Academe—Industry Collaboration through the Experience of a Construction IT Membership-Based Network

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 375-383
Author(s):  
Jason Underwood ◽  
Farzad Khosrowshahi
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Virtual Teams ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
International Industry ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Traditionally, the construction industry has been renowned for its deep fragmentation, with various stakeholders and disciplines brought together as virtual teams, in many instances for one-off projects. In addition, the industry is extremely information-intensive and document-driven. Such traits have been major contributors to the poor performance and inefficiency of the construction industry. For the last 30 years researchers have focused attention on the field of construction-related information technology with a view to improving industrial performance through the innovative application of information and communications technologies (ICT). In addition, in the mid-1990s member-based network organizations emerged, which aimed to bring together the various industry stakeholders in a neutral environment so that they could identify common problems and propose pragmatic ways of addressing them. Construct IT For Business (CIT) is an international industry-led collaborative network of leading-edge construction organizations. In the UK, CIT has a membership of over 50 organizations, including major construction companies, client organizations, suppliers and IT and communications companies, as well as professional institutes and R&D and academic institutions. This paper addresses the impact of CIT and the key challenges it has encountered in pursuing its objectives, derived from its mission ‘to be an effective enabling and coordinating force in the application of IT within the construction process as a contribution to innovation and development of best practice’. It is concluded that the needs of the industry are diverse and can be served in various ways but that there is a strong desire to network, fuelled by firms' needs to be aware of IT developments and specifically of the likely future applications of IT in construction.

Infection control: current status. risks, research, rules and recycling

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-66
Author(s):  
Jennifer Haworth ◽  
Jonathan Sandy ◽  
Anthony J Ireland
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Infectious Agents ◽  
Emerging Infections ◽  
Healthcare Waste ◽  
Control Procedures ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

We are living through a period of immense change following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China in December 2019. Even before the pandemic, the cost of managing healthcare-associated infections in the UK was considerable. The risk of acquiring any infection from the dental environment must be reduced to a minimum. As we have observed in recent years, new infectious agents emerge frequently, and the dental profession must be ready to respond appropriately and quickly. Orthodontic practice presents unique challenges in relation to infection control procedures. The impact of healthcare waste on the environment must also be considered. CPD/Clinical Relevance: This paper describes the range of infectious agents posing a risk to dental team members and patients. The aim is to place the recent coronavirus pandemic in the context of other recent emerging infections. Some of the latest research regarding infection control procedures is reviewed. Current best practice is described.

scholarly journals The Impact of Culture on the Indian Construction Industry

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 153
Author(s):  
Syed Nihas ◽  
Kristen Barlish ◽  
Jacob Kashiwagi ◽  
Dean Kashiwagi
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Industry Structure ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
Major Research ◽  
Indian Culture ◽  
Cost Overruns ◽  
Deductive Logic ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
The Impact

The Indian construction industry has been characterized by poor performance. This paper analyzes the potential impact of the Indian culture on the poor performance. If the culture is a major cause in the construction industry subpar performance, can the cultural influence be overridden to minimize construction project delays and cost overruns. The authors propose to identify the  unique cultural issues, identify using the Construction Industry Structure (CIS) model the impact of the cultural issues on the construction industry, and identify a potential solution to the problem. The paper proposes to test the solution in actual tests with industry participants. What makes this research unique is the approach of using deductive logic to create a simple solution, and then convincing a major research client to test the proposal.

Strong governance: a result of evolutionary and revolutionary processes

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorna Collins ◽  
Ken McCracken ◽  
Barbara Murray ◽  
Martin Stepek
Keyword(s):  
Family Business ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Family Dynamics ◽  
Family Businesses ◽  
Formal Structure ◽  
Governance Mechanisms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Family ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – This paper is the first in a regular series of articles in JFBM that will share “a conversation with” thought leaders who are active in the family business space. The world of family business is, like many other arenas, constantly evolving and as the authors learn more about how and why families “do business” the approaches and tools for working with them also evolve. The purpose of this paper is to stimulate further new research in areas that practically affect family businesses and to “open the door” to practical insights that will excite researchers and provide impetus for new and exciting study. The specific purpose of this paper is to explore “what is strong governance.” There has been much interest in governance lately yet there is a tendency to treat governance in a formulaic way such that, at the moment, the notion that every family business must have a family council or a formal structure in order to be considered “effective” and “successful” predominates. The authors’ panel challenges and discusses this notion drawing on the experience and knowledge as family business advisors, consultants and owners. Design/methodology/approach – The impetus for this particular conversation is a result of a brainstorming conversation that Lorna Collins and Barbara Murray held in February 2014 where they focussed on “how JFBM can encourage and stimulate researchers to engage in aspects of research that makes a difference to the family business in a practical way.” This paper reports a conversation between Barbara Murray (Barbara), Ken McCracken (Ken) and Martin Stepek (Martin), three leading lights in the UK family business advising space, all of whom have been involved in running or advising family businesses for more than three decades, held in August 2015. The conversation was held via telephone and lasted just over 60 minutes. Lorna Collins acted as moderator. Findings – Strong governance is not just about instituting a “family council” or embedding formal governance mechanisms in a family business. Evolutionary adaption by family members usually prevails such that any mechanism is changed and adapted over time to suit and fit the needs of the family business. Many successful family businesses do not have recognized “formal” governance mechanisms but, it is contended, they are still highly successful and effective. Future areas of research in governance are also suggested. Originality/value – This paper contributes to the family business discourse because the debate it reports challenges the basic assumptions upon which much consulting and advisory practice is conducted. It also challenges the notion of “best practice” and what is “new best practice” and how is it that any “best practice” is determined to be “best.” Furthermore, the panel provides insights in to the “impact of family dynamics on governance” and “the impact of family dynamics on advisors.” The paper content is original in that it provides an authentic and timely narrative between active family business practitioners who are also scholars and owners.

