bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pre‐bid building price forecasting accuracy: price intensity theory
Authors: GUNNER JOHN , SKITMORE MARTIN
Published: January 2010

A theory of pre‐bid building price forecasting accuracy is proposed, based on the heuristic bias framework and with reference to the common practice of basing building price forecasts on the price per square metre of floor area, termed here as Price Intensity (PI). The main prediction of the theory, that high PI contracts will be underestimated and low PI contracts will be overestimated, is tested by a re‐analysis of a set of Singapore data and in comparison with previous work.
Partnering: incorporating safety management
Authors: MATTHEWS JASON , ROWLINSON STEVE
Published: January 2010

The philosophy that underpins this paper is that partnering needs the partners to set mutual objectives — these objectives are agreed upon and stipulated within a project charter. Objectives within the charter should be regularly reviewed and performance assessed. The question addressed is — can this mechanism, which has proved successful in a commercial context, assist in applying safety legislation, rules and management systems to a construction project? Also, partnering advocates an open and trusting relationship between all parties — can this ‘philosophy’ be used to assist the management of site safety? Implementing the partnering concept in the construction project environment provides an opportunity for the continuous improvement of safety performance. This paper addresses partnering as a concept and draws from examples of partnering in the UK and Hong Kong. A number of characteristics of partnering agreements have been identified that can all assist in promoting safety. These characteristics are: continuous evaluation, the project charter, mutual objectives and team building. The context in which partnering in safety can be undertaken is reviewed and a discussion takes place of how the global trend to move away from prescriptive legislation towards performance‐based legislation in the regulation of safety provides an ideal opportunity to adopt partnering as a methodology for safety improvement.
Markov decision process for sewer rehabilitation
Authors: WIRAHADIKUSUMAH REINI , ABRAHAM DULCY M. , CASTELLO JUDY
Published: January 2010

Finding the optimal solution to address problems in sewer management systems has always challenged asset managers. An understanding of deterioration mechanisms in sewers can help asset managers in developing prediction models for estimating whether or not sewer collapse is likely. The effective use of deterioration prediction models along with the development and use of life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) can contribute to the goals of reducing construction, operation and maintenance costs in sewer systems. When sewer system maintenance/rehabilitation options are viewed as investment alternatives, it is important, and in some cases, imperative, to make decisions based on life cycle costs instead of relying totally on initial construction costs. The objective of this paper is to discuss the application of deterioration modelling and life cycle cost principles in sewer system management, and to explore the role of the Markov chain model in decision making regarding sewer rehabilitation. A test case is used to demonstrate the application of the Markov chain decision model for sewer system management. The analysis includes evaluation of this concept using dynamic programming and the policy improvement algorithm.
Establishing and processing client requirements—a key aspect of concurrent engineering in construction
Authors: KAMARA J.M. , ANUMBA C.J. , EVBUOMWAN N.F.O.
Published: January 2010

The realization that concurrent engineering can be adopted in construction has led to various efforts to develop appropriate tools and techniques for its implementation in the industry. This paper discusses the role of client requirements processing in implementing concurrent engineering in construction. Client requirements processing refers to the definition, analysis, and translation of client requirements into solution‐neutral specifications for design. It is essential in maintaining focus on the client, and provides for the effective consideration, resolution and prioritization of the various perspectives within the client body. It also facilitates collaborative teamwork, compliance checking at every stage of the design and construction process, and the traceability of design decisions to explicit and implicit client requirements. The paper concludes with a description of a model for processing clients' requirements in construction, and an example of its practical application.
ESTIVATE: a model for calculating excavator productivity and output costs
Authors: EDWARDS DAVID J. , HOLT GARY D.
Published: January 2010

Hydraulic excavator cycle time and associated unit costs of excavation for given input estimating data, for machines operating in the UK construction industry, are predicted. Using multiple regression analysis, three variables are identified as accurate predictors of cycle time: machine weight, digging depth and machine swing angle. With a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.88, a mean percentage error (MPE) of −5.49, and a mean absolute error (MAPE) of 3.67, the cycle time model is robust; this is further validated using chi‐square analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficient (on predicted and actual values of machine cycle time). An illustrative example of the model's application to determine machine productivity is given. The paper concludes with a spreadsheet model for calculating excavation costs (m3 and cost per h) which is able to deal with any combination of the three independent cycle time predictor variables and other estimator's input data.
Partnering research in construction
Authors: LI HENG , CHENG EDDIE W.L. , LOVE PETER E.D.
Published: January 2010

