Saixing Zeng

Quest for continuous quality improvement for public housing construction in Hong Kong

With mandatory implementation of the ISO 9000 quality system by the Housing Authority in Hong Kong, most construction firms there now claim to have initiated quality systems in their processes as defined in their quality manuals. In addition, an objective quality measuring yardstick, the Performance Assessment Scoring Scheme (PASS), has been administered by the Housing Authority of Hong Kong to monitor the performance quality of contractors. These two measures, coupled with the two other contractual requirements stipulating the use of mechanized formwork and precast facade units, are directed towards achievement of a desired quality standard. However, the PASS analysis has revealed that the general level of quality has not improved significantly and the expected continuous improvement in construction quality has not been realized over a specific time period. Quality appears far better on paper than does the actual work on site. This suggests that quality management in the construction setting is far more difficult to achieve than it is in other industries. This paper explores possible reasons for failure in the quest for quality in public housing construction, and proposes changes needed before the vision of continuous quality improvement can be realized.

Overcoming barriers to sustainable implementation of the ISO 9001 system

Purpose – This study aims to explore the barriers to implementation of ISO 9000 in China, and to identify how these barriers can be overcome.Design/methodology/approach – Using a structural questionnaire survey, this paper examines the main barriers for enterprises in effective implementation of the ISO 9001 standard.Findings – This paper highlights the problems in implementing the standard, which determines the sustainable implementation, including: short‐sighted goal for “getting certified”; over‐expectation on the ISO 9001 standard; mandatory requirement (not wholehearted commitment) in some industries; and following others (the trend) in certification. With regard to the effective audit of the ISO 9001 standard, the main problems were explored, including: lack of commitment from some certifying bodies; excessive competition between certifying bodies; and offering of a total packaged service from consultancy to certification by certifying bodies.Practical implications – The ISO 9000 series have permeat...

Implementing integration of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 for construction

Purpose – The aim of this study is to evaluate implementation of an integrated management system (IMS) based ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards for construction firms.Design/methodology/approach – Supported by a structured questionnaire survey, this paper examines several related issues in the implementation of IMS in construction firms in China. The researchers interviewed the auditors of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards and senior managers of ten construction firms. The structured questionnaires were sent to 300 construction firms in China. Among them, 68 completed questionnaires were received.Findings – The findings reveal that a majority of the firms support an integration of the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards. “Similarity” and “compatibility” between the two standards are considered as the main reasons for pursuing such an integration. The benefits resulted from the integration include “avoidance duplication of procedures”, “reduced conflict of procedures”, and “reduced requirements for resources”. T...

Relationships between business factors and performance in internationalization: An empirical study in China

Purpose – While internationalization of firms can be a source of growth in profitability, it can also result in huge losses due to the risky internationalized environment. Success in the home countries does not guarantee success internationally. The objective of this study is to identify the main business factors affecting performance of firms in the process of internationalization.Design/methodology/approach – Ten business factors have been selected to investigate their relationship with the business performance in the internationalization process of Chinese manufacturing firms. The ten business factors are transformed into four dimensions (principal factors) using the method of factor analysis. Using the categorical regression method, relationships between return on assets (ROA) and the four dimensions extracted are examined.Findings – The findings reveal that marketing capability of firms plays the most important role in improving performance of firms that embrace internationalization.Research limitati...

Revisiting the relationship between environmental and financial performance in Chinese industry.

The debate on the relationship between corporate or industrial environmental performance (EP) and financial performance (FP) has yet to be resolved, and studies need to examine the possible moderating effects on the EP-FP link. We argue that industrial EP has a positive effect on FP and that industrial munificence and resource slack can moderate the EP-FP link. Using a dataset from Chinese industrial firms, we examine the direct effect of industrial EP on FP and the indirect effects of industrial munificence and resource slack on the EP-FP link. Our results show that improving corporate or industrial-level EP significantly influences FP and that slack resources play a significant role on the EP-FP link. However, we found no significant moderating effect of industrial munificence on the link.

Environmental performance assessment: perceptions of project managers on the relationship between operational and environmental performance indicators

There is a growing concern about environmental impacts resulting from construction activities. To help minimize the environmental impacts from construction, Environmental Management Systems (EMSs) have been advocated and in some cases, implemented. Within the construction industry, Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) forms one of the most important tools in monitoring and evaluating environmental performance. However, the relations between Environmental Operational Indicators (EOIs) (inputs) used in EPA and Environmental Performance Indicators (EPIs) (outputs) have not been tested and correlated, casting doubt on the reliability of these inputs. This paper attempts to develop a series of input (EOI) and output (EPI) indicators for EPA and measure their relations based on the perceptions of project managers. The results show that EOIs defined correlate strongly with EPIs. Therefore, EPA can help to identify areas for continuous improvement, and also provide an early indication of the environmental performance for an organization.

ISO and OHSAS certifications

Purpose – This research aims to empirically investigate the influence of stakeholders on the corporate decision of ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001 certifications and how that influence differs across different certification types. Design/methodology/approach – The paper utilizes a survey of 1,268 industrial enterprises in China, using logistic regressions to analyze corporate decision towards management standards use. Findings – The results show that stakeholder influence varies across different management standard certifications. Foreign customers and neighboring community are significant drivers for ISO 9001 certification. Foreign investors, being publicly listed, and neighboring community each demonstrate a significant impact on ISO 14001 certification. Only being publicly listed shows significant explanatory power for certifying with OHSAS 18001. Research limitations/implications – This study does not touch upon performance issues. The relationship between stakeholder pressure, certifications, an...

Managing information flows for quality improvement of projects

Purpose – A quality management system based‐ISO 9001 focuses on confirming process conformance from the initial development of a product through production, test, installation and servicing. Information management has been a key factor affecting the effective implementation of the standard. The aim of this study is to explore management of information flows in quality assurance in project management. It is hoped to that it will be helpful in pursuing continuous quality improvement in the construction industry.Design/methodology/approach – Based on the characteristics of the construction industry, this study designed an organizational structure with three levels, including firm, sub‐firms and project departments. The paper examined the difficulties for the multi‐level organizational structure in information transferring and feedback.Findings – It is found that there are information asymmetries in quality management from internal and external organizations. Internally, information asymmetry exists between c...

Identifying cultural difference in R&D project for performance improvement: A field study

In recent years, some large multinational companies have begun moving their RD 2) You avoid any conflict with your manager; 3) Objective of the project is the target for the whole project group; 4) You do not mind the methods for your performance evaluation; and 5) You pay greater attention to improve “relationship” among colleagues. Overall, these findings reveal managerial implications for R&D managers that the need to recognize and manage cultural difference is an important component in cross‐cultural project management.

What affects the innovation performance of small and medium-sized enterprises in China?

Abstract Innovation has been one of the key drivers of sustainable competitive advantage for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, many SMEs have difficulties in achieving successful innovation. This article attempts to explore the major factors and constraints to innovation for SMEs in China. Based on a survey to 188 Chinese manufacturing SMEs, the relationship of 10 major factors affecting innovation performance has been explored. The findings indicate that there is a positive relationship between some factors (e.g., financial capital, technically qualified staff, and technology information and so on) and the innovation performance of SMEs. Also, this paper finds that the current policy environment, such as intellectual property protection and government policies, are not conducive to innovation performance of Chinese SMEs.