Adoption of cloud computing tools for sustainable construction: a structural equation modelling approach

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the cloud computing (CC) methods and tools towards the achievement of construction project sustainability in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach Data were obtained from the literature, complemented by a quantitative method using a questionnaire distributed among 104 respondents comprising mainly construction professionals in Nigeria. Subsequently, data were analysed using the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) method. In addition, the partial least square structural modelling was used to generate a model for the adoption of CC tools for sustainable construction. Findings EFA results indicated that the CC implementation tools could be categorised into four significant constructs: platform, communication, software and data storage. Results obtained from the model showed that platform tools were the most crucial tools for implementing CC in the construction industry. Practical implications The findings from this study are essential to the pursuit of perception of methods and tools connected to the vagueness of CC for future employees. In addition, the identified CC tools are expected to enhance the success of construction projects. Originality/value The novelty of this research work will be a benchmark or board for decision-makers to quality by adopting CC methods and tools in Nigeria’s construction projects to achieve their sustainable projects.

Sustainability After Project Completion: Evidence from the GEF

This chapter examines the extent to which completed GEF projects are sustainable and the factors affecting sustainability. We considered only those projects that were covered through postcompletion evaluation at least 2 years after implementation completion, and where the evaluation reports provided adequate information related to observed sustainability during the postcompletion period. We assessed 62 projects to meet the selection criteria, then completed a desk review of the postcompletion evaluation reports and other relevant documents for these projects to assess the extent to which the project outcome was sustainable.We found that the projects covered through postcompletion evaluations were generally sustainable, with the sustainability outlook deteriorating for some projects while improving for others. The incidence of the catalytic processes that enhance sustainability—sustaining, mainstreaming, replication, scaling-up, and market change—was higher at postcompletion evaluation, as the passage of time allows long-term project outcomes to manifest. At the project level, we observed these catalytic processes in a wider set of activities at postcompletion evaluation than at implementation completion. Factors such as financial support for follow-up, political support, follow-up by and capacities of the executing agency, stakeholder buy-in, and project design seem to play a crucial role in determining project sustainability.

Can We Assume Sustained Impact? Verifying the Sustainability of Climate Change Mitigation Results

The purpose of this research was to explore how public donors and lenders evaluate the sustainability of environmental and other sectoral development interventions. Specifically, the aim is to examine if, how, and how well post project sustainability is evaluated in donor-funded climate change mitigation (CCM) projects, including the evaluability of these projects. We assessed the robustness of current evaluation practice of results after project exit, particularly the sustainability of outcomes and long-term impact. We explored methods that could reduce uncertainty of achieving results by using data from two pools of CCM projects funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The role of project managers’ attributes in project sustainability management and project performance under China-Pakistan economic corridor

Purpose Steered by upper echelon theory, this study aims to scrutinize the prevalence of project manager demographic factors (age, education and experience) in project sustainability management and project performance. Design/methodology/approach We used a sample of 209 project managers/supervisor/team leaders who were working in the projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Findings The results indicate that project manager demographic factors have a significant influence on project performance (except experience) and project sustainability management. Moreover, project sustainability management partially mediates the relationship between age, education and project performance while it fully mediates the path between experience and project performance. Practical implications The research recommends senior, high educated and experienced managers for CPEC who promote sustainability and gain high project performance. Originality/value A number of studies have been carried out to assess the relationship between top managers’ attributes and environmental activities. However, so far, none of the studies has paid attention to the CPEC and projects working in Pakistan.

Staff Assignment Rotation and Project Sustainability in South Sudan

The primary objective of this study was to determine the existence of a causal relationship between Staff Assignment Rotation vis-à-vis Project Sustainability in South Sudan. The research followed the qualitative methodology predicated on the “philosophical dimensions” of constructivism and interpretivism. The participants for the research consisted of 50 individuals drawn from four population groups: Refugees as the primary beneficiaries, humanitarian workers and project staff. Qualitative data collection was chosen as the research methodology and in-depth interview and focus group discussion as the research techniques in the data collection. Narrative analysis was the method of data analysis. The study revealed that 81 percent of the respondents indicated security as the single most important factor that impacts project sustainability. Staff assignment rotation followed with 16 percent. Data analysis was compartmentalized and looked at the profile of the respondents to see any noticeable variance from the functional perspective. Contextualizing the data helped to balance any perceived unbiased in the responses based on their functional affinity. In addition to Security as the prominent factor that impacts project sustainability, staff rotation, government regulation, and funding could also impact significantly depending on the context. The study recommends a comprehensive review of the current mandatory policy to align the operation management cycle; encompassing the project initiation, planning, implementation, monitoring and closure to the standard assignment length of staff assigned to implement these projects.

