Exploring the effects of positive organizational behaviour (POB) models on occupational eustress amongst construction employees

The general perspective of organizational behaviour (OB) has been characterized more by negativity than positively. The introduction of a positive approach into OB is known as positive organizational behaviour (POB), which focuses on employees' positive emotions and strengths to enable them to thrive and reinforce the organization. The study assesses the effects of POB constructs on eustress amongst construction employees in Nigeria. Data were collected from 326 respondents practising in the construction firms using a quantitative survey and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential surveys, including structural equation modelling (SEM). The study identified five constructs of POB models and five parameters of eustress that have a significant influenceon eustress. The study focuses on identifying the areas that can propel positive mental health among construction employees to improve their performances and increase work productivity. Therefore, it recommends that construction stakeholders should consider adopting company policies that can drive their implementations.

Diagnosing the Causes of Quackery in Quantity Surveying Practice in Lagos State, Nigeria

The purpose of this paper is to examine the causes of quackery in quantity surveying practice to address the menace for enhanced service delivery. Using survey research design, primary data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaires on quantity surveyors in the 125 registered quantity surveying firms in Lagos State, Nigeria. The respondents were asked to rate the identified 34 causes of quackery in quantity surveying practice on a 5-point Likert scale. The elicited data were analysed using mean score analysis. Factor analysis was, after that, used to explore and detect the underlying relationship among the identified variables and categorise them into key factors. The results of the mean score statistics identified 32 important causes of quackery in quantity surveying practice, with the four most important ones being an unwillingness to seek professional advice and consultation, unwillingness to pay for professional services, lack of effective systems of punishment for quacks and inadequate monitoring by the quantity surveying professional association and regulatory body. It was concluded that the causes of quackery in quantity surveying are multidimensional and can be narrowed down to unethical practices, client engagement, job security, regulatory and corruption-related issues. The identified causes of quackery in quantity surveying practice will be useful in formulating policy and serve as future research agenda towards eradicating the menace and engendering an enhanced service delivery. Keywords: Causes of quackery; Nigeria; Quackery; Quantity surveying; Service delivery.

Awareness and Usage of Environmental Waste Management Practices (EWMP) of Contractors on construction sites.

Construction wastes pose challenges to contractors and clients of construction projects globally, with significant negative consequences on the environment. This study investigates the environmental waste management practices (EWMPs) of contractors on construction sites. The objectives are to determine the level of awareness and adoption of EWMPs. The population of the study was construction professionals on sites in Lagos State, Nigeria. Random sampling technique was used to select 63 companies out of the 126 construction companies in categories C, D and E of firms registered with Lagos State Public Procurement Agency. The targeted respondents were construction professionals in the selected companies. Questionnaires were used to collect data from respondents. Descriptive statistics tools, including mean, percentage and frequency were used for analysis. The study's findings reveal that contractors are aware of about 28 out of the 47 EWMPs identified from literature. These include good site materials storage, ordering exact amount of materials and checking deliveries properly. It also reveals the strategies that are not used as belonging to material exchange/recyclers' association, polluter pays principle, usage of self-contained mini or mobile concrete crusher. It is concluded that although contractors are aware of 28 EWMPs, 26 EWMPs are used on construction sites which are 60% and 55%, respectively. It implies that awareness determines the usage of the EWMPs. The implication is that if the awareness of EWMPs is increased, the implementation among construction contractors will be improved. It is therefore recommended that professionals should increase their awareness and usage of neglected EWMPs. This can be achieved through construction firms, governments and institutions sponsoring training of professionals on EWMPs. Additionally, polluter pays principle and recyclers’ association should be enforced in project implementations. This can be achieved through government legislation and government regulatory policies for project procurements.Keywords: Awareness; Best practices; Construction sites; Nigeria; Waste management.

Development of a Conceptual Framework for Effective Quality Management Practices in Construction Organisations

Effective quality management practices are critical to successful project delivery. However, the quality challenges in developing countries such as Nigeria, which is the focus of this research, have been a concern to construction practitioners and other interested parties such as clients and regulatory bodies. Some scholars suggest that part of these challenges can be attributed to ineffective quality management systems; thus, leading to consequences such as building collapse, poor organisational/industry reputation, poor/lack of traceability, poor documentation process, and lack of planned audit. This research aims to develop a contextual model that is intended to improve the culture of quality that can facilitate effective quality management practices in construction organisations in Nigeria. A mixed (quantitative and qualitative) methodological approach was deployed based on a pragmatic research philosophy paradigm. A questionnaire (quantitative) survey was adopted to gather data and results from the data analysis and reviewed literature were discussed, and the findings supported the development of a conceptual quality management model in construction as the outcome of this research. The designed model comprises eight integrated components. The model is a quality system that construction organisations can use: to identify some typical barriers hindering effective QMSs implementation; to assist them to develop cultural values that can drive effective QMSs implementation; to undertake effective QMSs practices as they relate to construction, and to recognise the potential results and longer-term benefits obtainable from implementing effective QMSs. The model was evaluated and validated by professional construction practitioners and academic experts for its usefulness and applicability. Future study should focus on the practical validation of the model. Keywords: ISO 9001; Quality Management Practices; Quality Management System.

