Slack in Construction - Part 2: Practical Applications

Tarcisio A. Saurin; Daniela Dietz Viana; Carlos T. Formoso; Iris D. Tommelein; Lauri Koskela; Marcus Fireman; Karina Barth; Fernanda Bataglin; Rafael Coelho; Vishesh Singh; Carolina Zani; Natália Ransolin; Claudia Disconzi

doi:10.24928/2021/0178

Slack in Construction - Part 2: Practical Applications

Tarcisio A. Saurin, Daniela Dietz Viana, Carlos T. Formoso, Iris D. Tommelein, Lauri Koskela, Marcus Fireman, Karina Barth, Fernanda Bataglin, Rafael Coelho, Vishesh Singh, Carolina Zani, Natália Ransolin, Claudia Disconzi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Construction projects are exposed to a wide diversity of variabilities, which suggests the existence of a correspondent wide diversity of variability coping mechanisms, whether they are designed or not. This wide diversity is not properly accounted for by the concept of buffer, as it neglects the social and informal dimensions of coping with variability. The use of the concept of slack is proposed as an alternative. A companion IGLC 29 paper defines slack and discusses its relationships with proxy concepts such as flexibility and resilience. This paper presents nine practical examples of slack in managerial processes and topics that are of interest for the lean construction community. These examples suggest that, while slack has been concealed by the lack of theorization and consistent terminology, it is ubiquitous in lean construction. Opportunities for future studies are outlined.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of 29th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC)
Subtitle of host publication	Lean Construction in Crisis Times: Responding to the Post-Pandemic AEC Industry Challenges
Editors	Luis Fernando Alarcon, Vincente A. González, Danny Murgula, Xavier Brioso
Publisher	The International Group for Lean Construction
Pages	197-206
Number of pages	10
ISBN (Print)	9786124802546
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.24928/2021/0178
Publication status	Published - 14 Jul 2021
Event	29th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction - Virtual Duration: 14 Jul 2021 → 17 Jul 2021 Conference number: 29 https://www.iglc.net/Home/ActiveConference

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction
Publisher	International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC)
ISSN (Print)	2309-0979
ISSN (Electronic)	2789-0015

Conference

Conference	29th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction
Abbreviated title	IGLC2021
City	Virtual
Period	14/07/21 → 17/07/21
Internet address	https://www.iglc.net/Home/ActiveConference

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.24928/2021/0178Licence: Unspecified

https://iglcstorage.blob.core.windows.net/papers/attachment-729ff972-defc-45c8-9529-dd3f1862d6d6.pdf

Cite this

Saurin, T. A., Viana, D. D., Formoso, C. T., Tommelein, I. D., Koskela, L., Fireman, M., Barth, K., Bataglin, F., Coelho, R., Singh, V., Zani, C., Ransolin, N., & Disconzi, C. (2021). Slack in Construction - Part 2: Practical Applications. In L. F. Alarcon, V. A. González, D. Murgula, & X. Brioso (Eds.), Proceedings of 29th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC): Lean Construction in Crisis Times: Responding to the Post-Pandemic AEC Industry Challenges (pp. 197-206). (Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction). The International Group for Lean Construction. https://doi.org/10.24928/2021/0178

Saurin, Tarcisio A. ; Viana, Daniela Dietz ; Formoso, Carlos T. et al. / Slack in Construction - Part 2 : Practical Applications. Proceedings of 29th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC): Lean Construction in Crisis Times: Responding to the Post-Pandemic AEC Industry Challenges. editor / Luis Fernando Alarcon ; Vincente A. González ; Danny Murgula ; Xavier Brioso. The International Group for Lean Construction, 2021. pp. 197-206 (Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction).

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title = "Slack in Construction - Part 2: Practical Applications",

abstract = "Construction projects are exposed to a wide diversity of variabilities, which suggests the existence of a correspondent wide diversity of variability coping mechanisms, whether they are designed or not. This wide diversity is not properly accounted for by the concept of buffer, as it neglects the social and informal dimensions of coping with variability. The use of the concept of slack is proposed as an alternative. A companion IGLC 29 paper defines slack and discusses its relationships with proxy concepts such as flexibility and resilience. This paper presents nine practical examples of slack in managerial processes and topics that are of interest for the lean construction community. These examples suggest that, while slack has been concealed by the lack of theorization and consistent terminology, it is ubiquitous in lean construction. Opportunities for future studies are outlined.",

keywords = "Slack, complexity, concept map",

author = "Saurin, {Tarcisio A.} and Viana, {Daniela Dietz} and Formoso, {Carlos T.} and Tommelein, {Iris D.} and Lauri Koskela and Marcus Fireman and Karina Barth and Fernanda Bataglin and Rafael Coelho and Vishesh Singh and Carolina Zani and Nat{\'a}lia Ransolin and Claudia Disconzi",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Prof. Luis F. Alarc{\'o}n and Assoc. Prof. Vicente Gonz{\'a}lez, IGL2021 All rights reserved.; 29th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction, IGLC2021 ; Conference date: 14-07-2021 Through 17-07-2021",