Since the emergence of partnering in the construction industry in the late 1980s, it has received a great deal of attention from practitioners and researchers. The published research that is presented in the major journals typically advocates guidelines and models for implementing partnering. To date, however, no paper has attempted to summarize and present a critique of the existing partnering literature. This paper, therefore, reviews the partnering literature that has been published in four high quality rating journals, these being Construction Management and Economics. ASCE Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management and ASCE Journal of Management in Engineering. It is concluded that there were four major themes of empirical studies, which were research on project partnering, examining a dual relationship, international partnering and a special application of partnering. Moreover, nonempirical studies were classified as the types of partnering, partnering models, partnering processes and partnering structure. The review provided in this paper ‘polishes the signposts’ and offers new directions for partnering research and its application in construction. Future studies are recommended to emphasize on the identification of performance measures and critical success factors, development and test of partnering models and processes, and the formation and selection of partnering strategy.
Information modelling for a construction project risk management system
Authors: TAH J.H.M. , CARR V.
Published: January 2010

The construction industry is greatly plagued by risk; too often, this risk is not dealt with adequately, resulting in poor project performance. Communication of construction project risks in practice is poor, incomplete and inconsistent, both throughout the supply chain and through the project lifecycle. Part of the problem is the lack of a formalized approach to the project risk management process. Recently, attempts have been made to overcome this and this paper uses these attempts as a foundation for building a better approach to construction risk management. Underlying this approach is the development of a common language for describing risks and remedial actions. This is grounded in a taxonomy of risk based on a hierarchical risk breakdown structure. In addition, to facilitate the production of a working risk management system, a number of models have been developed using unified modelling language (UML) and IDEFO. Finally, the use of the system has been tested via a working software prototype. This prototype is being used as a basis for discussion with practitioners with regard to the practical requirements of the approach for further development.
Business failures in the construction industry
Authors: ARDITI DAVID , KOKSAL ALMULA , KALE SERDAR
Published: January 2010

The objective of the research presented in this paper is to explore the factors associated with company failures in the context of the construction industry. To that end, the four quadrants of an ‘environment/response’ matrix developed by Boyle & Desai (1991.Journal of Small Business Management,29, 33–42) are populated with Dun and Bradstreet's US business failure data for the construction industry. The study indicates that budgetary and macroeconomic issues represent 83% of the reasons for construction company failures. This implies that firms that take vigorous administrative measures to address budgeting issues and that react promptly to economic conditions by implementing appropriate strategic policies should be able to avoid failure. On the other hand, issues of adaptability to market conditions and business issues appear to have limited effects on company survivability (6% of the reasons for failure). This implies that administrative measures to fend off internal conflicts that originate for reasons beyond management's control and long‐term strategic decisions to regulate the firm's adaptation to market conditions can also help to prevent failure. An ‘input/output’ model appears to explain the business failure phenomenon better than the ‘environment/response’ one.
The compatibility of construction companies' human resource development policies with employee career expectations
Authors: DAINTY ANDREW R.J. , BAGILHOLE BARBARA M. , NEALE RICHARD H.
Published: January 2010

In order to retain and motivate employees, organizations must respond to their expectations, both in terms of meeting formal aspects of their employment contracts and in addressing their less formal expectations of the employment relationship. Within the current human resources management (HRM) literature, these informal expectations are known as psychological contracts. This paper reports on research that explored psychological contracts within the construction industry. In‐depth interviews were held with more than 80 construction managers and professional staff who worked for five large UK contracting organizations. The interviewees were asked to describe their career histories, and to discuss any tensions between the personnel policies of their organizations and their personal career aspirations and expectations. It emerged that responsibility for human resource development (HRD) had been largely devolved to divisional and operational management. This led to HRD becoming fragmented and unresponsive, and to employees becoming disillusioned by their employers' failure to meet their expectations. It is argued that construction companies require a more sophisticated understanding of their employees' expectations of the employment relationship if they are to be retained in the long term.
Target cost contracts: an analysis of the interplay between fee, target, share and price
Authors: PERRY JOHN G. , BARNES MARTIN
Published: January 2010

