Austin_W19_Systems of weights and measures in Project Management

1.    Problem recognition, definition and evaluation

Standardised Weights and Measures in Project Management promote uniformity and standards to achieve equity between buyers and sellers in the marketplace – Engineering, Procurement, Installation and Construction (EPIC). This standardisation enhances consumer confidence and strengthens Project Management Organizations worldwide. Hence, the problem statement this week is to determine the best and most accurate methods of weights and measures in project management.

 

2.    Development of the feasible alternatives

1.   Imperial system – The original method of weights and measures that do not conform to the metric system of weights and measures, includes the inches, foot, yard, mile, pound, gallon, etc.

 

2.   Metric system (SI Units) - Decimal system of weights and measures, devised in France in 1791 and now adopted in project management for successful project delivery, includes the millimeters, centimeters, meters, kilometers, kilograms, liters, etc.

3.    Development of the outcomes and cash flows for each

4.    Selection of the acceptable criteria

Among selected attributes subject to ordinal ranking; accuracy, standardisation, simplification, compatibility, efficiency, tolerance and speed are the top most ranked attributes, which constitute acceptable criteria for determining the best and most accurate method of measuring and weighting project management activities.

5.  Analysis and Comparison of the alternatives

Research, survey and experience have demonstrated that the Metric System is easier, accurate, compatible and most efficient to apply in project management digitalized tools and techniques compared to the original method that doesn’t conform to International Standards.

6.    Selection of the preferred alternative

Metric System (SI UNITS) with the highest scoring attributes are therefore considered Best and most Accurate method of weights and measures in project management, especially Cost Estimating.

7.    Performance Monitoring and Post Evaluation of Results

Metric System (SI UNITS) with the highest scoring attributes would therefore be important in future determination of “Best and Accurate” method of weights and measures in project management, especially Cost Estimating.

 

8.    References/Bibliography

1.   Skills and Knowledge of Cost Engineering, 5^th Edition, Appendix B “SI UNITS”

http://www.spe.org/authors/docs/metric_standard.pdf

http://www.worldwidemetric.com/measurements.html

 

2.   Apr 22, 2009 – The Office of Weights and Measures promotes uniformity in U.S. weights ... to Request Publications using OWM Contacts Management System ... http://www.nist.gov/pml/wmd/

3.   The date for Weights and Measures Week commemorates the signing of the first United States weights and measures law by President John Adams on March 2, 1799. http://www.nist.gov/pml/wmd/h44-12.cfm