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Dr. Nils Olsson
Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)

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0 Facilities Management
0 Project Management
0 transport
0 Construction management and engineering
0 Railway transport

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Journal article
Published: 17 July 2021 in Sustainability
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Opportunity management and Target Value Delivery (TVD) have both been studied extensively but separately. The two approaches have been presented as solutions for increasing value in a project for the owner and users. However, it seems there has not been much research that addresses the link between the two approaches. The purpose of this study is to increase knowledge of how TVD can facilitate opportunity management. The results from a literature review are compared with the practice in two cases: TVD in a large infrastructure project and opportunity management in a large building project. The results from the building project showed a lack of inherent motivation for change and innovation in the project organization. The identified opportunities were aimed mainly at maximizing the project’s operational value and keeping costs within the approved budget. TVD seems to handle this with extensive attention to maintain value for the end-users. Besides, the target cost element of TVD seems to complement opportunity management by creating incentives to be flexible about change and innovation. This paper’s originality is to combine two well-established approaches that have many similarities but have yet to be explored in relation to each other.

ACS Style

Tobias Malvik; Agnar Johansen; Olav Torp; Nils Olsson. Evaluation of Target Value Delivery and Opportunity Management as Complementary Practices. Sustainability 2021, 13, 7997 .

AMA Style

Tobias Malvik, Agnar Johansen, Olav Torp, Nils Olsson. Evaluation of Target Value Delivery and Opportunity Management as Complementary Practices. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (14):7997.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tobias Malvik; Agnar Johansen; Olav Torp; Nils Olsson. 2021. "Evaluation of Target Value Delivery and Opportunity Management as Complementary Practices." Sustainability 13, no. 14: 7997.

Preprint content
Published: 16 July 2021
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ACS Style

Carina Beste; Torgeir Welo; Nils Olsson. Influence of Complexity, Innovation, Newness and Learning on Project Success in New Development Projects: A Study in Manufacturing Industry. 2021, 1 .

AMA Style

Carina Beste, Torgeir Welo, Nils Olsson. Influence of Complexity, Innovation, Newness and Learning on Project Success in New Development Projects: A Study in Manufacturing Industry. . 2021; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Carina Beste; Torgeir Welo; Nils Olsson. 2021. "Influence of Complexity, Innovation, Newness and Learning on Project Success in New Development Projects: A Study in Manufacturing Industry." , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 15 January 2021 in Sustainability
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This article presents a study of sustainability in railway investment projects. The purpose of the study was to analyse how sustainability is interpreted and evaluated in the early phases of major public investment projects. These phases are characterized by potentially very influential decisions being made prior to when precise, detailed knowledge is available. The research uses a mix of qualitative and quantitative information sources and three datasets; 12 interviews, document analyses for 10 railway projects, and a case study. The qualitative data are from semi-structured interviews, while the quantitative data are based on structured document review of planning documents from ten Norwegian railway projects. In addition, a detailed case study of a major rail infrastructure project has been performed. The findings show that several aspects of sustainability are evaluated in the early phase of investment projects, but there are no explicit requirements to do an overall analysis of sustainability. Environmental aspects of sustainability are predominant in the respondents’ interpretation of the concept. Still, the structure and requirements of the early phases in the national project model ensures that the economic dimension of sustainability has the most influence in decisions regarding which project concepts that receive financing for further development.

ACS Style

Andreas Økland; Nils Olsson; Marte Venstad. Sustainability in Railway Investments, a Study of Early-Phase Analyses and Perceptions. Sustainability 2021, 13, 790 .

AMA Style

Andreas Økland, Nils Olsson, Marte Venstad. Sustainability in Railway Investments, a Study of Early-Phase Analyses and Perceptions. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (2):790.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Andreas Økland; Nils Olsson; Marte Venstad. 2021. "Sustainability in Railway Investments, a Study of Early-Phase Analyses and Perceptions." Sustainability 13, no. 2: 790.