Target cost contracts are growing in popularity but concerns remain about the interplay between fee, target, sharing ratios and the final price. This paper offers a fundamental analysis of the principles under‐pinning target contracts. It shows that there is scope for manipulation of tenders and that suboptimal methods of tender evaluation are in use. The paper analyses both fixed fee and percentage fee contracts. Methods of tender evaluation are proposed that will both reduce the scope for manipulation by tenderers and increase the likelihood of the contract being awarded to the tenderer whose final price will be the lowest. The analysis reveals a strong case for setting the contractor's share of cost overrun or underrun at a value that is not less than 50%. Finally, the paper proposes two simplifications that would reduce the number of variables in target cost contracts of the future. One is for the employer to set the fee and the other requires only that a target be tendered but with the fee built into it.
Integrated management systems: a single management system solution for project control?
Authors: GRIFFITH ALAN
Published: January 2010

Over the last 25 years, the construction industry has embraced quality management systems (QMS). More recently, environmental issues and health and safety legislation have introduced additional dedicated control procedures: environmental management systems (EMS) and health and safety management systems (H&SMS). Systems, in particular those used for quality management, have been widely accused of being bureaucratic, arduous, paper driven and of questionable value to construction management. The genuine need is for improved systems that enable a contracting organization to control the key management functions of quality, environment and safety with maximum effectiveness and minimum bureaucracy. The findings presented in this paper show that a forward‐looking approach can bring together these individual functions within an integrated management system (IMS). This allows an organization to move away from traditional vertical and separate management systems towards a single cross‐functional horizontal system that can benefit both the corporate and the project organizations. The idea of an IMS for quality, environment and safety has only recently emerged within the UK construction industry. A small number of UK contracting organizations are, therefore, at the forefront of both national and international developments. Based on a questionnaire survey of 12 UK contracting organizations, this paper examines the purpose, characteristics, properties and intent of a single system approach, or IMS for quality, environment and safety, and considers its role within and it significance to contracting organizations.
Decision support system for contractor pre‐qualification—artificial neural network model
Authors: LAM K.C. , THOMAS NG S. , HU TIESONG , SKITMORE MARTIN , CHEUNG S.O.
Published: January 2010

The selection criteria for contractor pre‐qualification are characterized by the co‐existence of both quantitative and qualitative data. The qualitative data is non‐linear, uncertain and imprecise. An ideal decision support system for contractor pre‐qualification should have the ability of handling both quantitative and qualitative data, and of mapping the complicated non‐linear relationship of the selection criteria, such that rational and consistent decisions can be made. In this research paper, an artificial neural network model was developed to assist public clients identifying suitable contractors for tendering. The pre‐qualification criteria (variables) were identified for the model. One hundred and twelve real pre‐qualification cases were collected from civil engineering projects in Hong Kong, and 88 hypothetical pre‐qualification cases were also generated according to the ‘If‐then’ rules used by professionals in the pre‐qualification process. The results of the analysis totally comply with current practice (public developers in Hong Kong). Each pre‐qualification case consisted of input ratings for candidate contractors' attributes and their corresponding pre‐qualification decisions. The training of the neural network model was accomplished by using the developed program, in which a conjugate gradient descent algorithm was incorporated for improving the learning performance of the network. Cross‐validation was applied to estimate the generalization errors based on the ‘re‐sampling’ of training pairs. The case studies show that the artificial neural network model is suitable for mapping the complicated non‐linear relationship between contractors' attributes and their corresponding pre‐qualification (disqualification) decisions. The artificial neural network model can be concluded as an ideal alternative for performing the contractor pre‐qualification task.
Australian multi‐unit residential project construction time performance factors
Authors: WALKER DEREK H.T. , VINES MARK W.
Published: January 2010

Construction time performance (CTP) factors recently identified in work commissioned by the Construction Industry Institute Australia (CIIA) indicate that project team effectiveness significantly influences CTP. Project complexity also was found to significantly contribute to CTP. However, no residential projects were studied in that survey. This paper reports upon CTP research undertaken into Australian multi‐unit residential construction that fills this theory gap. Results indicate that the construction management (CM) team's effectiveness in managing theconstruction process has a major but not predominant role in influencing CTP. Team communication effectiveness and teamwork factors are also essential factors influencing CTP. Other factors found to affect CTP include: design team's management style; intra‐team working relationships; the degree of experience and expertise for the same type and size of project; procurement method; and the level of the CM team's current workload.
Benchmarking contractor selection practices in public‐sector construction—a proposed model
Authors: PALANEESWARAN E. , KUMARASWAMY M.M.
Published: January 2010

