MSc graduation theme: Opportunity management in the sustainable transition of the construction sector

INTRODUCTION

The construction sector is confronted with a decrease in the availability of resources, such as energy, capital and sources of labour. The sustainable transition to a circular economy is seen as an opportunity to tackle the problem of depleting resources, as the concept of ‘waste’ is not present in a circular economy. Yet, in the current practice, it is hard to understand and define opportunities which add societal value to projects. Managing these opportunities is not yet integrated into project management, let alone in the transition towards a circular economy in the construction sector. Examples of such opportunities are found in the application of means which affect the uncertainties of influence on general project management of construction projects.

ASSIGNMENT

The objective of this graduation assignment is to find characteristic opportunities to be purchased in the sustainable transition of the construction sector. This assignment is linked to the research “Triple-A Infrastructures: developing and applying the capability to Absorb, Adopt and Adapt infrastructures with new sustainable technologies.

Therefore, examples of research questions are:
• What are opportunities in the Triple A (absorption, adoption of adaption) of sustainable transition within construction sector projects?
• What are the rules of the game in opportunity management within the transition of the construction sector?
• What are the differences or similarities between the opportunities in different construction sector projects (i.e. infrastructure vs. area development)?
• What is the influence of opportunity management on the uncertainties ( project costs, duration, operation, resources, quality of work, etc.) of the sustainable transition of the construction sector?

 
Application details:

The student will be working in the Area Development department, as part of the Value Management team at Witteveen+Bos. Witteveen+Bos is a consultancy and engineering firm, which works closely with clients, cooperation partners and increasingly with residents and stakeholders. Around the world, both public- and private-sector clients call on Witteveen+Bos to help resolve the challenges they face. In the public sector, we work for national governments, water boards, and provincial and local authorities.

Contact:
Linkedin: ir. Ingrid Bolier (Witteveen+Bos), Project Engineer Area Development
Email: Ingrid.bolier@witteveenbos.com
Location: Witteveen+Bos, Den Haag/Breda