Management Lessons from Engineering Failures

by Kenneth Gibble, (F.ASCE), Pres.; Bessier Gibble & Quirins, 130 Elm St., Old Saybrook, CT 06475,


American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, NY
978-0-87262-572-3 (ISBN-13) | 0-87262-572-9 (ISBN-10), 1986, Soft Cover, Pg. 51

See all papers/chapter

Conference information: A Symposium of ASCE Convention | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | October 28, 1986


Document Type: Book - Proceedings

Abstract:

Engineering failures are not always catastrophic. More are due to improper management of contracts rather than actual physical failures. Some result in loss of life; most result in disputes that frequently lead to litigation. While these failures involve technical issues, they also involve management issues. Communication problems are often a contributing cause. The papers in this book deal primarily with failures associated with the technical quality or functional capability of the project as designed and constructed. If an engineered project cannot meet the performance criteria that it was designed for, then it must be considered a failure. If the resulting work causes a life threatening situation or economic crisis during the expected life of the project, then it is a catastrophic failure. A variety of failures is examined. The intent is to show what caused the failures, what resulted from them, and, in some instances, what could be done to prevent them.

Subject Headings: Failure analysis | Project management | Disasters and hazards | Litigation | Economic factors | Dispute resolution | Contracts and subcontracts

 

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