Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

Jeroen Bemelmans; Hans Voordijk; Bart Vos

2012 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699981211237085

Purpose – Recent developments in the construction industry resulted in an increased importance of collaboration with and managing of suppliers by prime contractors. The focus of this study is on getting insights into existing knowledge on this topic and the gaps in this knowledge base. The goals of this study are threefold: to verify the current state of, to gain insights into, and to provide suggestions for supplier‐contractor research. Design/methodology/approach – The current state of supplier‐contractor research in the construction industry is verified through a taxonomic approach to the literature on buyer‐supplier research over the last decade (2000‐2009). The method followed consists of the following three steps: journal selection, initial article selection and final article selection. Findings – Supplier‐contractor research in the construction industry is still a relatively under‐researched phenomenon. The major topics discussed in the identified articles are aspects of partnering (conditions, characteristics and barriers/obstacles) and (sub)contracting/procurement issues (practices, selection criteria, performance and characteristics). Research limitations/implications – This study concludes that future research should focus on longitudinal studies, testing organisational barriers to partnering, the benefits of partnering in practice, conditions under which the formation of collaborative relationships between suppliers and contractors takes place, and experiences with this formation process. Practical implications – In practice, contractors do see a need to develop closer and more collaborative relationships with their suppliers. This study highlights the topics that need to be addressed to achieve these goals. Originality/value – This study is a literature overview of relatively scarce research on collaborative relationships between suppliers and contractors in the construction industry.

Nayanthara De Silva; P.L.I. Wimalaratne

2012 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699981211237094

Purpose – This study attempts to identify a simple and efficient framework to be implemented in the Sri Lankan construction industry to inculcate a “safe and healthy” working environment for its workforce. Design/methodology/approach – The occupational safety and health (OSH) management strategies that could be implemented in the construction sites were identified through a comprehensive literature survey and a pilot survey. A questionnaire survey was carried out among the safety and health (S&H) experts to explore the most effective OSH management strategies and thereafter to derive OSH mechanisms to promote the safer and healthy environment in the construction sites. Success of these mechanisms in the local industry was analyzed and was subsequently used to develop the OSH management framework. Findings – A total of 35 significant OSH management strategies, unsafe and unhealthy factors as risk factors for fatal and non‐fatal situations were identified. A further ten OSH management mechanisms were established as adequate safety supervision, site environment, controlling the workers' safe and healthy behaviour, centralized OSH management unit, resources and insurance policies, management commitment, supportive devices, OSH documentation, OSH education and awareness, and OSH committee. Further, these ten mechanisms were used to establish the OSH framework to be implemented in Sri Lankan construction sites. Originality/value – OSH management in the Sri Lankan construction industry can be enhanced by implementing the proposed OSH management framework.

Adedapo Oluwatayo; Dolapo Amole

2012 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699981211237102

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to investigate the factors which discriminate between local and global architectural firms in Nigeria. The rationale was to examine how the globalization process differs in Nigeria and contribute to the discourse on globalization. Design/methodology/approach – The research is quantitative, using discriminant analysis to differentiate the global architectural firms from the local ones. The study used a random sample of 92 architectural firms in Nigeria, examining various characteristics of the firms through a questionnaire. Findings – There was a strong distinction between global and local firms. Compared to the local architectural firms, the global firms were larger, and mostly run by sole principals who were more experienced. The internet was used more to communicate with other professionals, but less to communicate with clients and in designing and drafting. The global firms also placed higher value on developing expertise in specific building types. Research limitations/implications – Data are obtained from architectural firms in Nigeria only. The results suggest that global architectural firms are peculiar and exhibit certain characteristics which further differentiate them from local ones. Practical implications – The implications for architectural firms seeking to operate globally include building size advantage, building expertise in specific specializations, having principals with high level experience and employing alliances with other professionals in operating internationally. Originality/value – This paper adds to the body of knowledge on architectural firms which are under‐researched. The importance of this paper lies in its empirical nature in investigating the characteristics of global architectural firms using a sample of architectural firms in Nigeria.

Yang Liu; Yasser Mohamed

2012 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699981211237111

Purpose – Modelling construction resources and their dynamic interactions and constraints are a challenging problem. The allocation of these resources to competing activities is usually a function required in any scheduling process. Performing such allocation under a dynamic and diverse set of constraints adds more complexity to the problem. This study seeks a structured approach for representing resources and their allocation to different activities through the use of an agent‐oriented modelling framework. Design/methodology/approach – A model is developed for a real case of assembly operations of industrial construction modules. The model follows a multi‐agent resource allocation structure and is implemented within an agent‐based simulation environment. The model is used to evaluate the effects of different optimization algorithms and modelling parameters on the generation of a construction schedule. Different experiments run through the model and their results are analyzed and discussed. Findings – The model showed sensitivity only under large and continuous workloads. Overall the structured approach followed in developing the model provided a flexible medium for experimenting with different elements of the resource allocation problem. Research limitations/implications – The work is limited to the studied case and the results cannot be generalized beyond similar cases. The modelling approach used in the study provides a platform that can facilitate future research in construction resource allocation strategies. Originality/value – The presented work demonstrates a new approach for modelling construction resource allocation problems that enables structured experimentation with alternative allocation algorithms. It also presents a novel way for modelling modular industrial construction operations.

Heap‐Yih Chong; Rosli Mohamad Zin

2012 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699981211237120

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to discover the behavior of dispute resolution in the Malaysian construction industry by analyzing factors that affect the selection of dispute resolution methods using factor analysis approach. Design/methodology/approach – Preliminary interviews and a questionnaire survey were conducted. Dispute resolution methods were grouped and discussed together, based on the similarity of their characteristics, and used for the questionnaire survey. This research approach is different from the earlier studies that mostly focused on a single dispute resolution method. The data were further analyzed with factor analysis. This improved the data interpretation. Findings – Seven latent factors were extracted and revealed that the contractors and developers preferred alternative dispute resolution (ADR). However, the appreciation of the outcomes of ADR was perceived to be very low. Arbitration and litigation were in part accepted and agreed upon by the respondents. Originality/value – The combined results from the literature review on the stages of dispute resolution and the latent factors affecting the selection of dispute resolution methods could assist in decision making. The selection of ADR or non‐ADR itself is not a major issue; rather, there is a concern for increased efficiency and an appreciation of the methods in the construction industry are more demanding.

Onur Dursun; Christian Stoy

2012 Engineering Construction & Architectural Management

doi: 10.1108/09699981211237139

Purpose – Construction duration is referred to as one of the most crucial success elements for a construction project along with quality and cost. Modelling construction duration supports decision making at the early stages of a project. Exploring the complex structure of construction duration is necessary; hence this forms a basis to develop a predictive model. Therefore the main aim of this study is to determine the subset of variables for a descriptive model that explains the most substantial part of the variation in construction duration. Design/methodology/approach – Secondary data set which includes 1,695 observations with 30 quantitative and four qualitative variables was utilized. Multiple linear regression was employed to define the relationship between explanatory variables and construction duration. General procedure for variable selection was presented in detail for data sets that suffer multicollinearity and singularity. Findings – Analysis indicated that gross external floor area and cost of construction works are the major variables for describing the construction duration. In addition, categorisation with respect to type of facility, project location, availability of construction area, and market conditions was justified to be statistically significant. Research limitations/implications – The study was limited to the population: German building industry. Besides, the affect of various qualitative variables, identified in the literature, could not be assessed due to lack of data availability. Originality/value – To the authors' knowledge, the study is the first to assess construction duration for German building projects. Moreover, it provides a method for describing variable selection routine transparently.