Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

Anita M.M. Liu; Zhang Shuibo; Leung Meiyung

2006 Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980610680153

Purpose – In recent years, China is exerting effort to improve the performance effectiveness of its construction industry. This paper aims to report a preliminary study on organisational culture of five selected construction enterprises from different geographical locations in China and to discuss a framework for developing effectiveness measurement criteria for Chinese construction enterprises. Design/methodology/approach – The research approach focuses on the culture profiles of the selected enterprises which have similar size, number of employees, general reputation (in terms of quality of construction), business type (building works) and tax bracket. The measuring instrument of organisational culture is adopted from previous tested research. Findings – It is found that the hierarchy culture is dominant in four cases; Shantou in the Special Economic Zone is the exception. The Shantou enterprise has a market culture and Shantou was one of the first regions to embark on economic reform. Further analysis is required of the spread of the culture profiles in terms of geopraphcial regions and developmental stages of the construction enterprises in China. Originality/value – The result of the five case studies is indicative of the presence of the dichotomy in hierarchy – market culture dominance. Evaluation of operational effectiveness of such organisations must depend on their developmental stages in line with their stated objectives, and a framework for effectiveness measurement is proposed.

Ektewan Manowong; Stephen O. Ogunlana

2006 Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980610680162

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to report the results of research on whether the public hearing in Thailand's infrastructure development projects can be an effective vehicle for the project's public participation and conflict resolution on projects. Design/methodology/approach – The performance of public hearing depends on factors such as the structure of the process, participation, management, and resource required by the process. A case study approach is used to assess the performance of public hearings conducted in infrastructure development projects in Thailand by examining the project stakeholders' attitude by means of questionnaire survey and interviews. Evaluation by hearing participants and their level of satisfaction are interpreted to derive the effectiveness of the hearings. The extent to which satisfaction effects on evaluation is also considered. Findings – It is shown that the hearings had moderate to low effectiveness primarily because the participation and management performance aspects did not meet the participants' expectations. The relationships of evaluation and satisfaction indices were examined. The hearing participants focus both on the process and outcome of hearings. Originality/value – The research reported the results of scientific assessment of public hearing performance, constituting a significant step towards understanding and implementation of public hearings in the Thai context as well as their influence on the efficiency and effectiveness of the project management concerning the stakeholder values.

Vachara Peansupap; Derek H.T. Walker

2006 Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980610680171

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report upon research undertaken on deployment of information communication technology (ICT) diffusion initiatives in the Australian construction industry. The paper seeks to explain how innovation implementation drivers and barriers facilitate diffusion at the organisational, group and individual levels. Design/methodology/approach – Data from two web‐based document management case studies and one intranet document management system case study are used to analyse ICT diffusion dynamics within three large information technology (IT) literate Australian construction firms. The sample was purposefully limited to large IT‐literate construction contracting organisations with a need to use ICT for their operational effectiveness. Findings – Constraints at the personal level include limited budget for ICT investment, commitment from other project participants, issues of ICT standardisation, and security problems. At the organisational level, constraints include basic levels computer experience, time available to learn, and the identification of clear benefits of ICT use. Constraints at the group level include time available to share information, quality of personal contact and geographical distance. Research limitations/implications – The sample was purposefully limited to large IT‐literate construction contracting organisations with a need to use ICT for their operational effectiveness. Practical implications – The driver and barrier models presented indicate that ICT innovation implementation requires intense management interventions to facilitate a supportive workplace environment that strongly links personal and organisational resource investment with demonstrated outcome benefits. Originality/value – This study provides rich insights of the dynamics of ICT innovation implementation. Few studies in the literature have provided such insights that link the organisational, group and individual levels.

Issaka Ndekugri; Victoria Russell

2006 Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980610680180

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to provide a critical analysis of court decisions on what amounts to a dispute that may be referred to adjudication under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996. Design/methodologyapproach – Legal research methods were followed. The first stage entailed a review of relevant literature. Reports of court decisions were then studied to identify cases involving litigation on what amounts to a dispute. A total of 26 cases, going back to 1965, were identified. Each case was then analysed to extract the applicable legal principles, particular attention being paid to clarity and consistency with not only other cases but also the policy underlying the relevant legislation. Findings – Until only recently, first instance judges adopted the one or the other of two opposing approaches to the question, thereby causing considerable litigation. The Court of Appeal has twice approved a flexible approach based on the principle that a dispute arises only after a party has been given reasonable opportunity to consider the other party's claim and has rejected it expressly or by implication. Originality/value – The novelty and global spread of adjudication lends the article considerable originality and value. Its main value is in the guidance it provides as to the principles that the court is likely to apply in answering the question whether a dispute capable of being referred to arbitration or adjudication exists. It is hoped that knowledge of these principles will reduce litigation on this issue.

B.D. Ilozor; D.B. Ilozor

2006 Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980610680199

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the effect coefficients of the complex connections between selected open‐plan office and effective facilities space management variables. Design/methodology/approach – Data on offices, management control and effective facilities space management measures were collected through questionnaires administered to 102 facilities space managers of 102 randomly selected open‐plan offices in Sydney. Findings – Some open‐plan attributes were found to have direct impacts on several effective facilities space management variables, while others exhibited indirect effects through management control aspects. In most cases, management control considerably reduced the effect coefficients. Research limitations/implications – While the study is limited to discrete effective facilities space management aspects of only selected open‐plan commercial offices in Sydney, the research implications though far‐reaching, may not be universally applicable. However, a better understanding of the associations provides directions to where attention would be fruitfully focused in future research replications and practice. Practical implications – The practical implication of this result is for re‐engineering of work environments to consider aspects of management that invariably moderates and/or intervenes in the relationship of space, people and work process. This paper concludes that, with dedicated management control, the impact of open‐plan on facilities space management may be less extensive. Originality/value – The paper's utilization of this quantitative approach is novel to understanding the connections between office attributes and effective facilities management. This approach offers a veritable alternative to examining and validating these constructs that are useful to space providers, designers, managers and users in understanding the interactions between space, people and process.

Ibrahim M. Mahdi; Khaled Al‐Reshaid; Sami M. Fereig

2006 Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980610680207

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to look into the mass production of dwelling units and the conflict encountered when the economics versus quality, sometimes resulting in a waste of public funding resources and extra re‐building time. Design/methodology/approach – This paper proposes a decision model for deciding the optimum house delivery alternatives for both the recipients and the Government. The decision model is designed using the analytical hierarchy process. Where multiple criteria are incorporated for such as waiting time, citizen satisfaction, and quality of work, house delivery‐time, cost, losses and finally, management responsibility. Findings – Partially constructed houses enable the possibility of many alternatives by the recipients, which in turn avoids the drawbacks of rebuilding and at the same time, maintains work quality. The partially constructed housing system is proved to be effective in making a trade‐off between the government purposes and recipients desires, but with a variable percentage of partial construction. Originalty/value – The analysis of the surveys stresses the importance of different alternatives within the partially constructed housing system in order to reduce waiting time and construction cost thus increases the satisfaction of occupants. The validity of this study continues to be effective to this date, as the Government's housing policies have not yet changed or streamlined, consequently re‐building continues to be the theme of many public houses after hand‐over to recipients.