Conceptualizing International Development Project Sustainability through a Discursive Theory of Institutionalization

<p>Every year billions of dollars are spent on international development projects. Many of these projects, while initially appearing to be successful, lack the systems and resources that would contribute to their long term success, and collapse once outside assistance is withdrawn; they are unsustainable. This issue of project sustainability is of critical importance to the field of international development. This research uses a case study to explore how international development organizations understand and enact sustainability. Key questions that were asked in approaching this topic were: what makes a project sustainable, and how do international development organizations manage for the sustainability of their projects? This research looks to institutional theory in the attempt to shed light on the process of sustainable development. I endeavour to demonstrate how conceptualizing the process of sustainable development as a process of institutionalization may be of assistance in implementing sustainable development projects. This premise forms the foundation of my thesis. The theoretical basis of this research can be located in the work of organizational scholar Nelson Phillips, who asserts that institutionalization, the process of institutional formation, should be conceived of as a discursive process. I conjecture that in order for a discourse to produce an institution, it must address three key institutional concerns as described in W. Richard Scott's theory of three institutional pillars. This theory holds that in order for an institution to be stable, it must have foundations in three recognized areas of organizational life: rules, values, and culture. I use critical discourse analysis to examine if and how these institutional concepts feature in organizational texts of sustainable development. In order to study organizational texts on sustainable development, it was necessary to gain access to a representative development organization. New Zealand's international aid and development programme, NZAID, was identified as the ideal organization for this study, as its formal commitment to internationally recognized development agreements means that its practices should be representative of the practices of other similar organizations. Through interviews, observations and document analysis I have studied its approach to sustainable development, and how that approach continues down the chain of development to its partners and stakeholders within two projects in a province of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Data was collected at NZAID in Wellington, as well as at NZAID's office in Port Moresby, PNG, and among two of NZAID's development partners in rural PNG. The findings of this research demonstrate that while themes of institutionalization are already present to some degree within international development organizations' sustainable development discourse, that discourse and the projects that it informs would benefit from more overt engagement with the principles of institutionalization. My research contributes to development practice by exploring how sustainability goals are formulated and diffused through organizational discourse, specifically between varied environments and organizational actors. It offers practical suggestions for the improvement of the process of sustainable development. This research also contributes theoretically to organization studies through its exploration of how institutional theory can be applied to better understand the process sustainable development.</p>

Conceptualizing International Development Project Sustainability through a Discursive Theory of Institutionalization

<p>Every year billions of dollars are spent on international development projects. Many of these projects, while initially appearing to be successful, lack the systems and resources that would contribute to their long term success, and collapse once outside assistance is withdrawn; they are unsustainable. This issue of project sustainability is of critical importance to the field of international development. This research uses a case study to explore how international development organizations understand and enact sustainability. Key questions that were asked in approaching this topic were: what makes a project sustainable, and how do international development organizations manage for the sustainability of their projects? This research looks to institutional theory in the attempt to shed light on the process of sustainable development. I endeavour to demonstrate how conceptualizing the process of sustainable development as a process of institutionalization may be of assistance in implementing sustainable development projects. This premise forms the foundation of my thesis. The theoretical basis of this research can be located in the work of organizational scholar Nelson Phillips, who asserts that institutionalization, the process of institutional formation, should be conceived of as a discursive process. I conjecture that in order for a discourse to produce an institution, it must address three key institutional concerns as described in W. Richard Scott's theory of three institutional pillars. This theory holds that in order for an institution to be stable, it must have foundations in three recognized areas of organizational life: rules, values, and culture. I use critical discourse analysis to examine if and how these institutional concepts feature in organizational texts of sustainable development. In order to study organizational texts on sustainable development, it was necessary to gain access to a representative development organization. New Zealand's international aid and development programme, NZAID, was identified as the ideal organization for this study, as its formal commitment to internationally recognized development agreements means that its practices should be representative of the practices of other similar organizations. Through interviews, observations and document analysis I have studied its approach to sustainable development, and how that approach continues down the chain of development to its partners and stakeholders within two projects in a province of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Data was collected at NZAID in Wellington, as well as at NZAID's office in Port Moresby, PNG, and among two of NZAID's development partners in rural PNG. The findings of this research demonstrate that while themes of institutionalization are already present to some degree within international development organizations' sustainable development discourse, that discourse and the projects that it informs would benefit from more overt engagement with the principles of institutionalization. My research contributes to development practice by exploring how sustainability goals are formulated and diffused through organizational discourse, specifically between varied environments and organizational actors. It offers practical suggestions for the improvement of the process of sustainable development. This research also contributes theoretically to organization studies through its exploration of how institutional theory can be applied to better understand the process sustainable development.</p>

