scholarly journals Ameliorating time and cost control with project learning and communication management

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 767-792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Boon Hui Yap ◽  
Martin Skitmore
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Cost Control ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Communication Management ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Depth Interviews

PurposeLegions of projects fail to attain their time and cost objectives due to ineffective coordination. This is often due to a lack of essential learning from projects because of insufficient communication and working experience. One of the key reasons why this occurs is that managers are unaware of what knowledge needs to be retained. In contrast with knowledge management research, which mostly focuses on the systems and processes for capturing, storing, and retrieval of knowledge, this paper investigates the nature of project communication and learning and their role on project time and cost control.Design/methodology/approachA stratified proportional purposive sampling approach was adopted in choosing the interview participants for the study. They are experienced industry practitioners working on building construction projects in Malaysia. Content analysis was then performed on the interview data. The identified variables were further validated by 11 industry experts from the three primary construction stakeholders.FindingsThe results of a series of 12 in-depth interviews with industry practitioners are provided to reveal the effective communication tools for sharing and learning in a project-based environment, the learning inducing situations involved, and the use of reusable project experiences to improve project time and cost control.Research limitations/implicationsA possible limitation of the study is its focus on a small group of Malaysian practitioners delimits the generalizability of the findings.Originality/valueA two-phase model with three-step project management process of input, tools, and output is developed from the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) Guide as an aid for more effective knowledge reuse in project time and cost control in the future.

Dual branding: a case study of Wyndham

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulio Ronzoni ◽  
Edwin Torres ◽  
Juhee Kang
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Financial Economic ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Study Methodology ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Analysis Choice

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the theory and implementation of dual branding. The authors explore whether dual branding is a positive choice for two hotel brands belonging to the same firm and operating under the same roof, in this case, a Wyndham and a Wyndham Garden branded property. Design/methodology/approach A case study methodology was employed. In-depth interviews were conducted with managers regarding their decisions and implementation of a dual branding strategy. Findings The authors reveal the organizational, operational, technical, marketing, financial, economic and technological challenges experienced before, during and after the dual branding transition. Moreover, they reveal the results of the implementation and its consequences to the hotel and its customers. A conceptual model is presented with the goal of assisting and facilitating the investigation, analysis, choice and implementation of dual branding by hoteliers. Originality/value The present research expands the existing body of knowledge, bridges the theory and practice of branding in the lodging sector, advances dual branding theory and provides insightful implications for scholars and managers alike.

Professional resistance against competitive public procurement in Iran

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-181
Author(s):  
Mehran Sepehri ◽  
Mohsen Qadiri
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
Oil Industry ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Economic Interests ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Structural Problems ◽  
Local Methods ◽  
Governmental Management ◽  
Depth Interviews

Purpose This study aim to examine the roots of professional resistance of procurement in Iran. Public procurement (PP) contracts, in developing countries, hide the structural problems of governmental management because of the lack of bureaucratic processes. Design/methodology/approach A two-phase qualitative study offers contextual and critical understandings on why Iranian PP experts, who are aware of the philosophies behind internationally endorsed principles, prefer to resist against the use of those principles. They help, unexpectedly, their traditionalist companions to resolve the difficulties of the PP contracts by the use of local methods and routines. Findings Evidence, from in-depth interviews with procurements professionals in Iran Oil industry, provides four specific themes of “professional disorder,” “anti-internationalism,” “resistance mentality” and “politicized procurement.” A preemptive resistance is characterized to guarantee that the national benefits in Iran are preferred over the international economic interests. Originality/value Iran has been in isolation due to political sanctions, for two decades. There are many diverse political and social reasons for resistance against professional public procurement.

Library succession planning process in Vietnam

2016 ◽  
Vol 117 (11/12) ◽  
pp. 756-767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trang Thi Huynh
Keyword(s):  
Succession Planning ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Government ◽  
Depth Interviews

Purpose This paper aims to design a model of succession planning process for public and academic libraries in Vietnam. Design/methodology/approach The model of library succession planning process was develop based on the findings of a two-phase research underpinned by transformational leadership theory. Data were collected from 172 responses of the online survey and 23 in-depth interviews in 13 public and 4 academic libraries in the Mekong region, Vietnam. Findings A library succession planning process with six steps was established. Research limitations/implications As the research takes place in both public and academic libraries, the overarching benefit of the present study is to provide library leaders in these sectors with practical understanding and knowledge about how succession planning process can be done, as well as to enhance management practices in Vietnam libraries and other organisations. Leaders from other types of library systems in Vietnam and globally can reference this model so as to know what to do and how to conduct this process confidently. Originality/value This study helps to fill the gap that succession planning in Vietnamese libraries has been done without a specific path. Library leaders in each organisation conducted it differently between public and academic libraries because the government has only issued general guides for all industries of the nation.

