Investigating interpersonal communication during construction progress meetings: challenges and opportunitiesChristopher A. Gorse; Stephen Emmitt
2003 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management
doi: 10.1108/09699980310489942
Progress meetings provide a central forum for requesting and exchanging the information necessary for the successful completion of construction projects. Although common to the majority of projects, little is known about the interaction between participants during these meetings. Reviews appropriateness of methodologies for the study of group interaction and discusses the problems encountered when piloting them. The review led to a focus on Bales' interaction process analysis (IPA) as an appropriate methodology for observing, analysing and interpreting social interaction in small groups. Pilot testing and subsequent use found the method to be reliable and robust. Bales' IPA was used to categorise and quantify communication acts of 30 site-based progress meetings. Results indicate that the management and design team interaction is subject to interaction norms: this is predominantly task-based, but subject to outbursts of emotional interaction, which was found to be very influential on the groups' behaviour.
The accuracy of housing forecasting in AustraliaAnthony Mills; David Harris; Martin Skitmore
2003 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management
doi: 10.1108/09699980310489951
Forecasting is an integral part of all business planning, and forecasting the outlook for housing is of interest to many firms in the housing construction sector. This research measures the performance of a number of industry forecasting bodies; this is done to provide users with an indicator of the value of housing forecasting undertaken in Australia. The accuracy of housing commencement forecasts of three Australian organisations – the Housing Industry Association (HIA), the Indicative Planning Council for the Housing Industry (IPC) and BIS‐Shrapnel – is examined through the empirical analysis of their published forecasts supplemented by qualitative data in the form of opinions elicited from several industry “experts” employed in these organisations. Forecasting performance was determined by comparing the housing commencement forecast with the actual data collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on an ex‐post basis. Although the forecasts cover different time periods, the level of accuracy is similar, at around 11‐13 per cent for four‐quarter‐ahead forecasts. In addition, national forecasts are more accurate than forecasts for individual states. This is the first research that has investigated the accuracy of both private and public sector forecasting of housing construction in Australia. This allows users of the information to better understand the performance of various forecasting organisations.
Risk management practices of leading UK cost consultantsGerard D. Wood; Robert C.T. Ellis
2003 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management
doi: 10.1108/09699980310489960
Risk management (RM) is now widely accepted as an important tool in the management of projects. Through a series of semi‐structured interviews with RM facilitators, current practice is explored. The findings provide a number of soft benchmarks. Interest in RM comes largely from educated clients and is regularly adopted as an integrated front‐end service. Ongoing RM studies throughout the project life cycle are limited largely to the public sector and utilities. The use of RM workshops and the production of risk registers are commonplace. The use of Monte Carlo simulation through specialist software is widespread as a means of obtaining a greater degree of confidence in project budgets. There is scepticism regarding the usefulness of complex risk analysis techniques and a predisposition to rely on judgement based on experience. The use of historical data is limited. Evaluation of the service is informal and there is a relative lack of training and skills development underpinning RM provision.
Artificial neural network for the selection of buildable structural systemsTabarak M.A. Ballal ; William D. Sher
2003 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management
doi: 10.1108/09699980310489979
In this study, artificial neural networks have been developed to acquire construction knowledge from past projects to integrate buildability considerations into the preliminary structural design process. Four artificial neural network models are presented. These allow the generation of an expeditious solution for given sets of design and buildability constraints. Once information is entered into the models, a recommendation of which structural scheme to choose is generated instantaneously. Thus, valuable design time is released, allowing designers the opportunity to invest in other equally important design tasks. The information entered into the models consists of site‐related information including site access; availability of working space; and speed of erection, and conceptual design information including type of building; number of storeys and gross floor area. The results show that artificial neural networks can be successfully used for the implementation of buildability at the preliminary stage of design.
An integrated system for duration estimation in design/build projects and organizationsAlaattin Kanoglu
2003 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management
doi: 10.1108/09699980310489988
Overruns to planned schedules are common in civil construction projects worldwide. Yet, the construction industry fails to recognize the criticality of the problem, and while models have been developed, their lack of adequate sophistication fails to alleviate the problem. Additionally, there is resistance from construction professionals to use such models due to the lack of software integration models and modular functionality. This paper presents a performance-based duration estimation model integrated with an automation system model, MITOS - multi-phase integrated automation system, that was designed primarily for design/build firms. An experience-based computational model is used for the estimation of the duration of construction projects and the performance results are discussed.
The strategy process within large construction orgnisationsA.D.F. Price
2003 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management
doi: 10.1108/09699980310489997
This paper investigates current approaches to the process of managing strategy within the construction industry. The results from nine case studies have been summarised under the headings of: defining the process of developing strategy; activities and outputs associated with the strategic process; strategic tools and techniques used in the process; outputs to the strategic process and factors that govern strategic success time scale for planning horizons; the level of personnel involvement; and the most important factors for successful implementation of strategy. The strategic frameworks adopted by the case study organisations have been combined into a single framework for managing the strategic process. Several issues of strategic concern were identified and recommendations have been put forward under three headings: development of the strategic process; improvement of internal and external audits; and increased application of appropriate tools and techniques.