Understanding the impact of value management in the environmental public service sector

Abstract

This study explores the application of Value Management (VM) and Value Engineering (VE) within Malta’s public service sector, focusing on environmental projects. Traditional cost-centric procurement approaches are proving insufficient in an era of heightened economic volatility, technological disruption, and increasing demands for public accountability. This research advocates for a structured, value-based decision-making framework that balances cost with quality, efficiency, and long-term sustainability considerations. A mixed-method, quasiexperimental designwas employed, using Ambjent Malta as a case study. The methodology involved pre-intervention data collection, stakeholder information sessions, and post-intervention evaluation. Three environmental projects were analysed through stakeholder engagement workshops, incorporating VM tools such as function analysis and value criteria evaluation. The results demonstrate thatVMcan effectively address cost overruns, promote stakeholder collaboration, and improve project alignment with client and environmental objectives. Significant increases in stakeholder awareness and understanding of VM principles were observed, alongside a reported shift from cost minimisation to value optimisation in project planning. This research contributes to the limited knowledge of VM in the Maltese context. It underscores the potential of value-based methodologies to enhance public sector project outcomes and long-term efficiency.