This thesis provides insights and recommendations for the identification and response to creeping crises during the early stages of construction projects, with a special focus on engineering consultancy firms such as Witteveen+Bos. While existing research on crisis management in construction projects focuses on the execution phase, there is still a gap regarding early-stage crises, particularly creeping crises that are crises that develop gradually. These crises are difficult to detect, often going unnoticed until they reach the tipping point, which is the moment the crisis is visible and it has already damaged the outcome of the project. The main research question of this study is: “How can engineering firms identify and implement early warning signals to detect and manage creeping crises in construction projects?" and it is divided into four sub-questions in order to structure the study in a more systematic manner. To answer the research question and to develop an actionable framework, a qualitative mixed-methods research design is chosen. The research includes a literature review spanning general crisis theories, High Reliability Organizations (HRO), sensemaking, mindfulness, and early warning systems. The second phase involves semi-structured interviews with Witteveen+Bos professionals, where the main objective is to get insights of the most common creeping crises within the organization, barriers to detection, and the existing tools and techniques. The final phase consists of a validation workshop with Witteveen+Bos’ professionals to assess the framework and get a final round of feedback. After carrying out an analysis, findings reveal six common creeping crisis types: scope creep under stakeholder pressure, effort compensation due to overcommitment, stakeholder misalignment, legal or regulatory infeasibility and obstacles, and external contextual drift. Based on these crises and the barriers encountered, a four-stage Early Warning System (EWS) framework is developed: signal detection, signal interpretation, coordinated response, and learning and system adaptation. This framework integrates HRO principles, mindfulness, and sensemaking mechanisms but is adapted into the engineering context, emphasizing soft skills, technical tools, and qualitative judgment. Additionally, the proposed framework is designed to be flexible and customizable, allowing adaptation to different crises, and project teams, with the option of choosing different tools and techniques, including qualitative mechanisms. The validation workshop confirmed the relevance and feasability of the framework. The participants reacted positive both verbal and nonverbal, and showed a strong recognition of the findings presented. Although feedback was provided, the four-phase framework was generally well understood as well. Ultimately, this research contributes a practice-oriented model that supports engineering firms in detecting and managing creeping crises proactively, embedding early crisis recognition within professional routines while enabling future integration of tools such as AI or predictive analytics.

Flood resilience in the Global South remains hindered by the direct transfer of technocratic frameworks from the Global North, which often overlook local socio-geographic contexts. This mismatch creates a resilience deadlock, where rigid, top-down approaches fail to produce sustainable or inclusive outcomes. This thesis investigates how paradoxes emerging from frugal innovation, defined as low-cost, adaptive and community-driven solutions, can help overcome this impasse. Using the Dynamic Equilibrium Model (Smith & Lewis, 2011), the research frames flood resilience as a system of competing but interdependent tensions: . A qualitative methodology was employed, combining literature review with 19 semi-structured interviews from stakeholders across eight countries. Grounded theory coding was used to identify patterns and build a theoretical framework. The study then introduces the concept of Legitimacy Convergence, arguing that frugal innovations become impactful only when they simultaneously achieve technical, institutional, financial and social legitimacy. When any one of these is lacking, innovations risk remaining marginal or short-lived. This framework is validated through a comparison of the 2024 Rio Grande do Sul floods in Brazil with Odisha’s successful resilience model in India. Ultimately, the thesis proposes a governance-sensitive approach that embraces paradoxes rather than eliminating them. It demonstrates how frugal innovation, when properly legitimized and institutionally supported, can help transform resilience planning in the Global South.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the potential of digitalisation to enhance dispute resolution practices in construction projects. Research highlights that the social aspect is an important element in both the successful implementation of dispute resolution methods and the adoption of digital technologies in the construction industry. Culture has the ability to influence this social dimension, shaping behaviours and practices. However, insufficient research has examined the extent to which culture influences the successful implementation of digital technologies in dispute resolution. While most of the existing literature focuses on dispute resolution and digital tools in the context of mega projects, small-scale projects constitute a vital part of the construction industry. Currently, there is a gap in knowledge on how culture influences the successful implementation of digitalisation of dispute resolution in small-scale projects.

The research question that links to this problem is formulated as follows: 'How can culture shape digital dispute resolution practices?'