Construction quality process implementation as a source of competitive advantage in small and medium-sized construction projects

It is generally accepted that construction quality process implementation improves construction project performance through the systematic application of quality practices. It is equally established that current quality management systems, particularly compliance management, are essential for Small and medium-enterprises (SMEs) seeking effective completion of road-building infrastructure. Despite the opportunities offered by these quality practices, there are potential pitfalls. As low-cost economies proliferate, South African construction SMEs are under increasing pressure to be more flexible and innovative. The study examines the factors affecting the quality of work produced by construction SMEs through a regulatory road building procedure, namely design, construction, and execution. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 165 SME contractors, designers, and their experience was recorded of construction quality standards and performance improvement on completed work in the public sector in South Africa. A combination of descriptive and inferential statistics was used to analyse the data. The empirical findings established that five construction quality process factors affect the quality of road infrastructure projects undertaken by construction SMEs. These factors comprise construction process and design; construction quality management at the site level; the development and implementation of quality procedures and requirements; quality benchmarking issues; continuous improvement and communication. This study is of value to designers/consultants and managers in the construction SME sector as it helps to establish the factors affecting the quality of road infrastructure projects. Managers in analogous environments may also use the results of this study as a benchmark for competitive advantage. The results also provide a guideline for the successful construction quality implementation in small and medium-sized construction projects. Keywords: Construction quality; Continuous improvement; Design; Performance; Quality management.

Editorial

Welcome to the eight-issue of the Journal of Construction Business and Management. This edition of the journal presents scholarly discussions on theoretical and empirical challenges confronting best practices and policies in construction businesses and projects. The intention is to understand the practice and theoretical lens used in its explanation or interpretation. This edition of the journal covers the following subjects: subcontracting processes, contingency management, social license, risk measurement, project success, quality process implementation and competitive advantage. The issue contains five articles written by eight scholars based in Ghana, India, Nigeria, and South Africa. The first paper by Akinwale and Olusanya (2020) examines subcontracting processes' influence on wages and workloads in the construction industry. The study found that subcontracting processes significantly influenced workers’ participation in wage determination and workloads. The findings suggest that working in a subcontracting system alienates subcontracted workers from the determination of wages and workloads and thereby showing the need for adequate protection for these workers. The second paper by Maniar (2020) evaluates the current state, the issues faced in contingency management and its effectiveness in curbing cost overruns. It seems inevitable that contingency management could impact cost overrun problems. Not so reveals the study results, which shows that contingency considerations were only useful in accommodating cost overrun problems in 18% of projects studied. Based on these findings, the study recommends that contingency be estimated based on the scientific approach to addressing project risks instead of the commonly used subjective approach. Perhaps the most compelling argument is why a construction company must acquire regulatory permits that embrace all stakeholders before a construction project is approved as outlined in Danku (2020). The paper highlights that not all formal processes embrace all stakeholders such as the hosting community who need to consent to a firm’s activities to complete the symbiotic relationship. The study found a limited understanding and restricted application of the concept of social licence – the commitment of residents towards acceptance, approval and support for a project to exist within a community, by construction professionals. The paper recommends industry sensitization and education to harness a company's benefits from acquiring a social licence. The fourth paper by Renault, Agumba and Ansary (2020) examines the influence of risk management on the project success of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Results reveal that risk management significantly influences construction SMEs' project success by delimiting the risk management criteria to be adopted, establishing the level of acceptable risk and risk timeframe relevant to risk effect and risk likelihood. The paper recommends that the management of SMEs and construction industry professionals adopt risk management to manage their project risks to accomplish project objectives effectively. Although it is generally accepted that construction quality process implementation improves construction project performance, there is limited research into the factors affecting the quality of the road infrastructure projects produced by SMEs. The fifth paper by Nyakala (2020) investigates these factors. The study established that five construction quality process factors affect the quality of road infrastructure projects undertaken by construction SMEs. These factors comprise construction process and design; construction quality management at the site level; the development and implementation of quality procedures and requirements; quality benchmarking; continuous improvement and communication. The results provide a guideline for the successful construction quality implementation by designers/consultants and managers in the construction SME sector. It helps establish the factors affecting road infrastructure projects' quality and a benchmark for competitive advantage. Overall, these articles should spark debate and force professionals, researchers and policymakers to think differently about the construction project and business performance while inspiring new practices. I acknowledge all authors who submitted papers for consideration. I also value the contributions and unrelenting efforts of the JCBM editorial board members and panel of reviewers in ensuring that manuscripts are of high quality and keeping the journal on the path to attaining the expected standard and quality. Criticisms, feedback and suggestions are welcome from readers on how to improve the quality of the journal. References: Akinwale, A. A., & Olusanya, O. A. (2020). Influence of Subcontracting Processes on Wages and Workloads in the Building Construction Industry in Nigeria. Journal of Construction Business and Management, 4(2), 1-10. Maniar, H. (2020). Contingency Management in Indian Construction Projects. Journal of Construction Business and Management, 4(2), 11-24. Danku, J. C. (2020). Exploring the Concept of Social Licence in the Construction Industry of a Developing Country. Journal of Construction Business and Management, 4(2), 25-33. Renault, B. Y., Agumba, J. N., & Ansary, N. (2020). Correlation analysis between risk measurement and project success of small and medium contractors in Gauteng, South Africa. Journal of Construction Business and Management, 4(2), 34-45. Nyakala, S. K. (2020). Construction quality process implementation as a source of competitive advantage in small and medium-sized construction projects. Journal of Construction Business and Management, 4(2), 46-54.

