Factors that influence the facilities management construction sites in the Brazilian Amazon region

Facilities ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (13/14) ◽  
pp. 1185-1200
Author(s):  
Daniel Barbosa Cabral ◽  
Milton Cordeiro Farias Filho ◽  
Carlos André Corrêa de Mattos
Keyword(s):  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Factorial Analysis ◽  
Facilities Management ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Five Dimensions ◽  
Total Response Rate ◽  
Brazilian Amazon Region ◽  
Negative Impacts

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that influence the facilities management (FM) in construction sites in the Brazilian Amazon. Design/methodology/approach The study used structured questionnaires, with the participation of 136 facilities professionals in construction sites in the Brazilian Amazon. These sites were selected with help of 17 facilities managers. The survey achieved a total response rate of 76.5 per cent. The factorial analysis was performed after checking the adequacy of the sample to the technique. The results allowed the continuation of data processing and the use of exploratory factorial analysis to summarize the variables and identify the influencing factors. Findings The results indicated five factors that influence the FM on construction sites in the Brazilian Amazon, namely: negotiation with local entities; weather; local suppliers; manpower; and logistical infrastructure. With the proper understanding of these factors, facilities professionals could plan actions to minimize negative impacts over the FM on construction sites. Research limitations/implications The influence of factors on FM was studied from the professionals’ viewpoint. It is possible that there are other perspectives or other influencing factors. However, this work is limited to the analysis of the variables that make up the five dimensions presented. Practical implications Organizations and FM professionals might be interested in the results of this research to enhance the FM performance on the construction sites existed and to plan the implementation of the FM on upcoming construction sites. Originality/value This paper is the first large research about FM in construction sites conducted in the Brazilian Amazon and serve as a basis to other research works that promote the development of FM in Brazil.

Impact of foreign workforce on productivity in foreign-funded infrastructure projects

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 168-183
Author(s):  
Nayanthara De Silva ◽  
R. Darmicka ◽  
Elmo Fernando
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Workers ◽  
Infrastructure Projects ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Productivity ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Employee Characteristics ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The aim of this study is to explore the impact of using foreign workers on construction productivity in project situations. Generally, foreign-funded projects use both native and foreign workers. Foreign workforce entering into the construction industry may affect the productivity positively or negatively, depending on the migrants’ attributes, institutional arrangements and native workers’ responses, thereby impacting the cost of the project. In Sri Lanka, large construction sites have become multicultural and depend on foreign workers brought in by foreign contractors for infrastructure projects. Design/methodology/approach – A survey-based approach was used to collect data. Structured interviews were conducted to explore the characteristics of the foreign workforce and their impact on productivity. Further, potential strategies were analyzed to establish industry motivators (IM) to enhance productivity. Findings – The study on the foreign workforce identified ten employee characteristics that may impact project’s productivity either positively or negatively. Further, 16 significant strategies were compiled to establish six IM to enhance productivity. Originality/value – These proposed motivators will be useful for construction practitioners in mitigating negative impacts and proactively managing the foreign workforce in a way to enhance construction productivity.

Investigating experts’ opinion on outsourcing decision in facilities management practice in public Universities in Nigeria

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOB TAIWO GBADEGESIN ◽  
Theophilus Olugbenga Babatunde
Keyword(s):  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Research Effort ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Facilities Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tertiary Institutions ◽  
Outsourcing Decision

Purpose – This paper aims to empirically investigate the factors and the level of influence on facilities management practice and analyze the relationship among the factors. It also examines the level of effectiveness of outsourcing decision. Recent research effort on outsourcing identified some factors that influence outsourcing decision-making. Design/methodology/approach – Copies of instrument titled “Questionnaire on Outsourcing Decision” designed through a review of outsourcing literature, pilot-tested on the professionals, with valid reliability test results, were used to collect data. Collected data were analyzed using percentage, t-test, Pearson correlation and chi-square. Findings – Majority of the respondents reported that outsourcing is an effective decision. Except for functional characteristics, all other factors (strategic, management, technical, economical and quality) are significantly different from the group mean values. While there is a positive and significant relationship among the influencing factors, there is no significant relationship between the years of experience and the perception on the effectiveness of outsourcing decision. Research limitations/implications – This study is limited to five selected tertiary institutions. The justification for their selection is attributed to their relative adequate infrastructural facilities, the existing practice of outsourcing and the size of the institutions. The further frontier of knowledge can be extended from here. Practical implications – The findings exposed the policymakers and stakeholders in the public universities to the major factors that affect the effectiveness of outsourcing and the direction for future practical research in the area of facilities management within the tertiary institutions of learning. Originality/value – The thrust of this paper provides check and balance in the adoption of outsourcing approach with tested instrument that ranks the influencing factors in facilities management practice in a developing economy within educational institutions.

