David Moore

Implementing a new performance management system within a project‐based organization

Purpose – The paper seeks to show that implementing change initiatives in organizations is extremely problematic, particularly in relation to human resource management (HRM) initiatives. The challenges inherent in implementing new HRM systems and procedures is arguably more acute in project‐based organizations where temporary teams and geographically dispersed employees render the coherent implementation of new systems and procedures problematic. This paper presents the findings of case study research in which the implementation of a new performance management system for improving individual project manager performance is evaluated. A framework is developed for guiding the implementation of similar change initiatives in other project‐based organizations.Design/methodology/approach – A longitudinal case study methodology was adopted for the study. This enabled the ways in which resistance to change was manifested, and to be explored, and the actions necessary to circumvent barriers to its use discerned. Th...

Integrated project teams’ performance in managing unexpected change events

Growing emphasis on meeting client needs and improving project performance within the construction industry has led to increasing use of fully integrated “design and build” (D&B) construction project teams. Advocates of the D&B system contend that integrating design and construction this way leads to a seamless procurement process, improved team relationships, and a more efficiently delivered product. This article reports on research which explored the operational efficiency of such integrated project teams. The findings suggest that despite the benefits of integration, cultural and professional interfaces remain which impair team performance and undermine structural change management protocols. This effectively leaves the team operating as work‐groups in a similar way as they would under a traditionally procured contract, with the construction team excluded from the change management process. A methodology is proposed for exploring these discontinuities in detail, and addressing intra‐work‐group conflicts which threaten the continued development of D&B within the sector.

The Effect of Cross-Cultural Uncertainty and Complexity within Multicultural Construction Teams

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine challenges faced by senior construction managers in managing cross-cultural complexity and uncertainty. The rationale was to identify the key strategies that are considered essential for managing cross-cultural complexity and uncertainty. Design/methodology/approach - Interviews with 20 senior construction managers, ten in Kenya and ten in the UK, were recorded, transcribed and entered into the qualitative research software NVivo. Validity and reliability were achieved by first assessing the plausibility in terms of already existing knowledge on some of the cultural issues raised by participants. The findings were presented to the participants through workshops and group discussions. Findings - The emerging key issues suggested that project leaders need to learn how to control their own characteristics and to use them selectively. An effective multicultural construction project team should focus on team output and attributes that characterise a multicultural team as a social entity. Practical implications - Findings indicate that the role of construction project managers has significantly changed over the past two decades. In order to deal with cross-cultural uncertainty, project leaders must have superior multicultural and interpersonal skills when managing global multicultural heavy engineering projects. Originality/value - The research shows that leaders of global construction project teams need a good understanding of their culture, environment and the value of their individual contributions.

A mitigation strategy for the natural disaster of poverty in Bangladesh

Purpose – Aims to bring attention to the problems faced by rural Bangladeshis. Several objectives for the paper were identified. First, to illustrate that Bangladeshis suffer from acute levels of poverty, a lack of clean drinking water and regular flooding and cyclonic conditions. Second, to establish the failure of western “handout” aid provision to address these problems. Third, to evidence the possibilities for the production of more durable building materials utilising regionally available waste materials and proven solar technologies. Finally, to present strategies in which solar technologies could contribute to the reduction of poverty and improvements in health standards.Design/methodology/approach – The ongoing development and testing of the innovative solar technology concepts reported in the paper were informed by a literature review covering solar cookers and solar kilns. The methodology and detail of the testing of that solar technology is currently considered commercially sensitive. With rega...

Management of Global Construction Projects

The first textbook of its kind, taking a uniquely global approach to project management in construction. Using a wealth of case studies from around the world to explain theory and practice, the authors take a business-oriented, decision-making approach to project management and the challenges it faces in the modern world. The book covers topics highly relevant to the challenges and opportunities currently facing the global construction industry, including managing culturally-diverse and globally dispersed teams, international project finance and global stakeholders in projects. Management of Global Construction Projects is essential reading for both students of construction management and professionals looking to understand construction project management in a truly global context.