This thesis discusses an extensive literature review on the concepts of culture and digital dispute resolution, and presents the results of a case study comparing perceptions about digitalised dispute resolution practices in an English and Dutch office fit-out project. Stakeholders within the projects were interviewed for this study, followed by a qualitative content analysis of the interview transcripts to identify cultural issues shaping digital dispute resolution practices. External validation of the analysis took place through an expert panel review. The findings show that culture affects the extend to which digital technologies can be used in dispute resolution and that the cultural position of a project team should be determined to ensure successful implementation of digitalisation to effectively improve dispute resolution practices.

The construction industry is one of the largest consumers of natural resources, contributing significantly to global CO₂ emissions and waste generation. To address these environmental and economic challenges, the integration of circular economy principles into real estate development is essential. This thesis investigates how circular principles can be effectively incorporated into project selection processes, particularly in the transformation of existing buildings. The research aims to bridge the gap between circularity and standardized project evaluation methods to enhance sustainability while maintaining economic feasibility.

The study is guided by the central research question: "How can circular principles be integrated into project selection criteria in real estate development?" To address this, three sub-questions explore the principles of circularity, the criteria for project selection, and the development of a structured framework for implementation.

A mixed-method approach was employed, including an extensive literature review, semi-structured expert interviews, and a focus group workshop. The literature review provided insights into existing circular economy frameworks, project selection methodologies, and key drivers and barriers to circularity. Empirical research involved interviews with nine industry experts and a validation workshop with seven professionals, enabling a comprehensive analysis of practical challenges and enablers for circular transformation projects.

Findings highlight that economic feasibility remains a major barrier to circular transformations, with high upfront costs and regulatory constraints limiting adoption. However, tools such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), material passports, and digital tracking systems enhance transparency and facilitate informed decision-making. The study also emphasizes the importance of early integration of circularity in project selection, the role of expert knowledge and interdisciplinary collaboration, and the need for corporate cultural shifts to ensure long-term circular adoption.

Based on these insights, this research develops a structured roadmap to systematically embed circular principles into project selection processes. The roadmap aligns circular strategies with key decision-making stages, offering practical recommendations for real estate developers, policymakers, and investors. By balancing economic, environmental, and social objectives, this study contributes to advancing sustainable real estate practices and promoting a shift towards a circular built environment.

This research paper aims to explore performative dissident practices within the context of Madrid, focusing on how architectural practice can gain insights from these practices to inform the design of interventions or conditions that foster empowerment, particularly for vulnerable communities. The intention is not to provide a socio-political critique, but rather to advocate for the significance of these urban battlegrounds as pedagogical instances that can enrich architectural discourse. Therefore the research seeks to answer the following question:
How can architectural practices, focused on contested urban environments, draw from the dissident practices manifested in the built environment and thus foster resilience for the vulnerable communities?

In the rising action of the research, the paper first constructs a methodological and theoretical tapestry, developing a lens through which to conduct a site analysis. This is done by employing architectural analytical drawings, as well as narration and experimental writing, to highlight the more latent, experiential aspects of dissident practices. The climax of the research applies this lens to three squares within Madrid’s most vulnerable neighborhood, Embajadores/Lavapiés. In the falling action, the research delves deeper into the site of choice and its significance for the project and expands on the conceptual framework that can be applied towards a design of conditions.

Megaprojects are inherently uncertain due to their scale, complexity, and unique, one-time nature, making accurate forecasting challenging. Throughout the project lifecycle (PLC), multiple internal and external stakeholders often perceive uncertainty differently due to their varying interests and values, which can intensify conflicts and fuel uncertainty. Additionally, the growing complexity of these projects—driven by both technical and human factors—poses significant management challenges. Even within the same organization or project, individuals may have differing perceptions of project uncertainties. Despite the importance of addressing uncertainty, current practices focus heavily on risk management, often neglecting uncertainty.
Complex infrastructure projects, as large and transformational megaprojects with significant societal impact, often underperform due to the underestimation of uncertainty. Private organizations, key players in procuring and managing these projects, traditionally emphasize the "Iron Triangle" of project success—budget, timeline, and scope. However, these risk-centric approaches often fail to address the broader complexities, leading to unmanaged uncertainties. Consequently, there is a pressing need for organizations to shift from traditional risk management practices to a more comprehensive perspective that accounts for uncertainty. Effective uncertainty management has become critical for the successful delivery of such projects, yet organizations continue to struggle to make meaningful progress in this area.
While the technical aspects of risk management are well-researched, successful uncertainty management requires organizations to cultivate a culture of awareness and adaptability. This study addresses this gap by emphasizing the need for developing both technical and soft skills within internal teams and stakeholders to build the competencies required to manage uncertainty effectively.
To tackle this pervasive issue, the study proposes a development framework that outlines strategies for enhancing key competencies among project members. Grounded in strong theoretical foundations from existing uncertainty management literature, the framework offers practical recommendations based on the case study of the 2GW Landstation project. This approach aims to accelerate the development of key competencies, equipping organizations to manage the uncertainties inherent in infrastructure projects more effectively.

