scholarly journals Evaluating the Efficacy of a Dedicated Last Planner® System Facilitator to Enhance Construction Productivity

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
William Power ◽  
Derek Sinnott ◽  
Patrick Lynch
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Quality Cost ◽  
Team Collaboration ◽  
Construction Productivity ◽  
A Value ◽  
Value Add ◽  
Last Planner

Construction unknowingly plans for poor levels of productivity with substantial waste, inefficiency, and rework stemming from a proliferation of non-value-adding activities embedded within traditional delivery processes. This approach negatively influences construction’s economic and environmental sustainability. Last Planner® System (LPS) is a key tool of Lean Construction (LC) and is lauded as a value-add process that prioritises flow efficiency by addressing workflow variability and waste elimination on construction projects. This research evaluates how the presence of a dedicated knowledgeable and competent LPS Facilitator, enabling a complete LPS implementation, contributes to improved construction flow, efficiency, and productivity. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach utilising case study design and data collected from a literature review, site observation diary, site documentation analysis, and semi-structured interviews. Limitations exist around small survey size, lack of generalisability, and potential bias of researchers. Findings posit considerable productivity increase; more reliable, predictable, and stable workflow; enhanced team collaboration; as well as accrual of safety, quality, cost, and schedule benefits. Embedding a knowledgeable and competent LPS Facilitator appears to assist successful implementation of LPS with sectoral and societal value-add opportunities.  

scholarly journals Professional perspectives on providing recovery-oriented services in Taiwan: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yen-Ching Chang ◽  
Ling-Hui Chang ◽  
Su-Ting Hsu ◽  
Meng-Wen Huang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Organizational Support ◽  
Psychiatric Rehabilitation ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Policy Changes ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Team Collaboration ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Professional Perspectives ◽  
Implementation Problems

Abstract Background The experiences of professionals in well-established recovery-oriented programs are valuable for professionals in similar practice settings. This study explored professionals’ experiences with providing recovery-oriented services in community psychiatric rehabilitation organizations. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 professionals from five recovery-oriented psychiatric rehabilitation organizations in Taiwan. The interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used for the qualitative data analysis. Results The analyses documented three main themes with 13 subthemes. Recovery-oriented service implementation included seven subthemes: Enabling clients to set their own goals and make decisions, using a strengths-based approach, establishing partnerships with clients, improving individuals’ self-acceptance, encouraging community participation, seeking family, peer, and organizational support, and building team collaboration. Problems with implementing recovery-oriented services included limited policy and organizational support, a lack of understanding of recovery among professionals, stigma, clients’ lack of motivation or self-confidence in their own ability to achieve recovery, and passive or overprotective family members. Strategies to resolve implementation problems included policy changes and organizational support, improving the recovery competence and confidence of professionals, and family and public education. Conclusions To date, this is the first known study examining the perspectives of mental health professionals who have experience implementing recovery-oriented services in Asia. The participants identified family collaboration, anti-stigma efforts, and changes in policy and attitudes as critical to successful implementation and delivery of recovery-oriented services.

Barriers to environmental sustainability of construction projects

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 292-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
De-Graft Joe Opoku ◽  
Joshua Ayarkwa ◽  
Kofi Agyekum
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Agenda

Purpose The construction industry plays an important role in the achievement of the 11th and 15th of the Sustainable Development Goals. Efforts have been made by most developing and developed economies toward the achievement of these goals. Despite the efforts being made by the construction industry toward the achievement of these goals, there are still barriers that prevent built environment consultants from advancing environmental sustainability (ES) of construction projects. The purpose of this paper is to identify barriers to ES of construction projects. Design/methodology/approach An extensive literature review on barriers to the adoption of ES was conducted and face-to-face semi-structured interviews of purposively selected built environment consultants in Ghana were carried out. Thematic template analysis of qualitative data was conducted. Findings The key findings from the study include perceived initial costs, lack of knowledge on ES, technological difficulties, external pressures in adopting ES practices and environmental conditions in developing countries. Originality/value The outputs of this study offer strategies which are very significant to the construction industry in embracing ES. Further, the findings contribute to knowledge on achieving the sustainable development agenda.

