Table Of ContentInternational Series in
Operations Research & Management Science
Zhaohan Sheng
Fundamental
Theories of Mega
Infrastructure
Construction
Management
Theoretical Considerations from
Chinese Practices
International Series in Operations Research
& Management Science
Volume 259
Series Editor
Camille C. Price
Stephen F. Austin State University, TX, USA
Associate Series Editor
Joe Zhu
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, MA, USA
Founding Series Editor
Frederick S. Hillier
Stanford University, CA, USA
More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/6161
Zhaohan Sheng
Fundamental Theories
of Mega Infrastructure
Construction Management
Theoretical Considerations
from Chinese Practices
Zhaohan Sheng
School of Management & Engineering
Nanjing University
Nanjing, China
ISSN 0884-8289 ISSN 2214-7934 (electronic)
International Series in Operations Research & Management Science
ISBN 978-3-319-61972-9 ISBN 978-3-319-61974-3 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-61974-3
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017950067
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Preface
Construction Management: Chinese Scholars’ Repeating
Narration to Subsequent Narration
Although it took approximately 3 years for my writing to finally culminate in this
book, I spent nearly 30 years thinking through related problems to form and stream-
line a relatively complete system.
The main reasons for investing so much time in writing about the fundamental
theory of mega infrastructure construction management are as follows:
1. This book contains numerous new academic ideas and theoretical opinions that
require lengthy consideration.
2. Though many of the investigated concepts and theories are independent, they are
correlated. The entire theoretical system, which includes fundamental concepts,
theories, scientific problems, and methodologies, must be systematic and logical,
which requires considerable time and effort to create.
3. The discussed theoretical contents require the guidance and support of construc-
tion management practice activities. Accordingly, germination and growth are
lengthy processes in producing and achieving the theoretical formation
threshold.
4. The content herein fully demonstrates the combination and integration of multiple
disciplines, and it also requires the gradual development of an interdisciplinary
academic environment.
Therefore, the writing and publishing efforts not only record the long academic
research path of the writer but also reflect the explorative process of Chinese schol-
ars and construction practitioners of mega infrastructure construction management
theories.
v
vi Preface
One
Many years ago, Chongqing Guo, a famous Chinese management scientist and
academician, argued that to facilitate further development, Chinese management
science ought to transition gradually from the Repeating Narration stage, which
relies heavily on foreign academic thought, to the Subsequent Narration stage,
which is practice oriented and focuses on the innovation of management theory.
This is not only the purpose of Chinese management scholars but also the historical
responsibility of Chinese construction management scholars.
Thirty years ago, due to little historical heritage and the short development period
of construction management in China, Chinese scholars focused primarily on the
introduction and adaptation of foreign construction management knowledge sys-
tems and methods centered on project management. Endeavoring to apply the
knowledge and methods to Chinese construction management practices during
those initial growth periods was necessary and important for construction and man-
agement in China. The foreign project management system plays an important role
in the development and progress of Chinese construction management. It is, and
will continue to be, a crucial element. In general, work related to Chinese construc-
tion management during this period belonged to the Repeating Narration period,
which relied on the foreign construction management knowledge system.
However, this 30-year period experienced the fastest development of construc-
tion engineering in the world, especially in China. In addition, the construction
management field realized great advancements and development. With the constant
expansion of Chinese construction engineering, infrastructure construction has
become an essential part of the social and economic development of China.
On the one hand, massive practical problems in construction management not
only require the use of the direct application of foreign construction management
knowledge and methods but also must be considered according to the actual situa-
tion of Chinese construction management when developing new construction man-
agement ideas and theories. On the other hand, constantly enriching practices of
Chinese construction management together with massive practical management
experiences provides fertile soil for the consideration and creation of theories.
To put it simply, the evolution of current construction management in China has
reached an important turning point. The crucial task is to change from the Repeating
Narration period, where foreign construction management (primarily project man-
agement) knowledge and methods are purely introduced and absorbed, to a new
period that further summarizes the management experience and refines the theoreti-
cal elements to form a new construction management theory based on construction
management practices. Thus, the new Subsequent Narration period of Chinese con-
struction management would most certainly involve unique construction manage-
ment problems related to the Chinese environment and culture, as well as focus on
theoretical construction management problems, which would be sourced from con-
struction practices in China but could be applied universally and extended for tre-
mendous fundamental significance. For example, some construction management
Preface vii
problems arise in construction practices both at home and abroad. Subsequent
Narration would reveal and theoretically explain new and in-depth laws. Furthermore,
new problems of universal value exist in foreign construction practices in China,
without being conspicuously obvious. Subsequent Narration would explore these
problems theoretically not by focusing on experiences limited to the national situa-
tion and cultural features of China or common skills and operating techniques in
practical construction management activities but by focusing instead on the theo-
retical innovation of construction management.
