Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

Lynn Ann Carley; Carl T. Haas; John D. Borcherding; Paul M. Goodrum

2003 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980310509345

Multiskilling refers to a labour utilization strategy in which workers learn multiple skills in one or more trades outside of their primary trade. Over 700 non-union craft workers across the USA were surveyed as part of a research effort. The data collected show that a slight increase in the breadth of skills positively impacts a worker's hourly wage, but only a weak relationship was found between multiskilling and more continuous employment.

Thi Xuan My Tran; Hector M. Malano; Russell G. Thompson

2003 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980310509354

In recent years, many organisations responsible for economic infrastructure have developed asset management systems to improve the financial and service performance of their facilities. Asset management is an integrated approach to improving the ability of an irrigation system to deliver water at a defined level of service in the most cost-effective manner. This paper describes how the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is applied to identify priorities for asset renewals in the La Khe irrigation scheme in North Vietnam. The AHP methodology was coupled with the expected maximum utility (EMU) to evaluate renewal priorities of assets grouped by types and by location within the hydraulic system.

Christian Koch

2003 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980310509363

This article discusses how information technology and human resource oriented management tools can be integrated using their respective strengths to enable knowledge production. Two companies' KM strategies encompassing a strong IT-component in combination with organisation, training and office design are analysed. Their experience shows that joining information technology with the human resource oriented tools is a necessary precondition for success in KM-efforts. Second, in the large company, there is still a relative overemphasis on "circumstantial" frames for knowledge production and too little focus on dynamics in knowledge producing processes. In contrast, the medium sized company is experimenting with soft tools used directly in the processes of the customer-oriented projects.

Aly H. Karam

2003 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980310509372

There is a general sentiment against the idea of marketing among architectural professionals. This paper argues for the necessity of a marketing approach particularly in times where the workload is declining. This paper looks at the marketing strategies that the Western Cape architects follow. It examines their efforts in building a successful marketing portfolio that defines marketing targets, utilizes proper marketing tools, and carry on helpful image building tasks. The data were collected using a mailed questionnaire to all principals of architectural offices in the Western Cape Province. The concluding section relates these strategies with the perception of growth over a five-year period.

Nii O. Attoh‐Okine

2003 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980310509381

This paper describes the application of rough set theory to equipment productivity estimate. Rough set theory offers a novel approach both in generation of rules and statistical classification of the equipment productivity data. The approach is based on upper and lower approximations of a set in terms of positive, negative and boundary regions. The information about the equipment productivity is organized in productivity information table. The table contains data about the object of interest characterized in terms of some attributes. The paper is more of an exploratory research to determine how rough set theory can be applicable to specific construction engineering problems.

Ekambaram Palaneeswaran; Mohan Kumaraswamy; Thomas Ng

2003 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980310509390

Procuring best value should be one of the key objectives in public sector construction projects. Best value depends upon sound "selection" strategies which ensure that the outlined project procurement objectives, including client/user demands are met. Examples of "best value" procurement are presented to demonstrate their usefulness and acceptance in principle. Further conceptualizations of various aspects of best value and the "dominance vectors" influencing the ultimate value definitions are developed, in accordance with basic public sector procurement principles. Presents a structured best value based contractor selection framework to optimize realizable value in public sector construction projects.