Investigating the managerial ‘‘nuts and bolts’’ for the construction industry

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-348
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Boon Hui Yap ◽  
Ian Ni Chow
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Questionnaire Survey ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Construction Time ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Planning And Control ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽  
And Control

PurposeManagerial shortfalls can considerably undermine the delivery performance of construction projects. This paper appraises the project management essentials (PMEs) for successful construction project delivery.Design/methodology/approachFollowing a detailed literature review, a questionnaire survey was developed encompassing 20 PMEs that were identified. An opinion questionnaire survey was used to facilitate data collection from key construction stakeholders in the Malaysian construction industry. The survey data were subjected to descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis.FindingsFindings indicated that the leading PMEs are competency of the project team, competency of project manager, good leadership, effective planning and control and realistic cost and time estimate. Spearman’s rank correlation tests affirmed a good agreement on the ranking of PMEs across stakeholder groups. The present study found that PMEs for construction have a total of four dimensions, namely: scope, communication and competence management; stakeholder commitment and collaborative engagement; construction time–cost planning and control; and environment, health, safety and quality management.Practical implicationsThe findings could potentially contribute to the development of appropriate project management best practices to address managerial shortfalls in Malaysia and other developing countries.Originality/valueThis paper bridges the identified knowledge gap about critical managerial dimensions for successful project management in construction. The present study adds to the existing body of knowledge around this under-explored area in the construction management literature.

scholarly journals An Analysis of the Use of Information Technology for Project Management in the New Zealand Construction Industry

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 47-56
Author(s):  
Suzanne Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Project Management ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Planning And Control ◽  
And Control

Effective information technology use can be a key cause of the success of a construction project. Technology used for project management in the New Zealand construction industry is discussed in this paper. The results reveal on many levels a lack of understanding of current available information technology to assist with overall management and control of the construction projects in New Zealand. This paper discusses the results of a survey to construction companies in the New Zealand which profess to offer project management as one of their main services. Amongst others, the findings suggest an awareness of the technology available, but a reluctance to invest time and money in it. The paper will assess the reasons for this reservation and provide advice for use of alternative methods for project management planning and control for the New Zealand construction industry. Valuable lessons from this research are translated to the international construction industry.

scholarly journals Elaborating factors affecting visual control in a big room

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-47
Author(s):  
Jukka Majava ◽  
Harri Haapasalo ◽  
Kirsi Aaltonen
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Visual Control ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
And Control

Purpose The “big room” concept and lean philosophy have become increasingly popular in the construction industry. Visual control is a central part of lean philosophy and the big room concept; its aim is to improve information flow, joint problem-solving and real-time decision-making. Visual control facilitates effective project management by providing information on what work is performed and why, customer requirements, deadlines, work status and potential problems. This study aims to explore how visualisation supports project management and control in a big room and the factors that facilitate good visual control. Design/methodology/approach This research is based on the case study method, and the objective is to elaborate the current understanding of factors that affect visual control. The study includes a literature review and an empirical study of a large construction project. Findings The results indicate that many factors facilitate visual control. Despite the importance of facilities and tools, communication and teamwork are identified as the key factors. On a broader level, the results indicate a need for a holistic approach in developing visual management strategies and practices in the construction industry and in complex projects in particular. Research limitations/implications A single case may not be able to offer a generalised picture of this complex topic. However, the study provides novel insights for practitioners and researchers interested in the development of visual control and big rooms. Future research topics are also proposed. Originality/value While previous studies have identified many elements of successful big room implementation – including integration and early involvement, information sharing, tools and facilities – this study focusses specifically on the factors that facilitate visual control.

Drivers of e-bidding implementation in the Saudi Arabian construction industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-27
Author(s):  
Ahmed M.Z. Sayed ◽  
Sadi Assaf ◽  
Adel S. Aldosary ◽  
Mohammad A. Hassanain ◽  
Abdullatif Abdallah
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Construction Costs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significance Level ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Key Drivers ◽  
Public Construction

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the key drivers for adopting electronic bidding (e-bidding) systems in public construction projects located in Saudi Arabia. Design/methodology/approach Literature review was undertaken to identify the drivers of e-bidding practices. Nine drivers, classified under four categories, were identified. A questionnaire survey was developed to assess the significance of the identified drivers. Responses were obtained from 20 large contractors, classified as Grade I and II contractors in Saudi Arabia, and 12 governmental authorities, representing owners of construction projects. The drivers were ranked according to their respective significance index (SI) values. Finally, a Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was employed to ascertain the extent to which the two parties agreed on the significance level of the drivers. Findings Analysis of the identified drivers revealed that the most significant driver was “reduction in the physical storage requirements of bidding paperwork.” Further, a consensus was observed with regards to the significance of the drivers. The findings of the present study highlight the strong potential of widespread e-bidding adoption in Saudi Arabia. It demonstrates the key drivers for the implementation of e-bidding through the perspective of professionals within the context of Saudi Arabia. Originality/value Prior to this study, no previous research has endeavored to assess the drivers of e-bidding adoption in Saudi Arabia. The adoption of e-bidding will benefit organizations through improved efficiencies, which could potentially lower construction costs, thereby contributing to economic growth and benefitting the society at large.

