RT-420

Implementation of CII Best Practices for Small Projects 

Background

CII Best Practices, as management principles, are intended to be applicable to all projects, regardless of size. However, CII members report that they struggle with consistent implementation for small projects (including projects without dedicated resources and managed as a matrix organization) and frequently express the need for additional guidance in this area. 

This issue could be because detailed practices and implementation guides have been primarily developed for larger, more complex projects with limited consideration for scalability for use with smaller or less intensive projects. 

More than 20 years ago, CII's RT-161 (Executing Small Capital Projects) published IR 161-2, Small Projects Toolkit, to guide the execution of smaller projects. Though IR 161-2 remains helpful, there is an opportunity for CII to improve the industry by driving the implementation of CII Best Practices to support implementation at a smaller scale.   

Objectives

Provide guidance to capital project organizations on implementing CII Best Practices on small projects (e.g., maintaining the fundamental best practices and underpinning principles, but adjusting the scope of approach and scaling their implementation methods). Other objectives may include:  

• Revisiting the definition of "small" compared to RT-161's definition (RT-161's criteria include cost range, duration, scope, resource availability, project intensity or complexity, and risk). This objective could lead to the use of words other than "small" going forward. 
• Revisiting how CII Best Practices should be scaled for small or less resource-intensive projects. This effort may include the introduction and integration of leaner, fit-for-purpose tools such as checklists or simpler templates to facilitate implementation. Note that in many cases this may be a trivial task and, in others, result in a recommendation along with guidelines to scale down existing practices. 
• Understanding which tools exist that already support small projects and which tools/resources need to be adapted to support small projects. 

Expected Research Outcomes

• New (Small) Project Best Practice Implementation recommendation as a document, which will identify tools and processes that are currently available and opportunities to develop new ones. 
• A project workflow diagram showing the implementation of practices by project phase. 
• A process or guidelines for identifying which projects would be characterized as "small" given the size and nature of both the project and the organization(s) undertaking the project. 
• A scope and framework for a CII online course on the topic (to be developed and implemented by CII). 

Notes to Team 

When defining 'small', consider 1) project complexity in the definition of "small". RT-305 - Measuring Project Complexity and Its Impact created a definition of complexity. RT-398 (ongoing) also has a definition of complexity; 2) whether the project has a dedicated management team or is managed in a matrix organization as part of a portfolio.

Research Team Member Backgrounds 

• Members experienced in the implementation of CII Best Practices. 
• Members connected to the management of small projects in their organizations. 
• CII Implementation Champions are encouraged to join the team. 

Time Frame and Milestones 

• Nominations for RT Industry Members: March-May 2024 
• PIs meet with CII to prepare for kickoff: May 2024 
• Kickoff: Last week of June 2024 (target) 
• Mid-project (online) presentation: September 2025 
• Presentation at a CII event: August 2026 

References

CII. (2001). RT-161-1 - Executing Small Capital Projects. Austin: CII. Retrieved from Small Project Execution (construction-institute.org). 
CII. (2017). RT-305-1 - Measuring Project Complexity and Its Impact. Austin: CII. Retrieved from https://www.construction-institute.org/a-new-approach-to-assessing-and-measuring-project-complexity
https://www.construction-institute.org/resources/knowledgebase/knowledge-areas/project-program-management/topics/rt-305. 
CII. (2023). RT-398 (Phase 2) - Developing a Fit-for-Purpose Handbook for Effective Implementation of CII Best Practices. Austin: CII. Retrieved from RT-398 (construction-institute.org).