Abstract
A complete definition of the scope of a project upfront during early stages ensures smooth and successful implementation during the project execution. This research identifies and prioritises project scope definition elements for public buildings in Saudi Arabia. Elements that could significantly contribute to complete project scope definition package at pre-project planning stage are identified and their interrelationship determined and prioritised. Using the Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI) as a basis, the study uses analytical network process (ANP) technique based on data obtained from project managers who have been involved in public sector projects in Saudi Arabia. Data collection and analysis was conducted in three steps. The first step involved identification of scope definition elements while the second involved an investigation into interrelationships among the elements. In the third step, ANP was used to determine the weight of the elements’ importance in terms of contribution to project scope definition completeness. Finally, Pareto analysis was used to prioritise and assess the distribution pattern of the elements. The outcome from this research is the prioritisation of project scope definition elements for public building projects in Saudi Arabia. The prioritised list developed indicates the importance of project scope definition elements. It should help project management teams identify elements to consider when evaluating project scope definition for completeness at the pre-project planning stage. Keywords: Project scope definition, pre-project planning, prioritising, public building projects, Saudi Arabia, Analytical Network Process (ANP)
Highlights
Project scope definition is the process whereby the work that is needed to produce a building is identified and described in sufficient detail to facilitate project execution
The outcome gained from this step is a list of all categories and their elements that should be considered when defining a public building project in Saudi Arabia, at the pre-project planning stage
An element is excluded either because it is relevant to a later stage, not pre-project planning stage, or it is not applicable in the Saudi Arabian construction context
Summary
Project scope definition is the process whereby the work that is needed to produce a building is identified and described in sufficient detail to facilitate project execution. In the construction industry, having a better project outcome is significant because construction is one of the most important sectors in many economies and a significant contributor to the gross domestic product (GDP) of most countries. This is especially valid in developing countries such as Saudi Arabia, where the construction industry is one of its largest. This study contributes in the area of project scoping and project definition in the pre-project planning stage, which could remedy the problem if properly approached
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