Measuring achievement of learning organizations in constructionP.S. Chinowsky; K. Molenaar; A. Bastias
2007 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management
doi: 10.1108/09699980710744872
Purpose – The purpose of this article is to provide an introduction to the LEONARDO diagnostic tool which assists organizations in determining their current level of achievement towards a learning culture. Design/methodology/approach – Using a combination of the analytical hierarchy process and the Delphi technique, the research obtained the critical questions for evaluating an organization's investment and progress towards achieving a learning culture. The questions are categorized based on five areas of a learning culture and three levels of learning within an organization. These questions are translated into a web‐based diagnostic that is validated and released for use by engineering and construction organizations. Findings – The paper provides an overview of the LEONARDO diagnostic tool including the mathematical weighting system employed for scoring organization progress and investment, the web‐based availability, and the evaluation report card provided to users. The paper also provides a summary of the validation process including how organizations used the tool to determine internal learning progress. Research limitations/implications – The study obtained input primarily from large organizations and may not fully represent the entire engineering and construction industry perspective. Practical implications – The study provides a tool that assists any organization in advancing towards a learning culture that is a requirement for remaining competitive in a changing engineering marketplace. Originality/value – The paper provides an introduction to how to achieve a learning organization as an advance over collecting and managing knowledge. This is the beginning of a movement toward the next stage in achieving success within the knowledge era.
Heavy equipment management practices and problems in Thai highway contractorsThanapun Prasertrungruang; B.H.W. Hadikusumo
2007 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management
doi: 10.1108/09699980710744881
Purpose – This study is intended to investigate the current practices and problems in heavy equipment management as well as to identify practices capable of alleviating equipment management problems for highway contractors in Thailand. Design/methodology/approach – Equipment management practices were identified and analysed by SPSS using a questionnaire survey. ANOVA test was used to reveal significant differences in equipment management practices among different contractor sizes. Relationships between equipment management practices and problems were also revealed. Findings – The equipment management practices vary, to some extent, among different contractor sizes. While practices of medium and small contractors tend to be similar, practices of large contractors are different from those of smaller contractors. Large contractors often put more emphasis on outsourcing strategy for equipment management. Moreover, large contractors frequently dispose of or replace equipment as soon as the equipment becomes inefficient before incurring high repair costs. Conversely, smaller contractors tend to mainly emphasise on the company finance and the budget availability as they often rely on purchasing strategy, especially buying used machines. Overall, equipment practices of large contractors were found to be more successful than smaller contractors in minimising equipment management problems, including long downtime duration and cost. Originality/value – This research is of value for better understanding practices and problems relating to heavy equipment management among different contractor sizes. The study also highlights practices that are capable of reducing problems relating to heavy equipment management for highway contractors.
Empirical study of interactions between knowledge management activitiesLe Chen; Sherif Mohamed
2007 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management
doi: 10.1108/09699980710744890
Purpose – Recent knowledge management (KM) literature suggests that KM activities are not independent of each other, rather they interact with each other to form a process which receives input from both external and internal business environments, and then produces new knowledge for future utilisation. The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the relationships between KM activities within the construction business context in order to identify and map the pattern of their interactions. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire survey was administered to a sample of contracting organisations operating in Hong Kong to elicit opinions of construction professionals on the intensity of KM activities currently being executed by their organisations in order to facilitate knowledge capture, sharing and utilisation. More than 150 respondents from 99 organisations responded to the survey. Additionally, a total of 15 semi‐structured interviews were undertaken to provide a unique perspective on many of the challenges facing local construction organisations when dealing with KM activities. Findings – Knowledge acquisition and utilisation play paramount roles in the development of the organisational knowledge asset. The higher the intensity of these two activities, the larger the organisational knowledge pool which, in turn, demands greater knowledge dissemination capacity. This dissemination capacity enables more active and intense responses to market changes and clients' needs, thus facilitating and stimulating acquisition and utilisation of new tacit knowledge, thus improving organisational business performance. Originality/value – Interactions between KM activities were empirically investigated, from a strategic perspective, in the construction business context.