Benchmarking of best practices has proved useful in the business and manufacturing sectors. However, benchmarking is not established in the construction industry in general and in government organizations in particular. A study of the contractor selection methodologies used by various clients confirms the multiplicity of approaches in practice. This paper aims at identifying some relevant ‘best’ practices and highlighting ‘innovative’ contractor selection approaches that have been used by large public clients. A ‘co‐operative’ and ‘non‐competitive’ conceptual benchmarking model is formulated and presented with a view to encouraging continuous improvement in contractor selection for construction projects.
Growth paths of construction enterprises in Singapore, 1980–98
Authors: OFORI GEORGE , LEAN CHAN SWEE
Published: January 2010

Construction companies have several possible growth paths to follow in their effort to develop. Studies show that the appropriate approach depends on the features of the company and the prevailing economic conditions, and support measures and incentives. This paper reports the results of a study on the paths which construction enterprises in Singapore have adopted since 1980. The main basis of the study was a mailed questionnaire survey. It was found that most local contractors have grown by working at home, either as main contractors or as specialist subcontractors. Some theoretical implications of the findings are outlined. Recommendations are offered on appropriate growth paths for Singaporean contractors under various circumstances.
UK contractors' acquisitions strategy for Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: CARRILLO PATRICIA , HEAVEY IAN
Published: January 2010

Large construction companies operate in geographically diverse locations, often in very competitive conditions and in a dynamic environment. A strategy for continuing growth in earnings is necessary. Acquisitions are a way of achieving external growth. The aim of this paper is to investigate the acquisitions strategies of UK contractors towards the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe. Five UK contractors, which had the highest turnover in overseas business, were chosen as the subject group. The paper finds that, although these contractors acknowledge that there is a potential market, they are adopting a very cautious view by not setting up permanent offices and by hoping to win work through contacts with Western clients.
Using an adaptive genetic algorithm to improve construction finance decisions
Authors: LAM K.C. , SONG HU TIE , NG THOMAS , YUEN R.K.K. , LO S.M. , WONG CONRAD T.C.
Published: January 2010

Optimizing both qualitative and quantitative factors is a key challenge in solving construction finance decisions. The semi‐structured nature of construction finance optimization problems precludes conventional optimization techniques. With a desire to improve the performance of the canonical genetic algorithm (CGA) which is characterized by static crossover and mutation probability, and to provide contractors with a profit‐risk trade‐off curve and cash flow prediction, an adaptive genetic algorithm (AGA) model is developed. Ten projects being undertaken by a major construction firm in Hong Kong were used as case studies to evaluate the performance of the genetic algorithm (GA). The results of case study reveal that the AGA outperformed the CGA both in terms of its quality of solutions and the computational time required for a certain level of accuracy. The results also indicate that there is a potential for using the GA for modelling financial decisions should both quantitative and qualitative factors be optimized simultaneously.
Multi‐project cash flow optimization: non‐inferior solution through neuro‐multiobjective algorithm
Authors: LAM K.C. , HU TIESONG , CHEUNG S.O. , YUEN R.K.K. , DENG Z.M.
Published: January 2010

Modelling of the multiproject cash flow decisions in a contracting firm facilitates optimal resource utilization, financial planning, profit forecasting and enables the inclusion of cash‐flow liquidity in forecasting. However, a great challenge for contracting firm to manage his multiproject cash flow when large and multiple construction projects are involved (manipulate large amount of resources, e.g. labour, plant, material, cost, etc.). In such cases, the complexity of the problem, hence the constraints involved, renders most existing regular optimization techniques computationally intractable within reasonable time frames. This limit inhibits the ability of contracting firms to complete construction projects at maximum efficiency through efficient utilization of resources among projects. Recently, artificial neural networks have demonstrated its strength in solving many optimization problems efficiently. In this regard a novel recurrent‐neural‐network model that integrates multi‐objective linear programming and neural network (MOLPNN) techniques has been developed. The model was applied to a relatively large contracting company running 10 projects concurrently in Hong Kong. The case study verified the feasibility and applicability of the MOLPNN to the defined problem. A comparison undertaken of two optimal schedules (i.e. risk‐avoiding scheme A and risk‐seeking scheme B) of cash flow based on the decision maker's preference is described in this paper.
An analysis of the problems faced by project management companies managing construction projects
Authors: WILKINSON SUZANNE
Published: January 2010

