Management Practices in a Formal Design Process for a Metro Project in Doha, Qatar

Abstract

This is a research paper focused on assessing the design project manager behaviour and the raised managerial design issues relating to a formal design review in a metro project start-up. Very little research has been conducted in this area and the paper exposes weak aspects of the design review process previously unexplored in today’s metro construction environments.

In order to consider more implicitly the questions and issues raised, this empirical groundwork utilised an interpretive perspective. The scope for this research was the design mechanisms/processes associated with a large single package – a TBM Segment Design. The population for this study was made up of a number of individuals (12) engineers/Managers located at site, and a total of 9 Engineers/Managers were determined as the resultant sample frame.

The outcomes consisted of six (6) themes, namely: Mismanagement Issues; Management Interference; Technical Issues; Contractor Design managers Issues; Documentation Issues; Communication Issues, raised from an initial question; these were further developed into four (4) final themes relating to an assessment of the managerial implications.

The paper gives a clear insight into the practical issues surrounding a metro design review and the development of appropriate managerial strategies that can be implemented. The paper also addresses some of the implications for continuing design review developments. The paper suggests that projects of this kind may benefit from an Integrated Collaborative Design approach through integrating construction expertise with the design process at the detail design phase.