Types Of Projects Research Articles

A critical analysis of public private partnership model in energy from waste projects

The Public Private Partnerships (PPP) and the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) have been significantly adopted over the last three decades as a mechanism for the delivery and financing of projects. Various infrastructure project types in the energy and the transport sectors have adopted this procurement system for their ‘anticipated’ effectiveness in risk distribution and value for money. Yet, their acclaimed benefits, particularly in ensuring value for money in the waste to energy – or energy-from-wastes (EfW) – sector are under significant scrutiny. Governments and investors are increasingly questioning their fiscal efficiency and overall benefit to taxpayers. Despite these concerns, studies investigating whether PFI provides value of money of PFI in EfW are lacking. This study addresses this gap by comparing the PFI models used in the UK and Canada in currently operative EfW projects using mixed risk epistemology approach combining methods that provide both a real and objective evaluation of issues and risks and a subjective (or opinion-based) evaluation. The former is achieved through a quantitative probabilistic model for simulating EfW feasibility at the operation phase. The quantitative probabilistic model is capable to model and capture how operational phase costs and profitability are affected by lifecycle risks (such as quality of service driven by contractual requirements that are usually passed on to the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) contractor) and a range of technical, payment and incentive dynamic variables and their fluctuations. If the impact of these variables is not considered and modelled accurately, the O&M contractor could incur significant losses undermining the viability of the EfW project. The latter employs a psychometric methodology to delve into the primary concerns of professionals involved in EfW projects regarding associated risks. The results show that common O&M risks identified in EfW PPP projects in UK and Canada prevail around unplanned maintenance, infeed waste reduction, market price, unsustainable debts, and policy changes.

Data hazards in synthetic biology.

Data science is playing an increasingly important role in the design and analysis of engineered biology. This has been fueled by the development of high-throughput methods like massively parallel reporter assays, data-rich microscopy techniques, computational protein structure prediction and design, and the development of whole-cell models able to generate huge volumes of data. Although the ability to apply data-centric analyses in these contexts is appealing and increasingly simple to do, it comes with potential risks. For example, how might biases in the underlying data affect the validity of a result and what might the environmental impact of large-scale data analyses be? Here, we present a community-developed framework for assessing data hazards to help address these concerns and demonstrate its application to two synthetic biology case studies. We show the diversity of considerations that arise in common types of bioengineering projects and provide some guidelines and mitigating steps. Understanding potential issues and dangers when working with data and proactively addressing them will be essential for ensuring the appropriate use of emerging data-intensive AI methods and help increase the trustworthiness of their applications in synthetic biology.

Формування графічної компетентності майбутніх фахівців аграрного профілю у кризових умовах

The article analyzes the theoretical and methodological foundations of the formation of graphic competence of future specialists of the agrarian profile in crisis conditions. The purpose of the article is to study the specifics of graphic activity and the organization of graphic training of students of agrarian universities in crisis conditions. The influence of the war on the organization of the educational process in agrarian institutions of higher education has been clarified. Attention is focused on the specifics of graphic activity and the need to take it into account in remote forms of education, which consists in operating with imaginary spatial images, translating visual information into an imaginary form and reproducing imaginary images into a graphic form. The transition to remote forms of education in crisis conditions complicates communication between the student and the teacher, the educational material is presented more intensively than it is provided by the educational programs, students have to spend more time on independent processing of educational information. For the effective formation of the graphic competence of future specialists, we distinguish two groups of pedagogical conditions: general educational (characteristic of studying any discipline at the university) and specific (inherent in the graphic training of students). The peculiarity of the isolated conditions is that they take into account the shift in emphasis to independent activity caused by the crisis situation in the country. A set of techniques proposed by us in graphic training (special geometric tasks for the use of graphic means of displaying information for integrated disciplines; choosing the type of projection and display of a technical object or process; modeling; a combination of different perspectives; graphic exercises with the construction of models; the use of technologies to expand the ability to graphically reproduce any information, etc.

