Eddie W. L. Cheng

Transfer of training: A review and new insights

Even successful training programs cannot guarantee that newly learned knowledge and skills will be transferred to the workplace. This has led to researchers interests in understanding the transfer process. Notwithstanding that transfer issues have been studied for several decades, the recent emphasis on workplace learning, especially the so-called situated learning approach, suggests that conventional training transfer research may be inadequate to understand the dynamics of performance improvement through training. Against this, the authors point to the increased policy emphasis on the development of transferable generic skills, which underscores the ongoing importance of training transfer. This review paper suggests that the role of trainees themselves has not been dealt with sufficiently in research, which leads to a new direction for studying the transfer of training.

Ranked Critical Factors in PPP Briefings

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are increasingly used to procure Australian infrastructure projects. As with all construction projects, the early briefing stages are often the most crucial in determining a successful outcome. There is, however, a lack of systematic research on the type and nature of the critical factors affecting the effectiveness and efficiency of PPP during this period. A literature review is presented of PPP usage in Australia, in which four main categories of factors (procurement, stakeholder, risk, and finance) are identified, each with several subfactors. A questionnaire survey involving state government stakeholders is also described, and a mathematical model that ranks the factors involved is developed. This is followed by an examination of the potential of the factors to help improve the PPP briefing stage for both public and private sectors.

Competitiveness factors: a study of the real estate market in China

The execution of ‘macro‐adjustment’ policies by the central government to cool down the overheated real estate market in the past few years has created an unfavourable operating environment for real estate developers in Mainland China. Developers need to rethink their business model and create a new form of competitive advantage in order to survive. Despite this, research into the factors that influence the competitiveness of the real estate market in China has been limited. Therefore, a survey of 58 real estate practitioners, experts and academics in China was conducted to probe opinion on the factors that influence competitiveness in real estate firms in China. Survey results suggest that the developers financial competency, market coverage and management competencies are vital to its competitiveness. Findings also highlight the importance of industry recognition/award, share in different types of property sales/development projects, profit after tax, growth rate of their securities price, and diversification of R&D in reflecting the competitiveness of real estate developers in China. The findings provide an insight into the factors that influence competitiveness in Chinas real estate market and also assist practitioners to formulate competitiveness improvement strategies.

Green purchase behavior of undergraduate students in Hong Kong

Abstract This paper aims to examine the effect of undergraduate students’ perceptions of green marketing practices on their attitudes toward the environment, their perceived environmental problem seriousness, and their environmental responsibility. Additionally, it examines whether their green products purchase willingness and behavior will eventually be affected. A sample of undergraduate students in Hong Kong is used. The measurement and structural models are examined with the partial least squares approach to structural equation modeling. The structural model is a good fit to the data. This research reflects a parsimonious picture about undergraduate students’ expectations of green marketing practices, environmental perception, and purchasing behavior, and provides insights for green marketers to formulate strategies to encourage well-educated students to consume green products.

A GIS‐based site selection system for real estate projects

Site selection is critical for planning a real estate development project. Different mathematical and statistical models have been applied to support real estate developers in selecting suitable sites for development projects. This paper presents a new approach to site location selection that makes use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) that incorporates the utilization of the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method called a GISbased site selection system. With the implementation of this system, users can determine the most suitable site objectively and visually. The paper also demonstrates an application of the system to a residential building project.

Employing the Net Present Value-Consistent IRR Methods for PFI Contracts

The internal rate of return (IRR) is a common financial indicator for private finance initiative (PFI) projects. Due to the long and complicated cash flow nature of PFI projects, more plausible IRR techniques are necessary for appropriate project evaluation and ranking. However, not all the published articles researching on IRR techniques are reliable. Given the importance of computing the profitability of PFI projects, this paper is intended to introduce three reliable IRR methods, which are proven to be consistent with net present value. Examples are used to illustrate their utility. The paper is of high value as it guides industry’s practitioners to use proper IRR methods for selecting PFI projects. It also provides academic researchers a platform to explore more robust methods.

Intentions to Form Project Partnering in Hong Kong: Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

AbstractDiffusion of project partnering in the construction industry is argued to be insufficient. One possible explanation is that organizations do not intend to form project partnering. Therefore, the current research aims at developing an intention-based model according to the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Fifty-one construction-related organizations in Hong Kong participated in this research. The partial least-square approach to structural equation modeling was used to examine the TPB model. The results indicated that perceived partnering outcomes positively and significantly predicted attitudes toward the partnering behavior, which, in turn, positively and significantly predicted partnering intentions. Past experience also played a role in the intention-based model. Both significant and nonsignificant relationships help explain the nature of project partnering. The research contributes to the existing literature by taking the first step to empirically study the role of intentions in project partn...

Maintaining the transfer of in-service teachers’ training in the workplace

Professional training and development is a major component of updating teachers’ pedagogical knowledge and skills. However, transferring such knowledge and skill may not always be successful. Based on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), the present study has developed a model specifying the factors affecting transfer maintenance intention and behaviour. This model was tested with the partial least square approach to structural equation modelling. The results indicate that the TPB-oriented model is able to explain in-service teachers’ intention to maintain what they have learned from training in their jobs and their subsequent transfer maintenance behaviour. Moreover, the β coefficients indicate that attitude towards the behaviour was the major predictor of transfer maintenance intention, which was in turn the major predictor of transfer maintenance behaviour. Finally, research implications and practical implications have been provided in this study.

An intention-based model of transfer of training

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to explicate and test an intention-based model to explain transfer of training behavior. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) is utilized to examine the role of transfer intention in the transfer of training process. Design/methodology/approach - – A sample of 132 construction practitioners in Hong Kong was adopted. All measurement and structural models were assessed with structural equation modeling. Findings - – Results showed that the three antecedents positively affected transfer intention, while perceived behavioral control and transfer intention affected transfer behavior positively. Moreover, a post hoc analysis supported the mediating role of transfer intention in the relationship between the antecedents and transfer behavior. Practical implications - – Confirmation of the mediating role of intention has ascertained that it should be the core of a transfer of training model. To strengthen the transfer behavior, one has to find ways to increase the intention to transfer. Originality/value - – This paper examined an intention-based model of transfer of training based on the TPB. The latter has rarely been applied to the prediction of transfer behavior.

Construction loans and industry development: the case of Hong Kong

Building contractors are generally small private firms. Bank loans are their major, if not only, source of external finance. However, building and construction loans represent a mere minuscule portion of all bank loans in Hong Kong, suggesting that contractors may have been neglected by banks. With the case of Hong Kong, this study examines the lack of supply and demand of construction finance, and the implications for industry competition and innovation. Contractors’ perceptions were solicited through a questionnaire survey. Key issues identified were further explored in subsequent interviews. The results were then triangulated with secondary data. It is found that although contractors do not usually have enough assets to pledge as collateral, they generally do not need to borrow that much. The provision of interim payments has enabled them to work with small capital outlay. However, the interim payment mechanism has induced a low barrier to entry, which has helped perpetuate the vicious circle of labour intensiveness of building construction, exploitation of labour‐only subcontracting, proliferation of small subcontractors and intense rivalry between firms. The findings conclude that contractors’ limited access to finance generally and bank loans in particular has posed a major barrier to innovation and hence industry development.