scholarly journals The global economy and its influence on the Slovak construction sector

2010 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23
Author(s):  
E. Jankovichová
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Communication Channels ◽  
Organization Structure ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Control Procedures ◽  
Management Approaches ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Impact

The global economy and its influence on the Slovak construction sectorFor the construction industry, globalization is a trend that means two things: many opportunities and many threats. In the conditions of globalization many management approaches, such as organization structure, strategy forming, planning, motivation and control procedures, communication channels, risk management, etc., must transform. The aim of the paper is to analyze the influence of globalization on the construction industry in Slovakia and identify the impact of globalization on construction companies in this area.

BIM

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 50-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Morton
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Information Modeling ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Building Information ◽  
Considerable Impact ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has made a considerable impact on the construction industry and the way in which building design information can be accessed and interrogated. This impact is now being seen in the Schools of Architecture in the UK. Academia is beginning to see the feasibility and benefits of converting to such a new technology; will this inevitably start to filter into teaching BIM to architecture students? The concern by many in academia is that design will become secondary to pedagogy of building design. This viewpoint is based on the impact of CAD, where the art of hand drawing was feared lost forever. The use of computers in schools of architecture has become the norm, and the creative moving of a pen across paper has been replaced, to a degree, by the cursor across the CAD screen. As academia moved to respond to this change, the need to teach CAD became increasingly important. Therefore, will the paradigm shift of BIM require the inevitable move to a new approach in the design and construction of buildings? There are many misconceptions of BIM and the dilemma is that those teaching within the schools need to understand how BIM can readily interface with the design process and allow interrogation of the design are far earlier stages of the concept. Will academia ensure that BIM is used to enhance the creative process not hinder it?

Recruitment processes and labour mobility: the construction industry in Europe

2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Fellini ◽  
Anna Ferro ◽  
Giovanna Fullin
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Foreign Workers ◽  
National Context ◽  
Labour Mobility ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Country Comparison ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Migration studies analysing firms' recruitment behaviour are quite limited.This article, built around and examining a demand-driven labour migration hypothesis, explores how recruitment decisions by companies can affect international migratory flows. The study focuses on the construction industry, where a foreign (nondomestic, or expatriate) labour force forms a major component. Through a cross-country comparison, we highlight the impact of the characteristics of the sector and of labour market conditions on recruitment decisions impinging on foreign (non-domestic, or expatriate) labour.The article finally suggests a typology of strategies that construction companies may adopt in order to recruit foreign workers, and it analyses those factors that influence the different decisions in each national context. By considering in depth the relationship between recruitment strategies and patterns of international labour mobility, it is then explained why a company's behaviour can either produce immobility or mobility of foreign workers.

Reducing waste to landfill in the UK: identifying impediments and critical solutions

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 131-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukumon O. Oyedele ◽  
Martin Regan ◽  
Jason von Meding ◽  
Ashraf Ahmed ◽  
Obas John Ebohon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Early Communication ◽  
Design Changes ◽  
Critical Solutions ◽  
The Uk

PurposeThe UK construction industry produces up to one third of all waste to landfill. This study aims to identify specific project practices impeding the reduction of waste in construction projects as well as uncovering potential waste solutions throughout the project delivery process. The rationale being that for such a drastic reduction in waste to landfill, holistic and extensive measures would be required.Design/methodology/approachA two‐way methodological approach was used. This comprised qualitative unstructured interviews and a quantitative questionnaire survey of three major stakeholders in the UK construction industry: clients, architects and contractors.FindingsDesign factors remain the major cause of impediments to waste reduction to landfill. Critical impediments include clients making waste prevention a top priority in projects, overly complex designs, waste taking a low priority compared to project time and costs, lack of concerns by designers for buildability, among others. Critical solutions include early supply chain involvement in design process, choosing materials for their durability, early communication of design changes to all parties, longer project programmes and better lead times, among others.Practical implicationsIn all, the target of halving construction waste to landfill based on the 2008 benchmark is achievable but would require construction companies to take it upon themselves to implement the proposed solutions suggested by this study.Originality/valueThe value of this research is to provide UK construction companies with solutions to reduce waste and aid the reaching of the landfill target, as landfill is decreasing as a solution to waste. In addition the cost savings on reducing waste could be crucial for companies in this current economic climate.