How is the textile product development process managed? Exploring multiple dimensions and best practices in different firms of the production chain

PurposeThis paper aims to describe the product development process (PDP) of companies in the textile industry, seeking to understand the dynamics of their management from different actors along the production chain.Design/methodology/approachQualitative empirical research adopted a multiple case studies design in five large Brazilian organizations, each representing a link in the production chain.FindingsTextile PDP follows structured steps. However, it is still an informal process. The use of methodologies and tools for decision-making and control gates throughout the process is limited. Performance indicators do not cover all dimensions of the PDP since sales and profit are the main parameters for assessing projects. The predevelopment macro phase varies according to the product type and the company's business model, whereas the postdevelopment macro phase is nonexistent. PDP projects are executed through collective efforts of multiple departments in cross-functional teams, except for the commodities firms.Practical implicationsThe study allows managers of Brazilian textile companies to understand the best practices in the PDP and those that require more attention, taking into account different business models and sectors of the production chain.Originality/valueOur results contribute to the literature and practitioners by providing an overview of PDP management in the textile industry, covering its different production chain actors, types of projects and companies' characteristics.

Modeling and optimizing linear projects using LSM and Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II)

Linear projects are a special type of repetitive projects. Major disadvantages have been shown when using the critical path method (CPM) for linear project problems. So, to overcome these shortcomings linear scheduling method (LSM) was used to analyze linear projects. There are different types of activities in linear projects. However, existing mathematical models for LSM cannot represent all types of linear project activities. Therefore, this paper presents a mathematical model that can represent all types of activities using matrices. Moreover, the mathematical model is then used to create an optimization model that minimizes the project duration and cost using non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II). The two models can help project managers in scheduling real-life linear projects and find optimum linear project schedules. This paper introduces an optimization model for linear projects that utilizes matrices, offering a different approach in the field of linear project optimization.

Power in coordinating supply chain projects in humanitarian settings: A case study of Rohingya refugee camps

AbstractHow and why is power used in humanitarian projects? Coordinating organizations, such as UN agencies, carry power and influence over NGOs to advance the interests of beneficiaries. However, coordination can be managed by a single authority or by multiple authorities that share or delegate responsibilities. Furthermore, coordinators may leverage different types of power, including non‐mediated forms like referent and expert power, or mediated forms such as reward, legitimate, or coercive power. This research draws upon 57 interviews regarding organizational behavior with members of international and local non‐governmental organizations (NGOs), UN agencies, and government officials involved in managing Rohingya refugee camps in Southern Bangladesh. The observations suggest that in single‐authority layered projects, referent and expert powers are commonly employed, leading to improvements in quality and delivery performance. Reward power is typically wielded informally and is linked to cost performance. In dual‐layered projects, legitimate power is used to enhance quality and delivery performance. This article's originality lies in its extension of the use of power to multi‐tiered supply chain settings; its contribution is to organizational theory regarding the resolution of principal‐agent issues; and its insights are into the nuanced effects of different types of power based on project types. It offers valuable guidance to policymakers and practitioners, highlighting effective approaches for coordinating inter‐organizational efforts in challenging and unconventional supply chain settings.

Fluid Financing of Water Utility Infrastructure With WIFIA

Key TakeawaysThe Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) is a US Environmental Protection Agency finance program that has gained bipartisan support over its decade of existence.WIFIA is designed to accelerate nationally or regionally significant infrastructure projects by providing low‐interest loans for water projects.Loan amounts vary across project types, but not among project types per capita.Generally, stormwater and drinking water project types have lower loan amounts, while wastewater and reuse project types have a wider range.

An effective smoothing Newton projection algorithm for finding sparse solutions to NP-hard tensor complementarity problems

In this paper, we study the sparse solution of the tensor complementarity problem (TCP), which is an NP hard problem due to the nonconvexity and noncontinuity of the ℓ0 norm. We transform the complementarity constraints into a fixed point equation with projection type and use 0/1-loss function to relax ℓ0 norm. We develop a smoothing Newton projection (SNP) algorithm to solve the transformed problem. The subproblem with 0/1-loss function is solved by Newton method. Finally, numerical results show that the SNP algorithm can effectively get the sparse solution to a TCP.

