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Old Dominion University

A Structured Project-Risk Management and Life Cycle Framework for Complex Systems: Ship Repair and Maintenance (SR&M) Projects

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>This dissertation contributes to insights regarding the implications of using Project Risk Management (PRM) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in managing projects for a complex system. The PRM approach apprehends many forms of risk both internal and external within a given project and assists the manager in determining the level of importance of each individual project phase and component to optimize project success. The life cycle approach to project management is used with short-term limitations with respect to a product's life cycle over several years. The literature discusses many tools and techniques that assist project managers in implementing optimal solutions, but published statistics indicate failures to meet schedules and/or budgets are still common. This dissertation combines PRM and LCA for ship repair and maintenance projects for a ship's 35-year service life. A framework highlighting the fundamentals of PRM and LCA was developed for the purpose of improving a ship's service life and operability.</p> <p>The results of the analysis of survey data from subject matter experts indicate that a PRM and LCA of complex systems is a viable methodology. The framework was validated by subject matter experts and produced viable evidence that the proposed framework, if implemented, may have a 34% success rate of accomplishing its stated purpose of: reducing ship systems, equipment, or component failure rates; reducing a ship's life-time costs; and improve ship reliability towards meeting its 35 year operational service life.</p> <p>Furthermore, this dissertation contributes to the body of knowledge in the fields of project-risk management and life cycle applications by providing a framework of a complex system of systems of ship repair and maintenance that can be used for any complex system of organizational entities.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Engineering Management & Systems Engineering
Year dc:date.available
2011

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Plumb, Michael Craig
Contributors dc:contributor
  • C. Ariel Pinto
  • Resit Unal
  • Rafael Landaeta
  • Thomas J. Murphy

Subjects

dc:subject × 7

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Identifier
9781124635491
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digitalcommons.odu.edu:emse_etds-1112

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Old Dominion University
Base URL
digitalcommons.odu.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Plumb, Michael Craig. A Structured Project-Risk Management and Life Cycle Framework for Complex Systems: Ship Repair and Maintenance (SR&M) Projects. Dissertation thesis, 2011. https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/emse_etds/117