Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

Yongtao Tan; Li‐Yin Shen; Craig Langston

2011 Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699981111126151

Purpose – Proper assessment of contractors' competitiveness is important for assisting contractors in taking internal analysis and for assisting clients in selecting suitable contractors. This paper seeks to address this issue. Design/methodology/approach – With previously identified contractor key competitiveness indicators (KCIs), this study presents a fuzzy competitiveness rating (FCR) method for measuring contractor competitiveness with reference to the Hong Kong construction industry. A set of linguistic terms is used for facilitating the assessment process. Findings – For illustration, an example is used to show the application of the FCR method. The results provide valuable information for helping contractors in the local construction industry to understand their competitive advantages and weaknesses, and to formulate effective competition strategies to improve their competitiveness. Research limitations/implications – The model used in this study is not validated by real cases. In a future paper, the model will be further demonstrated by conducting real case studies, and the linguistic terms and corresponding fuzzy numbers will also be re‐defined based on the collected data. Originality/value – As the competitiveness assessment process involves complexity and uncertainty, a fuzzy competitiveness rating method is considered suitable for reflecting the reality and the assessment panel can easily give their opinions by using the linguistic language.

Bahriye Ilhan; Hakan Yaman

2011 Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699981111126160

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to analyze and compare the performance of the construction sector in Turkey and selected European Union (EU) countries using input‐output (IO) tables for the years 1998 and 2002. Design/methodology/approach – IO tables are used to analyze and compare the construction sector. First the input‐output analysis and the construction sector are briefly introduced. Then, the data and methodology are specified. A set of indicators obtained from the data is used for the comparative analysis. Findings – The construction sector of the selected 13 countries is examined in terms of Gross National Product (GNP) and National Income (NI) shares; direct and total construction backward and forward linkage indicators and direct and total construction inputs from manufacturing and services reflecting the technologies used in construction. The key findings are pointed out in the conclusion. Research limitations/implications – The lack of data from Turkey relating to recent years and incompatibility of new and old data limit this study's scope to the two years. Originality/value – The concept of using IO analysis for comparing the construction sector has been around for a considerable period of time. This paper has an importance for comparing the construction sector in Turkey and some selected EU countries, being the first study in that field in Turkey, and is therefore of direct importance for the Turkish construction sector.

Sherif Mohamed; Thanwadee Chinda

2011 Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699981111126179

Purpose – This paper forms part of an ongoing research project being undertaken by the authors into construction safety culture. The paper aims to investigate the interactions among five key enablers of construction safety culture, as well as the potential impact of each enabler on organisational safety goals over a period of time. Design/methodology/approach – Using system dynamics modelling, the paper reports on the development of a causal model simulating the interactions among safety culture enablers. The model is developed based on the logical assumption that, by improving the enablers, there will be an inevitable safety performance improvement. An index is also proposed and used as an indicator for assessing the maturity level of safety culture. Findings – The paper presents and reports on simulation results which reveal that an organisation with ad‐hoc safety implementation (starting at a basic level of safety culture maturity) should primarily focus on enhancing leadership attributes, in the context of safety, to rapidly and successfully progress through to higher maturity levels in the future. Practical implications – The use of system dynamic modelling, with the developed index, will help organisations to plan the most effective safety implementation process to achieve their safety goals within a planned time frame. Originality/value – The use of modelling, with the developed index, will help organisations to plan the most effective safety implementation process to achieve their safety goals within a planned time frame.

Abdul‐Rashid Abdul‐Aziz; Sing‐Sing Wong

2011 Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699981111126188

Purpose – Increasingly, construction companies from developing countries are succeeding in finding a space in the international market. Their progression deserves academic attention. Using Network Theory, this paper seeks to examine the role and extent of business networks in aiding contractors from Malaysia, as one such developing country, to penetrate foreign markets. Design/methodology/approach – The research adopted the mixed method approach. A postal questionnaire survey, complemented with desk research and interviews, was used to collect data. Findings – The findings show that in fact business networks can account for much of the surveyed contractors' overseas achievements, in terms of markets they entered, overseas projects they secured and market presence mode they adopted, although, without their competitive assets, the networks would have been meaningless. Research limitations/implications – A limitation was the small sample population, which is compensated by interviews to validate the inferences. Practical implications – Contractors from developing countries should fully cultivate, nurture, exploit and reconfigure their business networks in order to make their impact internationally. Originality/value – The paper has provided insight into the power of business networks in configuring competitiveness of contractors from a developing country in the international arena. The paper also draws attention to the limitations of the Network Perspective by highlighting the inseparability of the firms' own competitive strengths and business networks in explaining overseas success, and the dynamics of business networks as the contractors continuously reposition their competitive positions.

Adrian Mitchell; Ian Frame; Alan Coday; Mike Hoxley

2011 Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699981111126197

Purpose – As the construction industry strives for closer integration of the participants, more responsibility for the management of the detailed design process is being directed to main contractors and combined with their existing duties of managing the construction and pre‐construction processes. Crucially, this necessitates successful management of the interface between these processes, and this paper seeks to investigate a conceptual view of that interface to provide a foundation for improving understanding of it. Design/methodology/approach – Recent and current literature is examined, and various theoretical backgrounds for the design and the construction processes are reviewed. The consequences for the understanding of the interface are discussed. The significance of conceptual frameworks is also reviewed. Findings – A significant difference is identified in the published work between the theoretical understandings of the construction and design processes. From this a conceptual framework for the interface between these processes is developed. Practical implications – The difference identified may have significant implications for further research, and for the development of management techniques applicable to the interface. Furthermore, the lack of access to specialist knowledge at the optimum time during the design process is identified as having a potentially significant impact on that process. Originality/value – These findings could provide an understanding and basis for further research into the interface between the processes, and for the development of an enhanced model that would facilitate improved management of the interface and the optimisation of the process of the selection, appointment and input of specialist subcontractors.

Mei‐yung Leung; Yee Shan Isabelle Chan; Chen Dongyu

2011 Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699981111126205

Purpose – Construction is a competitive, ever‐changing, and challenging industry. Therefore, it is not surprising that the majority of construction professionals suffer from stress, especially construction project managers (C‐PMs), who are often driven by the time pressures, uncertainties, crisis‐ridden environment, and dynamic social structures that are intrinsic to every construction project. Extensive literature has indicated that stress can be categorized into: job stress, burnout, and physiological stress. This study aims to investigate the impact of stress on the performance of C‐PMs. Design/methodology/approach – To investigate the relationships between stress and performance among C‐PMs, a questionnaire was designed based on the extensive literature, and was sent to 500 C‐PMs who had amassed at least five years' direct working experience in the construction industry. A total of 108 completed questionnaires were returned, representing a response rate of 21.6 percent. Based on the data collected, an integrated structural equation model of the stresses and performances of C‐PMs was developed using Lisrel 8.0. Findings – The results of structural equation modelling reveal the following: job stress is the antecedent of burnout, while burnout can further predict physiological stress for C‐PMs; job stress is negatively related only to their task performance; both burnout and physiological stress are negatively related to their organizational performance; and task performance leads positively to their interpersonal performance. Recommendations are given based on the findings to enhance their stress and performance levels. Originality/value – This study provides a comprehensive investigation into the impact of various types of stress on the performances of C‐PMs. The result constitutes a significant step towards the stress management of C‐PMs in the dynamic and stressful construction industry.