Title: Supply process development for multi-project management

Authors: Maqsood Sandhu, Petri Helo

Addresses: Department of Management and Organization, Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration, P.O. Box 287, FIN-65101, Vaasa, Finland. ' Logistics Systems Research Group, University of Vaasa, P.O. Box 700, FIN-65101, Vaasa, Finland

Abstract: Turnkey projects, a name given to engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) projects, are now one of the dominant modes of international business and allow firms to provide a wider variety of products and services than previously provided. The paper presents a framework of analysing the activities, complexities, resource dependencies, and process inter-dependences. It discusses theses issues by giving some examples, for instance an application of dice game in multi-project management. This emphasises value-adding activities and systematic methods of managing the supply processes. It provides a better understanding of the dynamic processes and critical interfaces in intra- and inter-organisational contexts. Discussion of the challenges faced by the project-based organisation and suggestions to improve project performance are presented. The paper presents a case study of the nature and characteristics of EPC projects in the project-procurement process. The choice of the concepts and final construction of the framework is informed by a review of EPC projects.

Keywords: project-based organisations; multi-project management; supply chain management; case study; dice-game; resource dependency; turnkey projects; supply process.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMED.2006.009087

International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development, 2006 Vol.3 No.4, pp.376 - 396

Published online: 23 Feb 2006 *

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