The Adelaide-Darwin railway’s Success
The projects completed in Australia are mostly endeavored to offer practical solutions to different challenges highlighted by the local populace. Such projects include the railway constructed to foster a connection between Adelaide and Darwin. The transcontinental railway is 2979 km long. The project was completed in 2004 although it commenced in 1878 (Khallaf et al. 2018). Innovations became mandatory when engineers chanced upon difficult terrain in addition to weather conditions which were quite extreme. Different factors determine the success attainable by a given undertaking. The research aims at establishing the elements essential for projects to be deemed as successful, the importance of cost planning and the impacts anticipated from the teams formulated to oversee an undertaking.
The project required some partnership between the government and private operators. FreightLink invested $900million into the undertaking. In addition, $475 million was obtained from the funds offered by the government presiding over the Northern Territory and the southern part of Australia (Wu and Winchester 2015). The outcomes obtained resulted from ascertaining that a balance was established in respect to the funds offered by different entities. The viability of the project was qualified by the willingness of the engineers to ensure that appropriate materials could be sourced to ensure that the railway would withstand the harsh temperatures in the outback.
According to Sansom (2015), the technical performance of a project determines whether it can be considered a success. This often relates to an evaluation of the issues that a system presents with respects to its reliability. The Adelaide-Darwin railway ensured that the objectives which culminated in its construction were fulfilled. As a result, it is estimated that 500,000 individuals credit the railway for facilitating their journey to different regions.
Secondly, the efficiency with which the project is executed must be evaluated for an undertaking to be deemed a success. Among the factors considered include the utilization of the funds available, and the linkages developed to other infrastructure. Constructing the railway connecting Adelaide and Darwin culminated in the use of $1.2 billion offered by the government and FreightLink (Joslin and Müller 2016). In addition, the road, as well as port infrastructure, were effectively connected to ascertain that future opportunities could be effectively exploited.
Moreover, technical innovation is also a crucial factor with regards to an undertaking’s favorable outcomes. Some of the areas through which the railway traversed are marked by harsh conditions commonly evident in the desert. Through innovation, suitable materials were located to ensure that the construction could withstand the strong sun and its searing heat.
Criteria that Determine the Success of a Project
Lastly, the performance which accrues to a project business-wise is essential in determining whether its outcome is positive (Fahri et al. 2015). For example, heavy movements emanating from an estimated 500 trucks are shifted from the Stuart Highway to the railway every week. In addition, the emissions from greenhouse gases have been effectively reduced owing to the trains in operation.
Cost managers are also referred to as quantity surveyors. They are often required to account for the cost as well as the commercial management of their designated projects. Hence, all operations must be performed while ensuring that costs are controlled. In addition, they are mandated to ensure that value is maximized while minimizing the liabilities which may occur in the future. It falls under the jurisdiction of cost managers to offer the guarantee that quality, as well as safety standards, are maintained (Walker 2015). Quantity surveyors must be diligent in the improvement of the processes or even procedures undertaken for a specific project. Any reports relating to the expenses or value which accrues to a project must be generated by cost managers to depict cash flows accurately.
Cost planning provides an estimate of the amount necessary for a project’s completion. The outcome is often that the structure which can be relied on to ascertain that a project is adequately financed can be developed (Owusu, Aigbavboa and Thwala 2015). Through cost planning, project owners are informed of the installments necessary to ensure that finance installments are adequately offered. Cost planning is essential in determining the budget suitable for an undertaking. After the expenses which are to be incurred established, the process determines whether the visibility of the cost caps involved.
Cost planning develops the structure through which a project is to be financed. Moreover, expenditure can also be allocated concerning the milestones to be achieved. The implication is that financial expectations can be highlighted paving the way for appropriate finances to be effectively secured.
Cost planning ensures that the financial feasibility of the project undertaken is determined. Hence, expenses can be forecasted accurately to inspire some confidence from funders. Moreover, the needs that accrue to the project proprietor can be adequately assessed to ensure that they align with the finances obtained from different sources (Kerzner and Kerzner 2017). The implication is that cost creep can be avoided particularly where they emanate from cost plans which are generic.
Financial success is attainable where cost certainty is guaranteed concerning budget management. Comparable projects can be interrogated to ensure that the benchmarks offered for benchmarking are accurate. Moreover, cost planning facilitates the ease with which designs can be modified to align with the overall objective of the client.
The Cost Manager’s Role
The teams put together for the completion of projects determine the outcomes which can be anticipated. The individuals selected to be part of the teams formulated are often experts concerning various aspects that determine project results (Ashworth and Perera 2018). Their skills determine the ease with which corrective measures can be implemented. In addition, they are instrumental in the identification of the resources necessary for the achievement of specific objectives.
Projects encompass risks whose risks manifest in different magnitudes. Team members can identify areas that would culminate in circumstances which are unwanted for corrective measures to be implemented (Li, Shen and Xue 2014). Moreover, they can also perform assessments to determine the effectiveness of the measures taken to ensure that further recommendations to facilitate improvements are made.
Risks portend dangers which may be unknown whose impact on an undertaking could either be positive or even negative. In most cases, risks present challenges that hinder the timely completion of projects. Different strategies can be adopted where engineering projects are to be completed. The strategies relate to;
The analysis to determine project risks must cover all the expenses which are to accrue to an undertaking. The sources that pave the way for losses that might be incurred in projects must be adequately highlighted. Such eventualities manifest inefficiencies or even different errors which might be committed. The risks that manifest concerning an enterprise’s finances necessitate some security measures to be adopted (Nicholas and Steyn 2017). Among the remedies available include the mechanics’ lien which serves to ensure that parties which offer some labor or even the materials necessary for construction are effectively safeguarded.
Resource management often entails developing plans which align with the overall objectives relating to a given project. Inappropriate management of resources results in undertakings which do not align with the schedules developed (Khallaf et al. 2018). Elimination of risks is only possible where limitations are identified particularly where they relate to the access of designated sites. In such circumstances, resources can be effectively reassigned to ensure that an appropriate response is accorded to arising circumstances. In addition, the type of resources mandated and the quantity desired can also be stipulated. Moreover, appropriate software can also be used to determine the resources necessary for projects to be completed according to the schedules developed.
Procurement determines the success that is bound to accrue to the projects undertaken. The risks involved in procuring materials for construction are numerous. However, different procurement variables can influence the strategies which can be relied on for the mitigation of different forms of risk (Wu and Winchester 2015). Among the factors that mandate some consideration include the methods relied on to ensure that the project is delivered, the strategies used to ensure that payments are made and the reliance on arrangements that foster partnership as well as collaboration. Moreover, risks that often emanate from procurement are often identified from the processes through which designs are developed up to the stage in which construction occurs (Langford et al. 2014).
Conclusion
The processes engrained in planning individual construction projects often mandate the consideration of various factors. The aspects reviewed to determine whether the outcomes achievable can qualify as being positive or even negative. Also, various risks can be anticipated whose mitigation mandate the determination of strategies which can be deemed as appropriate. The success evident in the construction of the Adelaide-Darwin railway emanates from meticulous planning and the implementation of strategies geared towards its efficient completion.
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