A System Dynamics Approach to Quality Management in the Construction Industry

• Main Author: Anna Hulda Ólafsdóttir 1985-
• Other Authors: Háskóli Íslands
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: Doktorsritgerðir; Iceland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1946/24047

In this thesis, system dynamics are applied to evaluate aspects of quality management in the construction industry. The outline of the thesis is centred round interlinked papers and questions in order to develop an understanding of the need and potential for improvement. This thesis builds progressively on an understanding of the causes of the problems identified, which have set the objectives for the research. The main research questions were the following: 1) What variables are necessary to form a dynamics model of quality management in the construction industry? 2) How can the concept of an active quality management system be defined in relation to the construction industry? 3) What is the value of a stakeholder group model building approach to form causal loop diagrams in a messy non-corporative problem? 4) Can a system dynamics model be used to assist policy making for investments in a quality management system? The results presented in the papers published in relation to the Ph.D. project were reached with a four layered study, i.e. 1) with a quantitative background study in the Icelandic construction industry, 2) with stakeholder group model building sessions with highly influential stakeholders, 3) with interviews and data analyses based on the grounded theory to study group model building, and 4) with a case study of a construction project in Iceland. The core model was created in the second layer, in the group model building sessions. It was then adapted and illustrated with a case study of a construction work in Iceland. The model was used to assess the benefits of processes related to the quality management system which was implemented in the project. Upon completion, the project results were analysed and systematized in a management learning system. Among the unique contributions from this research are that the model structure can be used to adapt to other construction projects and the results can be used to minimize total quality cost. Kvik kerfislíkön eru notuð til þess að meta ýmsar hliðar á ...