Shamil Naoum

An overview into the concept of partnering

Abstract This paper examines the relatively new concept and philosophy of partnering, as a response to client demand within the UK construction industry. It is suggested that partnering improves productivity, lowers costs and provides the product of construction to satisfactory standards and time. The concepts, philosophies and definitions of partnering, as observed by a number of leading researchers, are established, as are some of the practical responses observed currently within the private and public sectors. It is concluded that there are identifiable ingredients of good partnering practice, but that partnering remains in an evolutionary phase. Whilst claims for huge savings in terms of cost and time have been made, it is held that it is too early yet to conclude that these are the direct result of partnering. Meanwhile, it is noted that methods that motivate good practice are emerging.

Factors influencing the effectiveness of construction site managers

Abstract This paper identifies the factors that influence the effectiveness of site managers. It first describes the methodology used to measure managerial effectiveness and then determines the relationship between these measures and the independent variables. These independent variables are; personal variables, job conditions, project characteristics and organisational variables. Data were obtained from 30 site managers using interview questionnaires and direct observations. The statistical analysis suggested that managerial effectiveness is mostly associated with the personal variables and job conditions. The research did not provide enough evidence to support the proposition that project characteristics such as building type, complexity and project duration have significant impact on managerial effectiveness.

A hybrid knowledge base system and genetic algorithms for equipment selection

This paper describes the development of a hybrid knowledge base system and genetic algorithms to select the optimum excavating and haulage equipment in opencast mining. The knowledge base system selects the equipment in broad categories based on the geological, technical and environmental characteristics of the mine. To further identify the make, size and number of each piece of equipment that minimizes the total cost of the operation, the problem is solved using the genetic algorithms mechanism. Results of four case studies are presented to show the validation of the developed system.

Factors influencing labor productivity on construction sites: A state-of-the-art literature review and a survey

Purpose - – Productivity is a worldwide problem and efforts have been made over the last three decades or so to explore ways to increase the rate of productivity on construction sites. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the state of the art in productivity research and to present the findings of a survey into the factors that can impair productivity on site. Design/methodology/approach - – A literature review is structured under five general headings: pre-construction activities; activities during construction; managerial and leadership issues; motivational factors; and organizational factors. In total, 46 determinants were extracted from the above headings and were assessed by 36 main contractors. Findings - – The literature review revealed that while there has been an advancement in developing techniques and tools to improving productivity on site, more need to be done to invest in technology and innovation. The interview survey indicated that factors associated with pre-construction activities, namely, the “experience of the selected site and project managers,” “design errors,” “buildability of the design,” “project planning,” “communication,” “ leadership style” and “procurement method” as the most critical factors influencing site productivity. Other highly ranked factors are “mismanagement of material” and “the work environment.” Research limitations/implications - – The survey is based on main contractors and thus not generalized to cover other sectors of the building team such as designers and engineers. Practical implications - – Outcome of this research can be used to provide professionals and contractors guidance for focussing, acting upon and controlling the most significant factors perceived to influence the construction labor productivity (CLP) on site. Originality/value - – First, reviewed the state of the art and trends in construction productivity research. Second, primary survey with industry experts to rank the relative importance of factors that can influence CLP on site.

Critical Review of Procurement Method Research in Construction Journals

One of the features of the construction industry over the last three decades or so, has been the use of various procurement methods for projects such as management contracting, project management and design and build. With the growth in the use of these methods, a number of researchers have investigated the criteria for their selection and their performance in terms of time, cost and quality. However, there is a lack of reporting on the association between procurement methods and the advanced related issues such as innovation and technology, supply chain, lean construction, buildability, sustainability and value management. Through selected papers from well-known academic journals in construction management, detailed coverage of these issues is systematically reviewed with the aim to investigate the state of the art and trends in procurement research. The outcome of this paper may provide a platform for both researchers and industrial practitioners to appreciate the latest developments and trends in procurement method research.

Modern selection criteria for procurement methods in construction

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a comprehensive literature review that seeks to address modern factors worldwide that are associated with the selection of current procurement methods. The aim is to develop an up-to-date multi-attribute procurement decision-making chart for selecting the appropriate method for the project. Design/methodology/approach – Stage 1 (literature review). The search engines, Emerald; Business Source Premier; Science Direct and Sage were selected to identify journals that have published the most procurement methods-related articles. The search covered the period 1980-2015. Stage 2 (Survey) – after analyzing and appraising the literature, an up-to-date utility decision-making chart for selecting the appropriate procurement method for the project was developed. The chart was based on findings from a survey that included 57 construction professionals and who have demonstrated sound experience about the various procurement options. Findings – There is no one best procurement method for all projects. The selection depends on the nature of the issues or problem at hand. Decision making is not a punctual act. It is often a complex process. Effective decision making also demands quality and timely information, and a careful consideration of alternatives. The multi-attribute decision-making chart presented in this paper has included modern criteria and the client would have end up with different recommendations and consequences should these criteria were not included in priority weightings. Practical implications – The literature review provides states-of-the art research in the field of procurement methods in construction and the multi-attribute chart is intended to offer decision makers an opportunity to broaden their horizon on the different alternatives procurement routs that could lead to different consequences. Originality/value – To the best of the authors’ knowledge, very few publications have discussed modern selection criteria for procurement methods in construction under one study. Therefore, this paper has established a platform for scholars and researchers to obtain more useful insights into procurement methods concerns. It has identified research trends in procurement methods which may allow industrial practitioners to appreciate the key concerns in their development of modern concepts and principles such as supply chain, lean construction, sustainability, innovation, value engineering, e-procurement and Building information modeling. The inclusion of these modern criteria will present and add value to procurement decision makers within the construction industry.

Impact of National Culture on the Management Practices of Construction Projects in the United Arab Emirates

AbstractCulture plays an important role in Arab Middle East society. Its unique historical, social, and religious traditions require special attention to cultural traits in the exercise of authority, control, and interaction. However, little research has investigated the effects of national culture on the management practices of construction companies. This research investigates this relationship through a questionnaire survey and interviews of a sample of construction companies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It solicits views about the type of and experiences concerning the effect of the key national and cultural dimensions on adopted management practices. The research demonstrates that construction companies within the UAE construction industry have developed and adopted a unique management style that is a mixture of Western and Eastern management applications. These companies have primarily adopted a clan culture that emphasizes the development of human resources, flexibility, decentralization, tea...