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Concept Symposium 2003: "Front-End Management of Large Public
Projects"
Symposium Purpose
In organizing this symposium on Front-End Management of Large Public
Projects, the Concept Research Program aimed to facilitate an arena where
researchers and representatives of owners of large, public investment
projects could exchange experiences and focus on answers and solutions to
improve quality-at-entry of major public projects. The basic idea was to
bring together a rather select, but diverse group of about 40 people to
enable targeted discussion and working sessions. Concept wanted to share
insights into the law-enforced Norwegian government scheme for front-end
management of such projects, and understand what measures are taken in
other countries. Based on this, Concept hoped to initiate fruitful
discussions that could be of use to researchers and practitioners in their
future work as well as spark ideas for future research and improvement
work in this important field. Our aim was of course also to facilitate the
formation of networks that the participants could benefit from in their
future endeavors.
"You must learn form the mistake of others.You can’t possibly live long
enough to make them all yourself", Sam Levenson
Key note speaker
Roger Miller is co-author of the book: "The strategic Management of Large
Engineering Projects" where 60 large projects from e.g. USA, Turkey,
Venezuela and Norway have been analyzed. The authors have developed an
experience-based theoretical framework that enables understanding and
ability to respond to the complexity and uncertainty inherent in such
projects.
Target group
Researchers and representatives of owners of large public projects. Others
may attend, but invitations to the seminar was only distributed to a
select group of professionals. The symposium had a set-limit for the
number of attending participants.
The Concept Research Program
As a response to frequent cost and time overruns in large, public
investment projects, in 1999 the Norwegian Ministry of Finance initiated a
quality assurance scheme to ensure quality-at-entry of major Government
funded projects before funding is appropriated. This requires the
respective responsible ministries to undertake assessments during the
front-end stage, with a particular aim to review cost estimates and major
risks that might affect the project when implemented. Four groups of
consulting firms have been assigned to undertake such assessments. The
Concept research program has been established to conduct trailing research
on this scheme, focusing on uncertainty analysis, portfolio management,
project concept development and selection, and the quality assurance
scheme itself. The program focuses its research on the financing party’s
view, which is generally broader and more long-term than the contractor’s
view. Funding for the program comes from the Ministry of Finance, and the
program is managed from the Norwegian University of Science and
Technology, with involvement from the University of Oslo and other
relevant research institutions. The program will run for five years,
2002–2008, and one clear objective is to create links to relevant
international actors in this area. Read more about
the Concept Research Program.
Full program for the Concept Symposium
Available presentations and relevant papers can be
found in Presentations & papers. The results
and introduction to the professional exchange Sessions can be found in
Exchange Sessions.
Program –
day 1
Tuesday 23. September 2003
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Time |
Activity |
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0830-0900 |
Registration & Coffee
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0900-0915 |
Welcome
speech by Chairman of the Symposium
Deputy Director General Peder Berg
Royal Norwegian Ministry of Finance
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0915-0945 |
The
financing party’s view: ”Can
lessons learnt from North Sea Oil Projects contribute to successful
governmental construction projects?”
Professor Asbjørn Rolstadås
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
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0945-1030 |
The broad
overview: ”Managing
Large Engineering Project”
Professor Roger Miller
University of Quebec
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1030-1100 |
Break
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1100-1145 |
The
researcher’s view: ”Front-end
management of major projects – beliefs, experiences and challenges.
Preliminary findings from the Concept program”
Professor Knut Samset
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
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1145-1245 |
Lunch
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1245-1400 |
Visit to Holmenkollen Ski Museum
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1400-1415 |
Introduction to the Professional Exchange Sessions (more
information)
Deputy Director General Peder Berg
Royal Norwegian Ministry of Finance
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1415-1500 |
Professional Exchange Session 1
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1500-1515 |
Break and
rotation
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1515-1600 |
Professional Exchange Session 2
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1600-1615 |
Break and
rotation
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1615-1700 |
Professional Exchange Session 3
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1900- |
Symposium
Dinner
Professor Steinar Strøm
University of Oslo
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Program –
day 2
Wednesday 24. September 2003
|
Time |
Activity |
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0900-0915 |
Introduction
Deputy Director General Peder Berg
Royal Norwegian Ministry of Finance
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0915-0945 |
The project
manager’s view: “Lessons
gained from some major infrastructure projects”
Project Manager Roald Bjordal
Statsbygg
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0945-1030 |
The quality
assuror’s view: “Current
measures to improve strategic decisions and manage uncertainty
up-front”
Managing director Halvard Kilde
Metier
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1030-1100 |
Break
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1100-1145 |
Professional Exchange Session 4
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1145-1200 |
Break and
rotation
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1200-1245 |
Professional Exchange Session 5
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1245-1345 |
Lunch
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1345-1445 |
Presentation of the results from the Professional Exchange Sessions
with plenary debate and discussions (more
information)
Deputy Director General Peder Berg
Royal Norwegian Ministry of Finance
Professor
Bjørn Andersen
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
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1445-1500 |
Break
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1500-1615 |
Presentation of the results from the Professional Exchange Sessions
with plenary debate and discussions continues.
Deputy Director General Peder Berg
Royal Norwegian Ministry of Finance
Professor
Bjørn Andersen
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
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1615-1630 |
Closing
statement Concept Symposium
Deputy Director General Peder Berg
Royal Norwegian Ministry of Finance
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