The past decade has witnessed a major breakthrough in technological advancements due to numerous factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The literature has shown a growing interest in digital tools in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. Various technologies have been developed to monitor construction processes, reduce costs, manage safety hazards, increase efficiency, enhance performance, improve productivity, and facilitate coordination and communication. So far, most studies have focused on specific digital tools, on how these affect performance, or firms’ resistance to change. However, far less attention has been paid on how these digital tools are shaping management practices in the AEC industry. This study aims to explore this gap in the literature. 9 semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts in the field from different countries leading in technological solutions. Through an abductive approach and the grounded theory method, this qualitative study identifies three variables that mediate the relationship between digital tools and management practices: efficiency, effectiveness, and experience. Furthermore, resistance to change works as a moderating variable between these two concepts. Based on this, three new management practices are created and added to the model originally developed by Bloom and Van Reenen (2007). (1) Efficient target setting is defined as a strategy comprised of an adequate optimiser based on important considerations that seeks to accelerate the fulfilment of targets in a construction project. (2) Effective monitoring is the collection of data comprised of the facilitator and the inhibitor that determine the degree to which the monitoring of a construction project is successful. And (3) perceptual assessment is the evaluation of objective and subjective human performance measurements. The findings suggest that the sole existence of trendy digital technologies does not translate to performance improvement within an organisation, rather, careful evaluation of these is recommended. Additionally, the successful implementation of digital tools in a construction firm implicates a modified organisational structure that promotes digital transformation. Further research could strengthen the results through quantitative methods.

Limitations of the study: First, only 9 participants were interviewed due to time constraints, although their quality was remarkable. Second, the participants were intended to be from countries where management practices have already been studied, since these are contingent on the firm’s environment. But the difficulty to recruit high quality individuals and the fact that some countries do not have access to LinkedIn (e.g. China), made this difficult to achieve. And third, management practices are a broad subject, which made it challenging to discuss about each of their 18 key indicators during the interviews. Because of this, the results show a general understanding of how digital tools are shaping management practices in the AEC industry.

This thesis explores the interplay between urban underground spaces and the concept of time, aiming to transform our perception and use of these hidden areas. Beginning with an extensive mapping of Madrid's underground, the research reveals the often-inaccessible nature of these spaces. Through typological studies and philosophical exploration, the thesis reinterprets these spaces as temporal phenomena, emphasizing their dynamic potential.
The theoretical foundation is grounded in concepts such as Bergson's duration and Bakhtin's chronotope, which highlight the entanglement of time and space. The design project proposes a shift from place-based to operation-based design, focusing on the temporal dimensions of space. It envisions a flexible art hub in Madrid, adaptable to various activities and extending beyond its physical boundaries, reflecting the concept of Urban Uchronia—a utopia of time that challenges existing temporal norms.
The manifesto envisions a network of interconnected underground spaces across the city, forming a system of Urban Uchronia. This vision integrates subterranean environments into the urban fabric, transforming how we engage with these spaces. The thesis concludes by reflecting on the transferability of these concepts, offering innovative strategies for urban regeneration and architectural design in diverse contexts worldwide. By reimagining underground spaces through the perspective of time, this thesis proposes a new paradigm for urban development.

Empirical studies indicate an increasing inclination towards the adoption of integrated software systems that contribute to project management. To this moment, studies on the implementation of these integrated software systems tended to emphasise the benefit of such software. However, the analytical evidence to support such assumptions is relatively small. Therefore, the aim of this research is to investigate and analyse what is required to get the benefits when transitioning to an integrated software system to support project management in a construction consultancy company. As a result, the following research question has been formulated: ”What is required when making the transition to an integrated digital project management system in a construction consultancy company?”.