Benchmarking challenges in facilities management in Nigeria

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yewande Adetoro Adewunmi ◽  
Modupe Omirin ◽  
Hikmot Koleoso
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Facilities Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Importance Index ◽  
Port Harcourt ◽  
Total Response Rate ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Access To Data ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The paper aims to examine benchmarking challenges among Nigerian Facilities management (FM) practitioners. Design/methodology/approach – Data collection was through self-administered questionnaires sent to 120 FM organizations in Lagos metropolis, 50 in Abuja and 15 in Port Harcourt. Also, interviews were conducted on six facilities managers to ascertain challenges faced by organizations that use best practice benchmarking. The survey achieved a total response rate of 74 per cent in Lagos, 66 per cent in Abuja and 93 per cent in Port Harcourt, respectively. Grand mean scores and relative importance index were used to ascertain ranking of the challenges. One-way analysis of variance and t-test were used to establish whether organizations’ characteristics bring about significant differences in the types of benchmarking challenges encountered. Findings – Overall, the top four challenges of benchmarking were “unwillingness of employees to change”, “inadequate understanding of the exercise of benchmarking”, “inadequate access to data from other organizations” and “poor execution of-the benchmarking exercise”. Also, FM organization location result in a significant difference in benchmarking challenges. Practical implications – The implication of the study is that it will assist in identifying impediments to benchmarking and barriers faced during benchmarking and, thus, enable recommendations to be made to minimize such challenges. Originality/value – There are limited empirical studies on the problems of benchmarking in developing countries.

A sustainable procurement approach for selection of construction consultants in property and facilities management

Facilities ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 98-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terence Y.M. Lam
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Facilities Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Performance Factors ◽  
Sustainable Performance ◽  
Sustainable Procurement ◽  
Selection Of

Purpose Outsourcing architectural and engineering services is a trend for public-sector construction projects. This study aims to examine what tender selection criteria should be considered when assessing the performance outcomes of consultants in relation to sustainable design, construction and management of buildings within the context of property and facilities management of existing building portfolios. Design/methodology/approach Combined qualitative-quantitative methods are adopted to examine the causal relationship between sustainable performance outcomes and influencing factors, using primary data collected from the estate offices of the UK universities, which form a unique public sector. The performance factors identified form the basis of selection criteria. Findings The qualitative multiple-case interviews identify economic, environmental, social and functional sustainability measures as the attributes of performance outcome. The quantitative hierarchical regression analysis generalises that sustainable performance outcomes can be significantly influenced by task and contextual performance factors. Research limitations/implications The scope of the study is limited to university estates. Further research should be conducted on other property and facilities management and construction-related organisations so that the sustainable procurement approach developed by this research can become more robust and applicable to the wider public sector. Practical implications At the tender stage, estate managers should adopt a sustainable procurement approach for selection of construction consultants: focussing on the significant task performance (project staff and execution approach) and contextual performance (collaborative consultant frameworks) influencing factors to optimise the project sustainability outcomes in relation to economic, environmental, social and functional values. Originality/value The sustainable procurement approach developed by this research benefits property and facilities management, as well as construction disciplines within the wider public sector, thus contributing to the government construction policy on promoting sustainability to the built environment.

Platform ecological circle for cold chain logistics enterprises: the value co-creation analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 120 (4) ◽  
pp. 675-691 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benhong Peng ◽  
Yuanyuan Wang ◽  
Sardar Zahid ◽  
Guo Wei ◽  
Ehsan Elahi
Keyword(s):  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Resource Sharing ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Cold Chain ◽  
Enterprise Performance ◽  
Logistics Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Logistics Enterprises

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework of value co-creation in platform ecological circle for cold chain logistics enterprises to guide the transformation and development of cold chain logistics industry. Design/methodology/approach This paper establishes a conceptual framework for the research on the platform ecological circle in cold chain logistics, utilizes a structural equation model to investigate the influencing factors of the value co-creation of the platform ecological circle in the cold chain logistics enterprises and elaborates the internal relations between different influencing factors regarding the value co-creation and enterprises’ performance. Findings Results show that resource sharing in logistics platform ecological circle can stimulate the interaction among enterprises and this produces a positive influence on their dynamic capabilities, which, in turn, affects the they to work together to plan, implement and solve problems, so as to achieve the goal of improving enterprise performance. Practical implications The shared resources and value co-creation activities in the platform ecological circle are very important for the transformation and development of cold chain logistics enterprises. Therefore, enterprises should promote value co-creation through realizing resource sharing and creating a win-win cooperation mechanism. Originality/value This paper targets at incorporating the resource sharing in platform ecological circle for cold chain logistics enterprises, explores from an empirical perspective the role of the resource sharing in cold chain logistics enterprises in enhancing the dynamic capabilities of enterprises, thereby encouraging the value co-creation behavior, and ultimately boosts enterprise performance and stimulates business development.

scholarly journals Surgical Site Infection Following Caesarean Section by Acinetobacter Species: A Report from a Hyperendemic Setting in the Brazilian Amazon Region