With the proliferation of clients using a separate project management company to manage construction projects, a number of problems arise. This paper analyses the problems found by project management companies when managing construction projects in New Zealand. The fundamental problems faced were relationship‐based. The research in this paper found that project management companies need to overcome problems in their relationships with other professionals on the project team and with the client. The paper discusses these problems using data collected from a survey to project management companies in the New Zealand construction industry. The research in this paper examined how project management companies saw their role, their experiences of managing construction projects and makes suggestions for improving relationships. This research suggests that the problems faced by companies in New Zealand are likely to be global and therefore any solution suggested can be applied to other countries.
Construction claims management: towards an agent‐based approach
Authors: REN Z. , ANUMBA G.J. , UGWU O.O.
Published: January 2010

Disputes are now considered endemic in the construction industry. They often arise from the poor resolution of claims in the course of construction projects. Efforts have been geared towards reducing the incidence of claims. These efforts are of two kinds: those that seek answers from basic principles and legal issues at the pre‐construction phase and those that attempt to solve the problems through claims management procedures at the construction phase. This paper reviews the developments in claims management and highlights the deficiencies in current claims management approaches. It focuses on the need for improvement of the efficiency of claims negotiation and suggests the use of multiagent systems as an approach to achieve it. The potential benefits of the suggested approach are discussed in the concluding section of the paper.
Addressing the contractor selection problem using an evidential reasoning approach
Authors: SÖNMEZ M. , YANG J.B. , HOLT G.D.
Published: January 2010

Selecting the ‘best’ main contractor is a complex decision process for construction clients. It requires a large number of criteria to be simultaneously measured and evaluated. Many of these criteria are related to one another in a complex way and therefore, they very often conflict insofar as improvement in one often results in decline of another(s). Furthermore, as contractors' attributes are expressed in both quantitative and qualitative terms, decision‐makers have to base their judgements on both quantitative data and experiential subjective assessments. In this paper, the evidential reasoning (ER) approach (which is capable of processing both quantitative and qualitative measures) is applied as a means of solving the contractor selection problem (CSP). The process of building a multiple criteria decision model of a hierarchical structure is presented, in which both quantitative and qualitative information is represented in a unified manner. The CSP is then fully investigated using the ER approach. Both the advantages of applying this model in practice and the analysis process itself are discussed.
Ontology development for agent‐based collaborative design
Authors: UGWU O.O. , ANUMBA C.J. , THORPE A.
Published: January 2010

Domain ontologies facilitate sharing and re‐use of data and knowledge between distributed collaborating systems. A major problem in the design and application of intelligent systems is to capture and understand: the data and information model that describes the domain; the various levels of knowledge associated with problem solving; and the patterns of interaction, information and data flow in the problem solving space. This paper reports the development of an ontology for agent‐based collaborative design of portal structures, using knowledge acquisition techniques and tools. It illustrates the application of the ontology in the development of a prototype multi‐agent systems. The study shows that a common ontology facilitates interaction and negotiation between agents and other distributed systems. The paper discusses the findings from the knowledge acquisition, their implications in the design and implementation of multi‐agent systems, and gives recommendations on developing agent‐based systems for collaborative design and decision‐support in the construction sector.
Towards a human resource information system for Australian construction companies
Authors: THOMAS NG S. , MARTIN SKITMORE R. , SHARMA TULSIRAM
Published: January 2010

The casual nature of employment in the construction industry makes planning human asset requirements a vague exercise. Human resource information systems (HRISs) offer a means of coping with these problems through improvements in the reliability, accuracy and accessibility of the human resources (HR) information. Aimed at improving the understanding of construction HRISs, interviews were carried out with three leading construction companies in Australia. The HR needs of the companies were examined by identifying the HR‐related functions and activities conducted, the internal and external users of HR information, the type of data needed, and the specific purpose of those data. Twenty‐three HR activities were identified and grouped into seven major functions: project management and control, strategic planning, review and analysis, employee profile, employee performance, HR development, payroll and accounting support, and information systems outside the company. The HR information for each function was established. The findings of this study may facilitate the development of a HRIS for construction companies.
Development of a conceptual model of construction partnering
Authors: CHENG EDDIE W.L. , LI HENG
Published: January 2010

This paper presents the development of a conceptual model of construction partnering. This model aims at exploring the relationship between two types of partnering (project and strategic) by studying the key factors that affect the partnering process stages. It also helps to determine the critical success factors (CSFs) of the two types of partnering. The paper commences by reviewing the literature on project and strategic partnering to develop the conceptual model. A survey was conducted to test the model. Results indicate that there are some critical factors (i.e. top management support, mutual trust, open communication, and effective co‐ordination) affecting both types of partnering, while some are specific to project (i.e. facilitator) or strategic partnering (i.e. long‐term commitment, continuous improvement, learning climate, and partnering experience). Practical implications are given to advise how to facilitate the implementation of partnering. Future research directions are also given to suggest how to improve our understanding of the concept of partnering.
Empowering innovative improvements through creative construction procurement
Authors: KUMARASWAMY MOHAN , DULAIMI MOHAMMED
Published: January 2010

