Course syllabus for Construction, processes and management

Course syllabus adopted 2023-02-02 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameEffektiva byggproduktionsprocesser
  • CodeBOM025
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPDCM
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyCivil and Environmental Engineering
  • DepartmentARCHITECTURE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 88118
  • Maximum participants75 (at least 10% of the seats are reserved for exchange students)
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0107 Project 7.5 c
Grading: TH		 7.5 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Only for students admitted to MSc programme within Architecture and Civil Engineering, as well as for exchange students with equivalent background.

Aim

The construction industry faces a number of major challenges: global competitiveness, global sustainability goals, productivity rates, energy-related issues, and impacts on the individuals' physical and mental health. The purpose of this course is therefore twofold: First, developing an understanding of the way construction production processes are organized, carried out, and managed; and second, developing an understanding of the way design and construction companies can implement processes that meet the aforementioned challenges while also minimizing the consumption of resources.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

After completing the course, the students should be able to understand and apply theories, concepts, and techniques on construction processes, especially during production and with a managerial perspective. This competence includes:
  • The ability to identify and select the proper theory and approach to tackle challenges related to construction processes, organisation, and management.
  • The ability to draw practical insights from theories on, indicatively, human activities in construction processes, other process theories, and lean construction.
  • The ability to analyze of the role of site management and project management, and their relationship to complex environments.
  • The ability to appraise productivity and performance concepts (their advantages and disadvantages).

Content

The course integrates theoretical approaches with practical cases, with a focus on how construction processes should be led and organized. Key concepts include, but are not limited to:
  • Production processes
  • Production management
  • Production quality
  • Lean construction
  • Industrialized construction
  • Productivity and performance measurement

Organisation

The course includes mandatory seminars and presentations. The course consists mainly of the following learning activities:
  • (Primarily) flipped lectures
  • Guest lectures from the industry and academia
  • Cases and exercises
  • Two group assignments

Literature

The course's literature consists primarily of scientific papers. Most of said literature items are readily available through Chalmers Library but are also uploaded each year on the course's Canvas page. When flipped classroom sessions are taking places, the students must read the corresponding session literature beforehand. The literature items are divided into mandatory and supplementary (optional) ones. When it comes to each session's slideset, those are generally uploaded some time before each respective courseday.

Examination including compulsory elements

The examination of the course is related to achieving the goals mentioned earlier in the learning outcomes, and is realized through the successful completion of two assignments:
  • Assignment 1 – Literature seminar: A group work accounting for 30% of the final grade. The detailed description, as well as the timeframe for preparing, supervising, and presenting the assignment is noted each year in the schedule of the course’s Canvas page.
  • Assignment 2 – Construction site study, observations on production, and manager interview: A group work counting for 70% of the final grade. The detailed description, as well as the timeframe for preparing, supervising, and presenting the assignment is noted each year in the schedule of the course’s Canvas page.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.