Impacts of Cultural and Social Factors on Cost and Time in Management of Engineering, Procurement and Construction Projects: A Case Study
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Zhang, Chris | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Ip, Andrew | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Liang, Xiaodong | |
| dc.creator | varasteh, Hanieh | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-04-14T16:36:21Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-04-14T16:36:21Z | |
| dc.date.copyright | 2025 | |
| dc.date.created | 2025-03 | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-04-14 | |
| dc.date.submitted | March 2025 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2025-04-14T16:36:22Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | Indigenous communities in Canada face significant barriers to accessing healthcare infrastructures that align with their cultural and social preferences. Existing healthcare construction project managements often overlook this problem with Indigenous communities, resulting in designs that fail to foster trust, inclusivity, and accessibility. This thesis study was motivated by tackling this problem with the proposition that considering social and cultural preferences to healthcare facilities of Indigenous communities is important to the success of such construction projects. It is noted that such projects have three stakeholders, namely Engineering (E) including design, Procurement (P), and Construction (C), EPC for short, and they may not be under the same managerial governance. The main methodology taken in this study is to build a simulation system or simulator for decision making in EPC project management by using the tool called System Dynamis (SD), initially developed at Sloan Management School at MIT, and to conduct a case study – construction of a hospital in an Indigenous community. The SD model evaluates the feasibility of incorporating Indigenous design elements—such as natural light, circular layouts, and eco-friendly materials—while maintaining cost efficiency, time management, and resource optimization. The model dynamically simulates interactions between variables such as material usage, energy efficiency, design stability, stakeholder coordination, and performance indices over a 24-month construction timeline. Simulation results reveal that timber is the most effective construction material for meeting Indigenous preferences, excelling in waste reduction, energy efficiency, design stability, cost savings, and schedule adherence. Timber also supports sustainable practices and enhances stakeholder collaboration, making it a viable choice for culturally responsive healthcare infrastructures. Conversely, concrete and steel exhibit higher material waste, lower energy efficiency, and reduced performance indices, creating challenges in cost and schedule compliance. The findings emphasize the importance of early engagement with Indigenous communities to integrate their preferences and perspectives, fostering collaboration and respect. This approach ensures project outcomes align with cultural and social expectations while promoting equity and inclusivity. Furthermore, the study contributes to advancing EPC project managements by illustrating how Indigenous preferences and sustainable practices can improve healthcare infrastructures development, ultimately enhancing accessibility and resilience in Indigenous communities. | |
| dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10388/16805 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.subject | EPC, Social and Cultural factors, Indigenous people, Healthcare Construction | |
| dc.title | Impacts of Cultural and Social Factors on Cost and Time in Management of Engineering, Procurement and Construction Projects: A Case Study | |
| dc.type | Thesis | |
| dc.type.material | text | |
| thesis.degree.department | Mechanical Engineering | |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Mechanical Engineering | |
| thesis.degree.grantor | University of Saskatchewan | |
| thesis.degree.level | Masters | |
| thesis.degree.name | Master of Science (M.Sc.) |