School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment
Unit Name: Quality and Value Management
Unit Code: 300748 (Autumn, 2022)
Assessment Description
Assignment 2: Value Management
1) Overview
| Type of Assessment | Marks | Length | Group (G) / Individual (I) | Learning Outcomes | Deadline |
| Project | 25% | 1000 words | G/I | 2,3 | Part A: 14/5/2022 and 16/5/2022 |
| 2000 words | Part B Presentation: 07/06/2022 and 09/06/2022 Full Report: 12/6/2022 |
2)Unit Learning Outcomes
1. Apply value management and life cycle costing techniques in construction projects.
3) Purpose
This assignment should demonstrate students understanding of Value Management (VM) principles and its application in building projects and is written in a way to showcase the use of relevant tools and techniques focusing on Value from a functional perspective.
4) Description
Referring to the case study, you will need to apply Value Management (VM) to at least 2 projects of the program shown in the case study. You will apply the VM methodology and principles without cutting corners and skipping phases.
You are generally expected to research and reasonably estimate costs and risks and think of the function or purpose of project components when preparing FAST diagrams. Propose solutions and recommendations and indicate why the proposed solutions are suitable for the project.
5) Grouping
This is a group assignment, and you need to do this assignment as part of a group of 5
members. You should enrol in a group of your choice and report to the instructor as to the formation of the groups (ideally during the first week of the semester). It is expected that you will start working on this assignment as early as possible after the brief is presented in the class. You should report to the unit coordinator or lecturer if you cannot find a suitable group.
6) Submission
Part A: VM study preparation and information
You can choose at least 2 projects from the program shown in the case study (1- Hydro panels, 2- Solar panels, 3- ventilation & air-conditioning, 4- roof restoration and 5- recladding). Research and provide reasonable assumptions and descriptions. According to your chosen project, what would be your assumed statement of problem ?
Prepare a time model, cost model, performance/quality model, risks (at least 15 identified risks) and scope using WBS technique. For Part A, its optional to include RFI for your Functional Analysis. But it is a Must to show your Functional Analysis in your report in Part B.
The deadlines to complete Part A are 14 May 2022 (Parramatta Campus groups) and 16May 2022 (Kingswood Campus groups). Submit the report through vUWS and present your works during the class for feedback from the instructor.
Part B: VM study report presentation:
Each group needs to conduct a presentation/workshop of their final report prepared according to the aspects shown below. The presentation/workshop is to be conducted in the class on 07 June 2022 and 09 June 2022 for comments before the final report submission. The presentation arrangement, time, and format will be determined by the course instructor.
Part B: Full Report Submission:
All the groups are required to apply the VM concept to their chosen projects. The final report should cover:
- Statement of the Problem: Identification of problem and goals and objectives.
- VM Workshop:
- Information Phase: Time model, cost model, performance/quality model
(SWOT), scope (WBS) and Risk model (Risk profile)
- Function Analysis (F.A.S.T. Diagram, Function Resource Matrix)
- Creative ideas and evaluating them ((Evaluation criteria and weighted matrix)
- Development of ideas ( at least 3 risk assessments and LCC development for at least 2 ideas)
- Your recommendations
The final report should be referenced and produced in a professional manner as it is to be presented to the project client. The report should be submitted via the Turnitin link provided in vUWS on or before Saturday 11:59pm 12 June 2022 (both Parramatta Campus and Penrith Campus groups).
7) Resources
− Case study provided
− AS4183: 2007 Value Management
− Value Methodology, Pocket Guide – SAVE International®
− NSW Treasury Value Management Process
− vUWS materials, scholarly published journal papers, textbooks, cited online materials, case studies, and interviews.
8) Assessment
The final report will be evaluated using criteria shown in the following table:
| Criteria | High Distinction | Distinction | Credit | Pass | Unsatisfactory |
| Part A (5 marks) | Students show an excellent understanding of the cost estimation of the building based on the given set of drawings and documents. The QS Cost estimate document is fully completed with a reasonable total cost. | Students show a very good understanding of the cost estimation of the building based on the given set of drawings and documents. The QS Cost estimate document is fully completed with a reasonable total cost. | Students show a sound understanding of the cost estimation of the building based on the given set of drawings and documents. The QS Cost estimate document is fully completed with a reasonable total cost. | Students show a moderate level of understanding of the cost estimation of the building based on the given set of drawings and documents. The QS Cost estimate document is partially completed with a reasonable total cost. | Students show a poor level of understanding of the cost estimation of the building based on the given set of drawings and documents. The QS Cost estimate document is incomplete. |
| Part B: (15 marks) | Students demonstrate a comprehensive and structured analysis of the problem and issues and their possible creative alternative solutions. Critical and systematic evaluation of alternative solutions and detailed development of the proposed solution. Outstanding level of understanding of VM processes. An outstanding report in all aspects of communication, structure and writing. | Students demonstrate a very good and structured analysis of the problem and issues and their possible creative alternative solutions. Detailed and systematic evaluation of alternative solutions and detailed development of the proposed solution. Very good level of understanding of VM processes. A very good report with excellent performance in some aspects. | Students present a sound and detailed analysis of the problem and issues and their possible Creative alternative solutions. Systematic evaluation of alternative solutions and detailed development of the proposed solution. Good level of understanding of VM processes. A good report communicating the key findings and the use of VM. | Students present a basic level of analysis of the problem and issues and their possible creative alternative solutions. Basic level of evaluation of alternative solutions and development of the proposed solution. Basic level of understanding of VM processes. A basic report with some degree of adherence to good practice in report writing. | Students show a lack of understanding of the problem and a weak presentation of alternative solutions. Inadequate level of evaluation of alternative solutions and poor level of detail of the proposed solution. Poor level of understanding of VM processes. A poor report that does not adequately communicate with poor performance in multiple aspects of report writing. |
| Presentation (5 marks) | An excellent demonstration of the findings in a comprehensive manner by showing remarkable presentation skills with outstanding content, clarity, visual aids, confidence, and response to questions. | A very good demonstration of the findings in a comprehensive manner by showing remarkable presentation skills with outstanding content, clarity, visual aids, confidence, and response to questions. | A good demonstration of the findings by showing sound presentation skills in terms of content, clarity, visual aids, confidence, and response to questions. | A basic demonstration of the findings by showing basic presentation skills in terms of content, clarity, visual aids, confidence, and response to questions. | A poor demonstration of the findings with poor presentation skills in terms of content, clarity, visual aids, confidence, and response to questions. |
Value Management Case study
You work for an organisation that has received funds from the Government to run a program. The new program is to renovate, upgrade and modernise State owned properties, which some are located in regional areas in NSW and some are near the coast and others are in metropolitan areas.
