W10_Mohammed_ Our Current WBS Vs OmniClass and 3D model

Problem definition

Considering the ranking given in Blog 8 as indicated above, the main causes of change orders in Sudan oil & gas projects, is a design change translated in a poor ITB, the same delivered to the contractor with a lot of mistakes and missing parts, as a result of missing standardized WBS to put the owner and the contractor in the same track.

This Blog will take a case study developed as per the current non-standard WBS used in our projects and compare it to the standardized WBS to indicate the possible gaps.

Development of the feasible alternatives

There are three (3) WBS alternatives to compare to answer the question above:

1. Current non standard WBS

2. OmniClass Table 31 Phases: Table 31 – Phases, is the only OmniClass table that explains the stages (higher level of categorization than phases) of the project activity from conception until project closure.

3. J-Y 3D model: The 3D WBS theory includes three main dimensions: the Zones GBS), the Products (PBS) and the Activity (ABS).  The fourth dimension is the Organization (OBS) which colors the little 3D cubes (tasks) of the project cube. The OBS is extended by the RBS. Each 3D little cube has properties.

Development of the outcomes for each alternative

Finding the optimum WBS which could be fitted our purpose for the Sudanese Projects.

Accepted Criteria

There are three (3) criteria that have been selected as parameters to analyze and compare the above alternatives:

1.       WBS level of details, this will explain how detail each alternative structures their WBS for design process.

2.       Number of design activity phase, is the number of engineering phase from the project scope development to the final design.

3.       Work flow of activities, is how the activities work together from the project scope development to the final design.

4.       Complexity of the WBS

Analysis and comparison of the alternatives

Lexicography, one of non-compensatory models for multi attributes decision making technique, has been chosen to compare and analyze the alternatives. The followings are typical WBS of each alternative:

Will take the engineering stage as an example for the comparison:

1.  Current WBS (Non Standard):

Here Engineering is divided to three parts, where the Conceptual Phase usually this phase conducted by the Client; however the rest of the engineering activities (Basic and Detailed) are conducted by the contractor.

Figure 1 – Non Standard WBS

2.  Omni Class:

Figure 2 – OmniClass Table 31 – Phases – WBS

3.   J-Y 3D WBS model

Selection of the preferred alternatives

Each WBS comparison of the attributes is expressed in table 1:

Table 1 – Summary Information of Engineering Design Stage WBS

	Attributes	Our Current WBS	OmniClass Table 31-Phases	3D WBS
1	WBS Level of Details	Fair	Excellent	Excellent
2	Number of Design activity Phases	3	4	4
3	Complexity	Easy	Moderate	Difficult
4	Work flow of activities	Fair	Good	V.Good

All attributes in table 1, be ranked in order of importance by doing paired comparison between each possible attribute combination. Result as shown on table 2:

Table 2 – Ordinal Ranking of Attributes

Ordinal Ranking of Attributes
	A. Result of Paired Comparison
	WBS details > work Flow	WBS details is more important than work Flow
	WBS details > Number of Design activities	WBS details is more important than Number of Design activities
	WBS details > Complexity	WBS details is more important than Complexity
	Number of Design activities > Work Flows	Number of Design activities is more important than Work Flows
	Complexity > Number of Design activities	Complexity is more important than Number of Design activities
	Complexity > Work Flow	Complexity is more important than Work Flow
	B. Attributes	Number of times on left of >(=Ordinal Ranking)
	WBS Level of Details	3
	Number of Design activity Phases	1
	Complexity	2
	Work flow of activities	0

Table 2 – Ordinal Ranking of Attributes

Based on table 2, the ranking is found to be WBS Level of details > Complexity > Number of design activity phase > Work flow of activities.

Application of  Lexicography
Attributes	Rank (a)	Alternative (b)
WBS Level of Details	3	3D WBS  = OmniClass (Table 31-Phases) > Current WBS
Complexity	2	Current WBS > OmniClass (Table 31-Phases) > 3D WBS
Number of Design activity Phases	1	3D WBS = OmniClass (Table 31-Phases) > Current WBS
Work flow of activities	0	3D WBS > OmniClass (Table 31-Phases) > Current WBS

Note:

(a) Rank of 3 = Most Important, Rank of 0 = Least Important

(b) Selection is based on the highest ranked attribute

Performance monitoring and the post evaluation of results

Considering the above ranking, since the main causes of change orders in Sudan oil & gas projects, is a design change translated in a poor ITB. The 3D model was found the optimum selection as to be adapted to standardize the WBS and to put the owner and the contractor in the same track.

Conclusion

The preferred alternative according to table 3 is 3D model. This is because the WBS level of details and number of design activity phases are the top ranked attributes and the 3D model is the best of all over the two attributes. This will have a positive impact on reducing the possible change orders by refining the scope and eliminating any possible omissions or errors.

References

Ø      CSI OmniClass (2010), OmniClass A Strategy for Classifying the Built Environment [OmniClass Table 31- Phases]. Retrieved from http://www.omniclass.org/tables/OmniClass_31_2006-03-28.pdf

Ø      Sullivan, G., William, Wicks, M., Elin, Koelling, Patrick, C. (2009), Engineering Economic, Fifteenth Edition. Pearson International Edition.

Ø      Elrashid, M. (2011). Blog W_8 Reasons behind change orders in Sudan. Retrieved from http://www. Kristal2011aace.wordpress.com

Ø      Gustaf , Gannasonggo (2012).Blog W4_GGS_Engineering Design Stage WBS Comparison Using Non Compensatory Technique – Lexicography, Retrieved from http://aacecasablanca.wordpress.com/

Ø      Jean-Yves, Moine's. (2012), 3D Work Breakdown Structure , Retrieved from http://3d-wbs.blogspot.com/