For the design of this research the framework developed by Purup and Petersen (2020) was used. The construction of this framework was based on the methodology of action research. The research was divided into three loops. Loop 1 identified the current knowledge regarding a fragmented or integrated system. Loop 2 investigated the use of the integrated system. Finally, in loop 3, all knowledge obtained from loop 1 and 2 was synthesised and developed into an answer to the research question. To answer the research question, a literature review and a case study for which semi-structured interviews were conducted among project managers, project leaders and experts on the implemented system.

A limitation of this study is that the interviews were conducted among users of the system with an age between 24 and 35 years. As a result, no statement can be made on the relationship between age and acceptance or motivation towards transitioning to a new integrated project management system. Therefore, the recommendation is to conduct the interviews in a follow-up study among users of the integrated system whose age distribution is more distributed.

The research revealed that transitioning to an integrated project management system affects the people, organisation, and process within a company. The users of the new system need to embrace the new system and learn to work with it. The transition phase requires a time investment before the benefits will be felt. In addition, an integrated system requires a standardised structure. With this standardisation, certain activities can be automated. This results in saving time. It can therefore be concluded that transitioning to an integrated project management system, after time has been invested for the transition phase, improves work efficiency and can save time.

This research can contribute to the organisations considering implementing an integrated digital project management system. Since more understanding has been generated on what to expect and what actions should be carried out to obtain the benefits of an integrated project management system.

Infrastructural construction projects in the Netherlands, such as roads, bridges, and tunnels, have become increasingly complex. This complexity introduces various risks, which are further compounded by human biases during risk management processes. This thesis investigates the influence of heuristics and biases on risk assessment in infrastructure projects, with a particular focus on Dura Vermeer, a major Dutch construction firm. The primary research question addressed is: "How do heuristics and biases influence project risk assessment, and what role can serious gaming play in enhancing awareness and management of these cognitive factors?"

The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining literature review, semi-structured interviews with risk and project managers at Dura Vermeer, and a serious game designed to simulate decision-making processes.

The study identifies several common biases, such as the representativeness heuristic, affect heuristic, and optimism bias, which significantly impact risk assessments. The literature review provides a theoretical framework on the impact of heuristics and biases on risk management. Interviews reveal that while risk assessment at Dura Vermeer follows structured methodologies, biases still influence the decision-making processes. The serious game, incorporating real-life scenarios from Dura Vermeer's projects, demonstrates its effectiveness in engaging participants and fostering a collaborative environment where biases can be identified and addressed. The serious game also highlights discrepancies between perceived and actual use of biases, indicating a lack of self-awareness among professionals.

Findings suggest that although biases are acknowledged, there is a preference for objective risk assessment methods. Serious gaming emerges as an effective tool for increasing awareness of biases, thereby improving risk management practices. The study concludes with recommendations for integrating serious gaming into risk management training at Dura Vermeer, emphasizing its potential to enhance team dynamics and decision-making processes. This research contributes to both theoretical and practical understanding of risk management in construction, offering insights into how biases can be managed to improve project performance. The insights gained provide a foundation for further research and practical applications in the construction sector.

Among the most recent demands in the construction industry, is the implementation of the Building Information Modelling (BIM) methodology to deliver integrated designs. The BIM workflow emphasizes detecting design conflicts early, increasing the early stage design effort while minimizing later-stage costs and delays. However, the current BIM workflow lacks a formal structure for prioritizing, escalating, and resolving issues identified during iterative design cycles. This challenge becomes more pronounced in complex projects where multiple disciplines interact simultaneously. The absence of a structured issue management approach leads to informal and uncoordinated issue resolution, making it difficult to track and prioritize issues effectively, decreasing the efficiency during design phase.
This research explores how Risk Management (RM) principles can support BIM workflows to
improve project results, with a specific focus on issue management. By analysing existing gaps
and inefficiencies in BIM issue management, the study develops a framework that integrates RM concepts. The aim is to enhance the ability of BIM processes to systematically prioritize, escalate, and address issues.
The result of the research is a conceptual risk management-based issue management framework, developed through a combination of literature review, practical insights, and the application of socio-technical theory. This framework incorporates an iterative process for detecting, filtering, and prioritizing BIM issues based on risk criteria. It spans the design phase, offering a structured roadmap for implementation that considers stakeholder communication and resource optimization. Risk management addresses deficiencies in issue management through an integrated framework that guides the process based on RM principles. This integration has significant implications for issue management and requires a top-down, step-by-step approach. The integration of this framework is presented in steps to achieve understanding and sense of usefulness among different stakeholders.

