook has been thoroughly revised to recognise the increasing importance of sustainability and lean construction in the construction industry. It also tackles the significance of design management, changing health and safety regulation, leadership and quality for continuous improvement of the service and the product. Using an integrated project management approach, emphasis is placed on the importance of effectively handling external factors in order to best achieve an on-schedule, on-budget result, as well as good negotiation with clients and skilled team leadership. Its holistic approach provides readers with a thorough guide in how to increase efficiency and communication at all stages while reducing costs, time and risk. Short case studies are used throughout the book to illustrate different tools and techniques. Combining the theories underpinning best practice in construction project management, with a wealth of practical examples, this book is uniquely valuable for practitioners and clients as well as undergraduate and graduate students for construction project management.

Primary Care Centres explores the process of planning and designing buildings for frontline medical practice. Taking as a starting point the concept that good design contributes directly to healthy living, the book shows beneficial effects that a good design brief can bring to the staff, patients and visitors of health care facilities. It outlines principles for designs that are both practical and useful. International case studies of healthcare facilities in the UK, US, Japan and South Africa provide technical detail and give best practice examples of well-designed healthy living centres, with an emphasis on building performance and catering for the latest government policy developments. This new edition provides trusted guidance on investing in effective architecture for architects and project managers involved in the design of healthcare facilities. Dr Geoffrey Purves is Chairman of Purves Ash LLP, a firm of Architects in Newcastle upon Tyne. He has held a range of professional appointments with the Royal Institute of British Architects and is an Honorary Research Associate at Durham University.

This report looks closely at how public libraries in the United States and Canada are altering their space use and development plans; the study looks at new libraries and at the alterations and alteration plans of existing libraries with data broken out by size of service area, library budget, for library systems and stand alone libraries and other criteria. The 170 page study gives detailed spending data on capital spending plans, and plans for redevelopment of children and teen areas, patron access areas, special purpose rooms, technology centers, overall patron seating and access to workstations and broadband, as well as data on plans for parking, landscaping, roof and floor development, staff only areas and many other considerations in public library space use and redesign.

In this updated and expanded second edition, Keith Potts and Nii Ankrah examine key issues in construction cost management across the building and civil engineering sectors, both in the UK and overseas. Best practice from pre-contract to post-contract phases of the project life-cycle are illustrated using major projects such as Heathrow Terminal 5, Crossrail and the London 2012 Olympics as case studies. More worked examples, legal cases, case studies and current research have been introduced to cover every aspect of the cost manager’s role. Whole-life costing, value management, and risk management are also addressed, and self-test questions at the end of each chapter support independent learning. This comprehensive book is essential reading for students on surveying and construction management programmes, as well as built environment practitioners with cost or project management responsibilities.

This text outlines the practical and theoretical basis for thinking analytically about the balance of power in construction supply chains. It presents the practical findings from EPSRC sponsored research, undertaken in conjunction with the construction industry.