scholarly journals Quantity Surveyors’ Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Mixed Method Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 177
Author(s):  
Seng Hansen ◽  
Susy F Rostiyanti ◽  
Rizaldi Rizaldi ◽  
Clara Andjarwati
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Work Culture ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Mixed Method Approach ◽  
Professional Activities ◽  
Project Sustainability ◽  
Project Objectives ◽  
Method Approach

The COVID-19 outbreak began at the end of 2019, and has evolved to a pandemic threatening various industries’ sustainability. Decisive actions have been taken to tackle the pandemic’s spread, however, various impacts continue to be felt by many industries, including the construction industry. This paper therefore focuses on the COVID-19 outbreak’s impact on Quantity Surveyors’ (QS) construction projects and activities, as a key profession in the industry. A mixed method approach, questionnaire survey followed by expert interviews, was adopted. Subsequently, 199 valid responses for analysis were obtained from the questionnaire distribution, using descriptive statistics and Significance Index. Furthermore, qualitative data were acquired through semi-structured interviews with five experts, and analyzed using a structured thematic analysis. According to the results, 56.78% of respondents experienced project slowdowns, 13.57% experienced project suspensions or terminations, and 12.56% experienced cost overruns. Most respondents acknowledged the pandemic had present changes to projects (84.92%), in the form of changes in organization structure, work culture, technological application, and project objectives. Meanwhile, the Significance Index has successfully established an 11-factors ranking, regarding the pandemic’s impact on QS activities, with impact on the overall project completion as the most profound impact followed by impacts on project scheduling, supply chain, tendering, cost controlling, and claim management. This study’s qualitative and quantitative findings tend to be in accordance, thus, providing some fundamental insights regarding the COVID-19 outbreak’s impact on the construction industry, including direct impacts on project sustainability, technology adoption, and project resiliency issues. In addition, this study also contributes to scientific knowledge by discussing the issues and trends of work culture changes in QS professional activities.

scholarly journals BARRIERS TO CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS’ ENGAGEMENT WITH SUSTAINABILITY: TOWARD A SHARED KNOWLEDGE EXPERIENCE

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian E. Wilson ◽  
Yacine Rezgui
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Energy Reduction ◽  
Shared Knowledge ◽  
Technical Knowledge ◽  
Mixed Method Approach ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Method Approach

Sustainability ill-practices in the construction industry can have major drawbacks on meeting governmental targets on carbon and energy reduction. Using a mixed-method approach drawn from three studies to explore the level of engagement of construction stakeholders in adopting government sustainability agendas, the research identifies a wide range of perceived barriers, which operate broadly at ‘individual’ and ‘organisational’ levels. Sustainability knowledge in construction is fragmented, diverse, embedded in various documents, and developed in a non-concerted and integrated way across stakeholders, localities, regions, and countries. There is an emergent need for a socio-technical ‘knowledge solution’ to create circles of impacts that bind building professionals, energy administrations, and citizens in a shared sustainability experience to address a number of issues.

scholarly journals Training Needs Analysis on Indonesian Construction Workers Competency in Malaysia

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (2.29) ◽  
pp. 1053
Author(s):  
Fadillah Ismail ◽  
Zulida Abdul Kadir ◽  
Lutfan Jaes
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Training Needs ◽  
Construction Workers ◽  
Needs Analysis ◽  
Infrastructure Projects ◽  
Knowledge And Skills ◽  
Mixed Method Approach ◽  
Job Requirements ◽  
Method Approach

The growth of construction industry in Malaysia is stimulated by various mega infrastructure projects. Due to this, the competent construction workers become the catalyst in realizing the goals. Using mixed method approach in explanatory research, this study aimed to analyze the training needs based on 300 Indonesian construction workers’ competency. Findings showed that there are significant differences between knowledge and skills possessed by the Indonesian workers, based on two types of training; theory and practical. However, the training on skills is considered critical as it is a need for the Indonesian workers to fulfil the job requirements in Malaysia.  

scholarly journals “You Made a Great Mistake…you left the [your] Job and Moved to Canada”: A Study on the Information Experiences of Bangladeshi Immigrants in Canada

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nafiz Shuva ◽  
Paulette Rothbauer
Keyword(s):  
Information Sharing ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Personal Networks ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Doctoral Study ◽  
Mixed Method Approach ◽  
Information Behaviour ◽  
Method Approach

This paper reports on key findings from a recently completed doctoral study into the transitional information behaviour of Bangladeshi immigrants to Canada. The study uses a mixed method approach including semi-structured interviews (n=60) and surveys (n=205) with Bangladeshi immigrants who arrived in Canada between the years of 1971 and 2017. We discuss the information experience of participants in terms of their personal networks, information sharing fear, and information intelligence. Cet article rend compte des principales conclusions d'une étude doctorale récemment achevée sur le comportement informationnel des immigrants bangladais au Canada. L'étude utilise une approche mixte comprenant des entrevues semi-structurées (n = 60) et des enquêtes (n = 205) auprès d'immigrants bangladais arrivés au Canada entre 1971 et 2017. Nous discutons de l'expérience informationnelle des participants en ce qui conerne leurs réseaux personnels, la peur du partage d'informations et l'intelligence informationnelle.

scholarly journals Knowledge Marketplaces: An Analysis of the Influence of Business Models on Instructors’ Motivations and Strategies

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 142-158
Author(s):  
Matthieu Tenzing Cisel ◽  
David Pontalier
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Mixed Method Approach ◽  
Method Approach