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editor = "Alarcon, {Luis Fernando } and Gonz{\'a}lez, {Vincente A.} and Danny Murgula and Xavier Brioso",

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Saurin, TA, Viana, DD, Formoso, CT, Tommelein, ID, Koskela, L, Fireman, M, Barth, K, Bataglin, F, Coelho, R, Singh, V, Zani, C, Ransolin, N & Disconzi, C 2021, Slack in Construction - Part 2: Practical Applications. in LF Alarcon, VA González, D Murgula & X Brioso (eds), Proceedings of 29th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC): Lean Construction in Crisis Times: Responding to the Post-Pandemic AEC Industry Challenges. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction, The International Group for Lean Construction, pp. 197-206, 29th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction, Virtual, 14/07/21. https://doi.org/10.24928/2021/0178

Slack in Construction - Part 2 : Practical Applications. / Saurin, Tarcisio A.; Viana, Daniela Dietz; Formoso, Carlos T. et al.

Proceedings of 29th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC): Lean Construction in Crisis Times: Responding to the Post-Pandemic AEC Industry Challenges. ed. / Luis Fernando Alarcon; Vincente A. González; Danny Murgula; Xavier Brioso. The International Group for Lean Construction, 2021. p. 197-206 (Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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T2 - 29th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction

AU - Saurin, Tarcisio A.

AU - Viana, Daniela Dietz

AU - Formoso, Carlos T.

AU - Tommelein, Iris D.

AU - Koskela, Lauri

AU - Fireman, Marcus

AU - Barth, Karina

AU - Bataglin, Fernanda

AU - Coelho, Rafael

AU - Singh, Vishesh

AU - Zani, Carolina

AU - Ransolin, Natália

AU - Disconzi, Claudia

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N2 - Construction projects are exposed to a wide diversity of variabilities, which suggests the existence of a correspondent wide diversity of variability coping mechanisms, whether they are designed or not. This wide diversity is not properly accounted for by the concept of buffer, as it neglects the social and informal dimensions of coping with variability. The use of the concept of slack is proposed as an alternative. A companion IGLC 29 paper defines slack and discusses its relationships with proxy concepts such as flexibility and resilience. This paper presents nine practical examples of slack in managerial processes and topics that are of interest for the lean construction community. These examples suggest that, while slack has been concealed by the lack of theorization and consistent terminology, it is ubiquitous in lean construction. Opportunities for future studies are outlined.

AB - Construction projects are exposed to a wide diversity of variabilities, which suggests the existence of a correspondent wide diversity of variability coping mechanisms, whether they are designed or not. This wide diversity is not properly accounted for by the concept of buffer, as it neglects the social and informal dimensions of coping with variability. The use of the concept of slack is proposed as an alternative. A companion IGLC 29 paper defines slack and discusses its relationships with proxy concepts such as flexibility and resilience. This paper presents nine practical examples of slack in managerial processes and topics that are of interest for the lean construction community. These examples suggest that, while slack has been concealed by the lack of theorization and consistent terminology, it is ubiquitous in lean construction. Opportunities for future studies are outlined.

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KW - concept map

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M3 - Conference contribution

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T3 - Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction

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EP - 206

BT - Proceedings of 29th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC)

A2 - Alarcon, Luis Fernando

A2 - González, Vincente A.

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PB - The International Group for Lean Construction

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Saurin TA, Viana DD, Formoso CT, Tommelein ID, Koskela L, Fireman M et al. Slack in Construction - Part 2: Practical Applications. In Alarcon LF, González VA, Murgula D, Brioso X, editors, Proceedings of 29th Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC): Lean Construction in Crisis Times: Responding to the Post-Pandemic AEC Industry Challenges. The International Group for Lean Construction. 2021. p. 197-206. (Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction). Epub 2021 Jul 9. doi: 10.24928/2021/0178

Slack in Construction - Part 2: Practical Applications

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