The heightened state of flux in the construction industry in general and construction procurement strategies in particular, provides welcome opportunities to inject innovative improvements. While some improvements are generated from within the construction industry itself, these evolve sluggishly along prolonged learning curves. These are compared with lessons to be learnt and examples to be drawn from manufacturing in the development of a marketable product. A product development focus is thus advocated in re‐integrating segregated groups and in empowering and inspiring the innovations that are needed to achieve the dramatic productivity gains now demanded from the construction industry.
Measuring knowledge management for construction organizations
Authors: KULULANGA G.K. , McCAFFER R.
Published: January 2010

The greatest challenge facing construction executives is how to manage their intellectual capital. The business environment has now entered a knowledge era, where knowledge has become power and learning rapidly and competently has become a pre‐eminent strategy for success. Thus, knowledge is rapidly becoming more important to organizations than financial resources, market positions, technology and other tangible assets. However, the management of intellectual capital is still an under‐charted territory within construction organizations. Managing know‐how, know‐what, know‐why is unlike managing finances or construction plant, yet intellectual
Investigating the effect of initial scope establishment on the performance of a project through system dynamics modelling
Authors: CHRITAMARA S. , OGUNLANA S.O. , LUONG BACH NGUYEN
Published: January 2010

Traditional construction procurement is generally used for projects with no unusual features and a well‐established scope. In this method, work progresses sequentially because each step is completed before the next step is started. As such, making changes during construction is problematic and expensive. Design and build (D/B) method allows the client to introduce the contractor's design at any stage resulting in the possibility of having different levels of initial scope establishment. Consequently, the project can gain benefit through buildability and the integration of design and construction. The client's main criteria for selecting D/B procurement are to reduce the time and cost of projects through one point responsibility. Factors that are related to time and cost performance include: the completeness of the client's brief (the level of initial scope establishment by the client), changes made to the project by the client, the stage and manner in which the changes are reffected, degree of project difficulty and coordination efforts with the contractor. It is widely recognized that the initial states of those factors at the beginning of a project affect time and cost performance, but the degree of impact has yet to be studied in details. This study focuses on the effects of different levels of the initial scope establishment prior to engaging the D/B contractor. This is investigated using dynamic simulation approach. It is found that the initial scope development should be roughly in the range between 50 and 70%. Experimentation with the model developed also shows that D/B fast‐track construction with fixed design, procurement and construction schedule is most effective in saving time, whereas D/B with traditional method is best for cost saving.
An information model for project evaluation
Authors: MESSNER JOHN I. , SANVIDO VICTOR E.
Published: January 2010

This paper presents an organization based information architecture (OBIA) that defines a structure for information needed to address the strategic decision process of evaluating and selecting projects to pursue. The project evaluation process requires information that has not been well defined by project specific information structures developed in previous information modelling efforts. The information in the OBIA is separated into five main categories: organization, commitment, process, environment, and facility. The OBIA categories were identified through expert interviews. The model was then evaluated through a detailed analysis of 10 project case studies. Each case study focused on the evaluation of a particular project from one organization's perspective. A method of applying the model to analyse projects is presented. The structure is also believed to be applicable for other strategic decision types including strategic planning and market selection.
Stochastic time series forecasting of electricity costs in an NHS acute care hospital building, for use in whole life cycle costing
Authors: KIRKHAM RICHARD J. , HALIM BOUSSABAINE A. , KIRKHAM MATTHEW P.
Published: January 2010

Through a case study, this paper reports on a research project to develop a risk integrated methodology for forecasting the cost of electricity in a National Health Service (NHS) acute care hospital building. The paper is formed of two strands. Strand one presents a rationale for selecting an appropriate time series forecasting method and strand two looks at the implementation of probabilistic modelling of the forecasts generated in strand one. The results of the research revealed that the Holt‐Winters multiplicative forecasting method produced the most reliable forecasts. The probabilistic modelling of the forecasts revealed that after a pair‐wise comparison between data collected at the hospital used as the case study and data collected from NHS acute care trusts nationwide, the forecasts were most likely to belong to the Weibull distribution. The results could then be used as inputs into a whole life cycle cost model or as a stand‐alone forecasting technique for predicting future electricity costs for use in the NHS Trust Financial Proforma returns.
Behavioural perceptions of design and construction engineers
Authors: SINGH AMARJIT
Published: January 2010