Repeating Narration and Subsequent Narration, though both are forms of narra-
tion, are vastly different. Repeating Narration discusses knowledge and methods of
foreign construction management, while Subsequent Narration focuses more on the
research of construction management practices in China and the refinement of the
universal scientific theory based on these Chinese practices.
Two
Engineering management in China has a solid foundation of practice and theoretical
preparation, transitioning from Repeating Narration to Subsequent Narration.
Over the past 30 years, China has become the world’s leading construction coun-
try, not only through maintained large-scale construction projects but also due to
many major emerging world-renowned projects. The number and size of major
projects already built or currently in progress in China rank first in the world, thus
providing a rich, deep, direct source to examine major construction management
theory and serving as the most valuable practical resource in the field of construc-
tion management in China.
Through diverse engineering functions, major projects are divided into scientific
and technological, military defense, and infrastructure construction. Among these,
infrastructure construction not only encompasses a wide range of work but also
fully reflects basic project characteristics and basic features of economics, manage-
ment, and other scientific systems. Therefore, from the perspective of the signifi-
cance of the mega infrastructure construction management science system, the
conducting of research on management theory of mega infrastructure construction
is of universal significance. As the focal point of this study, mega infrastructure
construction refers specifically to mega infrastructure projects, such as large-scale
hydraulic engineering, major environmental engineering, and large bridge, tunnel,
and other major transportation hub construction. Mega infrastructure construction
management theory is interdisciplinary and comprehensive, involving many fields,
including natural sciences, engineering sciences, technical sciences, social sciences,
and humanities. Subsequent Narration requires not only the integrated use of these
sciences but also the methodological guidance of philosophical wisdom and cultural
connotations. Chinese philosophical comprehensive thinking and integrated, wise
cultural thought contribute to the thinking principle and thinking route of the
viii Preface
Chinese engineering management scholars’ mega infrastructure construction
management theory, i.e., Subsequent Narration.
Though Chinese construction management scholars have used Repeating
Narration over the years, at the same time, they have continued to explore Subsequent
Narration. Combining the accumulated experience with the formation of new
theoretical elements, the necessary preparations are in place to further this mega
infrastructure construction management theory.
Based on the aforementioned points, Subsequent Narration requires Chinese
scholars to utilize a variety of practical resource advantages while focusing on the
innovation of the mega infrastructure construction management theory.
Thus, Chinese scholars have transformed construction management from
Repeating Narration to Subsequent Narration, the latter of which is based on abun-
dant mega infrastructure construction management practices and requires the guid-
ance of scientific philosophical thinking. Moreover, both of these aspects must be
closely combined. Specifically, with the continual expansion of the academic turn-
ing point regarding Chinese mega infrastructure construction management practices
and the increasing demand for theoretical innovation, the project management
knowledge system, which relies on emphasizing Chinese traditional cultural wis-
dom, and the proposed academic self-assertion and autonomy based on complex
holism are necessary to achieve a new Subsequent Narration of mega infrastructure
construction management. In this way, the transition from Repeating Narration to
the new process of Subsequent Narration is manifested. This scenario indicates that
Subsequent Narration for construction management is theoretically significant and
has innovation value. Therefore, we do not follow the traditional project manage-
ment system path, nor do we discuss only several new phenomena and fragmented
field problems of mega infrastructure construction management. Rather, we con-
sider that we should discuss the mega infrastructure construction theoretical system
of academic self-assertion with distinct systematicness and clear organization,
including basic principles, concepts, theories, issues, and methods as well as the
integrated academic discourse system based on these assertions.
According to the concept of basic theory in science philosophy, mega infrastruc-
ture construction management basic theory refers to the research of mega infra-
structure construction management activities with respect to general or primary
laws in the theoretical system and the theoretical basis guiding the significance of
practical management activities. This theory incorporates the basic fundamental
and universal theoretical principles and original philosophy in mega infrastructure
construction management systems. A more detailed explanation of this manage-
ment theory is as follows:
1. The basic ideas and behavior principles of the management body in the mega
infrastructure construction management activities.
2. The basic patterns and principles of the management body’s thinking and behav-
ior through the mega infrastructure construction management activities.
3. The principles and the basic form of the mega infrastructure construction manage-
ment activities are comprehensively established by the management body based on
environmental management, management objectives, and management issues.
Preface ix
Thus, given the above details, Chinese scholars should highlight the important
theoretical aspects of mega infrastructure construction management in the
Subsequent Narration stage of construction management.