Key messages and message integrity as concepts and metrics in communication evaluation

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 386-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig E. Carroll ◽  
Nell C. Huang-Horowitz ◽  
Brooke Weberling McKeever ◽  
Natalie Williams
Keyword(s):  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
News Media ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
News Coverage ◽  
Media Relations ◽  
Social Relevance ◽  
Communication Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Communication Evaluation ◽  
Depth Interviews

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce the concepts of key messages and key message integrity, and examines their viability for communication management scholars and practitioners in evaluating media relations activities. Key message integrity addresses not only what messages transfer, but also how well. Design/methodology/approach – The authors analyzed 18 nonprofit organizations’ key messages and the messages’ integrity levels using content analysis on one month of their news coverage. In-depth interviews with eight of their media relations practitioners helped validate the concepts and the results. Findings – The authors found five unique categories and functions of key messages: information concerned with dissemination, raison d’être concerned with purpose, categories concerned with positioning, resource management concerned with accounting for resources, and social relevance concerned with legitimacy. Findings also revealed varying levels of transmission and message integrity across the categories. Interviews revealed insights into challenges for communicating organizational key messages to the news media. Originality/value – This study lays the foundation for additional research on key messages and key message integrity as useful metrics for communication management scholars and practitioners.

A decision matrix approach to green project management processes

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 174-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Sahban Al-Tekreeti ◽  
Salwa Mamoun Beheiry
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Ahp Method ◽  
Decision Matrix ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Process Index ◽  
Management Processes ◽  
Green Practices ◽  
Project Management Processes

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a decision matrix for green project management processes (GPMPs) in commercial construction projects. GPMPs can assist in decoding all of the information required to make green-conscious decisions at various stages of a project. Design/methodology/approach – Integrate the environmental factors into the traditional project management processes (PMPs) of major construction projects. The integrated product is worked into a process index, and the analytical hierarchy processes (AHP) method is used to prioritize the GPMPs according to pre-set criteria. Findings – Research established the theoretical backing of green practices integration in the traditional PMPs, by creating an AHP weighted GPMP index that is linked to usable decision matrix. Originality/value – Develops a fresh methodology to facilitate green decision-making in the project management of commercial construction projects.

Survey of management practices enhancing labor productivity in multi-storey building construction projects

2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 717-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Argaw Tarekegn Gurmu ◽  
Ajibade Ayodeji Aibinu
Keyword(s):  
Phase I ◽  
Labor Productivity ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Building Projects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Storey Building

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify and prioritize management practices that have the potential to improve labor productivity in multi-storey building construction projects. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted two-phase mixed-methods research design and 58 project managers, contract administrators and project coordinators were involved in the survey. During Phase I, qualitative data were collected from 19 experts using interviews and the management practices that could enhance labor productivity in multi-storey building construction projects were identified. In Phase II, quantitative data were collected from 39 contractors involved in the delivery of multi-storey building projects by using questionnaires. The data were analyzed to prioritize the practices identified in Phase I. Findings Well-defined scope of work, safety and health policy, safety and health plan, hazard analysis, long-lead materials identification, safe work method statement, and toolbox safety meetings are the top seven practices that have the potential to improve labor productivity in multi-storey building projects. Originality/value The research identifies the management practices that can be implemented to enhance labor productivity in multi-storey building construction projects in the context of Australia. Being the first study in the Australian context, the findings can be used as benchmark for international comparison.

BIM Technologies In Building Construction Projects Management In Russia

2019 ◽  
pp. 48-59
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Economic Efficiency ◽  
Technology Implementation ◽  
Management System ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Integrated Management ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Information Modeling ◽  
Project Management System

The international experience of integrating building information modeling (BIM) into project management system with innovation implementation accent has been revealed in this article. The events carried out on federal and regional levels concerning the President of Russia directive on building construction industry modernization and construction objects transferring to life cycle management by means of BIM were analyzed. The large company experience of implementing BIM was summarized with describing some examples in different cities and regions of our country and thus the main directions of this technology development were determined. The key points of BIM and project management system pairing and impacting an innovation choice witch determine the project economic efficiency in the integrated management system were shown. The main reports of "Building construction projects technology and management: new practices and prospects" conference by Moscow Trade and Commerce Chamber were reviewed in this direction and problems of the new investment and construction project management technology implementation were shown. The ways to solve these problems were disclosed by work examples of PAO "Sberbank", and successfully working in our country firms Bilfinger Tebodin - BIM design and Beiten Burkhard -jurisdiction support. Some economic efficiency questions of BIM implementation were disclosed in the report delivered by The Plekhanov University of Economics (project and program management base department of Capital Group). Management system suggestions, regarding BIM implementation in Moscow construction were given.