Tolerance requirement general theory: pilot study results analysis

The paper concentrates on the analysis of data from the first of two experiments designed to examine aspects of tolerance requirement general theory. Both experiments were designed to constitute a pilot study into a possible relationship between difficulty of a task and time taken to carry it out. The objectives were to identify and eliminate any spurious relationships within the data, and to establish the form, if any, of a robust mathematical relationship between one aspect of the work activity and time taken. The aspect focused on is that of tolerance requirements, which are not seen in the context of this research as being optimum plus‐or‐minus values for tolerance sizes. Data analysis results in a re‐examination of the proposed nature of tolerance requirements. This leads to further development of tolerance requirement general theory, particularly with regard to the calculation of tolerance requirement values.

Tolerance requirement general theory and automated task difficulty assessment

The paper considers the development process for experimental work intended as a pilot study of the role of tolerance requirement general theory. This theory is proposed as a factor in the automated assessment of task difficulty in construction industry activities. Task difficulty, structured within a generic task hierarchy, is taken as a possible indicator of the level of buildability inherent in the on‐site production of construction artefacts. The proposed nature of general tolerance requirement theory is introduced. This initial research proposes six individual tolerance requirements, each with a different function within the general theory, which an operative responds to either explicitly or implicitly in carrying out construction tasks. These tolerance requirements are not defined in terms of plus or minus values. The paper concentrates on a discussion of factors relevant to the design of a suitable experiment as a pilot study of the suggestion that tolerance requirements may allow quantitative analysis of task difficulty.

Methodological Choices in Relationship Quality (RQ) Research 1987 to 2015: A Systematic Literature Review

ABSTRACT Different methodological choices (i.e., data collection method, sample size, sample characteristics, and analytical instrument) in 122 relationship quality (RQ) peer-reviewed articles published in accredited academic journals between 1987 and 2015 are reviewed. The results revealed that RQ researchers need to look into other relationship types in which businesses/organizations engage in order to survive, as existing studies have been limited to interpersonal relationships (i.e., relationships between individuals), business to business relationships (B2B), business to customer relationships (B2C), and customer to business relationships (C2B). Also, the results show that too much attention has been given to the quantitative method of data collection, as only a small number of researchers in this field utilize the qualitative method. Furthermore, the sample choice and size identified in existing studies are somewhat constrained to the method of data collection employed. Researchers should be more transparent in providing detailed information on their methodological choices and the rationale for those choices.

Human behaviour under fire situations in high-rise residential building

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate human behaviour under a situation of fire in high-rise residential buildings and identify the factors that motivate people to evacuate. Design/methodology/approach A literature review was conducted to identify different factors of human behaviour during a situation of fire and identify challenges during the evacuation. Through a mixed research method approach, the paper identifies human background, experience and knowledge with fire safety. The paper discusses the challenges occupants face during evacuation based on previous evacuation experience and what occupants were doing during the fire alarm. Findings The paper has identified the challenges and the factors that affect occupants’ decision during fire emergency in high-rise residential buildings. It is clear from the findings that occupants have limited knowledge and skills on how to deal with fire emergencies. Occupants tend to depend on other evacuation routes. Occupants tend to ignore the fire alarm and usually they investigate if it is true or false. Originality/value The paper provides the knowledge and findings of occupants during fire emergency to fire engineers, facility managers, owners, and other professionals to assist during the design phase, and modify designs based on this findings of this research.

Multi-storey residential buildings and occupant’s behaviour during fire evacuation in the UK: Factors relevant to the development of evacuation strategies

Purpose – The paper aims to investigate human behaviour during fire evacuations in multistorey residential buildings through a focus on the challenges and obstacles that occupants face. Any variations in response behaviours that are relevant to the evacuation strategies/plans in the UK context of occupancy typical of multi-storey buildings in large cities. Design/methodology/approach – A literature review was conducted to identify the factors occupants face and also the decision-making of occupants regarding methods of egress. A mixed research method was adopted using interviews and a questionnaire survey. The findings from the interviews and survey are benchmarked against the information gathered from the literature review. Findings – The paper identifies various challenges that occupants face when evacuating a multi-storey residential building. In terms of the decision-making process, the research results evidence that occupants could be given more information on the evacuation procedures within their specific building. The paper also finds that occupants remain reluctant to use a lift during evacuation in fire event, irrespective of any signage clearly stating that is appropriate to do so in the context of modern lift technology. Originality/Value – This paper contributes to the body of knowledge available on the evacuation of multi-storey buildings located in large cities within the UK, outlining potential areas for future research, focused on providing an insight of the behavioural decisions made by the occupants make when evacuating a building in the event of a fire.