DIA ABS Project Analysis

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AUTOMATED BAGGAGE
HANDLING SYSTEM- PROJECT FAILURE ANALYSIS
MSc Project Management

Abstract
The purpose of this study is to critically analyse the Denver International
Airport Baggage Handling System project in order to detail the underlying reasons for the perceived failures in the project and to provide recommendations on how effective project management could have helped to avoid the problems the project encountered.
A thorough analysis of the activities of the project from nature of project, contracting, design, construction, testing, stakeholder management, risk management, project controls, as well as the overall project leadership was carried out and failure causal factors were identified. A recommendation was also made on how the project should have been managed to ensure project success. The analysis viewed the project from both project management and

project perspectives.

Student: @00380661
25-Feb-14
Number of words: 2558

Table of Contents
1.
1.1
2.
2.1

Introduction ................................................................................................................. 2
Project Failure .......................................................................................................... 2
Discussion .................................................................................................................... 3
Failure Modes of the Project .................................................................................... 6

3.

Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 10

4.

References ................................................................................................................. 11

Page 1 of 13

1. Introduction
Projects are increasingly considered strategic assets for many organisations today
(Dinsmore & Rocha, 2012) as such project management is occupying a progressively central role (Morris, et

References: 1. Belassi, W. & Tukel, O. I. (1996). A new framework for determining critical success/failure factors in projects International Journal of Project Management. 2. Calleam Consulting Ltd. 2008. Case Study – Denver International Airport Baggage Handling System – An illustration of ineffectual decision making. Accessed on February 25, 2014. Available at http://calleam.com/WTPF/?page_id=2086. 3. Caldwell, et al., (2009). Procuring complex performance in construction: London Heathrow Terminal 5 and a Private Finance Initiative hospital 4. Carson, S. J., Madhok, A., & Wu, T. (2006). Uncertainty, opportunism, and governance: The effects of volatility and ambiguity on formal and relational contracting Academy of Management Journal, 49(5), 1058-1077. 5. Chapman, C. (2006). Key points of contention in framing assumptions for risk and uncertainty management 6. Definitions of fail and failure. Retrieved 24th February, 2014 from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/failure 7. Definitions of fail and failure Retrieved 24th February, 2014 from http://dictionary.cambridge.org/ 10. Elson, K., 2013. A learning Legacy from the London 2012 Construction Programme. 11. Gibbs, W.W. 1994. "Software’s Chronic Crisis." Scientific American. September 1994: p decision making theory: The case of Denver International Airport. Retrieved February 26, 2014, 14. Harding, J. (2012). Avoiding Project Failures. Chemical Engineering. 2012 15 19. Meyer, A. D.; Loch, C. and Pich, M. 2001. Uncertainty and Project Management. 22. Tichacek, R. L. (2006). Effective Cost Management — Back to Basics. Cost Engineering 23. Thomsett, R. (2002). Radical project management. Prentice Hall PTR, Upper Saddle River 24. Schloh, M. (1996). Analysis of the Denver International Airport baggage system. Retrieved 25th February, 2014, from http://www5.in.tum.de/~huckle/schloh_DIA.pdf 25. Scott, J. Shwant, S. & Sheryl, L. (2006). A case Study of Project and Stakeholder Management Failures: Lessons Learnt 26. Stare, A. (2010). Comprehensive management of project change. Economic and business review 27. PMI, 2013. PMBOK 5th ed. PMI Pub Page 12 of 13 28. Neufville, R. de. 1994. "The Baggage System at Denver: Prospects and Lessons." Journal of Air Transport Management