Journal article
Published: 19 August 2020 in Buildings
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The construction industry has embraced digitisation and industrialisation in response to the need to increase its productivity, optimise material consumption and improve workmanship. Additive manufacturing (AM), more widely known as 3D printing, has driven substantial progress in these respects in other industries, and a number of national and international projects have helped to introduce the technique to the construction industry. As with other innovative processes not covered by uniform standards, appropriate assessments and testing methodologies to control the quality of the 3D-printed end products, while not obligatory, are advisable. This article shows that regulation is not an obstacle to the use of an innovative product, such as 3D printing, by proposing quality-control tests and an assessment methodology, in the understanding that standardisation ensures the viability of a technology. The information, including the methods and results, is based on the authors’ experiences in the development of three research projects pertaining to 3D printing. This paper also discusses whether the performance of the materials used in 3D printing could be superior to traditional ones.

ACS Style

Guillermo Sotorrío Ortega; Javier Alonso Madrid; Nils O. E. Olsson; José Antonio Tenorio Ríos. The Application of 3D-Printing Techniques in the Manufacturing of Cement-Based Construction Products and Experiences Based on the Assessment of Such Products. Buildings 2020, 10, 144 .

AMA Style

Guillermo Sotorrío Ortega, Javier Alonso Madrid, Nils O. E. Olsson, José Antonio Tenorio Ríos. The Application of 3D-Printing Techniques in the Manufacturing of Cement-Based Construction Products and Experiences Based on the Assessment of Such Products. Buildings. 2020; 10 (9):144.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Guillermo Sotorrío Ortega; Javier Alonso Madrid; Nils O. E. Olsson; José Antonio Tenorio Ríos. 2020. "The Application of 3D-Printing Techniques in the Manufacturing of Cement-Based Construction Products and Experiences Based on the Assessment of Such Products." Buildings 10, no. 9: 144.

Conference paper
Published: 06 July 2020 in Proc. 28th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC)
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ACS Style

Daria Ivina; Nils O.E. Olsson. Lean Construction Principles and Railway Maintenance Planning. Proc. 28th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC) 2020, 577 -588.

AMA Style

Daria Ivina, Nils O.E. Olsson. Lean Construction Principles and Railway Maintenance Planning. Proc. 28th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC). 2020; ():577-588.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daria Ivina; Nils O.E. Olsson. 2020. "Lean Construction Principles and Railway Maintenance Planning." Proc. 28th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC) , no. : 577-588.

Original research
Published: 09 June 2020 in Public Transport
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The paper revisits an investigation of delays and punctuality on Norwegian railroads from 2010, re-evaluating its findings and studying the effects of later measures put in place between 2010 and 2014. Norwegian railways saw a steady decline in punctuality from 2005–2010, prompting the establishment of a task force to understand the trends and patterns behind the delays on the network. Data was collected on punctuality and delays, as well as on factors that were likely causes of delays. The original study pointed to three main areas that cause delays during the period 2005–2009: (1) an increased error rate in infrastructure and rolling stock, (2) extensive work close to the tracks due to increased maintenance and renewals and (3) an inability to perform consistently even under normal weather conditions. Measures were put in place to turn around the overall performance. Appending data for 2010–2014, new regression models indicate that although their influence on delays and low punctuality changed as these measures have been put in place, some factors remained influential: low temperature (< − 10 °C and < − 15 °C) and snowfall (> 10 cm), reduced train lengths and increased volume of train services (both freight and passenger trains) still contribute to delays and low punctuality. The paper contributes to the literature on empirical analyses of delay causes. However, it can also be read as an illustration of an approach for an ex post evaluation of effects from punctuality improvement initiatives.

ACS Style

Andreas Økland; Nils O. E. Olsson. Punctuality development and delay explanation factors on Norwegian railways in the period 2005–2014. Public Transport 2020, 13, 127 -161.

AMA Style

Andreas Økland, Nils O. E. Olsson. Punctuality development and delay explanation factors on Norwegian railways in the period 2005–2014. Public Transport. 2020; 13 (1):127-161.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Andreas Økland; Nils O. E. Olsson. 2020. "Punctuality development and delay explanation factors on Norwegian railways in the period 2005–2014." Public Transport 13, no. 1: 127-161.

