33rd Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC 33) - Osaka and Kyoto, Japan - 2025

https://doi.org/10.24928/2025/0180

Revitalizing Language Action in the Last Planner System™

John Skaar1, Trond Bølviken2 & Bo Terje Kalsaas3

1Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Engineering Sciences, University of Agder, N-4846 Grimstad, Norway, [email protected], orcid.org/0000-00032290-2374
2Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Engineering Sciences, University of Agder, N4846 Grimstad, Norway, [email protected], orcid.org/0000-0003-4834-2408
3Professor emeritus, Dr. Ing., Faculty of Engineering and Science, Department of Engineering Sciences, University of Agder, N-4846 Grimstad, Norway, [email protected], orcid.org/0000-0003-43831683

Abstract

The Last Planner System™ has been instrumental in advancing construction through improved collaboration, reliability, and workflow planning. Building on the foundational principles of the Language-Action Perspective, this paper emphasizes the need to make critical elements of project planning more explicit, namely: the importance of saying ‘no’ and the visibility of actual work. An evolution of the Should-Can-Will-Did framework is proposed by explicitly stating Shouldn’t, Cannot, Won’t, and Did Not. Incorporating these elements in the presentation of the Last Planner System emphasizes the importance of not taking the preferred outcome for granted while creating space for genuine commitment. Representing the work itself in the system's presentation highlights the dynamic nature of execution, reinforcing the integration of planning and doing. These refinements aim to create a more transparent, resilient, and actionable framework, aligning planning efforts more closely with the complexities of project delivery.

Keywords

Commitment, Language Action, Last Planner System.

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Reference in APA 7th edition format:

Skaar, J., Bølviken, T. & Kalsaas, B. T.. (2025). Revitalizing Language Action in the Last Planner System™. In Seppänen, O., Koskela, L., & Murata , K. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Conference of the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC 33) (pp. 1266–1273). https://doi.org/10.24928/2025/0180

Shortened reference for use in IGLC papers:

Skaar, J., Bølviken, T. & Kalsaas, B. T.. (2025). Revitalizing Language Action in the Last Planner System™. IGLC33. https://doi.org/10.24928/2025/0180

 

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