Construction projects delay mitigation using integrated balanced scorecard and quality function deployment

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Murat Gunduz ◽  
Nasser H. Al-Naimi
Keyword(s):  
Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Quality Function Deployment ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Effect Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financial Perspective ◽  
Fishbone Diagram ◽  
Cause And Effect Analysis ◽  
Construction Delay

PurposeDelays occur mostly in the construction process of many projects, which can have a consequent effect on the overall performance of the project in areas such as profitability, efficiency and safety. This study aims to suggest a structure that can be applied to manage construction projects effectively and, thus, to reduce delays. The integrated balanced scorecard (BSC) and quality function deployment (QFD) framework proposed in the present study enabled the identification and ranking of the objectives of the financial perspective and the enablers of construction delay mitigation. This will help construction industry professionals prioritize the enabling factors that influence the financial perspective, thereby helping them focus on the achievement of the most important ones which subsequently results in efficiency. Consequently, more tasks are accomplished with the use of less time and resources as the actions tend to be more narrowly focused on the achievement of the most important factors such as client and contractor-related factors, as opposed to the low-value adding factors.Design/methodology/approachA literature review was conducted to determine the essential factors that would help resolve or reduce delays. A total of 41 mitigation factors (seven financial objectives and 36 enabler objectives) were identified and categorized into four BSC perspectives: financial, client, contractor and project management team, and innovation and learning. Two management tools, the BSC and QFD, were used to develop the system based on the mitigation factors defined.FindingsThe results of this study show that the most significant factors affecting the achievement of the financial objectives of the project are mainly customer-related factors, accompanied by factors related to contractors and project management teams. With the fishbone diagram and cause and effect analysis, the proposed BSC and QFD system provides a long-term approach for all stakeholders to help professionals in the construction industry prioritize and reduce delays more effectively. Moreover, the findings of the present study highlight the utility of the integrated BSC and QFD framework in quantifying the strengths of association of different objectives of the financial perspective and the enablers of construction delay mitigation.Originality/valueThe contribution of this paper to the body of knowledge is the proposed integrated structure for BSC and QFD that can serve as a comprehensive and structural approach to rating the essential enabling delay mitigation factors based on the magnitude of their effects on the financial performance of the project. The proposed framework can be considered a novel tool since this is the first integrated BSC and QFD framework for construction delay mitigation. Finally, the proposed BSC and QFD framework, along with the fishbone diagram and cause and effect analysis, provides a long-term strategy for all stakeholders to mitigate delays. Thus, the proposed integrated BSC and QFD framework can serve as a systematic and structural approach for measuring the strength of influence of the enablers of delay mitigation against the financial perspective.

Factors affecting the delivery of optimum health and safety on construction projects during the covid-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benviolent Chigara ◽  
Tirivavi Moyo
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Related Risk ◽  
Monitoring And Enforcement

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of construction professionals relative to factors that affect the delivery of optimum health and safety (H&S) on construction projects during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a quantitative design which entailed the distribution of a web-based questionnaire among construction professionals, namely, architects, construction/project managers, engineers, H&S managers and quantity surveyors working for contractors and construction consultants in Zimbabwe. The data were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Factor analysis was used to reveal interrelated significant sets of factors affecting the delivery of optimum H&S. Findings Factor analysis revealed nine components/factors: change and innovation-related, monitoring and enforcement-related, production-related, access to information and health service-related, on-site facilities and welfare-related, risk assessment and mitigation-related, job security and funding-related, cost-related and COVID-19 risk perception-related factors as the significant factors affecting the delivery of optimum H&S during the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe. Research limitations/implications The results highlighted the need for social dialogue among construction stakeholders to support initiatives that will enhance the delivery of H&S on construction projects. Construction stakeholders may find the results useful in highlighting the areas that need improvement to protect workers’ H&S during the pandemic. However, the small sample limits the generalisability of the results to construction sectors in other regions. Originality/value The study investigated factors affecting the delivery of optimum H&S during the COVID-19 to inform interventions to enhance H&S.