Michael Johnston, your program sponsor has appointed you as a VM Expert to develop a VM report to deliver massive value to the client, which is a State Government agency.
The program includes 300 old properties, some are houses and some are units. The initial budget is estimated to be $25 million. There is a possibility that the budget may increase up to an additional 25%. The condition or state of each property differs from one to another. The program initial blueprints include projects of
- hydro panels
- solar panels
- ventilation & air-conditioning 4.roof restoration and
5.re-cladding.
So, depending on the issues the state-owned properties have or face, a project will be selected for this property. For instance, a property or properties in regional areas that are facing drought, having hydro panels would be more feasible than deploying hydro panels in metropolitan areas. Also, roof restoration would be more feasible/suitable for properties near the coast or where it rains often. Etc.
Michael Johnston has distributed the 300 properties into 3 main regions, Western region, Northern region and Sydney South-eastern (SSE) region. However, the selection of properties has not finished yet. Project teams from your organisation and the State Government agency are choosing the ones based on their issues, whether properties with highest deterioration rates or the highest electricity bills, or properties with most recurrent maintenance issues.
It is June 2021, and the program has to be completed and handed over to the client within 12 months. Some properties’ cladding may have asbestos and removing asbestos will avoid asbestos risks. Thermal improvements to properties should be considered as well as replacement of old high maintenance timber windows. One of the benefits expected out of this project is the reduction of recurrent maintenance issues. The quality and acceptance criteria are yet to be finalised with contractors before signing contracts.
It is winter and it is expected to have low temperature degrees for the coming 3 months and with some rains expected every fortnight or month in different regions. Issues and complaints are expected to be sent to the client, as 90% of the properties selected will most likely be tenanted. So it might be a good idea to get some roof restorations done within 8 months before another rainy session.
Other risks expected that a few tenants in SSE region may sent their complaints straight to MPs (Member of Parliaments) office, while a few other tenants in other regions may send their complaints/issues to the media affecting your organisation’s public image of how works are conducted. Moreover, there was a risk raised by one of the project team members that some tenants after they send their complaints, may surprisingly refuse works to be carried out at the property, fearing of catching COVID-19 and prefer to be self-isolated, although restrictions in NSW have eased.
The client is keen to have a schedule of projects that takes into consideration the effect of the weather and 4 seasons. For instance, roof restoration, windows and re-cladding projects done before winter, so tenants don’t have to go through a rainy winter with deteriorated windows and old cladding. Another example like solar panels projects before summer as during summer the heat and high temperatures degrees make panels less efficient 15-25%.
As a VM Expert, you have total freedom to think, say, question, and do whatever you like. You can propose new solutions, methods or any alternatives you see, as long as you meet the goals of the program which are to renovate, upgrade and modernise 300 State owned properties, within budget and timeframe.
For part A of the assignment- VM Study preparation and information
You can choose at least 2 projects from the 5 listed projects. You can assume that your project is any of the mentioned 3 regions in NSW. Research and provide reasonable assumptions and descriptions of your project. According to your chosen projects what would be your assumed problem statement ?
Prepare models for time, cost, performance/quality, risks (at least 15 risks identified) and scope. For part A, its optional to include a RFI for your Functional Analysis part.
Part B – VM report and presentation
All groups are required to apply VM concepts to their chosen projects. The final report should cover:
- Statement of Problem and Goals & Objectives
- VM Study
- Information phase
- Function Analysis (F.A.S.T. Diagram, Function Resource Matrix)
- Creative ideas and evaluating them (Evaluation criteria and weighted matrix)
- Development of ideas ( at least 3 risk assessments and LCC development for at least 2 ideas)
- Your recommendations
The final report should be referenced and produced in a professional manner as it is to be presented to the project client. The report should be submitted via the Turnitin link provided in vUWS on or before Saturday 11:59pm 4 June 2021 (both Parramatta Campus and Penrith Campus groups).