Application of Risk Significance Index Score to Construction Projects in Malaysia

2013 ◽  
Vol 838-841 ◽  
pp. 3102-3108
Author(s):  
Boon Hoe Goh ◽  
Byung Gyoo Kang ◽  
Chung Lian Liew ◽  
Wee Kang Choong ◽  
Tuck Wai Yeong
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Project Management ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Questionnaire Survey ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Index Score ◽  
Project Risk ◽  
Interview Survey ◽  
Potential Risks

Risk management is one of the most important areas in project management particularly in the construction industry. However it is not possible to analyze all of the potential risks as it will require too much time and effort. Therefore in order to identify and analyze the significant risks, the risks should be categorized and ranked. This research applied the concept of risk significance index score to construction projects in Malaysia. A comprehensive list of 40-potential risks has been developed through literature review and an interview survey. A questionnaire survey was conducted to produce project risk significance index score for the risks. The ranks of the risks have been identified and solutions for the significant risks have been produced through interviews. This research proves the practical use of risk significance index score for construction projects in Malaysia.

scholarly journals Criticality of project knowledge and experience in the delivery of construction projects

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Boon Hui Yap ◽  
Ban Leong Lim ◽  
Martin Skitmore ◽  
Jason Gray
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Exploratory Factor Analysis ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Time Cost ◽  
Cost Overruns ◽  
Planning And Scheduling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽  
Correlation Tests

Purpose Poor project knowledge and inadequate experience are frequently linked to construction time-cost overruns. This paper aims to expound on the criticality of project knowledge and experience in the successful delivery of projects in the construction industry. Design/methodology/approach Following a detailed literature review, a quantitative positivist approach with a questionnaire survey involving industry professionals is used to appraise the 30 prevalent causes of time-cost overruns according to frequency, effectiveness and importance indices. The data are then subjected to Spearman’s rank correlation tests and exploratory factor analysis. Findings Using the importance index, which assimilates both frequency and effectiveness indices, the criticality of knowledge and experience in the overall context is seen as fundamental for addressing the contractor’s faulty planning and scheduling, construction mistakes and defective work, site management and supervision, delayed/slow decision-making, incomplete drawings and design documents and change/variation orders. Spearman’s rank correlation tests indicate a good consensus of perceptions among the key parties involved. Next, an exploratory factor analysis uncovers six underlying knowledge-based factors affecting construction performance, relating to inaccurate resource estimates, design changes, resource shortages, lack of experience, incompetence and mistakes and defects. Originality/value The study draws out the repercussions of the hitherto limited research into the deficiencies in knowledge and experience in undertaking construction projects to enhance performance using knowledge management functions.

CAUSES AND IMPACT OF DELAY IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY OF INDIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-44
Author(s):  
Kranti kumar Myneni
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Construction Stage ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Importance Index ◽  
Causes Of Delays

Delays can be well-defined as the escalation of the stipulated time for the completion of the project. Delay is always the major loss to any construction project. In construction projects delay is a very usual thing and it can have an adverse effect on the project’s time and cost. As construction is one of the largest economic activity in India, the effects of delay are still in millions, which surely decreases the GDP of the country. Delay makes the process tardy and management of delay is extremely challenging as most of the projects do not meet the expected requirement and fails to perform within time. Therefore, various types and causes of delays should be studied accurately. There are many researches on construction delays but they talk about the wide-ranging reasons of delay, so there stays a high requirement of a notable and feasible study on delays at different stages of construction process in India. The aim of the paper is to identify the causes of delays at different stages of construction through questionnaire survey in Indian construction industry. Analytical tools used in this research are relative importance index (RII) and spearman’s rank correlation coefficient to rank the sources of delay with respect to its occurrence in the various stages of the construction project. The study concludes based on the correlation coefficient analysis between the construction stages, that the delays associated with before-construction stage is least related, with after-construction stage is third highly related, with construction stage is second highly related and delays associated with average/overall construction is highly related.