Analysis of Consultant Building Project Management Using the CPM (Critical Path Method)

Critical Path Method (CPM) is a technique used to plan and organize project schedules by identifying the critical path which is one of the most contributing aspects to project success. This research aims to formulate the completion time of the consultant office building construction project using the CPM method. Data collection techniques in this study were carried out through various activities, including field observations, interviews, and literature studies. The results showed that the application of CPM in project planning and scheduling can determine the critical path and identify the shortest duration for project completion. CPM enabled the acceleration of project completion from 592 days to 469 days, saving 123 days. This study confirms that the quality of project planning and control significantly affects the successful completion of the project. The findings support the use of CPM for time efficiency improvement on similar construction projects and recommend further research on the application of CPM on various other types of projects.

Factors Affecting Success or Failure in Software Projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

This study aimed to identify factors affecting the success or failure of software projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study used the descriptive method as a study approach and employed the questionnaire as a study tool. The study included (111) employees in some software projects in administrative, medical, educational, military and commercial facilities of the public and private sectors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study findings indicated that administrative projects were the most common type of project, with government projects having a higher percentage. Teams with one to ten members were the most typical size, and most projects were completed within six months to a year. Project success depended on an appropriate timeline, teamwork, and thorough task schedules. Project failures were often caused by delays, lack of teamwork, and legal permission requirements. Public opinion on project success was not significantly impacted by project type or team size. The study recommended the need to analyze and estimate the project, identify potential risks, conduct training for team members, develop a clear task schedule, and focus on selecting team members to achieve project objectives and ensure adaptability and collaboration.

How Green Are Romania’s Motorways? An Analysis of the Impact Avoidance and Mitigation Measures Proposed for Motorway Projects in Romania

Abstract The development of infrastructure, particularly motorway infrastructure has been one of the main goals of Romania after 1990. However, the sustainable development of this type of infrastructure has only become an issue in the last few years. In this paper are presented the results of a literature review and analysis of the environmental impact mitigation measures which were proposed for motorway and express road projects in Romania within their Environmental Impact Assessments. The paper analyses whether appropriate measures have been proposed in the Environmental Impact Assessment Reports and how consistently they were proposed in different EIAs done in Romania. It analyses how much the measures proposed address impacts such as habitat loss, habitat alteration, fragmentation, species disturbance, and mortality So far, there is no known analysis on this topic Romania, although these types of projects have been implemented for many years. The hypothesis for this analysis is that the measures proposed for motorway and express road projects are not completely adequate for addressing identified impacts and that they are not in accordance with best practices. The results of the analysis indicate important gaps in the implementation of measures, particularly in regards to maintenance of ecological connectivity, as a response to potential fragmentation, and light pollution mitigation. It also highlights the lack of available data on the effectiveness of implemented mitigation measures, indicating the need for rigorous post-implementation monitoring and assessment of effectiveness. The paper proposes a more comprehensive and consistent approach to environmental impact mitigation in infrastructure projects, and for the public availability of post-implementation evaluation results.

Subcontractor Engagement in the Two-Stage Early Contractor Involvement Paradigm for Commercial Construction