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 743
Author(s):  
Blenda Gonçalves Cabral ◽  
Danielle Murici Brasiliense ◽  
Ismari Perini Furlaneto ◽  
Yan Corrêa Rodrigues ◽  
Karla Valéria Batista Lima
Keyword(s):  
Caesarean Section ◽  
Surgical Site Infection ◽  
Carbapenem Resistance ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Amazon Region ◽  
Site Infection ◽  
Acinetobacter Species ◽  
Brazilian Amazon Region ◽  
Acinetobacter Spp ◽  
The Impact

Surgical site infection (SSI) following caesarean section is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and significant health care costs. This study evaluated the epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological features of Acinetobacter spp. in women with SSIs who have undergone caesarean section at a referral hospital in the Brazilian Amazon region. This study included 69 women with post-caesarean SSI by Acinetobacter spp. admitted to the hospital between January 2012 and May 2015. The 69 Acinetobacter isolates were subjected to molecular species identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, detection of carbapenemase-encoding genes, and genotyping. The main complications of post-caesarean SSI by Acinetobacter were inadequate and prolonged antibiotic therapy, sepsis, prolonged hospitalization, and re-suture procedures. A. baumannii, A. nosocomialis and A. colistiniresistens species were identified among the isolates. Carbapenem resistance was associated with OXA-23-producing A. baumannii isolates and IMP-1-producing A. nosocomialis isolate. Patients with multidrug-resistant A. baumannii infection showed worse clinical courses. Dissemination of persistent epidemic clones was observed, and the main clonal complexes (CC) for A. baumannii were CC231 and CC236 (Oxford scheme) and CC1 and CC15 (Pasteur scheme). This is the first report of a long-term Acinetobacter spp. outbreak in women who underwent caesarean section at a Brazilian hospital. This study demonstrates the impact of multidrug resistance on the clinical course of post-caesarean infections.

scholarly journals Inadequate management of natural ecosystem in the Brazilian Amazon region results in the emergence and reemergence of arboviruses

2001 ◽  
Vol 17 (suppl) ◽  
pp. S155-S164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro F. C. Vasconcelos ◽  
Amélia P. A. Travassos da Rosa ◽  
Sueli G. Rodrigues ◽  
Elizabeth S. Travassos da Rosa ◽  
Nicolas Dégallier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Host Population ◽  
Amazon Region ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Natural Ecosystem ◽  
Brazilian Amazon Region ◽  
Mining Dam ◽  
The Impact

A total of 187 different species of arboviruses and other viruses in vertebrates were identified at the Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC) from 1954 to 1998, among more than 10,000 arbovirus strains isolated from humans, hematophagous insects, and wild and sentinel vertebrates. Despite intensive studies in the Brazilian Amazon region, especially in Pará State, very little is known about most of these viruses, except for information on date, time, source, and method of isolation, as well as their capacity to infect laboratory animals. This paper reviews ecological and epidemiological data and analyzes the impact of vector and host population changes on various viruses as a result of profound changes in the natural environment. Deforestation, mining, dam and highway construction, human colonization, and urbanization were the main manmade environmental changes associated with the emergence and/or reemergence of relevant arboviruses, including some known pathogens for humans.

News personalization for peace: how algorithmic recommendations can impact conflict coverage

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariella Bastian ◽  
Mykola Makhortykh ◽  
Tom Dobber
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
System Design ◽  
News Media ◽  
Content Distribution ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Constructive Conflict ◽  
Peace Journalism ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
The Impact ◽  
War Reporting

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual framework for assessing what are the possibilities and pitfalls of using algorithmic systems of news personalization – i.e. the tailoring of individualized news feeds based on users’ information preferences – for constructive conflict coverage in the context of peace journalism, a journalistic paradigm calling for more diversified and creative war reporting.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides a critical review of existing research on peace journalism and algorithmic news personalization, and analyzes the intersections between the two concepts. Specifically, it identifies recurring pitfalls of peace journalism based on empirical research on constructive conflict coverage and then introduces a conceptual framework for analyzing to what degree these pitfalls can be mediated – or worsened – through algorithmic system design.FindingsThe findings suggest that AI-driven distribution technologies can facilitate constructive war reporting, in particular by countering the effects of journalists’ self-censorship and by diversifying conflict coverage. The implementation of these goals, however, depends on multiple system design solutions, thus resonating with current calls for more responsible and value-sensitive algorithmic design in the domain of news media. Additionally, our observations emphasize the importance of developing new algorithmic literacies among journalists both to realize the positive potential of AI for promoting peace and to increase the awareness of possible negative impacts of new systems of content distribution.Originality/valueThe article particle is the first to provide a comprehensive conceptualization of the impact of new content distribution techniques on constructive conflict coverage in the context of peace journalism. It also offers a novel conceptual framing for assessing the impact of algorithmic news personalization on reporting traumatic and polarizing events, such as wars and violence.

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