How to Improve Remanufacturing?—A Systematic Analysis of Practices and Theories

2018 ◽  
Vol 141 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomohiko Sakao ◽  
Erik Sundin
Keyword(s):  
Customer Value ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Effect Analysis ◽  
Product Service ◽  
Fishbone Diagram ◽  
Cause And Effect Analysis ◽  
The Right ◽  
A Company

Remanufacturing has gained attention from industry, but the literature lacks the scientific comprehension to realize efficient remanufacturing. This hinders a company from commencing or improving remanufacturing efficiently. To fill this gap, the paper proposes a set of practical success factors for remanufacturing. To do so, it analyzes remanufacturing practices in industry through interviews with staff from remanufacturing companies with long experience. The practical success factors are found to be (1) addressing product and component value, (2) having a customer-oriented operation, (3) having an efficient core acquisition, (4) obtaining the correct information, and (5) having the right staff competence. Next, the paper further analyzes remanufacturing processes theoretically with both cause and effect analysis and means-ends analysis. Since the factors show that, among other things, the product/service system (PSS) is highly relevant to remanufacturing in multiple ways, theories on the PSS are partly utilized. As a result, the distinctive nature of remanufacturing underlying in the processes is found to have high variability, high uncertainty and, thus, also complexity. The obtained insights from practice and theory are found to support each other. In addition, a fishbone diagram for remanufacturing is proposed based on the analysis, including seven m's, adding two new m's (marketing and maintenance) on top of the traditional five m's (measurement, material, human, method, and machine) in order to improve customer value. The major contribution of the paper lies in its insights, which are grounded in both theory and practice.

Factor analysis for balanced scorecard as measuring competitive advantage of infrastructure assets of owned state ports in Indonesia

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 386-401
Author(s):  
Nurdjanah Hamid
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Balanced Scorecard ◽  
The Other ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Internal Process ◽  
Financial Perspective ◽  
Customer Perspective ◽  
Process Perspective

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the factor analysis for balanced scorecard (BSC) as measuring competitive advantage of infrastructure assets of owned state ports in Indonesia: Pelindo IV, Makassar, Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach This investigation adopts an explanatory and an exploratory qualitative case study method to analyze the effectiveness of BSC over the strategy management processes. For data collection, the researchers have used semi-structured interviews, direct observation and document collection. Data collection was made during a six-month period, which allowed gaining of deep knowledge on the culture and management methods used in alpha. Other data collected refer to the company’s documentation and reporting of online media publications. Detailed interview data are the main data sources, which allow obtaining of a detailed and holistic understanding of the experience, opinions and attitudes of the interviewees. Interviews focus on asset management to determine the relationship between various factors. This study adopts ideal BSC principle (four perspectives) to develop strategic map for infrastructure asset of Pelindo IV. Analysis tools using factor analysis for the indicators (financial, customer, learning-growth and internal process) measure the competitive advantages. The data for factor analysis from the perception of each stakeholder using questionnaire are collected. Findings The competitive advantages of Pelindo IV depend on 81.2 per cent from financial perspective, customer perspective, internal process perspective and learning perspective, and 18.2 per cent from the other factor. The result of measurement model of competitive advantage in Figure 2 is significantly (p-value < 0.05) measured by financial perspective performance, customer perspective performance, internal process perspective performance and learning perspective performance. On the basis of the highest coefficient loading factor, it can be shown that the most powerful competitive advantages are measured by learning perspective. The high value of competitive advantage of Pelindo IV, Makassar, Indonesia, is especially seen from the learning perspective performance. The order result of BSC for measuring the competitive advantages is as follows: learning perspective performance, financial perspective performance, customer perspective performance and internal process perspective performance. Originality/value Originality of this study looks at the following three points: first, the measurement competitive advantages. Previous studies used measurements of cost leadership strategy, differential strategy and focus strategy as competitive advantages measuring (Porter, 1985; Warf and Stutz, 2007; Clulow et al., 2003). This study uses BSCs with four indicators (financial perspective result, customer perspective result, internal process perspective result and learning perspective). Second, on the other hand, several studies have investigated the BSCs as performance measurement (Ozturk and Coskun, 2014; Malgwi and Dahiru, 2014; Binden et al., 2014). Third, this study uses the factor analysis to measure the competitive advantage by BSCs, which is different from the previous study analysis.