Commercial construction projects (CCPs) in New Zealand contribute more to the economy than other project types. However, many face cost and time increases due to inadequate planning. Procurement pathways that involve contractors during design development provide more time to plan, collaboratively. Nevertheless, most projects are procured through traditional tender where contractors are only involved after detailed design. Through two-stage early contractor involvement (2S-ECI), contractors can provide design buildability advice for complex projects, contribute value management, carry out exploratory works, and order materials. The role of subcontractors in 2S-ECI can be significant. Six semi-structured interviews were conducted with clients, consultants, main contractors, and a subcontractor involved in large complex commercial construction projects. The findings build on the emerging body of knowledge about 2S-ECI by providing insight into subcontractor early involvement. Project complexity and market conditions were the main reasons for early subcontractor involvement. Common challenges include a lack of information sharing among the parties, non-competitive selection, and a lack of standard contract documentation. Opportunities for improvement include clarifying client expectations, educating stakeholders, and providing more equitable compensation for pre-construction services. Key drivers for subcontractor involvement include project complexity, market conditions, ordering long-lead-time systems, and performance specifications. Specialist early sub-trades include electrical, mechanical, structural steel, and façades. Subcontractors should typically be engaged as early as possible, often concurrently via main contractors to share performance risk. Pre-construction services provided by subcontractors include planning and sequencing; design buildability analysis; risk mitigation; value management; budget advice; systems procurement; design solutions; and document control systems. Advantages include obtaining specialist project knowledge and improving completion certainty. Producing a pre-construction services agreement (PCSA) for subcontractors may address challenges, as has been carried out for main contractors, but there is still a gap in the contractual framework for 2S-ECI for subcontractors.

지역사회 문제 해결형 바이오헬스케어 분야 디지털 리빙랩의 활용 방안 연구

Objectives The purpose of this study was to understand the importance of the Bio-healthcare Digital Living Lab for solving community problems and to suggest policy improvement so that it can be utilized based on the speci-alized fields of university. Methods From September 1 to October 10, 2022, the survey was conducted on 150 students enrolled in bio-healthcare courses at universities in the Jeonbuk region, as well as faculty and community industrial company related Bio-healthcare department. The collected data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistic ver. 22.0 stat-istical program. Frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, χ-square, independent t-test, and 1-way ANOVA were performed to analyze the data. Results The study showed satisfaction with the community living environment at 3.68 out of 5. By gender, it was higher in men(3.77±0.90) than in women(3.62±0.85), and by age, it was highest in people in their 20s(3.86±0.80), and satisfaction tended to decrease as age increased. Among local issues, ‘culture/leisure’ was recognized as the most important in terms of quality of life(28.2%) and an area in urgent need of improvement(27.6%), and the area expected to have the greatest ripple effect if improved was ‘jobs/start-up’(33.9%). In addition, there was a stat-istical difference in areas requiring urgent improvement and areas with large ripple effects depending on age and status(p<.05). They recognized that the bio-healthcare field would play an important role in resolving local is-sues(52.7%), and that local residents‘ participation was necessary in promoting it(70.4%), but the highest re-sponse was that they would consider their participation depending on the nature and direction of the project (48.8%). And, teenagers showed statistically significantly lowest scores in terms of possibility of solving local is-sues, possibility of improving quality of life, need for resident participation, and willingness to participate (p<.05). Conclusions In process of promoting a digital living lab in the bio-healthcare, an accurate preliminary analysis of the needs of local community residents regarding its nature and direction is necessary. And, in promoting a digital living lab that solves community problems, universities must play a role in building a digital living lab infrastructure specialized in the bio-healthcare field while experimenting with technology, products, and services through com-munity linkage. Lastly, for the expansion and sustainability of community bio-healthcare living labs, it is necessary to plan a living lab platform that considers both the community's needs and the university's specialized fields, and it is need to develop into an infrastructure rather than a project type.

FORESIGHT PROJECTS AS A FACTOR IN THE FORMATION OF STUDENTS' LEGAL BEHAVIOUR IN AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE HUMANISATION OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS

The article highlights the issues related to the use of foresight projects for the formation of students' legal behaviour in an educational institution in the context of the humanisation of the educational process. The article analyses scientific and methodological works on the peculiarities of using the project method in educational institutions. It is established that students' work on projects contributes to the development of independence, activity, research skills, a sense of belonging to the world community, awareness of professional choice, creative and social development, and the formation of critical thinking skills. Working on a project in an educational institution, regardless of its didactic purpose, shapes the student's future behavior in personal and professional terms, and therefore a trajectory that can be predicted. It is believed that the term «foresight» was first used by science fiction writer H.G. Wells in 1930 in one of his public speeches. The writer proposed to introduce the profession of a «professor of foresight», who, like a historian, would analyze and propose options for the practical implementation of future discoveries. The use of foresight projects in the educational process of an educational institution allows to shape the legal behavior of students, implementing the strategy of humanization of education. At the same time, such behavior is regulated by the content of the relevant legal acts. According to the research of domestic scholars, the implementation of the main provisions of humanization of education requires the use of modern pedagogical methods of humanistic educational activities, ensures the development of the student's personality, and is a guarantee of improving the quality of education and increasing its competitiveness at the international level. It is believed that the degree of humanization of the educational process depends on the extent to which this process creates the preconditions for self-development of the individual, his/her self-realization and creativity. The article deals with the foresight project «I am a future teacher». «I am a future teacher of accounting and economic disciplines», «The path to academic integrity». It is noted that traditional information-oriented, social, creative and other types of projects can also serve as foresight projects.

