Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

Kriengsak Panuwatwanich; Rodney A. Stewart; Sherif Mohamed

2008 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980810902712

Purpose – Innovation and the process of diffusion have been widely acknowledged as hinging upon the complex social psychological process. Invariably, such a process manifests itself in the form of “climate” in an organisation, which influences people's behaviours. The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the roles of a facet‐specific climate, namely “climate for innovation” in determining innovation‐related outcomes. In particular, this paper focuses on interrelationships and roles of specific constructs forming such climate. Additionally, this paper attempts to determine the efficacy of innovation by examining the relationship between outcomes of innovation diffusion and business performance. Design/methodology/approach – A conceptual model incorporating three climate for innovation constructs including leadership, team, and organisational culture along with two constructs addressing innovation diffusion outcomes and business performance was developed. Statistical analyses, specifically exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and structural equation modelling (SEM), were conducted based on the data collected from a questionnaire survey of 181 design professionals employed in Australian architecture and engineering design (AED) firms. EFA was employed as a preliminary step to ascertain the factors underlying each construct, and SEM was sequentially utilised to determine the factor structure of the model and to assess the relationships between model constructs. Findings – The results revealed that perceived organisational culture functions as a gateway to the diffusion of innovation, by mediating the relationships between leadership and team climate, and innovation diffusion outcomes. More importantly, it was found that all pathways to innovation diffusion outcomes originated from the leadership construct, highlighting its critical role in creating a supportive culture that fosters and nurtures innovation. Finally, the findings warranted the benefits of innovation by demonstrating its significant contribution to business performance in AED firms. Originality/value – The study presents an empirically developed model depicting pathways that explain the mechanisms of climate for innovation constructs in determining the degree of innovation diffusion outcomes and business performance. The model can potentially form the foundations of a framework for firms seeking to diagnose their existing condition and use such findings to enhance the diffusion of innovation that could, in turn, strengthen their business performance.

Winston Shakantu; Mundia Muya; John Tookey; Paul Bowen

2008 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980810902721

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the nature and extent of the current practice of logistics in the construction industry and to investigate the utility of reverse logistics in a construction context. Design/methodology/approach – A pilot study was utilised to devise a method for the identification and measurement of parameters for incorporation within a process of construction site logistics optimisation. Data on vehicular movements were collected from seven sites in Cape Town. The data were used to design a flow model of material delivery and waste removal vehicular movements. Findings – The results showed that in terms of transport distribution, of all vehicle movements observed, 62.6 per cent were classified as material delivery and 26.3 per cent as construction and demolition (C&D) waste removal. This ratio approximates to 2.4 materials delivery journeys to one waste removal journey. An optimised integrated materials delivery and waste removal logistics model is presented. Practical implications – The research has highlighted the potential for integration of building materials and C&D waste logistics. Based on the ratio of 2.4:1, up to 26.3 per cent of vehicular movements transiting sites could be eliminated by allowing material delivery vehicles to back‐haul waste to points of disposal, reuse or reclamation. Originality/value – The potential use of “reverse logistics” in a construction context is demonstrated, as is the scope for the utilisation of spare capacity through the application of the reverse logistics concept and the possible reduction in unit costs and numbers of empty vehicular movements.

Florence Yean Yng Ling; Amy Hui Min Chan

2008 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980810902730

Purpose – With the advent of globalization, consultancy firms could easily offer services outside their home countries. This study aims to investigate how quantity surveying (QS) firms in Singapore internationalize their services, by examining the unique characteristics of exporting firms, the forces that drive them to export and the strategies they adopt in internationalization. Design/methodology/approach – The research method is based on a structured questionnaire and data were collected via postal survey. Questionnaires were sent to all 47 QS firms operating in Singapore. A total of 25 responses were received. Findings – The results show that QS firms that offer services overseas have more staff than non‐exporters, handle larger projects and offer a wider range of services. In addition, these firms are focused on generating additional revenue and conduct their own market research to secure overseas contracts. They enter foreign countries first as wholly owned foreign subsidiaries and later on form joint ventures with firms in the host country. Originality/value – The finding suggests that to internationalize, firms need to be of a critical size in terms of staff strength. They must offer integrated and other value added services. To secure more overseas projects, firms should undertake aggressive marketing, collect market data in host countries, instead of relying on published information. Many projects were won through past and present clients' recommendations. To win more overseas contracts, it is recommended that QS firms form close relationships with clients who are best placed to give referrals or repeat business.