Journal article
Published: 25 April 2020 in Transportation Research Procedia
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This paper studies how time delays spread through the railway system. We evaluate timetable and rolling stock interaction in relation to medium size delays. In particular, we study the connection between arrival and departure delays for trains that are operated by the same rolling stock individual. We studied one year of data for trains circulating in the Oslo area. Research questions in this study are: Punctuality analysis was performed to investigate if there is a connection between arrival and departure delays. A correlation analysis of the arrival delays and the corresponding departures was done in order to find the possible connection. There was a connection between the size of arrival delays and the size of the corresponding departure delays. We found a threshold at around 20 minutes. An arrival delay over this threshold is expected to cause departure delays. Below the threshold most of the arrival delays are absorbed.

ACS Style

Nils O.E. Olsson. Train punctuality analysis in a rolling stock perspective. Transportation Research Procedia 2020, 47, 641 -647.

AMA Style

Nils O.E. Olsson. Train punctuality analysis in a rolling stock perspective. Transportation Research Procedia. 2020; 47 ():641-647.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nils O.E. Olsson. 2020. "Train punctuality analysis in a rolling stock perspective." Transportation Research Procedia 47, no. : 641-647.

Journal article
Published: 23 July 2019 in Case Studies on Transport Policy
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The two Nordic countries Norway and Sweden have launched governance regimes for the early phases of transport infrastructure investments after experiencing frequent cost overruns and low cost-benefit ratios. This study seeks to find out if these governance regimes have reduced the escalation of costs from early estimates to finalized projects and influenced the choice of projects away from those with lower benefit to cost ratios. We have compared governance regimes for major transport infrastructure investments in the two countries and examined the development and content of quality assurance activities, the involvement of internal and external parties, their duties and responsibilities, their stage gate models, and how decisions are made. The findings are that both countries have introduced formalizations of their governance regimes that mandate project reviews during the planning process and quality assurance, both of which have increased early cost estimates. One difference was that in Norway, the Ministry of Finance manages the quality assurance scheme and imposes external quality assurance requirements, while Sweden has no corresponding ministerial oversight. Therefore, on the one hand, the process is more strictly formalized in Norway, but on the other hand, cost-benefit ratios appear to have more weight in Sweden. Furthermore, although both countries have done several ex post evaluations, neither country has introduced a formalized ex post evaluation process allowing for systematic examination of the causes of cost overruns and low benefit to cost ratios. Even so, politicians may manoeuvre projects with lower benefit to cost ratios around the governance systems in both countries. Finally, some projects in both countries still have experienced significant cost escalations despite these processes.

ACS Style

Nils O.E. Olsson; Johan Nyström; Roger Pyddoke. Governance regimes for large transport infrastructure investment projects: Comparative analysis of Norway and Sweden. Case Studies on Transport Policy 2019, 7, 837 -848.

AMA Style

Nils O.E. Olsson, Johan Nyström, Roger Pyddoke. Governance regimes for large transport infrastructure investment projects: Comparative analysis of Norway and Sweden. Case Studies on Transport Policy. 2019; 7 (4):837-848.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nils O.E. Olsson; Johan Nyström; Roger Pyddoke. 2019. "Governance regimes for large transport infrastructure investment projects: Comparative analysis of Norway and Sweden." Case Studies on Transport Policy 7, no. 4: 837-848.

Article
Published: 29 June 2018 in Journal of Modern Transportation
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The overall punctuality of the railway system is of particular importance for customers in order to use trains as a means of public transport. Investigating the drivers of low punctuality of trains is an essential step for improving their punctuality. Severe weather conditions are assumed to be one of the drivers of delays and low punctuality of the transportation system. This paper addresses the extent to which the weather factors such as temperature, snow, precipitation and wind influence the punctuality of trains on the Norwegian railways. The data for the study are collected from the passenger trains on the Nordland Line. The study period is 10 years, from the beginning of 2007 to the end of 2016. Data are analysed on a daily and weekly basis, and correlation and regression analyses are used to perform the statistical analysis. The results show that extreme cold weather during the winters is a crucial influencing factor contributing to delays and low punctuality. We also found that the weather variable that best explains variations in punctuality of passenger trains on this line is snow depth.