Hemisphericity in behaviour studies is the role and dominance of right bran/left brain in the human brain, each side of which has varying roles and characteristics, thereby leading to different thinking orientations in the human. A study was conducted to measure the hemisphericity orientation of construction and design engineers in a large public construction organization. We know from literature that people of different hemisphericity orientations have unlike personalities and dissimilar perspectives of specific situations. The essential characteristics of hemisphericity as established in literature are presented and used in analysing the organization. From this study of engineers, it was seen that construction engineers in the organization, State Department of Engineering Construction (SDEC), are predominantly left‐brained while design engineers are predominantly right‐brained. This difference in orientation partially explains why the design and construction engineers at SDEC are unable to see eye‐to‐eye in issues concerning implementation of drawings. Left hemisphere dominant engineers are also seen to desire more organizational changes than their right hemisphere dominant counterparts. Ideally, researchers believe that a 50–50 distribution of hemisphericities in large organizations is desirable. Details, analysis, and recommendations are presented in the paper.
Construction time performance: an evaluation of contractors from Japan, the UK and the US
Authors: XIAO HONG , PROVERBS DAVID
Published: January 2010

International comparisons of contractor performance allow contractors in different countries to distinguish their own strengths and weaknesses and improve their competitiveness accordingly. Based on a survey of contractors in Japan, the UK and the US, contractor time performance is evaluated and compared. It is found that Japanese contractors achieve shorter construction times and higher levels of time certainty than their UK and US counterparts. Furthermore, anticipated delays are far shorter in Japan and levels of client satisfaction are significantly higher than in the US and UK. The superior performance of Japanese contractors may be attributed to their working practices which were characterized by the use of a larger workforce on site, detailed planning, close working relationships with their subcontractors, and an overriding focus on time certainty.
Risk management trends in the construction industry: moving towards joint risk management
Authors: MOTIAR RAHMAN M. , KUMARASWAMY M.M.
Published: January 2010

This paper reports the outcomes of the first of three planned questionnaire surveys in the first phase of a broader Hong Kong based study on ‘Joint Risk Management’ (JRM). The survey compared perceptions on both present and preferred risk allocation, including JRM, in construction contracts. Data was mainly collected in Hong Kong and mainland China (with most respondents having working experience from Hong Kong) from various professionals and practitioners representing broad groups of academics, consultants, contractors and owners (clients). Survey results reinforce previous observations (in Canada) of the divergences in perceptions on both present and preferred risk allocation, both within and between different contracting parties. The present study reveals quite wide (marked) divergencies with many individual cases of diametrically opposing views on allocating particular risks within specific groups. Despite such divergencies, respondents professed a general enthusiasm towards JRM, irrespective of their contractual or professional affiliation. Moreover, they generally preferred to assign reduced risks from either one or both contracting parties to JRM, rather than shifting more risks to the other party. This is indicative of a perceived trend towards more collaborative and teamwork based working environments.
A vision for construction IT 2005–2010: two case studies
Authors: SARSHAR MARJAN , MURAT TANYER A. , AOUAD GHASSAN , UNDERWOOD JASON
Published: January 2010

Construction companies face dramatic changes in today's competitive market conditions. IT is increasingly becoming a competitive tool in this market place. The industry is taking a fresh view of how to use IT in order to improve productivity of the sector. In order to assist in this process, Sarshar et al. (2000) undertook a major review of academic research and industrial best practice and formulated a vision for managing construction project information in the next 5–10 years. This paper compares two case studies of the actual use of IT against this vision. The paper highlights some common gaps in current IT applications in construction companies. Based on these gaps some recommendations are made on the areas, which the industry might focus upon.
Architectural design management within the digital design team
Authors: den OTTER Ad F. , PRINS MATTHIJS
Published: January 2010

In this paper, the possibilities for implementing modern Internet‐based ICT tools for the management of architectural design teams are explored. The theory of Davenport on information ecology, Schön's approach to design thinking and design team behaviour, and decision process management and information technology theories are combined in a proposal for the design of project‐based digital design teams. It is argued that the implementation of the so‐called Project Web Site (PWS) Technology may lead to significant improvement of architectural design team performance. The structure of the PWS within this specific context is described as well as implications for the working procedures and the management of building design teams.
Collaborative design planning networks
Authors: HEINTZ JOHN L.
Published: January 2010

