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.

Identifying and prioritizing safety practices affecting construction labour productivity

2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (8) ◽  
pp. 1457-1474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Argaw Tarekegn Gurmu
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Health Practices ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Building Projects ◽  
Safety Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Safety And Health

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify and prioritise the safety and health practices, which are suitable to improve labour productivity in building construction projects, and to investigate the association between company profiles, project characteristics and the safety practices. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a mixed-method research design which involves two phases. In Phase I, qualitative data were collected and analysed to identify safety and health practices. In total, 19 experts who have experience in building construction projects were involved in the interviews. During Phase II, quantitative data were collected from contractors that are involved in the delivery of building projects using questionnaires which were administered via face-to-face interviews. After analysing the quantitative data, the safety and health practices were prioritised and the relationships between the practices and company profiles were investigated. Findings Safety and health policy, safety and health plan and hazard analysis are found to be the three most important practices that can improve productivity in building construction projects. The results of Spearman correlation analysis revealed that the level of implementation of the safety and health practices increases with project costs. Company experience and company size are positively associated with safety and health practices. Project delay is negatively correlated with safety and health practices. Originality/value The study provides useful information for international developers and contractors who want to do the construction business in Australia. Furthermore, contractors involved in the construction of building projects in Australia can implement the identified safety and health practices to improve labour productivity.

Streamlining the management of payment delays: the case of Sri Lankan Government building construction projects

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
B.A.K.S. Perera ◽  
Kaveesha Gihani Dewagoda
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Questionnaire Survey ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Building Projects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mixed Approach ◽  
Implementing Strategies ◽  
Government Construction

Purpose Delayed payments have been long standing, pressing issue in construction projects, especially in Government-funded construction projects. The root causes and the consequences of delayed payments must be identified before implementing strategies to mitigate the consequences of such delayed payments. However, these causes and consequences and the parties responsible for managing the delayed payments have not been identified so far. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the management of payment delays in Government-funded construction projects. Design/methodology/approach The study used a mixed approach comprising four case studies and a questionnaire survey. The empirical data collected from the case studies and the questionnaire survey were analysed using manual content analysis and mean rating, respectively. Findings The study identified the most significant causes and the most significant consequences of delayed payments that occur in Government-funded construction projects. It also revealed the strategies that clients, consultants, contractors and other parties can adopt to mitigate the adverse consequences of such delayed payments. Originality/value This study identified the most significant causes of delayed payments in Government-funded construction projects, the most significant consequences of such delayed payments and the most suitable strategies the clients, consultants and contractors can adopt to mitigate the consequences of such delayed payments. Thus, this study supports streamlining the management of payment delays in Government construction projects and identifies the roles that different parties must play in managing payment delays in Government building projects, which is an under-researched area.

Thermal comfort practices for precast concrete building construction projects: towards BIM and IOT integration

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zul-Atfi Bin Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Comfort ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Thermal Sensation ◽  
Precast Concrete ◽  
Building Energy ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Building Projects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Environmental Objectives

PurposeImproper evaluation and information mismanagement concerning thermal comfort appears to negatively affect occupants' satisfaction and building energy consumption in precast concrete (PC) building contexts. Predictive models are particularly problematic in PC building construction projects where natural ventilation levels do not coincide with occupants' thermal comfort and thermal sensation specifications.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review is undertaken to explore the viability and benefits of a new ICT-based approach for meeting social and environmental objectives.FindingsSophisticated thermal comfort system solutions are essential for optimising thermal comfort and saving energy in PC building construction projects.Originality/valueIt is imperative that designers and manufacturers are kept up-to-date with the possibilities and potentials associated with new and nascent technologies so that building projects can meet key sustainability criteria.

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.

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.

