Methodology

Decision-based project management

Decision-based project management is a methodology developed to support the work of decision-makers in a project. Decision-based project management assumes that a driving force in projects are decisions. The activities in a project should focus on providing the necessary basis for these decisions.

The most important delivery in the planning phase is therefore to define:

  • What decisions are to be made in the project?
  • Who will make these decisions?
  • When will these decisions be made?

These decisions will be the basis for managing the project in the implementation phase. The progress of the project is reported on the basis of which decisions have actually been made.

Lean Project management

Three important principles in Lean project management:

  • Ensure process flow
  • Eliminate or reduce waste
  • Create value for customer and stakeholders

In order to achieve flow in a project, one is dependent on slack in the project plan. Slack is the time an activity can be delayed without delaying project completion. Traditional project planning often optimizes resource utilization, ie that the individual resource must have something to do at all times. Plans are therefore made with as little slack as possible. This comes at the expense of process flow.

When you focus on process flow, you plan according to the optimal decision rate in the project and plan the resource utilization according to this. Idle resources is to some degree accepted and the focus is that the resources are available when needed.

The following elements from lean thinking form the basis for decision-based project management:

Pull planning

Pull planning is a technique where you start with the project milestones such as the completion date and work backwards from the steps that efficiently lead to those milestones. The procedure is a collaborative active questioning technique that reveals what must be done and when.

Phase planning

The project should be devided into appropriate parts or phases and planned to the adequate level of detail at the right time. Phase planning utilizes a pull planning approach.

Takt Time Planning

Takt time planning is a work structuring method that aims to achieve the lean principle of continuous flow. This involves planning and dividing up the project's processes and activities in a smooth rhythm. You can then set up a regular decision sequence after this pace. An important principle in takt time planning is asking only for actual deliveries. This can be asked openly, so that all participants get insight in problems and delays. If the deficiencies are serious, management can decide to stop the project until the problems are solved.

Virtual Design and Construction (VDC)

dPlan er et verktøy som er utviklet for å gi støtte for VDC rammeverket;

  • PPU (prosent plan utført)
  • ICE (integrated concurrent engineering session)
  • Evaluering av møter
  • Læring (rotårsaker)

dPlan is based on the principles of decision-based project management, which in turn is based on the principles of lean project management. The methodology promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and robust decisions. At the same time, there is a focus on digital support and the use of BIM. This is becoming more and more crucial for projects in the construction industry.

Today, a standard tool for planning, reporting and managing projects in this way is missing. dPlan is designed to be such a tool.

Get started with dPlan!

Please contact us for a demo