Globally, efforts are being made to transition energy systems from a fossil fuel based one towards one based on renewable energy. In the Netherlands, this is done by means of regional energy strategies (RES). In literature, the of use scenarios to formulate strategies aimed at initiating sustainability transitions is well regarded. However, little attention is given to applications on a regional scale nor to how the application of scenarios contributes to the implementation of strategies. Therefore, the practical application of transition scenarios in two Dutch regional cases (RES A & RES B) is analysed and compared in this research to point out dysfunctionalities and opportunities. For this analysis, a novel framework is established encompassing important concepts for the practical application of transition scenarios, including the scope of the approach as well as the result and procedural functions.
The findings show that the current practical application of transition scenarios in the regional cases is limited to the exploration of strategic directions and as such missing benefits of externally focused and normative approaches that can help to deal with changes in external factors and complexities by identifying robust strategies and pathways of change. It furthermore becomes evident that the procedural functions of transition scenarios can be of great value for the implementation of regional energy strategies when stakeholders are engaged in a meaningful way as this contributes to the driving factors of commitment and cooperation. Finally, an interesting new direction for the field of transition scenarios is revealed in the form of spatial transition scenarios which offers opportunities for supporting integral decision-making in the energy transition.
In conclusion, the application of transition scenarios can contribute to the implementation of regional energy strategies, mainly through its procedural functions as it allows participants to broaden and narrow their ideas about the future. In future application of transition scenarios, it is important to consider the time and scale of application as this can inform the requirements for selecting a suitable approach.

Nowadays, it is a fact that there is an extremely high demand for hiring people almost every three months in the industry, so companies need to improve mentoring programs and accelerate the onboarding of new hires, particularly in hybrid work environments. This research study explores actionable interventions to enhance Knowledge Transfer [KT] using mentoring programs in the onboarding process supporting hybrid work environments, using ElvalHalcor as a case study.
After assessing the existing literature and specific models such as SECI and ADKAR, the research conducts a qualitative analysis through interviews to identify the challenges and coping strategies related to onboarding and Knowledge Transfer [KT]. These challenges, exacerbated by hybrid work models and informal onboarding processes, are addressed by proposing structured mentorship programs and advanced technologies to streamline the process.
Through the integration of suitable types of mentoring (peer, one-on-one, virtual) and incorporation of a new dual-mentor approach in the industry, combined with AI-driven tools and blockchain technology, and VR either for mentor-mentee pairing or for securing progress tracking, the industry can fill gaps in its current practices. These solutions are designed not only to enhance Knowledge Transfer [KT], boost employee engagement, and accelerate the time it takes new hires to reach full productivity but also to support a shift from traditional onboarding to a more adaptive, digital-friendly approach. By embracing digital and hybrid onboarding processes, organizations maintain synergy while investing in flexible options and interoperable software tools, promoting an agile and connected workplace.
Ultimately, the findings underscore the potential for industrial construction and manufacturing companies to enhance organizational efficiency and foster a culture of continuous learning in hybrid work environments. In an industry where complex projects demand rapid team integration, this research highlights the benefits of a structured, adaptive onboarding approach that improves safety, boosts productivity, and strengthens team cohesion from day one.

Organisational learning has been essential to the success of project-based organisations, especially in the construction sector, where complex infrastructure projects require effective knowledge sharing, retention, and application. However, many organisations have been struggling to fully utilising their accumulated knowledge of the organisational memory, leading to inefficiencies and improvement opportunities have been missed. In this research has been investigated how social learning is activating organisational memory and is being applied within project-based organisations.

To explore this, the research has been structured into three parts. In part 1 the theoretical groundwork has been laid through a literature review on social learning, organisational learning, organisational memory in project-based organisations, and memory activation dynamics. In part 2 practical insights from semi-structured interviews with ten tender experts at Count & Cooper have been gathered. The thematic analysis of these interviews has been revealed how organisational memory, organisational learning, and social learning are interconnected within the dynamic environment of project-based organisations. In part 3 a problem-based learning (PBL) workshop simulating a portion of the tender process has been involved, providing practical observations on how social learning practices are influencing organisational memory use in decision-making.

