Agile project management for design-build construction projects: a case study

Abstract

Despite the rising relevance of Design-Build as a favored project delivery method in the United States, no notable change has been observed in how these construction projects are managed, and the Waterfall Project Management method continues to be used as the preferred method of managing these projects. The applicability of Agile Project Management methods to the management of construction projects with Design-Build as a project delivery method has yet to be ascertained. Can Scrum, one of the Agile Project Management frameworks, be effectively used in managing a Design-Build construction project during the design and the construction phase? This study covers the adaptations necessary to apply Scrum to a Design-Build construction project and conducts a case study where Scrum was applied to part of a Design-Build construction project. The outcomes from this study show that the implementation of Scrum in a Design-Build construction project potentially leads to better cost and schedule control, along with superior communication amongst multiple stakeholders. This study is vital to advance knowledge about the applicability of Agile Project Management methods in other Design-Build construction projects during both the design and construction phases. Further research can be conducted by scaling the application of Scrum to a Design-Build construction project for the entire lifecycle