Correlation analysis between risk measurement and project success of small and medium contractors in Gauteng, South Africa

Risk measurement (RM) and construction project success (PS) are closely related. Preceding studies highlight the importance of RM in the management of risks without revealing its effect on PS. This study aims to determine the influence of RM on the PS of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). A positivist research design was applied using a survey questionnaire circulated to 181 respondents in Gauteng, South Africa (SA). Raw data analysed using inferential statistics extracted one-component solution and evinced statistical significance (p=0.000<0.05) between RM and PS. In particular, results revealed that RM significantly influences PS of construction SMEs through delimiting the RM criteria to be adopted, establishing the level of acceptable risk and risk timeframe relevant to risk effect and risk likelihood. It is suggested that the management of SMEs and industry professionals involved in risk management should adopt RM for the management of their project risks to accomplish project objectives effectively. The study renders new empirical evidence of risk management factors that influence PS of SMEs in the context of SA. It remains to be seen whether the current finding could be replicated in other datasets. If indeed that is the case, then this article expands to the discourse and literature on RM of SMEs. However, the current findings cannot be generalised due to the restrictions pertaining to the geographical area and respondents. Keywords: Contractors, Correlation analysis, Factor analysis, Project success, Risk measurement.

Influence of Subcontracting Processes on Wages and Workloads in the Building Construction Industry in Nigeria

There is a paucity of information on the experience of subcontracted work despite the widespread use of subcontracting in the building construction industry. This study examined the influence of subcontracting processes on wages and workloads in the building construction industry in Nigeria. Data collection for the study was based on a cross-sectional research design with a survey research strategy, including a structured questionnaire and some key informant interviews. A sample of 908 subcontracted workers was randomly selected from 388 building construction sites in Lagos State, Nigeria. Data obtained from the structured questionnaire were subjected to descriptive statistics and regression analysis, while an ethnographic technique was used to analyze the data from the interviews. The regression results (β = –0.046; p < 0.05) showed that to some extent subcontracting processes significantly influenced workers’ participation in wage determination; and that the regression results (β = –0.040; p < 0.05) revealed that to some extent subcontracting processes significantly influenced workers’ participation in the determination of workloads in the building construction industry in Nigeria. Wages and workloads are inappropriate when the degree of influence of the subcontracting process on workers' participation in the determination of wages and workloads in the building construction industry is considered. These findings imply that working in a subcontracting system could promote the alienation of subcontracted workers from the determination of wages and workloads, thereby showing the need for adequate protection for the affected workers. Therefore, the subcontracted workers in Lagos state should strengthen their associations to achieve justice and decent work in the building construction industry. Keywords: Building Construction; Subcontracted Workers; Wages; Workload.

Contingency Management in Indian Construction Projects

The successful completion of Indian construction projects possesses an inherent uncertainty due to the nature of the construction industry along with prevailing tepid recovery of the Indian economy, which has made it difficult for construction companies to achieve required operational and financial performance. This necessitates having accurate project cost estimation and efficient contingency management to shield unknown project risk and address cost overrun problems. Therefore, this study aims to assess the current state, the issues faced in contingency management and evaluating the effectiveness of contingency in overcoming cost overrun problems in Indian construction companies. The study preferred a quantitative approach in capturing the required data by using structured questionnaires collected from 100 Indian construction companies (of contractors, vendors/suppliers, customers, and consultants) out of 335 companies with a response rate of 29.85%. This, along with archival data analysis of 50 Indian construction projects completed between Calendar Year (CY) 2014 to 2019. The captured data were analysed using simple statistical tools like Relative Importance Index (RII), mean score, standard deviation and ranking methods to ensure relevant results aligned with research objectives. The result findings of the study revealed that 60% of Indian construction companies preferred the traditional percentage method for contingency sum percentage addition to estimated project cost (a subjective approach based on the historical project performance) which may not be adequate in overcoming cost overrun problems. Archival data analysis found that contingency consideration was effective in accommodating cost overrun problems in 9 (18%) projects out of 50 projects. The study further found that contingency was utilised in an unplanned mode and having unclear contingency forecasting strategies. Based on result findings and observations, this study concludes that contingency should be estimated based on the scientific approach in place of a subjective approach to address project risks adequately, this along contingency consideration should be an integral part of the project risk assessment and should be effectively utilised during the execution stage. Keywords: Contingency, Cost Overruns, Indian Construction Projects, Operational and Financial Performance, Project Risk.