The findings have been revealing a complex, dynamic flow within organisational memory, showing how it is being accessed and is being activated in non-linear ways through social learning practices. This research has been challenging the view of organisational memory as a static repository, showing it is continually being reshaped within project-based organisations (PBOs). Pattern recognition, emotional triggers, and competing memories have been shaping how organisational memory is being activated and being used. Through social learning, members are engaging with various forms of conscious, automatic, objectified, and collective knowledge, often uncovering overlooked or competing knowledge of the organisational memory. Social learning has been facilitating knowledge retention and application while guiding members through these diverse memory flows, aiding them in navigating and learning from organisational challenges.

The research has been highlighting a shift toward more structured social learning practices to ensure systematic sharing of insights across the organisation. While unstructured practices, such as informal mentorship, have been remaining essential for collaboration, time pressures in PBOs have often been limiting the revisiting of prior knowledge, causing insights to become siloed and leading to organisational forgetting. Yet, this process has also been promoting growth by discarding outdated knowledge, allowing room for innovation. Consequently, organisational memory has been emerging as both a valuable resource and a potential liability, depending on how it is managed and have being used.

In conclusion, this research has been providing insights into how social learning practices are generating and activating organisational memory, allowing organisations to capitalise on it as a resource. Through social learning, members have been using pattern recognition, emotional triggers, and the resolution of competing memories to increase awareness of organisational memory’s facets, ensuring relevant knowledge is being accessed, being applied, and being used for learning. This approach has been supporting decision-making, has been reducing corporate amnesia and has been fostering continuous learning across the organisation, preventing the reinvention of the wheel by drawing on different parts of organisational memory. By fostering environments where social learning is being encouraged where knowledge is being exchanged, validated, and applied by which organisations have been reducing knowledge fragmentation and forgetting, enhancing accessibility, and preventing silos. The findings are suggesting that project-based organisations would be benefitting from a hybrid social learning model combining structured and unstructured approaches.

The infrastructure of the Netherlands is mostly built in the 1950s and 1960s and is approaching the end of its theoretical lifespan of 80 to 100 years. Due to more intensive use and increased traffic loads many bridges need to be renovated or replaced. National and regional infrastructure managers, such as Rijkswaterstaat, ProRail, provinces, municipalities, and regional water authorities, are tasked with managing these assets with an estimated replacement and renovation cost of 170 billion euros until 2100, potentially reaching 260 billion euros. To first get an insight however into the state of the bridges in the Netherlands, these bridges need to be constructively recalculated.
This research considers practical challenges and solutions related to knowledge management within an inter-organisational programmatic approach for the replacement and renovation of bridges in the Netherlands. This research therefore considers the 'bureau herberekeningen': a recalculation programme organised by Rijkswaterstaat in which ten engineering firms are involved for the recalculations of more than 250 steel, concrete, and moveable bridges. This research aims to inform on what a programmatic approach can consist of, identify possible challenges related to knowledge management in an inter-organisational programmatic approach, and advice on overcoming these challenges.
A literature study was conducted on three topics: the programmatic approach, knowledge management, and inter-organisational collaboration. The programmatic approach is defined as a combination of related projects managed together to achieve benefits and objectives that cannot be obtained by individual projects. The organisation of a program must consider the interrelation of projects, their characteristics, and the nature of the involved organisations. This results in the need for a programme management office for governance and adaptation. Knowledge management at the programme level involves organising activities and systems to facilitate the identification, storage, retrieval, sharing, and use of knowledge, incorporating both social and codified approaches. Network governance is recommended to support the relations in inter-organisational collaboration, focusing on relationships between programme and project managers, the programme and organisational strategy, and among individual projects, while considering the importance of trust, communication, and collaboration.
The empirical study, conducted in collaboration with the Dutch engineering firm Witteveen+Bos, reveals several critical insights. Key challenges include the need for improved collaboration and communication, overcoming competitive barriers to knowledge sharing, and ensuring efficient and less detailed assignment descriptions to maintain project momentum. The study also highlights the importance of fostering a culture of openness, reciprocity, and trust among involved parties to facilitate effective knowledge management.
The findings suggest that the programmatic approach, when combined with knowledge management, can significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of recalculations. Recommendations include using technical assessments between engineering firms for knowledge sharing, organising regular collaboration days, and ensuring the pace and bundling of project assignments to make optimal use of the relations between projects.

Sustainability has gained significant importance in the building industry due to its impact on energy consumption, resource utilization, waste generation, and CO2 emissions. The responsibility for ensuring sustainable building construction often falls on project managers, tasked to lead teams and successfully deliver building projects. Project managers face various barriers when it comes to integrating sustainability during the design phase, leading to the dilution of sustainability goals and ambitions. The dilution is often attributed to the persistent focus on the traditional success criteria of delivering a project on time, within budget, and quality.