Fuzzy synthetic evaluation of human resource management practices influencing construction labour productivity

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Argaw Tarekegn Gurmu
Keyword(s):  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Phase I ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hrm Practices

PurposeThe main objective of this research is to identify the most important human resource management (HRM) practices, which have the potential to enhance labour productivity using fuzzy synthetic evaluation approach.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a mixed-methods research design in which qualitative data were collected and analysed during Phase I and quantitative data were analysed during Phase II. Nineteen experts who have experience in building construction projects were involved in interviews conducted in Phase I. During Phase II, quantitative data were collected from contractors that were involved in the delivery of building projects using questionnaires and the data were analysed using FSE technique.FindingsClear delegation of responsibility, stability of organisational structure and crew composition are found to be the three most important HRM practices that can enhance productivity in building construction projects. The findings of the study showed that the overall importance index computed using the FSE model is 3.65 (≈ 4) with an equivalent linguistic term of “very important”. The study also suggested that the top three HRM practices should be implemented conjointly as there is no significant difference among their weights.Originality/valueThe output of this research can provide important information regarding the HRM practices in the Australian construction industry. Thus, international developers or contractors who want to do construction business in Australia can implement the essential HRM practices so that the productivity of their construction projects will not be affected negatively.

Management of variations in the public-sector building construction projects in Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
B.A.K.S. Perera ◽  
D.C. Sirimewan ◽  
A.D. Senadeera
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Building Projects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Project Objectives ◽  
Variation Management

Purpose Many public-sector building projects in developing countries are prone to variations owing to the changes made to their original project scopes, and economic depressions and stagnations. Cost and time-overruns are consequences of such variations. Thus, variation management in these projects is important. Hence, this paper aims to analyse the methods of managing variations in public-sector building projects in Sri Lanka. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a mixed research approach. Seventeen expert interviews and a questionnaire survey were conducted to identify the causes and consequences of the variations, and the strategies that will help manage those variations. Manual content analysis and mean weighted rankings (MWR) were used to analyse the collected quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. Findings The employer, consultant, contractor and several other factors are mostly responsible for the variations in public-sector building projects in Sri Lanka. Cost and time-overruns, rework and demolition and disputes are the major consequences of such variations. The study findings reveal that a detailed employer’s brief, clearly defined project objectives, a comprehensive design and set of specifications, and preliminary investigations are the strategies that will mostly minimise the variations in public-sector building projects in Sri Lanka. Originality/value The study proposes strategies to avoid or minimise the adverse impact of variations, which the industry practitioners can adopt for variation management in public-sector building projects. The study theoretically contributes to knowledge by revealing how variations in public-sector building projects in Sri Lanka can be managed by identifying their causes and consequences.

Assessment of factors influencing the failure and abandonment of multi-storey building projects in Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Oluwatobi Adebisi ◽  
Stephen Okunola Ojo ◽  
Oluwaseyi Olalekan Alao
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Business Failure ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Structural Quality ◽  
Item Score ◽  
Building Projects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Lagos State ◽  
Storey Building

PurposeThe failure and abandonment of construction projects have proven to be insurmountable problems incessantly militating against the efficient performance of the construction industry in Nigeria. The complexity, technicality and a host of other project execution issues unique to multi-storey building projects do increase their susceptibility to failure and abandonment. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to examine the factors influencing failure and abandonment of multi-storey building projects in Nigeria. This is with a view to provide inferential empirical data that could enhance successful delivery of multi-storey building projects in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachPrimary data were used for the study. A structured questionnaire was administered on consultants and contractors’ personnel within Lagos State, Nigeria. A total of 180 copies of the questionnaire were administered ,and 134 copies which represent a combined response rate of 74.4 per cent were retrieved. The data were analysed using frequency distribution and percentages, Mean item score and factor analysis.FindingsThe factors most significant to the failure and abandonment of multi-storey building projects are inadequate funding by the client, improper planning at the pre-construction phase, structural failure in multi-storey building during construction, bankruptcy/business failure of the contractor, improper scheduling of the building project activities and failure to engage qualified professionals with technical expertise and experience. The rated factors clustered under human resources capability, planning and structural quality, contractor selection and variation, insecurity and variation, and force majeure and political risk.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was limited to multi-storey building projects in Lagos State, Nigeria. Further studies could focus on specific resuscitation strategies for abandoned multi-storey building projects.Practical implicationsThe study provided implications for effective project and contract management of multi-storey building projects which is very paramount to improve the delivery of complex, technical- and capital-intensive building projects in Nigeria.Originality/valueThe study provides specific implications for the management of multi-storey building projects, thereby enhancing the delivery of building projects.

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