ACS Style

Ghazal Zakeri; Nils O. E. Olsson. Investigating the effect of weather on punctuality of Norwegian railways: a case study of the Nordland Line. Journal of Modern Transportation 2018, 26, 255 -267.

AMA Style

Ghazal Zakeri, Nils O. E. Olsson. Investigating the effect of weather on punctuality of Norwegian railways: a case study of the Nordland Line. Journal of Modern Transportation. 2018; 26 (4):255-267.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ghazal Zakeri; Nils O. E. Olsson. 2018. "Investigating the effect of weather on punctuality of Norwegian railways: a case study of the Nordland Line." Journal of Modern Transportation 26, no. 4: 255-267.

Journal article
Published: 25 April 2018 in International Journal of Managing Projects in Business
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Purpose Standardizing the development, planning and construction of public building projects can contribute to timely and efficient project delivery. This is especially relevant when there are urgent needs for capacity. The purpose of this paper is to share the experiences from the development of standardized concepts for school extensions and prison building in Norway. Design/methodology/approach The research questions posed in this paper are on the interaction between public entities project delivery models and standardizing building types and the construction method. To investigate the research questions, the paper presents the findings from two case studies: school and prison development and construction projects. It is based on a literature review, semi-structured interviews, document studies and quantitative data on time and cost for the planning and construction phases. Findings Standardization and use of modularized building systems can contribute to shortened delivery time by reducing the duration of both the planning and construction phase. The most significant time reduction resulted from less time spent on quality assurance of cost estimates prior to the funding of the projects. Project costs increased in the school case, but were reduced in the prison case. An important challenge faced in both cases is a shallow pool of capable suppliers; the actors have approached the challenge with different strategies, yet neither actor has been successful in their attempts. Originality/value The paper provides empirical data to add to the collective knowledge on the project management aspects of using standardized project delivery models and standardized (modular) building. However, by emphasizing the interaction between project delivery models and standardization of the planning and execution of the projects, additional insight into the benefits and challenges are highlighted.

ACS Style

Andreas Økland; Agnar Johansen; Nils O.E. Olsson. Shortening lead-time from project initiation to delivery. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business 2018, 11, 625 -649.

AMA Style

Andreas Økland, Agnar Johansen, Nils O.E. Olsson. Shortening lead-time from project initiation to delivery. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business. 2018; 11 (3):625-649.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Andreas Økland; Agnar Johansen; Nils O.E. Olsson. 2018. "Shortening lead-time from project initiation to delivery." International Journal of Managing Projects in Business 11, no. 3: 625-649.

Journal article
Published: 20 April 2018 in International Journal of Managing Projects in Business
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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study how the project owner role is described in the literature, and how the role is carried out in practice. In particular, the author studies the project owner role in relation to project execution and benefit realization. Design/methodology/approach Based on a literature review, the author proposes a model for the relationships between the project owner, project manager and the operation of project delivery. The author then uses the model to describe the empirical results derived from a mapping of project owner responsibilities in a set of Norwegian information technology projects. Findings The author defines a project owner type 1 as a project owner that is focused on the business case and has responsibility for both project delivery and benefit realization. This project owner is the type described in most of the literature. The author further defines a project owner type 2 as a project owner that is mainly concerned with supporting the project manager and enabling project delivery. This is the type of project owner found in the empirical study. Research limitations/implications The author identified a mismatch between the project management literature and observed practice. Practical implications There is a need to clarify the type of project owner role referred to in different contexts. Different project owners will have a different set of incentives and priorities. It is important to make sure that both investment costs and benefits (i.e., the complete business case), are seen in close relation to each other and not as separate undertakings. Originality/value There is a need for a distinction between two types of project owners. This study proposes a framework for the description, analysis and implementation of project governance, with a special focus on the project owner role.

ACS Style

Nils O.E. Olsson. Elaborations on the role of project owner: introducing project owners type 1 and 2. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business 2018, 11, 827 -844.