Clustering of host countries to facilitate learning between similar international construction markets

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-82
Author(s):  
Beste Ozyurt ◽  
Irem Dikmen ◽  
M. Talat Birgonul
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Host Countries ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Construction ◽  
Country Factors ◽  
Country Clusters

Purpose In the global construction industry, experience gained in various countries is a major source of competitive advantage. By transferring the knowledge gained in previous projects using an effective knowledge management strategy, they can increase their competitiveness by adopting best practices and by not repeating the same mistakes under similar conditions. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how similar countries can be clustered to facilitate learning in global markets. Design/methodology/approach Initially, country factors that can affect success in international projects and can be used to assess the similarity of markets were identified by an extensive literature review and prioritised by a web-based questionnaire. A country evaluation form was prepared to collect country-specific data to be used in the cluster analysis of 39 countries where the Turkish contractors have been frequently working since the last 45 years. Cluster analysis was performed with SPSS 23.0. Findings Three country clusters were obtained and validated. Ultimately, how obtained country clusters may be used to facilitate learning from international construction projects was demonstrated by using an illustrative example. Research limitations/implications The findings depend on the experience and perspective of Turkish contractors doing business abroad. Thus, the identified clusters are not generic. Moreover, country clusters were not identified considering only the country factors such as economy, culture, politics, etc.; thus, countries in the same cluster do not necessarily represent “similar” countries in terms of macro-factors. Clusters were identified so that the lessons learned can be effectively transferred within the same cluster considering construction and project-related factors as well as country-related factors. Although the findings cannot be generalised and clusters are not static, it is believed that the methodology used in this research is repeatable for different countries considering different timeframes. Originality/value Theoretical contributions include the identification of factors that can be used for similarity assessment of countries for transferring lessons learned as well as a methodology for clustering. Findings may also have a practical value for the Turkish contractors.

AACSB assurance for STUST quality and competitiveness: balanced scorecard roadmap

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamer Zaki Fouad Mohamed ◽  
Chia-Hua Chang ◽  
Yu-Chuan Huang
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Education Quality ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Continuous Quality

Purpose This paper aims to explore the role of international quality assurance and accreditation on higher education quality improvement and competitiveness, as well as assessing the associated benefits and challenges in the Asian context with reference to Taiwan. Design/methodology/approach The paper used a qualitative approach to examine the case study of Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology (STUST) accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The paper collected survey responses from service providers (i.e. STUST faculty and AACSB) and focus group discussions with students to bridge the perception-expectation gap. Findings The qualitative results highlighted 10 key success factors and performance indicators which were later used to build a balanced scorecard (BSC) strategy for STUST quality improvement and competitiveness. Findings show that education quality assurance (via AACSB process) can directly influence the competitive advantage (i.e. for AACSB, STUST and Students) or indirectly via education quality enhancement. The results from faculty and students are consistent with the value co-creation trend to achieve continuous quality improvement more effectively and efficiently. Originality/value This research paper is unique as the first qualitative in-depth study to discuss assurance related factors that positively or negatively affect competitiveness and quality improvement for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Asia and Taiwan. The paper also contributed by designing a BSC framework and strategy-map applicable to HEIs.