Self-Regulation of Student Learning in a STEAM Project

Self-regulated learning refers to the learner’s ability to regulate his or her behaviour, focusing on the acquisition of academic content, skill, or task. This concept includes aspects related to cognitive and emotional self-regulation. According to research studies, the aspect of STEAM education is a crucial determinant of academic success. Thus, in this type of education, attitudes towards science are also important, considering different aspects such as enjoyment, interest, usefulness, and self-efficacy and factors like age, educational stage, gender, family context, and self-concept. This study aims to analyse how Primary School students, who participated in a STEAM project, perceive their own learning process in aspects related to metacognition and self-efficacy, as well as their interest and enjoyment during the activities; furthermore, how the connections between these aspects are. In this project, 109 students between 9 and 11 years old from two different schools participated, using a questionnaire validated by experts. The results show that students show a high appreciation for STEAM work through this type of project as it enables problem-solving and critical thinking associated with the development of satisfaction and positive self-concept in doing it. These distinct aspects show significant correlations between them favoured by the designed STEAM project.

Exploring the key risk factors impeding the performance of highway construction projects: an evidence from Nigeria

Purpose Construction projects, and particularly highway infrastructures, are known to be major contributors to the socio-economic growth of developing countries. However, these types of projects are infamous for being highly risky due to the interplay of numerous risk factors. This study aims to explore the key risk factors impacting on the performance of highway infrastructure projects in Nigeria from the contextual viewpoint of key industry stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative data was collected using semi-structured interviews. Specifically, 17 in-depth expert interviews were conducted with experienced stakeholders in the highway sector of the Nigerian construction industry. The collected data was transcribed and analysed using an established coding framework (grounded on case study approach, principles of thematic analysis and saliency analysis). Findings Overall, 17 key risks were identified from the data analysis process, and 6 risks were recognised as the most significant, based on the combination of prevalence of occurrence and significance of the coded information. The six top risks were: change in government, corruption, cost of construction materials, inflation, project funding issues and construction project delay. However, the first two of these risks (change in government and corruption) are politically related, which is specific and unique to the setting of Nigeria and thus might be seen as discouraging indicators that could have an impact on attracting foreign investors/contractors to Nigeria. Originality/value The study addressed the gap related with identifying context-specific risk factors impeding the performance of highway projects in Nigeria from the viewpoints of industry experts. It is expected that the findings will provide a better insight into the various risk factors and thus aid relevant policymakers to provide context-specific mitigating strategies.

A global gene regulatory program and its region-specific regulator partition neurons into commissural and ipsilateral projection types.

Understanding the genetic programs that drive neuronal diversification into classes and subclasses is key to understand nervous system development. All neurons can be classified into two types: commissural and ipsilateral, based on whether their axons cross the midline or not. However, the gene regulatory program underlying this binary division is poorly understood. We identified a pair of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors, Nhlh1 and Nhlh2, as a global transcriptional mechanism that controls the laterality of all floor plate-crossing commissural axons in mice. Mechanistically, Nhlh1/2 play an essential role in the expression of Robo3, the key guidance molecule for commissural axon projections. This genetic program appears to be evolutionarily conserved in chick. We further discovered that Isl1, primarily expressed in ipsilateral neurons within neural tubes, negatively regulates the Robo3 induction by Nhlh1/2. Our findings elucidate a gene regulatory strategy where a conserved global mechanism intersects with neuron class-specific regulators to control the partitioning of neurons based on axon laterality.

