Lean iceberg model for post disaster reconstruction projects

Abstract

Post Disaster Reconstruction (PDR) projects are currently facing many issues. The highly demanding construction process of PDR projects that involves a number of different and well-coordinated courses of action can be simplified through integrating lean construction. Hence, Lean Iceberg Model (LIM) implementation for PDR projects will eventually minimise the issues in PDR projects. However, there is lack of research on implementation of lean construction to PDR projects. Therefore, this study aims to develop a framework to minimise PDR issues through LIM. This research adopted interpretivism stance and uses the qualitative survey strategy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten experts, selected based on purposive sampling. The code-based content analysis was used to data analysis, which was supported by NVivo12. The findings of the study revealed that lack of quality, lack of budget and delays as the main issues in PDR projects. The essential part, therefore, was to identify invisible elements which were most of the times neglected rather than the visible elements of LIM. Finally, a framework was developed by systematically mapping the identified PDR issues for both visible and invisible elements of the LIM. In addition, the "LIM for PDR" mobile application has been developed as part of the framework which deals with educating and guiding users on a successful implementation of lean in a PDR project through LIM. The results of this research contribute to overcome the PDR issues which can be derived from the LIM. Hence, industry practitioners can use the outcomes to successfully implement lean in PDR projects.