Implementation of circular economy principles during pre-construction stage: the case of Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amodith Supunmal Wijewansha ◽  
G.A. Tennakoon ◽  
K.G.A.S. Waidyasekara ◽  
B.J. Ekanayake
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sri Lankan ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Construction Stage ◽  
Content Type

PurposeDespite the positive impacts of the construction sector on enhancing economic growth and ensuring societal well-being, its negative impacts on the environment from unsustainable resource consumption levels, emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and waste generation is monumental. Circular economy (CE) concept is identified globally as an avenue to address problems regarding adverse impacts of construction on the environment. This paper presents the principles of CE as an avenue for enhancing environmental sustainability during the pre-construction stage within Sri Lankan construction projects.Design/methodology/approachThis research was approached through a qualitative research method. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with subject matter experts. The number of experts were limited due to lack of experts with knowledge on the subject area in Sri Lanka. Data were analysed using content analysis.FindingsFindings revealed a range of activities under each R principle of CE, that is, reduce, reuse, recycle, redesign, reclassification and renewability that could be implemented during the pre-construction stage, thereby providing a guide for construction professionals in implementing CE at the pre-construction stage. The need to expand knowledge on CE concepts within the Sri Lankan construction sector was recognized.Originality/valueThis study provides a qualitative in-depth perspective on how 6R principles of CE could be integrated to a construction project during the pre-construction stage. By adopting the proposed activities under CE principles, construction professionals can enhance the environmental sustainability of construction projects.

Fractional Flow Reserve: Does a Cut-off Value add Value?

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Shah R Mohdnazri ◽  
◽  
◽  
◽  
Thomas R Keeble ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fractional Flow Reserve ◽  
Coronary Intervention ◽  
Grey Zone ◽  
Fractional Flow ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Invasive Test ◽  
Flow Reserve ◽  
A Value ◽  
Percutaneous Coronary ◽  
Value Add

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) has been shown to improve outcomes when used to guide percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). There have been two proposed cut-off points for FFR. The first was derived by comparing FFR against a series of non-invasive tests, with a value of ≤0.75 shown to predict a positive ischaemia test. It was then shown in the DEFER study that a vessel FFR value of ≥0.75 was associated with safe deferral of PCI. During the validation phase, a ‘grey zone’ for FFR values of between 0.76 and 0.80 was demonstrated, where a positive non-invasive test may still occur, but sensitivity and specificity were sub-optimal. Clinical judgement was therefore advised for values in this range. The FAME studies then moved the FFR cut-off point to ≤0.80, with a view to predicting outcomes. The ≤0.80 cut-off point has been adopted into clinical practice guidelines, whereas the lower value of ≤0.75 is no longer widely used. Here, the authors discuss the data underpinning these cut-off values and the practical implications for their use when using FFR guidance in PCI.

scholarly journals Green business models in the construction sector: an analysis of outcomes and benefits

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amal Abuzeinab ◽  
Mohammed Arif ◽  
Mohd. Asim Qadri ◽  
Dennis Kulonda
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Dominant Role ◽  
Business Case ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Green Business ◽  
The Uk

Purpose Green business models (GBMs) in the construction sector represent the logic of green value creation and capture. Hence, the call to examine GBMs is growing ever louder. The aim of this paper is to identify benefits of GBMs by adopting five essential elements of the GBM from the literature: green value proposition; target group; key activities; key resources (KR); and financial logic. Design/methodology/approach In all, 19 semi-structured interviews are conducted with construction sector practitioners and academics in the UK. Thematic analysis is used to obtain benefits of GBMs. Further, the interpretive ranking process (IRP) is used to examine which elements of the GBM have a dominant role in providing benefits to construction businesses. Findings The benefits are grouped into three themes: credibility/reputation benefits; financial benefits; and long-term viability benefits. The IRP model shows that the element of KR is the most important when evaluated against these three benefit themes. Practical implications Linking GBM elements and benefits will help companies in the construction sector to analyse the business case of embracing environmental sustainability. Originality/value This research is one of the few empirical academic works investigating the benefits of GBMs in the construction sector. The IRP method is a novel contribution to GBMs and construction research.

