Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

Yuan Chen; John M. Kamara

2008 Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980810842034

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a model for the use of mobile computing in the management of on‐site construction information and communication. Design/methodology/approach – The research strategy contains three steps: a pilot study for the first stage, a survey that investigated the information needs of particular users and the nature of on‐site information, and finally the development of a model and the validation and evaluation by operational scenarios. Findings – The developed model explores how mobile computing can be used on construction sites to manage on‐site information. This model, firstly, identifies the key factors of mobile computer, wireless network, mobile application, construction personnel, construction information, and construction site; secondly it describes the relationships and interactions among these factors. Based on the model, the selection process for mobile computing strategy includes the clarification of information management process, the creations of overview for mobile computing solution, the identification of mobile computing strategy, and the selection of appropriate mobile computing technology. Originality/value – The developed model explores the general concepts and the internal relationships at the two areas of mobile computing and construction site information management. The application of the model can help users to select mobile computing strategies for managing on‐site construction information based on the characteristics of their projects.

H.A. Bassioni; T.M. Hassan; A.D.F. Price

2008 Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980810842043

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and analyse the criteria and sub‐criteria of an excellence model for construction that would aid construction contractors in measuring and improving their business performance. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology of evaluation was based on similar evaluations of total quality management frameworks and excellence models in the literature. The developed model was measured via a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire as a measuring instrument was evaluated in terms of reliability and validity using techniques such as factor analysis, multiple correlation, and Cronbach's alpha. The weights of the criteria were empirically calculated using factor regression coefficients. Findings – The criteria and sub‐criteria of the proposed construction excellence model were confirmed using empirical data, and the criterion weights were suggested on an empirical / scientific basis. Research limitations/implications – The model is limited as a managerial tool: it can increase the chances of success, but not guarantee it. The model was evaluated on, and therefore limited to, large construction contracting organisations. Originality/value – The main benefit of the construction excellence model is that it provides criteria and sub‐criteria for an excellence model developed for and evaluated by construction companies. It has a more comprehensive and wider coverage of performance criteria relevant to the construction industry than other excellence models.

Yadeed B. Lobo; Suzanne Wilkinson

2008 Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980810842052

Purpose – In the light of international skills shortages at different levels of the construction industry, this research assesses solutions to skills shortages in the construction industry drawing on research from New Zealand. Design/methodology/approach – The way in which the research objectives were achieved was a mix of qualitative and quantitative research. Grounded theory technique was used in the research. Findings – New Zealand currently uses a variety of techniques to tackle construction industry skills shortages, such as increased wages, overseas recruitment and reformatting training requirements, but still there is a shortage of skilled and semi‐skilled workers for the construction industry. The results of the in‐depth interviews of leading practitioners in New Zealand show how different sectors – government, education and industry – provide different solutions but that ultimately a joint focus on education and training will have the biggest long‐term impact on skills shortages. Practical implications – The paper serves as an illustration to other countries on how New Zealand is solving the construction industry skills shortages. These solutions have practical implications for other countries. Originality/value – The research provides an original assessment of the types of shortages faced in New Zealand and the ways in which they can be solved.

Ulrika Badenfelt

2008 Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980810842061

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a broader understanding of target cost arrangements by empirical study of the choice of sharing ratios from the perspective of both clients and contractors. Design/methodology/approach – Eight Swedish construction clients and eight contractors were interviewed. These interviews were followed by a case study of a large construction project with a target cost contract. The data for the case study were gathered through interviews, contract documents and non‐participant observation. The impact of perceived risks on the selection process is discussed in terms of agency theory. Findings – Key factors influencing the selection of a sharing ratio included perceptions of fairness, knowledge of target cost contracts, and long‐term relationships. The perceived level of risk is affected by the perceived performance risk and the perceived relational risk. Consequently, attention should be paid to the impact of long‐term relationships on the design and outcome of target cost contracts since such relationships reduce the risks associated with asymmetric information, such as relational risk. Originality/value – This study identifies factors that previous research has ignored in relation to the negotiation of target cost contracts.

Ammar Kaka; Chee Wong; Chris Fortune; David Langford

2008 Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980810842070

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show how practitioners have not fully responded to calls for change in culture. Given that construction teams are motivated by several key factors including money, payment systems may play a major role in facilitating this change. Traditional pricing methods are still found to be the most popular system but often criticised for their contribution to the adversarial culture witnessed in the industry. Alternative pricing systems aimed at aligning constructors' behaviour with clients' objectives are emerging. As a result, the choice of an appropriate pricing system must be based on the circumstances surrounding the project and the likelihood that the system is to influence behaviour positively. This paper aims to propose an analytical hierarchic process (AHP) to help the industry do that. Design/methodology/approach – The AHP consists of a MCDM hierarchy structure, pair‐wise comparisons, and the calculation of the relative priorities of MCDM attributes. The attributes used have been identified through a series of interviews followed by postal questionnaires. Findings – The paper results in the development of a decision aid tool for use by the industry to select appropriate pricing systems. This tool identifies seven project objectives as being important for deciding on what pricing system to adopt. Originality/value – There has been limited research on how pricing systems are being selected, or should be selected. The novelty of this paper stems from the subject area being addressed, rather than the methodologies being adopted.

C.J. Anumba; J. Pan; R.R.A. Issa; I. Mutis

2008 Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980810842089

Purpose – The advent of web services and the semantic web have opened up opportunities for a new generation of interoperable systems on the web. The purpose of this paper is to show the importance of semantics in design and construction, and how this has long been recognised and addressed to varying extents by researchers. Design/methodology/approach – There is now the potential for designs to be developed through a system of collaborating design services and for input by the construction team members. The potential also extends to the construction phase where the designers can provide more timely responses to problems encountered in the field. Within this environment, there is the need for effective mechanisms for design and construction information management, in addition to an ontology that facilitates the sharing of design and construction information and the underlying semantics. This paper explores these trends in collaborative design and construction, and presents an ontology‐based approach to project information management in a semantic web environment. Findings – The findings include a framework for semantic web‐based information management (SWIMS), which provides for effective collaborative information management. Examples, based on design and construction information, are presented to illustrate the key concepts. Originality/value – This paper presents an innovative approach to overcoming the limitations of conventional information management approaches in construction. The proposed approach is expected to enhance collaboration, and avoid information loss, overload and misunderstanding,