Improving Quality at Entry – Principles and Procedures

Presentation:
Improving Quality at Entry – Principles and Procedures
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Summary of presentation

Public investment projects do not always meet the expectations of different stakeholders. Many are delivered too late, at a higher cost, and do not meet agreed quality standards. These are common problems that might have considerable adverse effect on operational costs and even the economic viability. In many cases, however, the long term effects of such problems are minor. For instance, the Norwegian national university hospital was completed with considerable cost overrun. This, however, was equivalent to only some months of operational costs. The more serious type of problems associated with projects are when they are not able to produce the anticipated effect. Public resources are wasted. Clearly, a key to successful projects lies in the choice of concept and the fundamental design.

This presentation discusses measures in terms of governance regimes that might improve success in public investment projects. There are numerous questions to be answered, such as: Which are the current procedures applied in different countries and agencies - and what are their effects? What would it take to develop more effective governance regimes at international, government or corporate level to ensure maximum utility and return on investment for society and investors? What would be the optimal mix of regulations, economic means and information in improved governance regimes for major investment projects?
 

Autobiography

Knut Samset is professor in project management at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and director of the Concept research program. He holds a PhD in risk management and degrees in engineering and sociology. His most recent book is “Project Evaluation, Making Investments Succeed” (Tapir Academic Press 2003). He has written a number of textbooks and papers on project planning, evaluation, technology assessment and future studies.

Knut Samset has more than two decades of practical experience from international consulting as Managing Director and Senior Partner in the company Scanteam Ltd. He has extensive experience in front-end management, quality assurance and evaluation of international projects as advisor to governments in many countries and international organizations such as the World Bank, OECD, and the United Nations. He has a background in future studies and technology assessment working in association with the World Future Studies Federation, and as a Unesco research fellowship holder.

Knut Samset’s current research as director of the Concept research program is in the field of project governance, front-end management and decision making in major projects, strategic planning and tactical management, decision making based on judgmental information, and incentives and decision making.