Wallace Imoudu Enegbuma

Preliminary building information modelling adoption model in Malaysia A strategic information technology perspective

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the relationship between building information modelling (BIM) adoption from the perspectives of people, process and technology to strategic information technology (IT) in construction mediated by collaborative processes for new BIM entrants. The demand pull for more effective project delivery in the construction industry across the globe has continued to transform design techniques from two-dimensional, three-dimensional (3D) and, currently, BIM. Leverage on IT is pivotal for construction industry development as earmarked by the Malaysian construction industry master plan. BIM uptake by stakeholders in Malaysia construction industry is on a gradual increase. BIM generates and manages building data during its life cycle via 3D, real-time, dynamic building modelling. Design/methodology/approach – BIM model is dependent on collaborative contribution by project teams’ input at various stages. However, challenges such as people, process and technology impede an effectiv...

A study of electronic commerce adoption factors in Nigeria

The paradigm shift to e-commerce in business transactions provides significant advantages such as expanding markets, improving customer services, reducing costs, and enhancing productivity. The global phenomenon is less aggressive in developing economies where small and medium enterprises struggle to provide internet services at their own expense due to limited government support and infrastructural deficiency. The acceptance of e-commerce adoption among Nigerians is slow irrespective of the huge population which should be of an advantage. This study investigated the factors hindering the adoption of e-commerce among Nigerians. A quantitative approach through a survey method was utilised with a total of 150 questionnaires distributed to Nigerian post graduate students studying at a Malaysian university. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences SPSS 16 was used to analyse the data. This study finds among others that poor infrastructural facilities are the major factors hindering e-commerce adoption among Nigerians.

Preliminary Study Impact of Building Information Modelling Use in Malaysia

The paradigm shift in the construction industry from 2D to Building Information Modelling (BIM) presents unforeseen challenges for new entrant construction industries. Experiences from advanced industry users of BIM shape the directions for future use. In Malaysia, BIM maturity is fast appreciating with increasing demand for efficiency and competitive advantages. However, adoption rate encounters resistance from several factors highlighted in previous research: people, process and technology. To improve on Information technology (IT) adoption models factors such as business process re-engineering, computer integrated construction and BIM adoption were considered for this research. This paper represents findings of an ongoing research, presenting the designed questionnaire to access perception of construction industry professionals (Architects, Quantity Surveyors, Engineers and Contractors) knowledge on BIM softwares and BIM attributes. Responses were derived from 120 construction professionals in the pilot phase of the research. The data is analyzed using SPSS for a descriptive overview of the most prominent BIM software usage. Smart PLS was utilized to analyze the path coefficient effects of each variable in the model. The Cronbach Alpha derived fell within an agreeable minimum threshold of above 0.60. The factors loaded appropriately to each variable. The path coefficient revealed people perception had the highest effect on collaborative processes, business process re-engineering (BPR) had the highest effect on BIM adoption and model variance R2 explained 24.6% of BIM adoption. The results will demonstrate the current state of BIM adoption in Malaysian construction industry complimenting current efforts to improve BIM awareness. At this stage, future research focuses on developing the second phase of the model and recommends towards extending and redefining the model with other mediating variables.

Labour productivity motivation framework for Iskandar Malaysia

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a motivation framework that will enhance labour productivity for Iskandar Malaysia (IM) construction projects. The vision of IM development corridor is to become Southern Peninsular Malaysia’s most developed region by the year 2025. IM cannot realise this foresight without effective labour productivity. Previous studies have reported that the labour productivity of IM construction projects was six times lower than the labour productivity of Singapore construction projects, due to lack of motivation among IM labourers, and a shortage of local skilled labour. Therefore, there is a need to study how to motivate IM construction labourers, so as to increase their productivity. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative research method was used to collect data from IM construction skilled labourers and construction professionals, using two sets of questionnaire. The respondents were selected using a purposive sampling technique. In total, 40 skilled labourers and 50 construction professionals responded to the questionnaire survey, and the data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science software (version 22). Findings The analysis revealed the major factors that motivate labourers participating in IM construction projects. The factors were ranked hierarchically using Relative Importance Index (RII) and the outcome of the ranking indicated that effective management, viable construction practices, financial incentives, continuous training and development, and safe working environment were the most significant motivation strategies that positively influence IM construction labourers. Originality/value The study developed and validated a framework that can be used to boost the morale of IM construction labourers, so that their productivity can be increased. Implementation of the established motivation framework will also lead to career progression of IM construction labourers, based on the training elements in the framework. This career prospect will attract local skilled labourers to participate in IM construction projects.