A Typology of Project Types and Processes Offering Flexibility for the Project Manager

We present a typology in which commonly encountered project types and widely used project management process types are matched. This generates four propositions: (1) Process types match project types but do not cover all encountered project types; (2) a formal project management change process should be articulated; (3) the project management processes represent a portfolio that can help managers address project types (or other nonroutine challenges for the organization) in productive ways; and (4), while array and wicked projects cannot be fully addressed by any one of the project management processes, combinations of the processes may be able to deliver such projects.

Improving Transparency of NHS Trust uses of data for Research Purposes

BackgroundIn 2022, the UK Health Data Research Alliance published a Data Transparency Standards white paper (UK Health Data Research Alliance, 2022). This guideline encourages organisations using health data for research to take an approach which creates increased transparency around how this data is utilised and what the proposed benefits of projects may be. The guidelines are split into six themed standards encouraging organisations to; publish their application forms and application process, have a clearly marked website which considers their target audience and is regularly reviewed, and to publish a register of projects which have used their data. IntroductionMFT CDSU operates a Safe Haven for research using health and social care data which includes a public panel for reviewing project applications. As such, it was felt that adopting the Data Transparency Standards would be a crucial step in furthering our public involvement and transparency of operations within the service. MethodsCDSU and RCD adapted the already existing MFT intranet site to be an outward-facing public website (Figure 1), hosted on the MFT Research and Innovation website and accessible for two main audiences; public citizens and researchers. Existing processes and descriptions were adapted to try and meet the Data Transparency Standards in the best-fit way, working within the constraints of existing Trust site infrastructure and publishing rules, and content was reviewed by the RCD. Agreed content and website structure was then sent to the CDSU Data Access Committee (DAC) for review and approval before publishing on the website. ResultsA public-facing website was published near the end of March 2024 with dedicated sections for CDSU workstreams (Figure 2) of Operational Data Science, Research Data and Clinical Trials Recruitment and a direct means to contact CDSU. The DAC has its own dedicated tab (Figure 3) explaining their role in reviewing projects, listing all projects which have received approvals so far. ConclusionsThe website is published (https://research.cmft.nhs.uk/innovation-at-mft/manchester-clinical-data-science-unit) but will still require some further edits to the content. There is also a planned change for the MFT content management site so there may be some temporary disruption while this move is enabled. There is an existing schedule in place to review the site content for relevance every 6 months. There are constraints on content and structure due to the MFT comms rules on publications and the content management site MFT use. This meant that we are unable to easily meet certain criteria in the Data Transparency Standards, such as structuring the content in a particular way or providing a downloadable copy of files. The CDSU website will be a useful engagement tool, encouraging more interest in the service and types of project undertaken and we are working to make more information available. References UK Health Data Research Alliance (2022), Improving transparency in the use of health data for research: Recommendations for a data use register standard, https://zenodo.org/records/5902743#.ZDgTHcrMKUn MFT Clinical Data Science Unit (2024), https://research.cmft.nhs.uk/innovation-at-mft/manchester-clinical-data-science-unit

Teaching Research Methods through a Community-Based Research Project: Connecting Theory and Practice to Make it “Real” for Students

This paper describes the experience of teaching an undergraduate research methods course through a qualitative community-based research project and the impact of that approach on student learning. Course composition and design are outlined, followed by the community-based research project’s impetus, focal research questions, and implementation protocol. Evidence of the impact on learning for the fifteen students in the course is drawn from three sources: reflection papers, student comments on formal course evaluations, and pre and post-test (survey) self-assessments of student knowledge. Collectively, the data suggest student learning was supported in several ways: by enhancing their ability to connect theory with practice, increasing appreciation of the scope and rigor of social science research procedures, viewing research as a vehicle to develop empathy, and recognizing the utility of research skills to job-readiness. Challenges and critiques related to implementing this type of project are also discussed.