Built Environment Project and Asset Management

Luong Hai, Nguyen; Tuan, Ngo Anh

2023 Built Environment Project and Asset Management

doi: 10.1108/bepam-05-2022-0069

The planning function is a central component of management principles, enabling the success of construction project management. Many works have been highlighting the topic of critical success factors within construction organizations, yet the results have rarely covered planning behaviors within public construction work management; these less investigated areas were the aims of this study.Design/methodology/approachTo fulfill this research aim, seven attributes of planning function were first derived through focus group studies, a focused literature review and focal interviews with industry practitioners. Then, a regression analysis design was employed with data collected from 139 professionals who are involved in public construction works management in Vietnam. The structural equation modeling technique with partial least-squares estimation was utilized to analyze the data.FindingsThe results revealed seven behavioral dimensions (i.e. Goals planning (PL1), Planning guidance (PL2), Strategic planning (PL3), Financial mobilization (PL4), Action plan (PL5), Expenditure planning (PL6) and Responsibility assignment (PL7)) to measure planning function management in terms of public construction works. The study also reveals that Goals planning (PL1), Financial mobilization (PL4), Expenditure planning (PL6) and Responsibility assignment (PL7) have significant effects on management effectiveness. At the same time, Goals planning (PL1) acts as the mediator of Planning guidance (PL2) and Strategic planning (PL3); while Action plan (PL5) specifies an indirect influence through the mediator of PL4, PL6 and PL7.Originality/valueThe success of this approach is expected to reinforce the contribution of the planning function and suggest a useful tool for supporting the professionals in managing public construction works.

Gaur, Sulakshya; Dosapati, Satyanarayana; Tawalare, Abhay

2023 Built Environment Project and Asset Management

doi: 10.1108/bepam-10-2021-0122

Stakeholder assessment is based on attributes possessed by stakeholders, making the process heavily reliant on evaluating attribute weights. The present assessment methods are based on Analytical Hierarchy Process, Analytical Network Process, and pairwise comparisons that heavily rely on decision-makers’ skills and knowledge. An objective evaluation of attribute weight needs to be done to overcome this challenge.Design/methodology/approachA Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) based approach, through the combined use of Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) methods has been incorporated to objectively evaluate the weights of the stakeholder attributes and their ranking with a specific focus on construction megaprojects. Five stakeholder attributes and twelve commonly associated stakeholders with megaprojects were considered to achieve this.FindingsThe new model presented power, durability and legitimacy as three important stakeholder attributes, further used to determine stakeholder importance. The client, contractor and project manager were identified as the top three internal stakeholders, and customers, local community and utility service providers as three crucial external stakeholders.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings from the proposed method provide the practitioners with updated information about the attributes they need to look into when planning stakeholder involvement and management. Further, it also leads them to the established framework for the provided stakeholder ranking when planning their management strategies.Originality/valueThe use of CRITIC method allowed to address the possibility of any correlation between the attributes in their weight determination. This was one of the advantages as co-relation between the attributes during their weight determination has not been addressed in previous methods.

Al-Refaie, Anas; Alashwal, Ali; Abdul-Samad, Zulkiflee; Salleh, Hafez; Elshafie, Ahmed

2023 Built Environment Project and Asset Management

doi: 10.1108/bepam-03-2022-0040

Weather is one of the main factors affecting labour productivity. Existing weather-productivity models focussed on hot and cold climates paying less attention to the tropics. Many tropical countries are expected to be the most areas affected by accelerated climate change and global warming, which may have a severe impact on labour health and productivity. The purpose of this paper is to assess whether the existing models can be used to predict labour productivity based on weather conditions in the tropics.Design/methodology/approachFive models are identified from the literature for evaluation. Using real labour productivity data of a high-rise building project in Malaysia, the actual productivity rate was compared with predicted productivity rates generated using the five models. The predicted productivity rates were generated using weather variables collected from an adjusting weather station to the project.FindingsCompared with other models evaluated in this paper, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) was found to be the best model to predict productivity based on the case study data. However, the result shows only a 57% accuracy level of the USACE model indicating the need to develop a new model for the tropics for more accurate prediction.Originality/valueThe result of this study is perhaps the first to apply meteorological variables to predict productivity rates and validate them using actual productivity data in the tropics. This study is the first step to developing a more accurate productivity model, which will be useful for project planning and more accurate productivity rate estimation.

Iskandarani, Heba; Proverbs, David G.; Xiao, Hong

2023 Built Environment Project and Asset Management

doi: 10.1108/bepam-03-2022-0047

There is a significant dearth of theoretical and practical knowledge with respect to the design and planning stages of post-conflict housing reconstruction projects. This research presents the development of a conceptual framework towards improving the design and planning processes of post-conflict housing reconstruction projects.Design/methodology/approachA systematic review of the literature on post-conflict housing reconstruction in developing countries, incorporating the themes of collaboration and stakeholder engagement, is presented. A synthesis of this literature is used to inform the development of a conceptual framework that seeks to address the limitations of current housing reconstruction models in post-conflict environments by establishing collaborative approaches at the initial stages of design, as well as the tasks required to achieve efficient results through the aid of relief organisations (NGOs).FindingsWhile the review essentially identifies the fundamental issues and inadequacies of the current housing reconstruction models, the proposed framework aims to enable the implementation of better and efficient collaborative design and planning strategies and practices in post-conflict housing reconstruction.Originality/valueThe conceptual framework aims to promote more effective collaboration through the design of post-conflict housing reconstruction projects by strengthening communication and coordination between the key stakeholders. Furthermore, the research highlights several gaps in the extant literature, signposting new directions for future research in the area of stakeholder engagement during the design and planning post-conflict housing.