Health and death literacy and cultural diversity: insights from hospital-employed interpreters

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. e8-e8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Hayes ◽  
Anne Marie Fabri ◽  
Maria Coperchini ◽  
Rafatullah Parkar ◽  
Zoe Austin-Crowe
Keyword(s):  
End Of Life ◽  
Qualitative Description ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Individual Values ◽  
Language Groups ◽  
A Value ◽  
Values And Beliefs ◽  
Advance Care ◽  
End Of Life Decision

Objectives001225The aim of this qualitative study is to better understand, through the experiences and insights of hospital interpreters, how people from culturally and linguistic diverse (CALD) communities might respond to advance care planning (ACP) and end-of-life discussions.MethodsHospital interpreters from five Melbourne metropolitan health services were recruited for in-depth semi-structured interviews that explored the question, ‘What can be learnt from hospital interpreters about cultural issues related to ACP and end-of-life decision-making?’ Thirty-nine interpreters, representing 22 language groups, were interviewed. Analysis of the transcribed interviews used qualitative description.ResultsThematic analysis identified three major themes: (1) moral difference; (2) health and death literacy; and (3) diversity within culture.ConclusionA value-based approach to ACP is recommended as a way to capture the person’s individual values and beliefs. Health and death literacy have been identified as areas that may be over-estimated; areas that can be addressed and improved, if recognised. Health and death literacy is a particular area that needs to be assessed and addressed as a pre-requisite to ACP discussions.

A project control process in pre‐construction phases

2005 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 351-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khaled Al‐Reshaid ◽  
Nabil Kartam ◽  
Narendra Tewari ◽  
Haya Al‐Bader
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Joint Venture ◽  
Control Process ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Project Control ◽  
Construction Stage ◽  
Kuwait University ◽  
Content Type

PurposeIt is a well‐known fact that the construction industry always passes through two distinctive problems during the construction stage: slippages of project‐schedules, i.e. time‐frame, and overruns of project‐costs, i.e. budget. However, limited literature is available to solve or dilute these two problems before they even occur. It is strongly believed that the bulk of the two mentioned problems can be mitigated to a great extent, if not eliminated, provided that proper attention is paid to the pre‐construction phases of projects. Normally projects are implemented through traditionally old techniques which generally emphasize only solving “construction problems during the construction phase”. The aim of this article is therefore to unveil a professional methodology known as Project Control System (PCS) focusing on pre‐construction phases of construction projects.Design/methodology/approachIn this article, the authors share the lessons learned during implementation of Kuwait University projects worth approximately $400 million in a span of ten years. The task of the project management/construction management (PM/CM) is being provided to the university by a joint venture team of international and local specialists.FindingsThe pre‐construction methodology ensures smooth and successful implementation during construction phases of the projects as they are generally executed in a fast‐pace, deadline‐driven and cost‐conscious environment. The intuitive proactive methods, if implemented during pre‐construction stage, automatically answer the questions that are encountered during the execution periods of projects.Originality/valueIn this article, the authors share the lessons learned during PM/CM during projects over a span of ten years, which could be of use to others.

Productivity monitoring in building construction projects: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wesam Salah Alaloul ◽  
Khalid M. Alzubi ◽  
Ahmad B. Malkawi ◽  
Marsail Al Salaheen ◽  
Muhammad Ali Musarat
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Machine Learning Algorithms ◽  
Building Construction ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Productivity ◽  
Automated Monitoring ◽  
Monitoring Tools ◽  
Meta Analyses

PurposeThe unique nature of the construction sector makes it fall behind other sectors in terms of productivity. Monitoring construction productivity is crucial for the construction project's success. Current practices for construction productivity monitoring are time-consuming, manned and error prone. Although previous studies have been implemented toward reducing these limitations, a gap still exists in the automated monitoring of construction productivity.Design/methodology/approachThis study aims to investigate and assess the different techniques used for monitoring productivity in building construction projects. Therefore, a mixed review methodology (bibliometric analysis and systematic review) was adopted. All the related publications were collected from different databases, which were further screened to get the most relevant based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) criteria.FindingsA detailed review was performed, and it was found that traditional methods, computer vision-based and photogrammetry are the most adopted data acquisition for productivity monitoring of building projects, respectively. Machine learning algorithms (ANN, SVM) and BIM were integrated with monitoring tools and technologies to enhance the automated monitoring performance in construction productivity. Also, it was observed that current studies did not cover all the complex construction job sites and they were applied based on a small sample of construction workers and machines separately.Originality/valueThis review paper contributes to the literature on construction management by providing insight into different productivity monitoring techniques.

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