Unlike MOOC platforms such as Coursera or edX, which typically partner with institutions of higher education, online knowledge marketplaces allow anyone to broadcast courses and charge for them. In this article, we investigate, through a mixed-method approach, the motivations and strategies of the instructors of Udemy and Skillshare. Semi-structured interviews and a quantitative analysis of the characteristics of Skillshare’s courses, obtained using a Web scraper, suggest that while a significant proportion of the marketplace’s instructors are outreach driven, the majority are income driven. They develop strategies to maximize their revenues, notably by adapting the characteristics of their courses, such as the number of videos, to the business model of the platform. Courses are shorter on Skillshare than on Udemy, where instructors’ incomes are proportional to the number of registrations. We hypothesize that the latter platform’s business model incentivizes instructors to create longer courses in order to attract wider audiences.  

scholarly journals Building control (amendment) regulations 2014: integration and compliance in large Irish construction organisations

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gavin Dennehy ◽  
Bobby Kennedy ◽  
John Spillane
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Method ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Building Control ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Buildings ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Method Approach ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify the factors relating to the integration and compliance of Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (BC(A)R 2014) in large Irish construction organisations.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve the aim, a mixed method approach is adopted, initially, providing a critique of the literature review, followed by a combination of 7 semi-structured interviews and 30 questionnaires from industry practitioners.FindingsFindings demonstrate that BC(A)R has had a significant positive effect on the industry, eliminating previous bad practice, by increasing the accountability for professionals signing-off on new buildings, and highlights the emphasis on certification in successfully achieving practical completion on projects.Practical implicationsThe findings provide further justification on the need for compliance, and integration, of BC(A)R in the Irish construction sector, offering further evidence, where needed, on the benefit of its adoption.Originality/valueThe originality and value of this research lies in the limited number of studies in the area, particularly in the context of large Irish construction projects, which this study aims to fulfil.

I am more than just a TA!

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 163-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Emira
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Teaching Assistants ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Leadership And Management ◽  
Mixed Method Approach ◽  
Funded Research ◽  
Method Approach ◽  
Funded Research Project

This article is based on the findings of a funded research project. It examines the perspectives of teaching assistants (TAs) and higher-level teaching assistants (HLTAs) on their responsibilities and their views on leadership and management to see how they might have a role in leadership and management. The sample ( N = 58) was drawn from schools in the English Midlands. The research followed a sequential mixed method approach which involved a survey and follow-up semi-structured interviews respectively. No major differences were found between the views of TAs and HLTAs. They believed leadership is centred on the support they get from their workplace/colleagues and their engagement in decision-making. They have a preference for the collaborative form of leadership. Although the findings show how TAs and HLTAs perceive leadership and management, which might illuminate some ideas about engaging them in this process, schools have to decide how to meet their own needs.

Architectural Examination on Feng Shui Bedroom

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 40-48
Author(s):  
Chen Wang ◽  
Wan Thing Hong ◽  
Hamzah Abdul-Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Method ◽  
Design Practice ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Feng Shui ◽  
Mixed Method Approach ◽  
Diverse Backgrounds ◽  
Practical Design ◽  
Method Approach

Bedroom Feng Shui practices have been criticized as myth over the years but in fact having its scientific origin that is not purely superstitious. This paper aims to examine whether the architects' design practice for bedroom interior arrangement is concurring with the recommended bedroom Feng Shui practices. The study has successfully interviewed 16 architects from diverse backgrounds to avoid bias, seeking their design perspectives in bedroom interior configuration. Subsequently, the interviewees submitted sketches of ideal bedroom layout based on their expertise, with pre-set requirements. Data from semi-structured interviews were analyzed using mixed method approach. In agreement with our expectations, majority of the interviewees have matching thoughts that “bed arrangement” is the primary consideration in bedroom interior configuration. Most of the design outputs were highly attached to favorable Feng Shui conditions. The overall findings implied that bedroom Feng Shui is not merely superstitious but most components are practical design references for architects from diverse backgrounds.

scholarly journals Sleep-Wake Behavior in Elite Athletes: A Mixed-Method Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kévin de Blasiis ◽  
Hélène Joncheray ◽  
Julia Elefteriou ◽  
Chloé Lesenne ◽  
Mathieu Nedelec
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Method ◽  
Student Athletes ◽  
Light Exposure ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Sleep Onset ◽  
Training Load ◽  
Sleep Onset Latency ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Mixed Method Approach ◽  
Method Approach

PurposeUsing a mixed-method approach, this investigation aimed to examine athletes’ sleeping patterns along with the socio-physiological acute and chronic stressors affecting their sleep.MethodsFifteen elite athletes (Mage = 21.7 years; SD = 2.2) were monitored daily during a typical in-season training period (20 ± 1 days) and completed individual semi-structured interviews. Their sleep was analyzed using actigraphy and sleep diaries. A content analysis method was used to assess qualitative interviews.ResultsThree factors influencing sleep emerged from the qualitative interview analyses, i.e., sleep environment, training and study requirements. Half the athletes (8/15) complained about their sleeping environment with noise and/or bedroom temperature and/or mattress quality and/or light exposure presented as an issue. “Complainers” notably exhibited impaired (p < 0.05) sleep efficiency and wake after sleep onset compared with “non-complainers.” Daily training load showed correlations (p < 0.05) with wake after sleep onset and sleep onset latency. “Student athletes” exhibited later bedtime and earlier wake-up time compared with “non-student athletes,” leading to a reduced total sleep time (6:50 ± 1:13 vs. 7:06 ± 0:53; p < 0.05; d = 0.20).ConclusionAn individualized assessment of sleep using actigraphy and interviews, with consideration to various socio-physiological factors, is recommended. Individualized sleep interventions with consideration to physiological (e.g., training load), behavioral (e.g., screen use) and environmental factors (e.g., room temperature, noise, mattress), can then be provided to each athlete.

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