Amr A.G. Hassanein; Waleed El Nemr

2008 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980810902749

Purpose – This research aims at providing a better insight of the status of claims management in general, and change order claims in particular, from the contractor's perspective with respect to the Egyptian industrial construction sector, as they proved to be the main cause of claims in this sector. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire survey discussing the most persistent issues of claims management in general, and change order claims in particular, was conducted on a selected sample of construction industrial companies. Findings – The results demonstrated that claims management in the Egyptian industrial sector has been suffering from a variety of obstacles, including lack of proper notification procedures in public contracts and poor documentation management. Change orders had been actually lost due to poor documentation. Oral change orders were present in approximately 76 per cent of the projects; half of which resulted in loss of rights due to improper documentation, which was largely attributed to the lack of contract awareness of the site team, and to the “fear of consultant phenomenon”. Practical implications – The paper presented several recommendations for improving claims management including: the formation of a standard form of contract general conditions for the Egyptian industrial sector, and applying a methodological approach for change orders quantification. Originality/value – The increasing number of international companies contemplating construction projects in Egypt, and the significant problems with regards to claims propagation and management, addressed the need to conduct such study that targets one of the most challenging areas in the Egyptian construction industry.

T.E. Uher; M.C. Brand

2008 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980810902758

Purpose – This paper forms part of on‐going research project being undertaken by the authors into performance of the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) (hereafter referred to as “the act”), which commenced in amended form on 3 March 2003. The aim of the research was to examine the performance of the act and observe what trends, if any, have emerged in the adjudication process in New South Wales from a claimants' viewpoint. Design/methodology/approach – A cross‐sectional survey of claimants was undertaken using a comprehensive multiple‐choice questionnaire administered by post. In answering the questions, the sampled claimants were required to draw on their experience with the adjudication process in their “most recent” payment claim dispute case. Crosstabs were used to determine a frequency distribution of selected variables. The Chi‐square test of independence was performed for the data collected to measure a degree of independence between the selected variables. The nil hypothesis (H 0 ) tested is whether variables are independent. Where appropriate, Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated. Findings – The research reveals that: subcontractors' payment claims are generally smaller in value than those made by general contractors; that degree of lawyer involvement in the adjudication process is substantial in terms of document preparation; that the higher the amount of payment claim, the greater the time input on part of claimants in the preparation of an adjudication application; that a positive correlation exists between the actual value of payment claim and its adjudicated amount and the amount of adjudication fees and the adjudicated amount, and that filing of an adjudication certificate in a court is the most successful means of payment recovery. Originality/value – It is generally accepted that the parties in the construction industry who carry out construction work, or supply goods and services under a construction contract are afforded little or no security of payment. The object of act is to ensure that any person who undertakes to carry out construction work (or who undertakes to supply related goods and services) under a construction contract is entitled to receive, and is able to recover, progress payments in relation to the carrying out of that work and the supplying of those goods and services. Thus, the research looks to contribute to existing knowledge for the purpose of concluding whether or not the Act produces the expected result of increasing security of payment, and whether the results are consistent with the reason for the act.

Perry Forsythe

2008 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699980810902767

Purpose – This paper aims to develop a theoretical model concerning the way service quality impacts on the perceptions of customers in housing construction. Design/methodology/approach – The model is based on marketing theory merged with construction concepts. The Australian housing industry is used as a basis for creating a generalised market scenario. Parasuraman et al. 's “gap model” is adapted to suit the design and construction process by merging it with elements of Winch et al. 's model of service quality in construction projects. Findings – The model arising from the research shows a structured and contextualised view of how service quality theoretically occurs in housing construction. It differs from previous models in so far as recognising that customers make service quality judgements progressively during the design and construction process, rather than waiting for the end product to emerge. Such judgements may influence the direction and dynamics of the project. Originality/value – The paper fosters interdisciplinary research and the resulting model has the potential to facilitate the development of customer profiles so that housing contractors can improve management techniques and use service quality as a means of seeking competitive advantage in the market place.