Osuizugbo, Innocent Chigozie; Oshodi, Olalekan Shamsideen

2023 Built Environment Project and Asset Management

doi: 10.1108/bepam-03-2022-0051

The awareness and practice of buildability is still at its infancy stage in the construction sector of developing countries. Information gleaned from literature shows that embedding buildability into practice is beneficial to construction projects. This study seeks to examine the buildability attributes that are important for improving the practice of construction management.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire was developed to address the aim of the study. Data were collected through the administration of questionnaires to purposively selected group of architects, engineers, builders and quantity surveyors. A total of 368 questionnaires were administered and a response rate of 60% (219 questionnaires were returned) was achieved. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in analysing the data.FindingsThe results revealed that discussion centred on buildable designs among builders and designers as the most critical attribute of buildability for improving the practice of construction management in the Nigerian construction industry. The finding also revealed that, there is a statistically significant agreement between different groups of construction organisations in Lagos state, Nigeria concerning buildability attributes for improving the practice of construction management.Originality/valueThis study highlights the buildability attributes which are important for improving the practice of construction management. An understanding of these attributes is essential for improving and embedding buildability as a practice in the construction industry.

Sathvik, S.; Krishnaraj, L.; Awuzie, Bankole Osita

2023 Built Environment Project and Asset Management

doi: 10.1108/bepam-03-2022-0041

Sleep quality has been associated with health and safety issues influencing construction labour productivity in developing countries. Despite its significantly adverse contribution to these facets if left unattended to, limited studies have sought to establish its prevalence and causal factors in labour-intensive contexts. This study aims to bridge the gap between the prevalence and casual factors of poor sleep quality among construction workers.Design/methodology/approachAdopting a case study research design, data were collected from a randomly selected sample of construction workers (n = 475) recruited from four construction-based corporations in Southern India. Self-administered questionnaires comprising a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale was used to measure sleep quality among respondents alongside demographic characteristics, lifestyle preferences and work-habits data. Data were analysed using multivariate logistic regression analysis and descriptive statistical techniques.FindingsSlightly more than a third of the construction workers (n = 33.9%) surveyed experienced poor sleep quality based on a PSQI method score of = 5. Also, the nexus between demographic characteristics, lifestyle preferences and work habits on the incidence of poor sleep quality among construction workers was confirmed.Practical implicationsThe study contributes to the contemporary discourse on improving sleep health of construction workers to enhance their well-being thereby enabling their contribution towards achieving improved construction labour productivity.Originality/valueThis study makes an original contribution to the extent that it seeks to not only determine the prevalence of sleep quality within the construction industry and associated causal factors but to explore its implications on construction labour productivity.

Ahiabu, Moses Kwadzo; Emuze, Fidelis; Das, Dilip

2023 Built Environment Project and Asset Management

doi: 10.1108/bepam-06-2022-0088

The need to adopt sustainable construction (SC) practices in project activities will be appreciated when clear benefits are known to the stakeholders in Ghana. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perceived benefits of using SC practices in building projects.Design/methodology/approachA modified Delphi method (MDM) was used to solicit the views of an expert panel on 33 benefits identified from the literature and validated by a pilot panel to ensure robustness. Statistical tools were used to analyse the data collected. The comparative analysis among the expert panel lends credence to the strong consensus reached on the 26 benefits of SC. The consensus reached by the expert panel after the three rounds were validated using the median and important scale of 70% response rate and above.FindingsThe essential benefits included the ability to enhance efficiency and improve the overall quality of life for all. Factors such as mandatory government policies and regulations are recommended as essential drivers to promote and sustain the implementation of SC in Ghana. The findings will enhance the drive for sustainability practices in construction projects in Ghana.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the body of knowledge regarding the benefits of SC from the perspective of experts in the Ghanaian construction industry. The paper would enhance stakeholders understanding the critical benefits of promoting and adopting SC practices in building projects.

Johannes, Koos; Voordijk, Hans; Aranda-Mena, Guillermo

2023 Built Environment Project and Asset Management

doi: 10.1108/bepam-01-2022-0004

The aim of this study is to provide insights into how the purchasing function can increase the maturity of smart maintenance management (SMM) in construction clients by (1) assessing current SMM maturity and (2) developing an adapted service triad for purchasing's meaningful involvement in SMM.Design/methodology/approachA multiple case research design was used, and data were collected from four higher education institutes in the Netherlands through an assessment of their current SMM maturity. Coding and a cross-case analysis were used to qualitatively analyze the data to identify roles and value chain integration factors as intermediate steps in adapting the service triad to a service hexad.FindingsWithin construction client organizations, collaboration between maintenance management, project management and ICT services requires improvement. The proposed service hexad redefines the client's SMM roles with the aim of improving collaboration. The authors discuss how this enables a transition to higher levels of SMM maturity.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings were derived from a particular class of construction clients: higher education institutes that operate owner-occupied properties. Although the service hexad could be adapted, to owner-occupied multi-user properties, further research is necessary to assess its relevance for investor-owned properties.Practical implicationsImplementing the service hexad provides construction clients with a stronger position in supply networks. It clarifies the briefing process in construction management and emphasizes the data supply responsibilities of construction management professionals.Originality/valueThe study draws on the service triads and meaningful involvement concepts from the purchasing literature and applies them to SMM.