What Have We Learned from Ivar Aasen?

• Main Author: Hoel, Kjersti
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Subjects: Produktutvikling og produksjon, Prosjekt- og kvalitetsledelse

This master thesis addresses the topics of lessons learned, success factors, and challenges or reasons for project failure. The aim of the thesis is to contribute to the lessons learned initiative at Aker BP by assessing the Ivar Aasen project. Its purpose is to investigate successes and failures that occurred during the project, and give recommendations to what should be retained and what should been done differently in subsequent projects. This was done by asking the question: What have we learned from Ivar Aasen? The Ivar Aasen project was an oil and gas field development project operated by Det norske (now Aker BP). The goal of the project was to establish Det norske as operator on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, and to complete the project within time, cost, and quality, with zero HSE happenings. The research has been conducted as a qualitative single case study, where the scope was to assess the entire Ivar Aasen project. Project managers from the subprojects of Ivar Aasen and other important representatives from the company participated as informants. There has been held 22 face-to-face interviews, based on questionnaires answered by the interviewees. The interviews were recorded, and transcribed afterwards, which resulted in 164 pages of text. The interviews have been semi-structured, which has enabled for an open dialogue between the researchers and the interviewees. The literature review has made up the theoretical basis for discussing success factors and challenges in the project. With this basis it has been possible to identify the unique success factors for the Ivar Aasen project, and to give recommendations for improvements in subsequent projects. The most important success factors identified for Ivar Aasen are their good working environment, autonomy, determination and commitment amongst the employees, competent staff, clear priorities and expectations, and supportive management. The findings suggest that there are some overreaching factors that have affected the project to the largest extent. These factors include soft aspects of project work, and the importance of understanding interdependencies and interfaces. The recommendation for the company is to emphasize the focus on these in particular. This master thesis is important for the company, as it contributes to their lessons learned initiative. It gives a third party s objective opinion of the project and provides important lessons learned, useful for future project execution.