Project Definition Rating Index (PDRI)

Revisited

G. Edward Gibson, Jr., Ph.D., P.E.

Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
The University of Texas at Austin
 Agenda

What is PDRI?
How broadly used by CII members?
How organizations using PDRI?
What is the value of using PDRI?
How to use PDRI?
Lessons learned since the tools introduction?
What Is PDRI?
 PDRI The Definition

An Acronym
Project Definition Rating Index

An Index
Score along a continuum representing the level
of scope definition

A Risk Management Tool

Identifies and measures risks related to project
scope definition
 PDRI History

Born on date

PDRI Industrial: 1996 PDRI Buildings: 1999

Why Developed?
 PDRI Composition

Industrial Buildings
Sections: 3 3
Categories: 15 11
Elements: 70 64
Score: 70-1000 70-1000
 SECTION I - BASIS OF PROJECT DECISION
Definition Level
CATEGORY Score
0 1 2 3 4 5
Element
A. MANUFACTURING OBJECTIVES CRITERIA (Maximum Score = 45)
A1. Reliability Philosophy 0 1 5 9 14 20
A2. Maintenance Philosophy 0 1 3 5 7 9
A3. Operating Philosophy 0 1 4 7 12 16
CATEGORY A TOTAL
B. BUSINESS OBJECTIVES (Maximum Score = 213)
B1. Products 0 1 11 22 33 56
B2. Market Strategy 0 2 5 10 16 26
B3. Project Strategy 0 1 5 9 14 23
B4. Affordability/Feasibility 0 1 3 6 9 16
B5. Capacities 0 2 11 21 33 55
B6. Future Expansion Considerations 0 2 3 6 10 17
B7. Expected Project Life Cycle 0 1 2 3 5 8
B8. Social Issues 0 1 2 5 7 12
CATEGORY B TOTAL
C. BASIC DATA RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT (Maximum Score = 94)
C1. Technology 0 2 10 21 39 54
C2. Processes 0 2 8 17 28 40
CATEGORY C TOTAL
D. PROJECT SCOPE (Maximum Score = 120)
D1. Project Objectives Statement 0 2 25
D2. Project Design Criteria 0 3 6 11 16 22
D3. Site Characteristics Available vs. Required 0 2 29
D4. Dismantling and Demolition Requirements 0 2 5 8 12 15
D5. Lead/Discipline Scope of Work 0 1 4 7 10 13
D6. Project Schedule 0 2 16
CATEGORY D TOTAL
E. VALUE ENGINEERING (Maximum Score = 27)
E1. Process Simplification 0 0 8
E2. Design & Material Alternatives Considered/Rejected 0 0 7
E3. Design for Constructability Analysis 0 0 3 5 8 12
CATEGORY E TOTAL

Section I Maximum Score = 499 SECTION I TOTAL

Definition Levels
0 = Not Applicable 2 = Minor Deficiencies 4 = Major Deficiencies
1 = Complete Definition 3 = Some Deficiencies 5 = Incomplete or Poor Definition
 PDRI Element Descriptions
(Example)
A1. Reliability Philosophy

A list of the general design principles to be considered to achieve dependable

operating performance from the unit. Evaluation criteria should include:

Justification of spare equipment

Control, alarm, and safety systems redundancy
Extent of providing surge and intermediate storage capacity to permit
independent shutdown of portions of the plant
Mechanical / structural integrity of components (metallurgy, seals,
types of couplings, bearing selection, etc.)
 SECTION I - BASIS OF PROJECT DECISION
Definition Level
CATEGORY Score
0 1 2 3 4 5
Element
A. MANUFACTURING OBJECTIVES CRITERIA (Maximum Score = 45)
A1. Reliability Philosophy 0 1 5 9 14 20
A2. Maintenance Philosophy 0 1 3 5 7 9
A3. Operating Philosophy 0 1 4 7 12 16
CATEGORY A TOTAL
B. BUSINESS OBJECTIVES (Maximum Score = 213)
B1. Products 0 1 11 22 33 56
B2. Market Strategy 0 2 5 10 16 26
B3. Project Strategy 0 1 5 9 14 23
B4. Affordability/Feasibility 0 1 3 6 9 16
B5. Capacities 0 2 11 21 33 55
B6. Future Expansion Considerations 0 2 3 6 10 17
B7. Expected Project Life Cycle 0 1 2 3 5 8
B8. Social Issues 0 1 2 5 7 12
CATEGORY B TOTAL
C. BASIC DATA RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT (Maximum Score = 94)
C1. Technology 0 2 10 21 39 54
C2. Processes 0 2 8 17 28 40
CATEGORY C TOTAL
D. PROJECT SCOPE (Maximum Score = 120)
D1. Project Objectives Statement 0 2 25
D2. Project Design Criteria 0 3 6 11 16 22
D3. Site Characteristics Available vs. Required 0 2 29
D4. Dismantling and Demolition Requirements 0 2 5 8 12 15
D5. Lead/Discipline Scope of Work 0 1 4 7 10 13
D6. Project Schedule 0 2 16
CATEGORY D TOTAL
E. VALUE ENGINEERING (Maximum Score = 27)
E1. Process Simplification 0 0 8
E2. Design & Material Alternatives Considered/Rejected 0 0 7
E3. Design for Constructability Analysis 0 0 3 5 8 12
CATEGORY E TOTAL

