Applications of project management principles for the overseas road construction projects and a case study in Afghanistan

viAPPLICATIONS OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES FOR THEOVERSEAS ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND A CASE STUDY INAFGHANISTAN(M.Sc. Thesis)Hakan TIRATACIGAZİ UNIVERSITYINSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYOCTOBER 2006ABSTRACTThe most recession-hit sector, because of overlapping economic crisis faced inour country during the last decade,is the building sector which has thelocomotive position in the economy. As a result of investments within thecountry almost came to an end, medium-sized construction companies werefaced with such conditions that they were not able to do business and started toexpand foreign markets to make their idle capacities capitalized.Competitive atmosphere including competing firms to take a share fromtightening both domestic and foreign markets, obliged these firms to producemore quality and lower-cost goods/services then their competitors. Thiscondition implies firms to move away from their classic undertaker mentality,and running and using of the resources they have efficiently. Today, as in allsectors, also within building sector, project management systems established inconjunction with contemporary management mentality, enables construction-engagement companies to fulfil their complicated activities planned, organizedand controlled; to accomplish assumed projects within prescribed period,quality and cost.viiIn the scope of this thesis, information about project (management) plan andpreparation is being instructed by emphasizing project management systemconcept mentioned above. After the examination is made on the roadconstruction project being executed in Afghanistan within project managementperspective, executions made on the project virtually and problems come acrosswere explained in detail. As a main source of the problems; as a result ofunderstanding the project management systematic inadequately and because ofplanning culture deficiency, it is determined that moving to execution processbefore project (management) plan is prepared. It is explained that howimportant the project (management) plan has about solving problems byputting forth assertion about problems will be solved through project(management) plan.Within this study, it is tried to be done that introducing the project managementsystems which have not become widespread among the medium-sizedengagement firms sufficiently, ensuring firms to have corporate identities andeffective management mentality by creating planning consciousness amongthem. Moreover, it is aimed that this will also be a step for the firm to executecontracted projects more effectively and to establish a planning departmentwithin its constitution for the purpose of ensuring efficiency by thestandardization of project management function and to develop computer-assisted project management system.Science Code : 911Key Words : Project management, road constructionPage Number : 177Adviser : Yrd. Doç. Dr. Kürşat M. ÇUBUK