Network planning is not often used in architectural design projects, partly because no actor has a realistic overview of the entire project. Despite having a relatively good idea of what their own work will involve, designers often have an inadequate understanding of what their collaborators do. Collaborative Design Planning Networks (CDPN) permit designers from different firms to build a project model in which the plans of each participant are integrated with those of the others. Actors submit partial plans describing what they intend to do. These partial plans are represented in networks composed of tasks and infotems. By representing not only tasks but also their inputs and outputs, it becomes possible to link the partial projects of the collaborating actors and construct a global project plan. The involvement of every actor in the construction of the plan ensures both that the plan more accurately reflects the project and provides a greater degree of commitment to the plan by the individual actors.
The strategic implications of e‐commerce for the design and construction industry
Authors: JOHNSON ROBERT , CLAYTON MARK , XIA GE , WOO JEONG‐HAN , SONG YUNSIK
Published: January 2010

In this paper we discuss the impact of e‐commerce on the design and construction industry, with specific reference to how information technology will affect competition and competitive advantage in the industry. This paper continues the exploration of a concept that we have been working on for several years, namely ‘…that information technology is evolving from a tool that incrementally improves “back‐office” productivity to an essential component of strategic positioning that may alter the basic economics, organizational structure and operational practices of facility management organizations and their interactions with service providers (architects, engineers and constructors)’ (Johnson & Clayton, Automation in Construction, 8, 1998, 3). We first review industry trends and then develop a generalized model for thinking about strategy and e‐commerce based on our previous research as well as the well‐known framework developed by Michael Porter. Next we apply this framework to the discussion of several case studies and draw preliminary conclusions about the viability of the model for future research.
Managing work flow on design projects: a case study
Authors: BALLARD GLENN
Published: January 2010

Project management has neglected production. Its theory and techniques are devoted for the most part to the formation, award and administration of contracts. Production management has equally neglected projects. Developed in manufacturing, theories and techniques of managing production focus almost entirely on the task of making multiple copies of a single design. Management of project‐based production systems lies at the intersection of these two disciplines, is enormously important, and has been until recently almost entirely undeveloped. A new project delivery process is emerging in the architectural/engineering/construction (AEC) industry. Its first module is production control, dedicated to the management of work flow between specialists. A new production control system, termed the ‘Last Planner’ system, has been successfully applied both to construction and design phases of AEC projects. The paper presents a case study describing one of the first applications of Last Planner to design, which is considered to be essentially a value generating process.
Development and application of a hybrid genetic algorithm for resource optimization and management
Authors: UGWU O.O. , TAH J.H.M.
Published: January 2010

Resource selection/optimization problems are often characterized by two related problems: numerical function and combinatorial optimization. Although techniques ranging from classical mathematical programming to knowledge‐based expert systems (KBESs) have been applied to solve the function optimization problem, there still exists the need for improved solution techniques in solving the combinatorial optimization. This paper reports an exploratory work that investigates the integration of genetic algorithms (GAs) with organizational databases to solve the combinatorial problem in resource optimization and management. The solution strategy involved using two levels of knowledge (declarative and procedural) to address the problems of numerical function, and combinatorial optimization of resources. The research shows that GAs can be effectively integrated into the evolving decision support systems (DSSs) for resource optimization and management, and that integrating a hybrid GA that incorporates resource economic and productivity factors, would facilitate the development of a more robust DSS. This helps to overcome the major limitations of current optimization techniques such as linear programming and monolithic techniques such as the KBES. The results also highlighted that GA exhibits the chaotic characteristics that are often observed in other complex non‐linear dynamic systems. The empirical results are discussed, and some recommendations given on how to achieve improved results in adapting GAs for decision support in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sector.
Axiomatic design in the customizing home building industry
Authors: PSILANDER KURT
Published: January 2010

The developer would find a tool very useful that systematically and reliably analyses customer taste in terms of functional requirements (FRs). Such a tool increases the reliability of the procedure the entrepreneur applies to chisel out a concrete project description based on a vision of the tastes of a specific group of customers. It also ensures that future agents do not distort the developer's specified FRs when design parameters are selected for the realization of the project. Axiomatic design is one method to support such a procedure. This tool was developed for the manufacturing industry but is applied here in the housing sector. Some hypothetical examples are presented.