Co-workers’ perceptions of and reactions to employee’s involuntary demotion

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 740-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie Hennekam ◽  
Subramaniam Ananthram ◽  
Steve McKenna
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Emotional Responses ◽  
Emotional Reaction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Informational Justice ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Behavioural Reaction ◽  
Three Stages ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
The Way

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how individuals perceive and react to the involuntary demotion of a co-worker in their organisation. Design/methodology/approach The authors draw on 46 semi-structured in-depth interviews (23 dyads) with co-workers of demoted individuals. Findings The findings suggest that an individual’s observation of the demotion of a co-worker has three stages: their perception of fairness, their emotional reaction and their behavioural reaction. The perception of fairness concerned issues of distributive, procedural, interpersonal and informational justice. The emotional responses identified were feelings of disappointment/disillusion, uncertainty, vulnerability and anger. Finally, the behavioural reactions triggered by their emotional responses included expressions of voice, loyalty, exit and adaptation. Originality/value Perceptions of (in)justice perpetrated on others stimulate emotional and behavioural responses, which impacts organisational functioning. Managers should therefore pay attention to the way a demotion is perceived, not only by those directly concerned, but also by co-workers as observers.

Consumer value creation through WhatsApp use

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 455-471
Author(s):  
Jorge Cruz-Cárdenas ◽  
Jorge Guadalupe-Lanas ◽  
Ekaterina Zabelina ◽  
Andrés Palacio-Fierro ◽  
Margarita Velín-Fárez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Value Creation ◽  
Emotional Support ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Instant Messaging ◽  
Role Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Consumer Value ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand in-depth how consumers create value in their lives using WhatsApp, the leading mobile instant messaging (MIM) application. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts the perspective of customer-dominant logic (CDL) and uses a qualitative multimethod design involving 3 focus groups and 25 subsequent in-depth interviews. The research setting was Ecuador, a Latin American country. Findings Analysis and interpretation of the participants’ stories made it possible to identify and understand the creation of four types of value: maintaining and strengthening relationships; improving role performance; emotional support; and entertainment and fun. In addition, the present study proposes a conceptual model of consumer value creation as it applies to MIM. Practical implications Understanding the way consumers create value in their lives using MIM is important not only for organizations that offer MIM applications, but also for those companies that develop other applications for mobile phones or for those who wish to use MIM as an electronic word-of-mouth vehicle. Originality/value The current study is one of the first to address the topic of consumer behavior in the use of technologies from the perspective of CDL; this perspective enables an integrated qualitative vision of value creation in which the consumer is the protagonist.

Haunted by the past: transformations and daily challenges of China's prosthetics

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-124
Author(s):  
Chunchun Wang
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Institutional Pressures ◽  
Rehabilitation Center ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Daily Experiences ◽  
History Of ◽  
Depth Interviews

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the transformations of prosthetic practices in China, as well as the daily experiences and dilemmas arising from the everchanging practices since 1949. On the basis of materials, this paper explores an everyday perspective to review the history of technology.Design/methodology/approachEthnography was collected with the application of participant observations, informal interviews and in-depth interviews during a 13-months study at a rehabilitation center in Chengdu, China. The literature on prosthetic manufacturing was also reviewed for this paper.FindingsChina's prosthetic technology seems to evolve from traditional to modern. However, this progressive narrative – innovation-based timeline (Edgerton, 2006, xi) – has been challenged by daily practices. Due to institutional pressures, prosthetists are in a dilemma of selectively using their knowledge to create one kind of device for all prosthesis users with a certain kind of disability, thereby regulating the physical and social experiences of prosthesis users. Besides, prosthesis users are accustomed to prostheses made with old techniques, and must correct themselves from old experiences to the daily practices recognized by the selected techniques.Originality/valueThis paper provides a cross-cultural case to reexamine Edgerton's criticism of the progressive and orderly innovation-centric technological narrative. More importantly, it reviews the history and practices of China's prosthetics from daily experiences rather than Edgerton's concentration on technology; therefore, it provides an everyday perspective for future research on technological transformations.

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