The goal of this research is to create a design for a method to enable the generation and implementation of evidence-based throughput times in the planning process of the construction industry. The current planning process and the generation and collection of throughput times relies heavily on experience-based information. Generating throughput times with data analysis could contribute to the creation of a more accurate and predictable project planning. The proposed method is necessary since the current planning process in the construction industry has a number of factors that obstruct a direct path to implementing data analysis. The current planning process is analyzed by a number of interviews with project planners and additional talks with a panel of experts in the planning process. A literature review is used to analyze how other industries use data analysis in their processes and what conditions are necessary to make data analysis possible in a planning process. Additional interviews are used to find the possibilities of data analysis in the planning process. A case study of one infrastructure construction project is used to find the missing aspects in the current planning process that would possibly enable data analysis. The case study is analyzed by following the steps of the Cross Industry Standard Procedure for Data Mining (CRISP-DM). The final product of this research is an alternative version of the CRISP-DM method. This method is focused on establishing a database filled with planning information, design information and combining those two datasets. It proposes steps to avoid undermining currently present intricate negotiation processes between contractor and subcontractor. The method makes sure the database is expanded and diversified and that proper evaluations steps are in place and that a benchmark is met in the accuracy of output values. The steps are divided in separate cycles to be applied on individual construction activities (e.g., sheet piles) since there is so little information available and it would not be feasible and justified to implement the steps on all construction activities. It is recommended that the proposed method is used to provide a proof of concept of generating detailed throughput times of construction activities in the planning process of the construction industry. This proof of concept is necessary to expand the data mining operation and try to fit evidence-based information in the workflow of project planners.

Infrastructure asset managers have the increasing challenge not only to maintain efficiently the functionalities and quality of their infrastructures, but also to upgrade them for the increasing demands and to achieve added value to their assets (Hertogh, Bakker, van der Vlist, & Barneveld, 2018). Moreover, infrastructure projects in densely populated areas, such as The Netherlands, suffer from increased complexity due to interdependencies of infrastructures which impact performance of projects (NGinfra, 2017, pp.1-3; Hertogh et al., 2018). Infrastructure operators are limited to handle such complex dependencies individually, as they need to collaborate closely with other asset owners in the entire life cycle of projects, especially in the design phase, to execute the projects successfully and add value to their infrastructures.In this light, inter-organizational collaboration (IOC) and multi-actor perspectives are driving growing attention among management scholars and practitioners to understand the complex nature of collaborative networks (Keast & Hampton, 2007; Keung & Shen, 2013; Dietrich et al, 2010; Storm, 2018). Currently, literature on IOC has many different approaches; however, its dominant focus has been within a framework of ‘problem owner’ – ‘problem solver’ relationship or an ‘owner-to-contractor’ perspective. This research project is conducted from an ‘owner-to-owner’ perspective or a horizontal collaboration perspective. The objective of this research is to investigate the required criteria to assess levels of horizontal collaboration between infrastructure owners in the design phase of projects by identifying appropriate frameworks in literature that focuses on social relationships and interdependencies, such as collaborative network and resource dependency theories. The expected result of this research study is to deliver an Inter-organizational Collaboration Assessment Tool (ICAT) to assess their levels of horizontal collaboration. The research is guided by the following research question: How can integrated collaboration between infrastructure owners be assessed on infrastructure projects? The research project will be examined through the lens of exploratory case study. The results reveal that asset managers need the knowledge of new soft mechanisms of social and cultural collaboration to deal with the increased complexity and dependencies of their infrastructure projects. Clients need to pay attention to their collaborative capacity at three different levels: individual, relational and organizational capacity to improve project performance.