AMA Style

Nils O.E. Olsson. Elaborations on the role of project owner: introducing project owners type 1 and 2. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business. 2018; 11 (3):827-844.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nils O.E. Olsson. 2018. "Elaborations on the role of project owner: introducing project owners type 1 and 2." International Journal of Managing Projects in Business 11, no. 3: 827-844.

Chapter
Published: 01 January 2018 in Advances in Business Information Systems and Analytics
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Scope management in the form of reduction lists was integrated in the quality assurance scheme for Norwegian public projects in 2001. This article presents findings on the actual use of reduction lists for major public construction projects Project representatives were contacted to obtain information about the actual use of pre-defined potential scope reductions. Eight of the 14 studied projects did not implement any of the predefined reductions. Six projects implemented some of the reductions. The scope reductions on the reduction lists are very specific and detailed, unlike general theory on scope management and cost control. However, the findings from the study are in line with the general theory; it was the most general scope and cost reductions that where used in practice. The study subsequently looked into the relationship between scope reductions and sustainability. Although the most frequently observed reduction was of the category “reduced quality or functionality”, sustainability was rarely affected with the notable exception of the railway infrastructure projects.

ACS Style

Andreas Økland; Nils O. E. Olsson. Practical Use and Effects of Scope Reductions in the Form of Reduction Lists. Advances in Business Information Systems and Analytics 2018, 326 -344.

AMA Style

Andreas Økland, Nils O. E. Olsson. Practical Use and Effects of Scope Reductions in the Form of Reduction Lists. Advances in Business Information Systems and Analytics. 2018; ():326-344.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Andreas Økland; Nils O. E. Olsson. 2018. "Practical Use and Effects of Scope Reductions in the Form of Reduction Lists." Advances in Business Information Systems and Analytics , no. : 326-344.

E literature review
Published: 06 June 2017 in International Journal of Managing Projects in Business
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Purpose This paper studies how the concepts of efficiency, effectiveness and efficacy are used in project management literature. The concepts relate to the degree of success or failure of projects and the degree to which the results are achieved. The purpose of this paper is to review the use of the concepts of efficiency, efficacy and effectiveness in project management literature and among practitioners. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on an extensive literature review, initially from the International Journal of Managing Projects in Business. The first phase involved searching the words “efficiency”, “effectiveness” and “efficacy” in all articles of the journal, and then quantifying the results. This was followed by a qualitative search of the same articles with the aim of understanding how the terms “project efficiency”, “project efficacy” and “project effectiveness” are used. A further intensive literature review was then conducted in other literatures in the field of project management, including, but not limited to, International Journal of Project Management and Project Management Journal. Finally, the authors complemented the review by including theories from deep searches of Google Scholar and Google Books using the parameters “project efficiency”, “project effectiveness” and “project efficacy” and checked how the three concepts are used in other fields. Findings This research reveals there is wide diversity in interpretations of the three concepts among research scholars and practitioners, which makes it challenging to apply these three concepts appropriately and clearly. As a consequence, the authors propose a model for describing these concepts. Research limitations/implications This research is based on an academic and non-academic literature review. It identifies a number of inconsistencies in existing literature regarding the three concepts. Practical implications This review enriches understanding of project management. Clarifying the understanding of project efficiency, project effectiveness and project efficacy will help and support organisational improvement. A clear and aligned view of these concepts can also be a basis for measurements based on possible developed indicators. Originality/value This paper highlights the gap in the literature concerning the practical use and interpretation of the concepts “project efficiency”, “project effectiveness” and “project efficacy”.

ACS Style

Youcef J.-T. Zidane; Nils O.E. Olsson. Defining project efficiency, effectiveness and efficacy. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business 2017, 10, 621 -641.

