Built Environment Project and Asset Management

Athapaththu, Kushani Ishara; Karunasena, Gayani

2018 Built Environment Project and Asset Management

doi: 10.1108/BEPAM-11-2016-0060

PurposeSustainability in construction is a challenging task for contractors due to diminishing natural resources and increasing energy costs. The purpose of this paper is to identify key issues that affect the adaptation of sustainable construction practices by Sri Lankan contracting organisations and propose a framework for successful adaptation.Design/methodology/approachEight semi-structured interviews are conducted from three selected case studies to gather data on sustainable construction practices and related issues in contracting organisations in Sri Lanka. The proposed framework is validated and enhanced by interviews conducted with seven industry experts in Sri Lanka and the Persian Gulf region. A cross-case with code-based content analysis is used to analyse the data.FindingsGaps in the legal framework and weak enforcement of prevailing rules, less institutional intervention, less commitment of people especially key stakeholders, wrong perceptions on capital costs, and low levels of education and experience on sustainable construction are identified as key issues, similar to the Persian Gulf region. The proposed framework presents suggestions for successful adaptation of sustainable construction practices in the following eight key areas: legal framework, standards, guidelines or policies, design, procurement, technology, processes and innovations, people and organisational structure, education and training, and measurements and reporting.Research limitations/implicationsThe scope of this research is limited to the data gathered from C1 category construction contractors in Sri Lanka and similar category in the United Arab Emirates of the Persian Gulf region.Originality/valueThe framework for the enhancement of sustainable construction practices via contracting organisations is proposed as an inaugural step to establishing a country-based and industry-specific model to achieve sustainability in the Sri Lankan construction industry.

Kumaraswamy, Mohan

2018 Built Environment Project and Asset Management

doi: 10.1108/BEPAM-12-2017-0124

Odediran, Sunday Julius; Windapo, Abimbola Oluwakemi

2018 Built Environment Project and Asset Management

doi: 10.1108/BEPAM-05-2016-0021

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to propose a risk-based entry decision model to mitigate the impact of risk and ease the entry of multinational construction companies (MNCCs) into African construction market (ACM).Design/methodology/approachA review of extant literature helps identify risks in the international construction market (ICM) and entry modes used by MNCCs to enter into the ICM. A conceptual model is designed for a risk-based entry decision. Data for validating the proposed model are sourced from multiple sources – survey, interview and financial and annual report of companies surveyed.FindingsFindings reveal significant risks in the ICM and different modes of MNCCs entry to foreign market. Experience of MNCCs shows that the perceived impact of risk influence decisions made to enter into foreign markets, and interactive relationships between resources and entry decisions made to mitigate the perceived impact of risks.Originality/valueSignificant risks are expected in the ACM. However, adequate perception of risks based on resources levels of MNCCs and strategic entry decisions would assist in mitigating the potential impacts of risk.

Parida, Subhadarsini; Brown, Kerry

2018 Built Environment Project and Asset Management

doi: 10.1108/BEPAM-10-2016-0056

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which a systematic review approach is transferable from medicine to multi-disciplinary studies in the built environment research.Design/methodology/approachPrimarily a review paper, it focuses on specific steps in the systematic review to clarify and elaborate the elements for adapting an evidence base in the built environment studies particular to the impact of green building on employees’ health, well-being and productivity.FindingsWhile research represents a potentially powerful means of reducing the gap between research and practice by applying tried and tested methods, the methodological rigour is debatable when a traditional systematic review approach is applied in the built environment studies involving multi-disciplinary research.Research limitations/implicationsThe foundational contribution of this paper lies in providing methodological guidance and an alternative framework to advance the longstanding efforts in the built environment to bridge the practitioner and academic divide.Originality/valueA systematic review approach in the built environment is rare. The method is unique in multi-disciplinary studies especially in green building studies. This paper adopts the systematic review protocols in this cross-disciplinary study involving health, management and built environment expertise.

Hassanain, Mohammad A.; Adewale, Babatunde; Al-Hammad, Abdul-Mohsen; Sanni-Anibire, Muizz O.

2018 Built Environment Project and Asset Management

doi: 10.1108/BEPAM-06-2017-0040

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify and assess the factors affecting building services’ coordination during the design development and review stages of building projects.Design/methodology/approachLiterature review and interviews were conducted to identify the factors affecting building services’ coordination. In total, 36 factors were identified under six categories: planning phase of the project; design of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems; construction of MEP systems; operation and maintenance of MEP systems; owner; and design team and tools used. This formed the basis of a questionnaire survey designed utilizing a 5-point Likert scale of importance. The survey was assessed by practitioners in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia.FindingsThe top five factors include the scale and complexity of the project, the level of experience of the design team, the quality of the preliminary/conceptual design of the building project, the clarity of the requirements and objectives provided by the owner, the allotted budget for the project and communication skills of the design team members. A high level of agreement between A/E professionals and contractors, and between contractors and facility managers was noted. The research provides the ranking of the identified factors for prioritization.Practical implicationsThe paper provides stakeholders in the building services industry with the ranks of the factors that affect building services’ coordination.Originality/valueThe study provided a significant contribution to research and industry, especially in the regional context, where few studies have been conducted. The findings of the study will help in the reduction of construction wastes, delays and cost over-runs.

Tokede, Olubukola; Udawatta, Nilupa; Luther, Mark

2018 Built Environment Project and Asset Management

doi: 10.1108/BEPAM-11-2016-0068

PurposeHeritage buildings are a crucial part of the UK built sector. They perpetuate a sense of identity, prestige and community. Many heritage buildings however tend to be energy inefficient and the scope for retrofitting such buildings is paramount. Heritage buildings require ratification from planning bodies in order to undertake any alteration on the building. This tends to create a bottleneck in the retrofitting of heritage office buildings. The paper aims to discuss this issue.Design/methodology/approachThis study utilises a case study building in Scotland to evaluate the potential for retrofitting in a UK heritage office building. Building energy simulation software is used to generate the energy data in different retrofit options. A scenario analysis on the heritage status of the building is also undertaken.FindingsThe costs, energy consumption and carbon emission levels are evaluated and compared. It was found that the differential in annual energy savings achieved, based on the proportion of capital cost to operational cost, is 14.6 per cent in the heritage building, compared to 24.6 per cent in the non-heritage building.Originality/valueThe study suggests that government and other stakeholders should seek for ways of incentivising retrofit investments in heritage buildings. This will provide an effective way of minimising the contributions of the built environment to global warming and climate change.

Issa, Raja R.A.; Olbina, Svetlana; Zuppa, Dino

2018 Built Environment Project and Asset Management

doi: 10.1108/BEPAM-03-2017-0017

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the factors found on US construction projects that are perceived by contractors to strengthen or weaken trust between contracting stakeholders and to develop a framework for evaluating these relationships.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive framework containing a number of factors (54) that could impact trust on construction projects was first developed. A survey questionnaire was then developed and administered via phone to contractors selected from the Engineering News Record top 400 US construction companies. The survey findings were then used to develop a trust model and case studies were used to validate and revise the trust model.FindingsA trust model is developed that helps large US contractors measure and improve trust with other stakeholders on their projects.Practical implicationsLarge US contractors are now provided with a tool not previously available to help them measure and improve trust between the different contracting parties on construction projects which can help them decrease project time and costs, and improve project results.Originality/valueThe proposed trust model adds a number of different dimensions to the existing trust models found in the literature and as such improves the contractor’s ability to foster and enhance trust on a US construction project.