The importance of hard project management and team motivation for construction project performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Larsson ◽  
Per Erik Eriksson ◽  
Ossi Pesämaa
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Process Performance ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Planning And Control ◽  
Team Motivation

Purpose Hard project management practices, based on strict planning and control, are traditionally applied in construction projects, although research frequently promotes the importance of teams for various project outcomes. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to examine the importance of hard project management and team motivation for process performance in construction projects. A hypothesis tested is that hard project management can impair process performance if team motivation is not promoted. Design/methodology/approach The paper presents and empirically tests a structural equation model, with and without a mediating link between hard project management and process performance, based on data from a survey of 2,175 respondents, representing contractors and clients involved in 109 Swedish construction projects. Findings The results confirm that hard project management is best conveyed through teams to enhance process performance. “Path analysis,” using the model with the mediating link, confirms that neglecting team motivation can significantly impair process performance. Research limitations/implications The data set provides unusually high representation of views of contractors and clients involved in diverse Swedish construction projects. Thus, the results have likely relevance in other project-based industries and/or national settings, but this possibility requires further investigation. Originality/value The findings show that team motivation is a key process performance factor; hard project management may indeed be important, but its effects will be enhanced by (and partially mediated through) team motivation. Thus, the findings have important theoretical and practical implications for the development of project management practices.

scholarly journals Analysis of project success factors in construction industry

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murat GUNDUZ ◽  
Ahmad Mohammed Ali YAHYA
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Project Success ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Correlation Factor ◽  
Actual Performance ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Spearman’S Rank Correlation ◽  
Importance Index

A great emphasis has taken place to identify and analyse the factors that have been af­fecting the success and the failure of construction projects in recent decades. As a project-based industry, construction has heavily invested in such research. Moreover, the construction industry suffers the most to meet deadlines and budgets limits. The objective of this paper is to identify the critical success factors in construction industry. The study focused on Middle East region. In order to achieve this objective, 25 project success factors were identified by reviewing related literature. The factors were assessed for their impact and contribution to the actual performance of the project on three criteria: schedule, cost, and quality. Then a questionnaire was developed and sent to dif­ferent experts in the construction industry. The collected data of 111 responses was then analysed statistically by using different tools such as: importance index, Spearman’s rank correlation factor and T-test. As a result, company’s technical capacity and scope and work definition were ranked the most important factors. The results of this research may provide a great assistance to professionals and researchers in identifying the critical factors in the construction industry.

scholarly journals Causes of delays in the construction phase of Chinese building projects

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 1534-1551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting-Kwei Wang ◽  
David N. Ford ◽  
Heap-Yih Chong ◽  
Wei Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Questionnaire Survey ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Building Projects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Causes Of Delays ◽  
Survey Approach

PurposeDelays during construction are one of the common scenarios in the construction industry. The purpose of this paper is to identify the primary causes of delays in the construction phase of building construction projects in China.Design/methodology/approachQuestionnaire survey approach was adopted across the four typical cities in China, namely, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing and Shenzhen. In total, 115 sets of valid responded questionnaires were collected and analyzed.FindingsThe results show that the causes of variations, delays in progress payments, exceptionally low bids and subcontractors’ poor performance and communication issues were the most important causes of delays in China.Originality/valueThis research is the first questionnaire survey on the causes of delays in the construction phase of building construction projects in China. The comparative analysis shows two unique causes of delays in the Chinese construction industry, such as “difficulty in claiming indemnity” and “unreasonable upfront capital demanded by client.” It also reveals different ranked causes of delays as per distinguished political and economic situations in China. The research findings can be referred by construction projects in other countries that are funded or partnered with China.

scholarly journals Agile Quality Management Framework in Construction Projects (AQMFCP)

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4.20) ◽  
pp. 307
Author(s):  
Mohammed Neamah Ahmed ◽  
Sawsan Rasheed Mohammed
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Management Framework ◽  
Planning And Control ◽  
Contact Points ◽  
Agile Project Management ◽  
And Control ◽  
Project Lifecycle

In project management there has been a shift from traditional project management to the Agile Project Management (APM) style. The proposed Agile Quality Management Framework in Construction Projects will be built as a sequence of procedure that deals with a project from primary vision of project to the final delivery of project, will trace alignment and discover a contact between Agile and Traditional Project Management (TPM) concepts and find contact points among two of the more used Agile frameworks (scrum) and one of the more confirmed Project Management framework (PMBOK®) processes. This will result in a recognition of comparable areas between scrum and PMBOK® processes. Agile quality Management Framework is a new agile framework that covers the whole project lifecycle. The goal of the framework is to assist the project managers to adapt a more flexible approach to managing and implementing the construction project. The findings arrive that the agile project management using the Scrum methodology profits effectiveness procedures and a lower duration of process, ensuring value of quality planning and control inputs.   

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