AMA Style

Youcef J.-T. Zidane, Nils O.E. Olsson. Defining project efficiency, effectiveness and efficacy. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business. 2017; 10 (3):621-641.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Youcef J.-T. Zidane; Nils O.E. Olsson. 2017. "Defining project efficiency, effectiveness and efficacy." International Journal of Managing Projects in Business 10, no. 3: 621-641.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2017 in Transportation Research Procedia
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Norwegian railways experienced a steady decline in punctuality during the period 2007-2010. This paper briefly discusses the concept of train punctuality, influencing factors on punctuality, and investigates relationship between punctuality and weather factors on Norwegian railways by analysing data for the period 2007-2010. This study is particularly interested in data from the Oslo area, namely the section between Drammen and Eidsvoll, a stretch that has many travellers and affects all the train companies involved in the study. The analyses are based on data concerning punctuality and potential weather factors that are likely to influence punctuality. Data are studied on a weekly basis, and correlation and regression analyses are carried out. The results show that the influence of a harsh winter with extreme cold days on punctuality is strong and their correlation is statistically significant. The contribution of this paper lies within research on the empirical study of delay causes in the railway industry.

ACS Style

Ghazal Zakeri; Nils O.E. Olsson. Investigation of punctuality of local trains - the case of Oslo area. Transportation Research Procedia 2017, 27, 373 -379.

AMA Style

Ghazal Zakeri, Nils O.E. Olsson. Investigation of punctuality of local trains - the case of Oslo area. Transportation Research Procedia. 2017; 27 ():373-379.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ghazal Zakeri; Nils O.E. Olsson. 2017. "Investigation of punctuality of local trains - the case of Oslo area." Transportation Research Procedia 27, no. : 373-379.

Journal article
Published: 04 October 2016 in Procedia Computer Science
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ACS Style

Nils O.E. Olsson; Gørild Berg-Johansen. Aspects of Project Ownership in Theory and Practice. Procedia Computer Science 2016, 100, 790 -795.

AMA Style

Nils O.E. Olsson, Gørild Berg-Johansen. Aspects of Project Ownership in Theory and Practice. Procedia Computer Science. 2016; 100 ():790-795.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nils O.E. Olsson; Gørild Berg-Johansen. 2016. "Aspects of Project Ownership in Theory and Practice." Procedia Computer Science 100, no. : 790-795.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2015 in Procedia Computer Science
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The paper maps the use of reduction lists in major railway investment projects. The reduction lists consist of scope reductions that are not desirable, but that can be implemented in large Norwegian governmental investments if there is a risk of cost overrun. This study analyzes volume and characteristics of actual implementation of the potential scope reductions of railway projects. The study is based on major Norwegian railway investments finished during the last 10 years. Information about use of reduction lists is obtained from direct contact with project managers. We have data for seven rail projects, and detailed information for one of them. Five of the projects had reduction lists established in the front-end phase. Three of the projects did implement reductions listed on the reduction lists, but none implemented the full reduction list. Findings indicate that the reduction lists have limited use as an active tool for controlling costs, because the saved amounts are small compared to the total budget for the projects. Contingencies appear to be a stronger tool for cost control than reduction lists. The findings are of interest related to cost control of investment projects, both in railways and other sectors.

ACS Style

Nils O.E. Olsson. Implementation of Pre-defined Potential Scope Reductions in Projects. Procedia Computer Science 2015, 64, 387 -394.

AMA Style

Nils O.E. Olsson. Implementation of Pre-defined Potential Scope Reductions in Projects. Procedia Computer Science. 2015; 64 ():387-394.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nils O.E. Olsson. 2015. "Implementation of Pre-defined Potential Scope Reductions in Projects." Procedia Computer Science 64, no. : 387-394.

Journal article
Published: 31 July 2012 in Transport Policy
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This paper presents the cost-benefit methodology used in the appraisal of railway infrastructure in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the UK, France, Germany and Switzerland. The consequences of differences in methodology are illustrated by a case-study undertaken with the methodology from each of the seven countries. Differences in methodology means that results from the analyses are far from similar. The case project has a positive net present value based on Swiss and British methodology, but negative net present value using methodology from any of the other five countries.

ACS Style

Nils O.E. Olsson; Andreas Økland; Siri B. Halvorsen. Consequences of differences in cost-benefit methodology in railway infrastructure appraisal—A comparison between selected countries. Transport Policy 2012, 22, 29 -35.