The establishment of this principle embodies the true meaning and value of
Chinese scholars’ Subsequent Narration theory, as well as Chinese mega infrastruc-
ture construction management practice and innovation. Although Chinese construc-
tion management scholars transformed Repeating Narration into Subsequent
Narration, this does not mean that the foreign project management system will be
replaced or that its existence will be denied. The development of the critical role of
the construction management system by Chinese scholars involves systematic
thinking about the mega infrastructure construction management theory. At the
same time, it involves typical practices as part of the academic growth of China’s
construction management. Moreover, by developing the project management sys-
tem and its connotation, China’s construction management theory reflects the
Chinese culture and philosophy as well as the realistic and legitimate vitality pro-
duced from what Hegel called the East–West cultural integration. Therefore, this
book embodies the theoretical exploration and thinking of Chinese scholars in the
field of construction management at the Subsequent Narration stage.
To do so, the following principles must be acknowledged:
1. The principles, with respect to mega infrastructure construction, must remain
rooted in management practice. As construction management is a practical sci-
ence, if the summary of mega infrastructure construction management rules and
management theory departs from the practice of construction management, its
persuasive, explanatory, analytical, and predictive power, as well as the level of
control, cannot be guaranteed.
2. Innovated theoretical research must be mandated. Subsequent Narration is an
academic innovation behavior. Theoretical research cannot just examine the gen-
eral interpretations and annotations of the existing knowledge and experience, as
doing so would minimize the academic value of such research.
3. The unity of Subsequent Narration and Repeating Narration must be maintained, as
Repeating Narration is not excluded from Subsequent Narration in construction
management. Regardless of the research or innovation under investigation, the study
itself and the comprehensive understanding of the information and ideas are always
prerequisites to the improvement and development of construction management.
In other words, for Subsequent Narration to prosper and succeed, Repeating
Narration must occur first. This concept is consistent with the premise that any
scientific civilization has always developed from learning and inheritance.
Three
In conclusion, Subsequent Narration should narrate how to conduct theoretical
research and implement innovation based on mega infrastructure construction
management practices in China. Accordingly, the first step must be to establish
x Preface
theoretical thinking principles and form a theoretical system that clearly defines the
theoretical research objectives, the nature of mega infrastructure construction, and
mega infrastructure construction management.
As Einstein said, “If the scope and general concepts are not defined, thinking is
like breathing in a vacuum; it is impossible.” In this regard, this book combines the
Subsequent Narration of construction management scholars in China with tradi-
tional Chinese philosophy, contemporary integrated system theory, and an interna-
tional comprehensive system of science to form a new and complex integral
cognition about mega infrastructure construction management by establishing a
path of thinking about mega infrastructure construction management theory.
Because of their different levels, all theoretical issues of mega infrastructure con-
struction management are clearly and completely discussed. Therefore, to stress the
key point, problems, whether simple or complex, do not need to be narrated. Rather,
issues that fully reflect the essential characteristics of mega infrastructure construc-
tion management and research of new phenomena related to the theoretical thinking
category should be the focus of the study.
More specifically, this book, based on the important academic philosophy that
“The construction is the body, the system is the soul,” finds that the main objective
of mega infrastructure construction management theory research is to resolve a
class of issues relevant to and evident in the management activity that causes man-
agement to reflect characteristics of unclear structure, unknown mechanisms, and
strong dynamics with substantial environmental influence. These issues include a
lack of sufficient resources, the absence of recognition, and the inability to control
management activities. Consequently, these issues cannot be solved by using tradi-
tional experience and existing methods. Rather, they require new and innovative
thinking and the integration of more resources to build a new platform and form new
capabilities.
For example, mega infrastructure construction project planning, decision authen-
tication, construction design, construction organization models, mega construction
schemes, investment and financing practices, technical management, integrated
field control, and construction risk management belong to this class of issues.
However, this class of management issues possesses complex integrity, which can-
not be resolved, and achieves little success from general construction management
technology or system construction methods. Therefore, new complex management
methods must be used to resolve these issues.
Although this class of issues generally appears at the macro and strategic levels
of mega infrastructure construction management and may not constitute a particu-
larly substantial percentage of total management issues, their complexity has global
and long-term effects on decision-making, construction, and operations with respect
to mega infrastructure construction. Rather, the research indicates that these issues
are the most fundamental and important scientific problems of mega infrastructure
construction management.
In response to this, Subsequent Narration creates technology and methods to
resolve this class of issues through interactions between theory and practice.
Furthermore, Subsequent Narration proposes guiding principles at the methodological