This research aims to explore and understand how project managers can use their appointed position to influence project teams toward safeguarding sustainability goals and ambitions. A qualitative research approach combines a review of relevant literature with a multiple case study to collect data from theoretical and practical sources. A conceptual framework, the Sustainability Safeguarding Framework, is developed identifying three critical aspects: authority, accountability, and affective influence, which addresses the dual role of project manager and leader in safeguarding sustainability. In the multiple case study, project managers and design team members from two selected cases are interviewed to gain practical insights into these three aspects.

Findings and discussion reveal that project managers employ authority, accountability, and affective influence during the project’s design phases to safeguard sustainability. However, their influence is sometimes limited by barriers, those identified in existing literature, and newly identified ones, such as organizational barriers and unintended effects arising from sustainability assessment tools and subsidy schemes. Furthermore, a strong relationship is observed between actively promoting sustainability and successfully safeguarding or surpassing sustainability goals and ambitions.

To effectively safeguard and promote sustainability goals and ambitions, project managers are recommended to use their authority to prioritize sustainability in the design team and among stakeholders; by having influence on design team selection, the appointment of sustainability experts/advisors, and providing them with the necessary platform, communication channels, and involvement to guide and support the team and client. Plus, taking accountability for sustainability (on top of other project responsibilities) and, by contractually organizing all sustainability goals and ambitions, and allotting roles and accountability to the team members. Furthermore, employing affective influence– involving sustainability advisors – to promote and embed a sustainability mindset within the design team and stakeholders, thus cultivating ownership, motivation, enthusiasm, ambition, and social value through collaborative efforts and effective communication. Establishing a positive and safe work environment, project managers can make a significant impact on sustainability.

The design team, stakeholders, and the project will benefit through the project manager’s effective use of authority, accountability, or affective influence. The Sustainability Safeguarding Framework can guide the project manager´s preparation and management of the design phase. This research provides further recommendations for implementation and future academic research in accordance with the recommendation to give sustainability criteria an equal position alongside the traditional criteria of cost, time, and quality.

Over the last decade, shared mobility has more often become a part of urban development. Studies are increasingly pointing at mobility hubs as a vehicle to deliver shared mobility, often from a viewpoint within the mobility sector. However, shared mobility hubs have to a lesser extent been studied in relation to urban development. As far as the integration of shared mobility hubs within urban development is concerned, roles are unclear, uncertainty is high, and a scientific knowledge gap exists. Therefore, this study examines the integration of shared mobility hubs within urban developments, and assesses how developers can steer on this integration. Firstly, a review of previous studies is carried out on the concepts shared mobility, mobility hubs, and management of urban development projects. Secondly, three case studies are examined to empirically assess key stakeholders’ perspectives on working and steering on shared mobility hubs. It is found that the way developers can steer on mobility hubs, depends on the needs of the urban development organization and the needs of users, the purpose that the mobility hub should serve, and the eventual type of mobility hub that is steered upon. To illustrate the considerations affecting the way of steering, recommendations for practice are provided. Based on these recommendations, the management of two theoretical hub typologies is discussed within an expert panel.