Perceptions of workplace vibration hazards among a small sample of UK construction professionalsDavid J. Edwards; Gary D. Holt
2007 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management
doi: 10.1108/09699980710744908
Purpose – The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations (CVWR) became law in 2005. They are of particular relevance to construction – which by nature of its activities – presents abundant whole‐body, and hand‐arm, vibration hazards. The principal aim of this research was to assess perceptions among a sample of UK construction professionals; regarding workplace vibration hazards generally and the CVWR specifically. Design/methodology/approach – A structured questionnaire survey was carried out among a small but carefully targeted sample of professionals drawn from construction. These included health and safety managers, production managers and designers. A total of 88 useable responses were received. Data were analysed principally using the mean index technique. Findings – Generally, a realistic view of hazards was observed; although some significant misperceptions were noted. Self‐confessed levels of knowledge regarding the subject were typically “low”. This appeared something of a paradox, in that “training workers” was cited as the most commonly used risk control method for both whole‐body, and hand‐arm vibration risks, respectively. Practical implications – Disparity was observed between what respondents knew about the subject and the purported (extensive) use of training as a risk control method. This indicates that a degree of introspection may be beneficial on the part of employers, regarding their training design and delivery mechanisms. Differences in perceived degrees of vibration risk, exist between health and safety professionals and construction managers; implying that there is a need for improved communication between those responsible for planning vibration management controls, and those charged with implementing them at the workplace. Originality/value – The paper presents research that assess perceptions among a sample of UK construction professionals; regarding workplace vibration hazards generally and the CVWR specifically.
Nonlinear optimisation and rational cash flowVáclav Beran; Petr Dlask
2007 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management
doi: 10.1108/09699980710744917
Purpose – The problem of diverse cash flows associated with a construction “project” appear in four progressive cycles. These are the initiating construction cycle and closing deconstruction cycle (devaluation cycle). The effectiveness of any project is given by capitalisation cycle. The optimisation of payback (credit return) cycle is critical for any project. Design/methodology/approach – For calculate of activity durations, cash flows and even we may use the spreadsheet table as a tool for expression of calculation formulas. This approach may offer a mechanism for answers regarding the sensitivity of manageable parameters (say changes in costs, construction speeds, duration of activity). The problem of optimal capacity expansion of construction work as a time dependent problem is studied in many different applied contexts. Traditional capacity planning usually begins with a forecast of demand on the basis of organisational or technological needs. Findings – The implementation of a technical project carried out in conditions of high production speeds and low time reserves requires changes in technologies, organisation and preparation of construction. In each specific case, a civil engineer needs to know the economic impacts (the capability of applicable calculations). Originality/value – It is obvious from the given example, which has the same features as the execution of a series of construction projects in recent years, that the myth of the importance of executing works in large volumes ahead of the deadlines has significant financial consequences.
Simulation‐based scheduling of module assembly yards: case studyYasser Mohamed; Davila Borrego; Luis Francisco; Mohamed Al‐Hussein; Simaan AbouRizk; Ulrich Hermann
2007 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management
doi: 10.1108/09699980710744926
Purpose – Pipe‐spool module assembly involves a variety of uncertain factors and constraints, which complicate the assembly scheduling process. These factors also pose a challenge for the scheduler who struggles to produce a schedule that optimizes both the use of available resources (e.g. space) and meets the project's delivery deadlines. In the relatively quick production cycle of module assembly, the scheduling process plays an operative role. Thus, automation of the process would enhance productivity of the schedule updating process. This paper seeks to address this issue. Design/methodology/approach – A simulation‐based approach is presented for scheduling pipe‐spool module assembly. This approach incorporates physical and logical constraints. General purpose simulation (GPS) is used to model these logical and heuristic constraints. Findings – The application of the proposed model to an actual case study demonstrates the significant improvement in the assembly schedule when compared to traditional CPM‐based scheduling techniques. Originality/value – The proposed model allows schedulers to experiment with various rules in order to improve the scheduling process by, for example, instantly updating the schedule.