Developing Performance Framework and Measures for Construction Projects

Evaluating performance needs a framework and measures. For construction projects, performance is formed by many participants and they have different interpretations. Performance frameworks are proposed by researchers but they are most conceptual ones. On the other hand, quantitative measures are adopted to indicate results such as cost/schedule deviation but they are mainly lagging indicators. A practical framework and leading indicators are lacking. This paper develops a performance framework and measures for construction projects. The framework is derived from the input-process-output transformation process, as well as cost, time, and quality. Leading and lagging measures are identified from theoretical research, ISO management requirements, and a typical construction contract's articles. The developed measures are tested for validity against six projects at different construction stages. The results show that these measures can distinguish performances of different projects. Based on the evaluation outcomes, further analysis and actions could be made for improving unsatisfying parts of the construction performance. A project has different emphases during construction period. The developed measures can be selected, weighted, and combined to represent management needs at different times.