Purchasing performance of engineering procurement and construction companies using a fuzzy quality function deployment approach

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gitesh Chavan ◽  
Ranjan Chaudhuri ◽  
Wesley J. Johnston ◽  
Benjamin Garner
Keyword(s):  
Quality Function Deployment ◽  
The Body ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Significant Finding ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Quality Function ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Fuzzy Quality Function Deployment

Purpose This paper aims to empirically validate an integrated model, combining fuzzy analytical hierarchy processing and quality function deployment, used to construct a purchasing performance (PP) matrix for engineering procurement and construction companies (EPCs). The relationship is established by linking internal customer needs (“whats”; product-related factors), with engineering requirements (“hows”; buyer-related factors [BRFs] and organization-related factors). Three different of buying types are included: new task, straight rebuy and modified rebuy. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses qualitative and quantitative techniques to determine the factors affecting PP and the extent of their influence. Evaluation of the factors affecting the PP of EPC companies is based on 32 industry experts’ opinions, supported by the academic literature. Findings The most significant finding is that researchers should explicitly consider BRFs like buyer knowledge, which has been missing in earlier PP models. BRFs appear to be a link between different types of buying; ignoring their importance can lead to less optimized PP and erroneous findings. Originality/value This research is unique, as PP models of EPC firms have neither been published nor validated empirically, either nationally or internationally. This exploratory study adds to the body of knowledge both by identifying the emerging factors that constitute the construct of the PP of EPCs and by filling the gap between theory and practice concerning an evaluation of the PP of EPCs. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

A fuzzy model for evaluating risk impacts on variability between contract sum and final account in government-funded construction projects

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernest Effah Ameyaw ◽  
Albert P.C. Chan ◽  
De-Graft Owusu-Manu ◽  
Ekow Coleman
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Fuzzy Model ◽  
High Impact ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Principal Component Factor Analysis ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Client Factors

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify and then evaluate perceived risk factors influencing variability between contract sum and final count, and to develop a fuzzy risk assessment model for evaluating the overall impact of established critical risk factors impacting on variability between contract sum and final account in government-funded construction projects. Construction projects are characterised by risk factors that significantly impact on variability between the contract sum and final account. Design/methodology/approach – A research approach integrating questionnaire survey, mean scoring ranking and principal component factor analysis (PCFA) methods was adopted to evaluate and classify the critical risk factors. A fuzzy synthetic evaluation method was sequentially applied to compute the overall risk impact (ORI) of eight critical risk factors’ impact on variability between contract sum and final account. Findings – Initial results showed that eight critical risk factors have high impact on variations between contract sum and final account, namely (in order): project funding problems, underestimation of quantities, variations by client, change in scope of works, inadequate specification, change in design by client, defects in design and unexpected site (ground) conditions. PCFA produced two factor solutions: “professional-related factors” and “client factors”. The fuzzy model further showed that the ORI is 5.48, indicating that these risk factors have a high impact on variability between contract sum and final account in public construction projects. The client factors have a very high impact (5.59), while the professional-related factors indicated a high impact (5.41) on project cost variability. Originality/value – A practical model is proposed to evaluate the key risks associated with cost overruns in public projects. By giving effective and sustained attention to these factors, variability between contract sum and final account, a common situation in Ghana, can be controlled to achieve cost savings in public infrastructure projects.

scholarly journals The Importance of the Integrative Relationship Between Cause and Effect Analysis and The Sustainable Balanced Scorecard in Solving Problems of Economic Units

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr Abbas Nawar Khait Al-Musawi ◽  
Dr Abbas Nawar Khait Al-Musawi
Keyword(s):  
Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Effect Analysis ◽  
Financial Measures ◽  
Philosophical Foundations ◽  
Economic Unit ◽  
Cause And Effect ◽  
Analysis Scheme ◽  
Cause And Effect Analysis ◽  
Financial Performance Measures ◽  
Reducing Costs