How to Identify Potentials and Barriers of Raw Materials Recovery from Tailings? Part II: A Practical UNFC-Compliant Approach to Assess Project Sustainability with On-Site Exploration Data

A sustainable raw materials (RMs) recovery from waste requires a comprehensive generation and communication of knowledge on project potentials and barriers. However, a standardised procedure to capture sustainability aspects in early project development phases is currently missing. Thus, studies on different RM sources are not directly comparable. In this article, an approach is presented which guides its user through a practical interpretation of on-site exploration data on tailings compliant with the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC). The development status of the overall project and the recovery of individual RMs are differentiated. To make the assessment results quickly comparable across different studies, they are summarised in a heat-map-like categorisation matrix. In Part I of this study, it is demonstrated with the case study tailings storage facility Bollrich (Germany) how a tailings mining project can be assessed by means of remote screening. In Part II, it is shown how to develop a project from first on-site exploration to a decision whether to intensify costly on-site exploration. It is concluded that with a UNFC-compliant assessment and classification approach, local sustainability aspects can be identified, and a commonly acceptable solution for different stakeholder perspectives can be derived.

Application of Supplementary Cementitious Materials in Precast Concrete Industry

Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) are increasingly incorporated into the concrete mix design. Silica fume, fly ash, and multi-wall carbon nanotubes are used to improve concrete mix properties. The objective of this chapter is to decipher the impact of different SCMs on the fresh and hardened concrete properties, including concrete flowing ability, initial strength, final strength, modulus of elasticity, and modulus of rupture. In addition, the impact of SCMs on mitigating the alkali-silica reactivity of concrete and increasing the hardened concrete long-term performance is investigated. Developed concrete mixes, incorporating SCMs, are used in fabricating different precast/prestressed bridge girders. The impact of improved concrete properties on precast girder performance in increased flexure, shear, and span-to-depth ratio significantly improves project sustainability and reduces the overall project life cycle cost.

Assesment of Stakeholder Participation as Criterion for Sustainability of Community Based Public Health Projects in Western Kenya

Community based projects are the basis for sustainable socio-economic development of most nations in the developing world. Consequently, such projects should be planned and designed to benefit communities over a long period. In Kenya, existing literature indicates that most of these projects don’t stand the test of time. Incidences of projects stalling soon after commissioning have been reported in many parts of the country. It is in this vain that as events unfold, organizations and institutions are integrating the principles of sustainability in project management in order to ensure projects serve the communities for a long time as envisioned. This study was carried out in Western Kenya. It assessed the role of stakeholder participation in the sustainability of community based public health projects. Funding was considered as a moderating variable. The study adopted descriptive survey design. A sample of 360 respondents was purposely sampled from of a population of 5570 committee members of various public health facilities. Data was sourced through questionnaires, interview schedules, and document analysis and observation checklists. Data was analyzed both descriptively and inferentially. The computations for correlation on the influence of stakeholder participation on sustainability was at value r = 0.713, with a coefficient of determination at 0.508. This translates to 50.8%, of change in project sustainability is attributable of stakeholder participation. ANOVA was at R value of o.901, implies 81.2 % of change in sustainability could be explained by stakeholder participation. Further, the rate of change, computed at Y= 0.945X+5.648, implied positive change, at rate of 0.945 between the two variables. Consequently, the study recommended, that for public health projects to sustainably serve communities, players must adopt stakeholder participation, amongst others parameters in project design, planning and sustainability.