Paper Construction Activity
General Description
The problem is to manage, design and construct a paper structure which is at least 60cm tall and
capable of safely supporting a full, 500ml drink bottle on its top surface.
This problem is used as a basis for thinking about, discussing and then applying all aspects of project
management covered in the EPJ0040 Project Management in Construction course.
Roles
Everyone in the class is assigned roles:
Clients / project managers
Powers:
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access to finance (in the form of credit) to pay designers and constructors for their work.
the right to organize the planning, design and construction of paper structures and to sell
paper structures to the market
Responsibilities:
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to choose a designer(s) and a constructor(s)
to decide what to build
to manage the overall process
to sell the completed paper structure(s) to the market
any further responsibilities agreed in contracts with others
Designers
Powers:
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the right to design paper structures
the right to sell paper structure design services to others
Responsibilities:
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as agreed in contracts with others
Constructors
Powers:
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the right to buy materials for constructing paper structures from the market
the right to buy design services from designers
the right to buy any other services from the market
access to credit to pay for materials and services
the right to construct paper structures
the right to sell paper structure construction services to others
Responsibilities:
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as agreed in contracts with others
The Market (Emlyn Witt)
Powers:
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the right to sell materials for constructing paper structures
the right to value and buy paper structures
the right to provide (freely or for payment) any paper structure related services to others
excluding design services and construction services
Responsibilities:
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to supply materials and services
to value and buy paper structures
Rules
Finance
The currency unit for this activity is the Mark (Mk).
Each Client/PM has access to up to 2500 (Mk) in credit. This credit can only be used to pay for design
services and construction services as well as any other services available from the market.
Each contractor has access to 1500Mk credit for buying materials and services.
Construction Materials
Paper structures are to be made of only paper and glue. (No tape or any other materials may be
used). The only paper allowed is that which the market supplies. Paper costs 10 Mk per A4 sheet.
The glue may be any glue of your choice and it will be supplied by you. Paper must be the primary
building material and glue is to be used in small quantities only to join together paper components.
(For example, glue cannot be used as the matrix in a glue / paper composite material as in 'papier
mache' or as a fibre reinforced polymer).
Role Allocation
Client/PM, Designer, Constructor roles are allocated to individuals by the market. (For every 1
Client/PM there are approximately 2 Designers and 2 Constructors). Roles cannot be changed,
swapped or reassigned.
Requirements for Assessment
Paper structures must be assembled within 30 minutes during class (10:00 – 11:30) on 8th May 2013.
Paper structures must have a horizontal top surface which is at least 60cm above the base of the
paper structure (i.e. paper structure height to top surface >= 60cm)
They will be tested by placing a full 500ml drink bottle (anywhere) on their top surface. The bottle
must be safely supported by the structure.
If the structure fails under this loading – it will be valued at 0Mk.
If the structure succeeds in supporting the bottle, then it will be valued according to its height and
the area of its top surface according to the following formula:
Value (in Marks) = ((H – 30)/ 15) * A * (1 + F)
where:
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H = the height of the paper structure measured from the underside of its base to its top
surface (in cm)
A = area of the top surface of the paper structure (in cm2);
F is a subjective factor relating to the relative aesthetic appeal of the paper structure. This is
determined by the market and has a value between 0,1 and -0,1. (i.e. -0,1<=F>=0,1) (In
other words: the paper structures are compared and the ugliest is given F = -0,1 and the
prettiest is given F = 0,1. The ones in between are given corresponding F values.)
Assessment
The measure of individual success will be the amount of money made. This depends on specific
contracts and arrangements, but generally: for the Client/PM, this is the difference between the
market value of the completed structure and the cost of it; for the designer it is the payment for the
design service; for the constructor it is the difference between the price the Client/PM pays for the
structure and how much it cost to construct.