An Integrated Productivity-Practices Implementation Index for Planning the Execution of Infrastructure Projects

Abstract

Productivity and project performance can be improved through implementing best practices. This paper describes the development of a best productivity practices implementation index (BPPII) for infrastructure projects. The index is a checklist of practices that are considered to have a positive influence on labor productivity at the project level for infrastructure projects. These practices have been grouped together into a formalized set of categories, sections, and elements. Each practice and its planning and implementation levels were defined and assigned a relative weight on the basis of its importance in affecting labor productivity. The productivity factor (PF), defined as a ratio of estimated productivity and actual productivity, was used as a metric to collect information about labor productivity to validate the accuracy of the BPPII for infrastructure projects. Data were collected for infrastructure projects in regards to their planning and implementation level of practices in addition to their PF and project schedule performance. The statistical tests confirmed that the higher implementation of best practices as defined in the index have a strong positive relationship with the PF and project schedule performance. Projects that have a high level of implementation of practices experienced better productivity and schedule performance than those having low implementation. This research contributes new insight into the relationships between sets of practices and project performance as well as a tool for planning practice implementation on infrastructure projects.