AMA Style

Nils O.E. Olsson, Andreas Økland, Siri B. Halvorsen. Consequences of differences in cost-benefit methodology in railway infrastructure appraisal—A comparison between selected countries. Transport Policy. 2012; 22 ():29-35.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nils O.E. Olsson; Andreas Økland; Siri B. Halvorsen. 2012. "Consequences of differences in cost-benefit methodology in railway infrastructure appraisal—A comparison between selected countries." Transport Policy 22, no. : 29-35.

Article
Published: 01 May 2011 in Architectural Engineering and Design Management
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This article elaborates on lean thinking in design management. Lean philosophy focuses on minimizing waste and maximizing value. We discuss how lean concepts can be understood and how this can affect the design process. In particular, we examine how flexibility can be achieved through the use of a layered design process and a layered building design. The design process has two main outcomes: input to the production and/or construction process, and input to the decision process. These two outcomes have a number of contradictory characteristics. Traditionally, production processes call for early decisions and control of cost, time and risks. Typically, this has been the engineers’ or the contractors’ perspective. In contrast, the decision process typically strives to postpone final commitments and design freeze in order to keep options open. Lean thinking shows that the two approaches do not have to be contradictory. Based on case studies of two hospital projects, we discuss flexibility in the design process and design in relation to lean principles. The article demonstrates the importance of seeing the design process and design model as two integrated parts. Lean thinking can serve as an enabler by focusing on reducing waste and increasing the customer's value.

ACS Style

Geir K. Hansen; Nils O. E. Olsson. Layered Project–Layered Process: Lean Thinking and Flexible Solutions. Architectural Engineering and Design Management 2011, 7, 70 -84.

AMA Style

Geir K. Hansen, Nils O. E. Olsson. Layered Project–Layered Process: Lean Thinking and Flexible Solutions. Architectural Engineering and Design Management. 2011; 7 (2):70-84.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Geir K. Hansen; Nils O. E. Olsson. 2011. "Layered Project–Layered Process: Lean Thinking and Flexible Solutions." Architectural Engineering and Design Management 7, no. 2: 70-84.

Journal article
Published: 01 January 2010 in HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
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Objective: This paper analyzes the dynamics relating to flexibility in a hospital project context. Three research questions are addressed: (1) When is flexibility used in the life cycle of a project? (2) What are the stakeholders' perspectives on project flexibility? And (3) What is the nature of the interaction between flexibility in the process of a project and flexibility in terms of the characteristics of a building? Background: Flexibility is discussed from both a project management point of view and from a hospital architecture perspective. Flexibility in project life cycle and from a stakeholder perspective is examined, and the interaction between flexibility in scope lock-in and building flexibility is investigated. Methods: The results are based on case studies of four Norwegian hospital projects. Information relating to the projects has been obtained from evaluation reports, other relevant documents, and interviews. Observations were codified and analyzed based on selected parameters that represent different aspects of flexibility. Results: One of the cases illustrates how late changes can have a significant negative impact on the project itself, contributing to delays and cost overruns. Another case illustrates that late scope lock-in on a limited part of the project, in this case related to medical equipment, can be done in a controlled manner. Project owners and users appear to have given flexibility high priority. Project management teams are less likely to embrace changes and late scope lock-in. Architects and consultants are important for translating program requirements into physical design. A highly flexible building did not stop some stakeholders from pushing for significant changes and extensions during construction.

ACS Style

Nils O. E. Olsson; Geir K. Hansen. Identification of Critical Factors Affecting Flexibility in Hospital Construction Projects. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal 2010, 3, 30 -47.

AMA Style

Nils O. E. Olsson, Geir K. Hansen. Identification of Critical Factors Affecting Flexibility in Hospital Construction Projects. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal. 2010; 3 (2):30-47.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Nils O. E. Olsson; Geir K. Hansen. 2010. "Identification of Critical Factors Affecting Flexibility in Hospital Construction Projects." HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal 3, no. 2: 30-47.