Clients and architects drift apart due to a lack of communication (Angral, 2019). Their relationships deteriorate. Relationship quality is seen as a key determinant for (dis-)satisfaction with clients. So, a lack of communication induces less successful projects. Architects could be more client oriented. Furthermore, it seems that architects rarely rely on formalized procedures for (customizing) client interactions. Therefore, this research investigates: “(How) can customized interactions influence perceived service quality, in the case of private residential projects?
To answer this question three explorative case studies were conducted at different international architecture offices. The cases (architecture firms) were selected based on their size (small) and vision to incorporate clients in their designing processes. Every firm responded with two to three projects as units for research (projects). The units were first introduced via a survey about the interactions used. These first survey findings were used as input for the consecutive client interviews by which clients were asked to reflect on these interactions. The clients were purposely selected for having both none and earlier experience, as research revealed service perception significantly differs amongst those groups. Also, the clients were asked about recommendations on service improvement. Finally, with the previous data in consideration, architects were interviewed about their view on the interactions and improvements for these projects.
With the interview data a model was constructed to identify the customizations. It was found that on average for the individual projects the customizations did contribute to a higher service quality. Yet, when comparing the SQ ratings with the number of customizations in all the cases, only a minor correlation between the perceived service quality and customizations was found, the significance of this relationship is limited, and the method of interviews and analysis, were too sensitive to be able construct a well-supported argument on the moderating effect of interactions on service quality. When implementing customizations, it is deemed especially important for the architect to use his soft skills and experience to decide whether and which customizations should be implemented. Especially the type of client and project should be taken into consideration. Considering the different project phases, a person-oriented customization might be more appropriate at the briefing phases, to strengthen the relationship, while in the designing phases also task-based customizations could be done, to also improve the technical quality. Furthermore, it is argued that with the rise of new technology and digitalization architects can improve their communication and education subsequently. Especially for unexperienced client’s, digital education & designing tools could help them in both increasing their understanding and participation in the project, which contribute to their perception of the service quality. This is deemed especially important for the industry of bespoke projects and private residential projects where both clients and architects seek for the best services. Considering the communicative nature of this projects, introvert architects should be aware that appropriate soft skills are to be implemented to increase service quality. Especially for introvert architects, this should be monitored and trained if needed. If not, it is recommended, to allocate the communication to team members or a project manager.
Furthermore, this explorative study reveals, this initial model can be a basis to define a default or benchmark of interactions and customizations in this field. Next research could further define the models’ parameters and include more, and less successful projects to improve reliability.

The pressure for businesses to respond and contribute to sustainability is increasing and organizations are expected to actively address these issues (Joyce & Paquin, 2016). However, achieving circularity in real estate development poses significant challenges and barriers. Previous studies have primarily focused on the drivers and barriers influencing frontrunner’s uptake of circular solutions, particularly within the supply side. Meanwhile, the perspective of non-frontrunner clients and the demand side of circularity has gotten limited attention.
This study aims to enhance circularity in the built environment by exploring how corporate real estate clients who are not early adopters can implement circular ambitions and solutions. The thesis research focuses on the demand side of corporate real estate within the Dutch context, utilizing a mixed-approach that combines theoretical research and on-field investigation. The study identifies two groups of interest: early adopters and next adopters. Then, through qualitative field interviews with representatives from 12 organizations it sheds light on the experiences of both groups. The findings reveal that the main drivers for next adopters of circularity are the organization's core business and personal motivation, while the primary barriers include uncertainty regarding circularity benefits and a general lack of circularity awareness. Based on these findings, the study concludes by providing circularity adoption recommendations tailored to corporate real estate clients who are new to the field.
By addressing the demand side and considering the experiences of non-frontrunner clients, this research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of circularity in real estate development and offers practical guidance for organizations seeking to embrace circular solutions in their operations.

Construction resource management in the Netherlands is causing environmental concerns due to a high demand for infrastructure maintenance and carbon/nitrogen emissions. Insufficient optimization of resource management between projects results in more traffic and higher energy demand, but measures such as linking projects, program management, and reducing transportation can save money, improve air quality, and decrease emissions. Efficient resource management is crucial in the construction industry to achieve project goals despite challenges such as complex projects, tight budgets, and supply chain issues.
The aim of this study is to develop a proof-of-concept for managing resources between construction projects using digital connections between resource data. The goal is to optimize information sharing between different companies to reduce urban city traffic, energy consumption, and emissions, while also being practical and easy to implement. This study uses a cross-sectional research design, which involved the collection of transport data from three civil work projects in the centre of Amsterdam. The study uses a combination of research methods including interviews, data analysis and a discrete event simulation.
The main mechanisms influencing inefficient resource management in construction are: (1) the lack of digitalisation at smaller sized construction companies, (2) the imbalance between ingoing and outgoing construction logistics, and (3) the inefficient transports of non-bulk materials.
The study focuses on optimizing logistics in the construction industry in the Netherlands to reduce emissions. The study emphasized the benefits of collaboration among different construction projects and proposed a hypothesis that a centralised resource management system can optimize resource usage and reduce environmental impact. By analysing the construction logistics of three projects in Amsterdam, the study demonstrated that a centralised system for logistic resource management can be employed to reduce traffic required for construction projects, optimize resource usage, and potentially improve the balance between ingoing and outgoing transports. The study also highlighted the challenges in data capturing and the need for a unified digital system for logistic data. The study concludes that a centralized system for logistic resource management can provide insight into transport data and could reduce traffic caused by construction projects through facilitating smart interventions.