The aim of the research is to highlight the complementarity between cause-and-effect analysis and the Sustainable Balanced Tag Card. The problem with the research is that economic units are poorly aware of the theoretical and philosophical foundations of cause-and-effect analysis and their importance in costing and solving administrative problems and inadequate attention to financial and non-financial measures. In order to achieve the objective of research and test its hypotheses, the Wasit Textile and Weaving Plant of the State Company for the Textile and Leather Industries, located in the centre of the Wasit prefecture, has been selected as a centre for research. Its performance has been evaluated and a model has been presented to solve the problems it faces through a cause-and-effect analysis scheme with a sustainable balanced tag card (SBSC) that details all environmental and social aspects, both quantitative and financial. A set of conclusions has been reached, the most important of which is that the cause-and-effect relationship is not just a correlation, but a reasonable relationship between the level of the activity and its costs, because it gives analysts and managers confidence in the relationships repeatedly estimated in other sets of data, The identification of cost guides gives managers a vision of several methods they use to reduce costs and the quantity of routers, and the sustainable balanced labeling card uses both financial and non-financial performance measures to bridge the gap arising from the use of financial measures only, as well as to measure and improve performance , The economic unit wishing to take advantage of the characteristics of the adopted economic unit strategies that are relevant to each dimension of the sustainable balance tag and its drawbacks should be careful not to reduce the costs of products or services on an ongoing basis, and focus not only on reducing costs, but also on providing distinct products and services that meet

scholarly journals Predicting performance – a dynamic capability view

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (11) ◽  
pp. 2192-2213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus F. Hasegan ◽  
Sai Sudhakar Nudurupati ◽  
Stephen J. Childe
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Tacit Knowledge ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Hybrid Approach ◽  
Performance Measurement System ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Effect Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cause And Effect ◽  
Cause And Effect Analysis

PurposeProduction planning and resource allocation are ongoing issues that organisations face on a day-to-day basis. The purpose of this paper is to address these issues by developing a dynamic performance measurement system (DPMS) to effectively re-deploy manufacturing resources, thus enhancing the decision-making process in optimising performance output. The study also explores the development of dynamic capabilities through exploitation of the organisational tacit knowledge.Design/methodology/approachThe study was conducted using six-stage action research for developing DPMS with real-time control of independent variables on the production lines to study the impact. The DPMS was developed using a hybrid approach of discrete event simulation and system dynamics by using the historical as well as live data from the action case organisation.FindingsThrough the development of DPMS and by combining the explicit and tacit knowledge, this study demonstrated an understanding of using cause and effect analysis in manufacturing systems to predict performance. Such a DPMS creates agility in decision making and significantly enhances the decision-making process under uncertainty. The research also explored how the resources can be developed and maintained into dynamic capabilities to sustain competitive advantage.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study provides a starting-point for further research in other manufacturing organisations to generalise findings.Originality/valueThe originality of the DPMS model comes from the approach used to build the cause and effect analysis by exploiting the tacit knowledge and making it dynamic by adding modelling capabilities. Originality also comes from the hybrid approach used in developing the DPMS.

scholarly journals Risk factors affecting the ability for earned value management to accurately assess the performance of infrastructure projects in Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 550-569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maan Nihad Ibrahim ◽  
David Thorpe ◽  
Muhammad Nateque Mahmood
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Project Performance ◽  
Value Management ◽  
Earned Value ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Earned Value Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Factors Influencing

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate a set of risk-related factors influencing the earned value management (EVM) concept as an assessment technique in evaluating the progress of modern sustainable infrastructure construction projects. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research approach has been adopted for identifying risk-related factors influencing EVM concept from a literature review and through interviewing industry personnel, followed by an inductive process to form sets of key factors and their measuring items. Findings EVM is a common method for assessing project performance. A weakness of this approach is that EVM assessment in its current form does not measure the impact of a number of project performance factors that result from the complexity of modern infrastructure construction projects, and thus does not accurately assess their impact in this performance. This paper discusses and explains a range of potential risk factors to evaluating project performance such as sustainability, stakeholder requirements, communication, procurement strategy, weather, experience of staff, site condition, design issues, financial risk, subcontractor, government requirements and material. In addition, their measuring items were identified. Practical implications This research assists projects managers to improve the evaluation process of infrastructure construction performance by incorporating a range of factors likely to impact on that performance and which are not included in current EVM calculations. Originality/value This research addresses the need to include in the EVM calculation a range of risk factors affecting the performance of infrastructure projects in Australia and therefore makes this calculation a more reliable tool for assessing project performance.

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