scholarly journals The Impact of Building Information Modelling (BIM) for Contractor Costing in Offsite Construction Projects in the UK

2015 ◽  
pp. 331-338
Author(s):  
Tochukwu Moses ◽  
David Heesom ◽  
David Oloke
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Building Information Modelling ◽  
Innovative Solutions ◽  
Building Information ◽  
New Construction ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Cost Implications ◽  
The Impact

It is clear that challenging economic times inspire innovative abilities and solutions in the construction industry. In particular many of these innovations focus on cost implications, saving project time, reducing or eliminating waste, increasing productivity or redefining value. There is increasing pressure in the UK construction industry for new construction innovations, technology and processes with ability to lever a significant impact relative to disrupting the existing status quo; creating solutions that promote construction efficiencies deploying means to exploiting offsite construction approaches. The increased concern and challenge globally is that as knowledge and experience grows, the offsite manufacturers and suppliers are expected to demonstrate absolute innovative solutions that will heighten the proportion of project value being delivered through the use of offsite solutions on the bases that it makes sound project and business sense. Unparalleled huge cost saving benefits to clients and end users which is more than just creating a model is yet to be realized.

scholarly journals The impact of a spinal best practice tariff on compliance with the British Spine Registry

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 198-201
Author(s):  
Awais Habeebullah ◽  
Harshadkumar Dhirajlal Rajgor ◽  
Adrian Gardner ◽  
Morgan Jones
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Surgery ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Financial Incentive ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Electronic Patient Records ◽  
Spine Registry ◽  
Patient Consent ◽  
Surgical Data ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact

Aims The British Spine Registry (BSR) was introduced in May 2012 to be used as a web-based database for spinal surgeries carried out across the UK. Use of this database has been encouraged but not compulsory, which has led to a variable level of engagement in the UK. In 2019 NHS England and NHS Improvement introduced a new Best Practice Tariff (BPT) to encourage input of spinal surgical data on the BSR. The aim of our study was to assess the impact of the spinal BPT on compliance with the recording of surgical data on the BSR. Methods A retrospective review of data was performed at a tertiary spinal centre between 2018 to 2020. Data were collated from electronic patient records, theatre operating lists, and trust-specific BSR data. Information from the BSR included operative procedures (mandatory), patient consent, email addresses, and demographic details. We also identified Healthcare Resource Groups (HRGs) which qualified for BPT. Results A total of 3,587 patients were included in our study. Of these, 1,684 patients were eligible for BPT. Between 2018 and 2019 269/974 (28%) records were complete on the BSR for those that would be eligible for BPT. Following introduction of BPT in 2019, 671/710 (95%) records were complete having filled in the mandatory data (p < 0.001). Patient consent to data collection also improved from 62% to 93%. Email details were present in 43% of patients compared with 68% following BPT introduction. Conclusion Our study found that following the introduction of a BPT, there was a statistically significant improvement in BSR record completion compliance in our unit. The BPT offers a financial incentive which can help generate further income for trusts. National data input into the BSR is important to assess patient outcome following spinal surgery. The BSR can also aid future research in spinal surgery. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2-3:198–201.

scholarly journals Strategic framework for implementing smart devices in the construction industry

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-243
Author(s):  
Manuel Alexander Silverio-Fernández ◽  
Suresh Renukappa ◽  
Subashini Suresh
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Smart Devices ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Framework ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
The Uk

Purpose The decentralisation of information and high rate of mobile content access in the construction industry provide an ideal scenario for improvement of processes via the implementation of the paradigm of the Internet of Things (IoT). Smart devices are considered as the objects interconnected in the IoT; therefore, they play a fundamental role in the digital transformation of the construction industry. Currently, there is a lack of guidelines regarding the implementation of smart devices for digitalisation in the construction industry. Consequently, this paper aims to provide a set of guidelines for implementing smart devices in the construction industry. Design/methodology/approach An empirical study was performed in the UK and the Dominican Republic (DR). Following a systematic approach, qualitative data collection and analysis was performed based on semi-structured interviews involving professionals from construction companies in the UK and the DR. Interviews were recorded and subsequently transcribed using Microsoft Word and exported to the software NVivo, where the software was used to find common thematic nodes across all interviews. Findings The findings encompass drivers, challenges and critical success factors (CSFs) for implementing smart devices in construction project. For both countries, the top five CSFs were leadership, staff training, culture, technology awareness and cost of implementation. These findings were used to develop a strategic framework for implementing smart devices in construction companies. The framework establishes the actors, elements and actions to be considered by construction companies when implementing smart devices. Originality/value This paper provides a richer insight into the understanding and awareness of implementing smart devices. A strategic framework for implementing smart devices in the construction industry and providing guidelines for adopting smart devices in construction projects was developed and validated. This study provides a better understanding of the key factors to be considered by construction companies when embedding smart devices into their projects.

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