Section I Maximum Score = 499 SECTION I TOTAL

Definition Levels
0 = Not Applicable 2 = Minor Deficiencies 4 = Major Deficiencies
1 = Complete Definition 3 = Some Deficiencies 5 = Incomplete or Poor Definition
How Broadly Used?
 PDRI Usage Among CII Members

PDRI USAGE PDRI TYPE

Not
Applicable
(3)
Both
(15)

Not Used
(24)
Used Industrial Only
(43) (22)
Building Only
(6)
N = 70
How Being Used?
 Usage

As a checklist in early project development (81%)

As a gate check before moving to the next project
phase (72%)
In conjunction with other front end planning
measurement methods (72%)
As a means of measuring or benchmarking front-end
planning process performance (70%)
More than once on most projects (42%)
 Usage
(continued)

Others:
As an audit tool (42%)
In a modified form for small or unusual projects
(33%)
To help capture lessons-learned (28%)
With the help of an outside facilitator (19%)
The Value
Understanding PDRI Scores

1000 Points

0 Points

LOWER IS BETTER!!
 What does a score mean?

A continuum
Relative to timing
Only as valid as effort/seriousness
Accuracy (the real score) can be improved
with facilitation
Perhaps is not the most important output
of the assessment
 Comparison of Projects with PDRI
Above and Below 200 Industrial Projects

PDRI Score

Performance < 200 > 200

Cost 4% below budget 6% over budget

Schedule 3% behind of schedule 11% behind schedule

Change Orders 6% of budget 8% of budget

(N=62) (N=44)
 PDRI The Results

EXAMPLE:
$55 Million Industrial Project, 24-Month Schedule

< 200 > 200

Cost $53 million $58 million
Schedule 25 months 27 months
 Comparison of Projects with PDRI
Above and Below 200 Building Projects

PDRI Score

Performance < 200 > 200

Cost 1% over budget 10% over budget

Schedule On schedule 21% behind schedule

Change Orders 7% of budget 11% of budget

(N=18) (N=74)
How to Use
 Assessing a Project

What it SHOULDNT BE

Performed
in a
vacuum
Time Needed for Assessing a Project

Two-and-a-half to four hours initially

Less later
 Observations

Official sanctioning of activity

Part of process
Small cadre of facilitators
Training
Does not plan
Risk mitigation process
Summary
 Benefits of PDRI to Owners

Well planned projects

Better team alignment and communication
Improved risk assessment
Ability to make tradeoff decisions
Can be used in developing
a portfolio
 Benefits of PDRI
to Designers and Contractors
Ability to measure scope
Avenue to communicate
Reconcile differences
Standardized scope package
Monitor progress
Minimize design rework
 In Summary

PDRI works!

PDRI is not as easy as it appears

Score is good, process of getting

there is better
PDRI Publications

PDRI Industrial Projects

CII Implementation Resource 113-2

PDRI Building Projects

CII Implementation Resource 155-2

http://construction-institute.org/pdri/
Implementation Session
Participants

Steve Campbell NASA

John Fish Ford, Bacon, and Davis
Edd Gibson UT Austin
Bob Herrington Jacobs
Jim Nelson 3M
Javid Talib Black and Veatch
 Come Join Us!

Location: Georgia B

Times: Wednesday 10:45-11:45 am

1:00-2:00 pm