Energy efficiency practices for Malaysian green office building occupants

Green building construction was adopted as a strategy to reduce energy consumption and the overall impact of the built environment on our natural environment. However, in Malaysia, previous studies have reaffirmed that green office buildings consume a substantial amount of energy, compared to their counterparts in Singapore. Moreover, there is still a significant performance gap between predicted energy measurements and actual operational energy consumption of green office buildings in Malaysia, due to occupants’ behavioural discrepancies. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to develop energy efficiency practices for occupants of green office buildings in Malaysia. The developed practices integrate technology, organisation policy, and occupants’ behavioural strategies, in order to reduce the energy consumption of green office buildings in Malaysia.,To achieve the research goal, a mixed (quantitative and qualitative) research method was used to collect data from the research population. In total, 53 respondents working in a green office building complex in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia were surveyed using a questionnaire. Additionally, three top management staff of the green office building and two Malaysian construction professionals were interviewed. The study adopted convenience sampling technique in selecting the research respondents. The data from the questionnaire were analysed using SPSS software (version 22) while the interview data were analysed via thematic content analysis.,The findings suggest that the integration of technological strategy (use of BIM tools, sustainable building materials, etc.); organisational strategy (develop, implement and evaluate action plans, use of monitor/control systems, etc.); and occupants behavioural strategy (training, incentives, occupants energy efficiency guide, etc.) will critically reduce energy consumption of green office buildings in Malaysia.,Based on the findings, energy efficiency practices are developed to guide occupants in reducing the energy consumption of green office buildings in Malaysia. This strategy will contribute to reducing the performance gap that exists between predicted energy and actual energy use of green office buildings in Malaysia. However, the developed energy efficiency practices need to be validated to ascertain its workability in the green office building context.

Building information modelling technological innovations in industrialised building systems cost estimation

The paradigm shift in construction cost estimation is attributed to technological innovations in the spheres of building information modelling (BIM) and industrialised building systems (IBS). Majority of construction projects experience cost overruns which affect project objectives. The outcome of cost overruns invariably leads to disputes and further delays. Similarly, cost estimators resistance to overcoming the inertia to leap from traditional estimation methods to advanced methods further exacerbates the issues of cost estimation. This paper aims at comparing cost estimate between traditional cost estimation and advanced cost estimation. Data was collected via questionnaire from registered quantity surveying companies with the Board of Quantity Surveying Malaysia (BQSM). Subsequently, real time simulation was carried out on a sample IBS project using Autodesk Revit and Navisworks to compare cost estimates. The results revealed that BIM is accurate than bill of quantity (BOQ) as this difference results in a critical factor for large construction projects. The study was limited in terms of cost standard and database in Autodesk Navisworks. Future research can improve on the quantity coding for BIM in Malaysia.

The Influence of Sustainable Physical Factors on Haji Crowd Perception Among Internal Pilgrim Group in Mina

Devotional and ritual observance by internal pilgrims to Hajj presents a constant journey towards fulfilling the fifth pillar of Islam. Although, internal pilgrims are within their geographical domain, the large number of pilgrims visiting Mina at a given time stimulates crowding perception. Internal pilgrims perform such rituals in Mina for a minimum of three days. The local authorities are constantly expected to provide adequate amenities which require constant assessment to enable internal pilgrims perform their rituals without the stress of feeling crowded. In the quest for sustainable best practices, this paper examines the effects of sustainable physical factors (coding and signage, disorientation cause, spatial anxiety, orientation strategies and routing strategies) on perceived crowding levels among internal group of pilgrims in Mina. Data was collected via self-administered questionnaire from 473 internal pilgrims to Hajj. The data was analysed using SPSS for descriptive analysis and AMOS for Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Internal consistency of the developed research instrument, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy and exploratory factor analysis revealed that the research instrument was suitable. The internal pilgrim group measurement model revealed that orientation strategies and routing strategies had the highest correlation. Furthermore, disorientation cause (0.63), spatial anxiety (-0.59), orientation strategies (0.60) and routing strategies (-0.61) were all significantly affecting level of crowding perception except coding and signage (-0.52). In summary, the findings will aid in directing policies aimed at improving crowd control by authorities in Mina.