Essay Sample: Adoption of Microsoft Project Systems in a Construction Company in Saudi Arabia

Introduction to the System

Autodesk BIM 360 is a significant project management system beneficial in the construction company. The cloud-based management and collaboration platform helps to connect the team members, provide an expert review, and coordinated workflows. The selection of the Microsoft system is based on its capacity and ability to publish, manage, and review essential documentation. Notably, it helps to handle all organizational plans and models. The project manager relies on the BIM 360 system to meet all the project milestones and objectives within the set time, allocated budget, and schedule. For example, it links the project team via a centralized cloud workplace to ensure that project tasks are completed at the right time without delays.

Post-trial Assessment 

Objectives

One of the significant objectives linked to the system in the construction sector is cutting down rework. The project manager’s primary focus is to eliminate reworks that can attract delays and utilization of increased resources. Facilitating a field trial helps to assess effectiveness during the actual construction (Matthews, Love, Heinemann, Chandler, Rumsey & Olatunj, 2015). Thus, it is vital to consider a field trial for the BIM 360 tool. The management system can re-key information into the models or even make crucial changes during fieldwork. The other significant objective is the development of crucial information and data that allows the team to initiate informed decisions. These choices associated with the design and operation of assets. Overall, the key objective is to adhere to the timeline, budget, and schedule. 

Expected success factors

The integration of the Autodesk BIM 360 system is expected to deliver distinct success factors. One of these is greater collaboration and communication. Since the project team works in a centralized cloud environment, cooperation and communication are improved. Also, it facilitates project visualization because it helps groups to understand difficult concepts for greater efficiency. Another crucial success factor is reduced cost and task mitigation since the system eliminates barriers to the set milestones and objectives. Greater efficiency attained from the use of the system helps save time and money (Nguyen, Vo, Phan, Nguyen, Cao, Huynh & Le, 2018). Thus, BIM 360 aligns all operations for improved efficiency. Other success factors include improved scheduling, coordination, and greater productivity across all segments in the project.

Obstacles or Challenges

The integration of the Autodesk BIM 360 systems in the construction project risks facing distinct barriers. A key challenge is the lack of understanding of its use among some of the project team members. A section of the group members not be familiar with the system. Training and educating these workers about its use can consume time and resources meant for crucial project activities. Besides the lack of familiarization with the process, system errors act as another major challenge. The Microsoft project system might fail to operate as expected, leading to delayed milestones.

Target audience

The system targets the entire project team. They all operate independently to ensure they achieve the expected deliverables. The project team leader has a mandate at hand to expose the workforce to the system functionality. This ensures smooth operations and increased chances of meeting expected results within the set duration, timeline, and schedule.

Profit to the organization

The Autodesk BIM 360 system is expected to increase efficiency and effectiveness. As a result, a project oversees smooth operations that facilitate the attainment of the expected results. Some of the distinct profits associated with the project include viable returns of investments and advanced corporate branding and image for the company. The project manager stands to gain from more projects awarded by potential investors.

How the system operates to solve business obstacles

The system reduces risks and ensures the project is delivered within time and budget. It operationalizes all the project tasks to allow the team to complete them at the intended time. Notably, it eliminates or reduces reworking and provides an opportunity to track the project progress. BIM 36O is a valuable tool for decision-making processes (Che et al., 2015). Overall, the systems strategically align all tasks and operations for greater efficiency and effectiveness and, as such, helps to solve possible obstacles.

Internal and external marketing

The project manager seeks external help to implement the system. Also, internal processes such as training and education aids in marketing the system since it allows the workforce to understand its utilization for improved outcomes. 

Analytical and Design Structure of the System

Inputs

The system is structured to gather, analyze, and publish data linked to distinct project functions. The data allows the project manager to make viable decisions. The central consideration is the maintenance of time, cost, and scope.

Process

A central location in the cloud system is developed to enable real-time sharing of information and data. Each of the project team members acquires permission and access to the system. The provision of packages to each of the worker facilitates better access. The team members can evaluate the designs and changes through visualization and filtering.

Outputs 

The essential outputs integrated into the system are the deadline, cost, and deliverables. The system detects if the team has managed its operations to align with set elements once the project commences.

Support for the Business

The system helps the project team to manage risks through real-time data and information sharing. It further eases decision-making processes allowing the team to minimize delays that are likely to increase resources and extend the duration.

Support Functions

The users can visualize and filter tasks and associated functions. Visualization aids in the identification of patterns and grasping difficult elements. Filtering also helps to manage critical tasks, milestones, and other vital information. Thus, in case of any needed change, users have the necessary support. The development of a privacy policy is crucial to ensure only authorized persons access the system.

Visual Figures

References

Chen, K., Lu, W., Peng, Y., Rowlinson, S., & Huang, G. Q. (2015). Bridging BIM and building: From a literature review to an integrated conceptual framework. International journal of project management, 33(6), 1405-1416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2015.03.006

Matthews, J., Love, P. E., Heinemann, S., Chandler, R., Rumsey, C., & Olatunj, O. (2015). Real-time progress management: Re-engineering processes for cloud-based BIM in construction. Automation in Construction, 58, 38-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2015.07.004

Nguyen, P. T., Vo, K. D., Phan, P. T., Nguyen, T. A., Cao, T. M., Huynh, V. D. B., … & Le, L. P. (2018). Construction project quality management using building information modeling 360 fields. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, Article, 9(10), 228-233.