Implementing a suitable jobs register in the construction industry : preliminary evidence

This pilot study investigated the efficacy of a job register index to support return to work (RTW) for injured workers in the construction industry. Participants included injured workers (n = 22), supervisors/managers (n = 23), treating practitioners (n = 5), occupational rehabilitation consultants (n = 5), union representatives/occupational health and safety representatives (n = 5), RTW coordinators (n = 2), steering committee members (n = 4) and the designated project officer (n = 1). A pre–post test intact group design was used to evaluate the perceived utility of the job register. A partial set of the sample including injured workers and supervisors/managers participated in the pretrial phase (n = 28) while the trial phase included more numerous stakeholder groups to assess the perceived utility of the register (n = 39). Participants completed surveys that incorporated a number of differing sections including injury description and circumstances, communication and collaboration with others, their overall opinion of the return to work process in general and suggestions for future improvements. Additional questions were designed for those participating in the trial with regards to the efficacy of the register. Data were analysed using analysis of variance procedures with pairwise comparisons of pre–post intervention test means. Alternative job options were seen to be offered more frequently. Communication and cooperation improved post implementation. Supervisors perceived the job register a useful innovation to facilitate RTW. The register represents a new resource to the construction industry with potential for wider application following further study.

Benchmarking the implementation of continuing professional development in the Victorian construction industry

In the state of Victoria, the state government has taken a leadership position on the potential benefit of introducing voluntary continuing professional development (CPD) for registered building practitioners (RBPs) in the construction industry. Benefits are believed to accrue to the Victorian community through a more highly skilled and managed SME construction sector, improved quality buildings with fewer defects and greater efficiencies gained by a reduction in industry internal and external operating costs. This research has identified appropriate industry and community benchmarks to enable a quantification of the costs and benefits that result from this policy. These benchmarks will enable the policymaking body of Victoria, the Building Commission (BC) to evaluate the effects of the implementation of its policy and contribute to informing the debate about the merits and possible drawbacks of such a policy in the construction industry in Victoria.

The proposed Victorian CPD policy will affect a whole industry sector. This pioneering policy approach is already being viewed as a touchstone for other jurisdictions in Australia and abroad. Consequently, this research project is considered by our industry partner to be pivotal in the leadership position that they are taking in Victoria. This investigation is being conducted by the research team under the auspices, guidance and with the cooperation of the Building Commission (BC) and the Building Practitioners Board (BPB) of Victoria. This policy research evaluation is necessary to assess the proposed implementation of CPD in the Victorian construction industry. The identification and creation of agreed and significant industry benchmarks are crucial to evaluating this policy initiative. These benchmarks will serve as independent yardsticks for assessing the impact of the new policy and are described and discussed in this paper.

Pathways to formally assessed work placement : employers' perspectives on collaborative education in the Australian construction industry

The QS and construction industry is uniquely impacted by project-based work environments. This creates special challenges for collaborative, work-integrated education of pre-professional students. This research is based on investigating the attitudes of employer’s towards the use of formally assessed internships. The study comprised two stages- firstly a series of pilot interviews were undertaken with employers to test a number known issues and secondly, the results from the interviews were used to refine a set of questions that were put to a large focus group of employers who were invited from across the property and construction sector in Australia. The results showed that many employer organisations expressed considerable goodwill towards collaborative education with universities. However, the challenges caused by project-based work environments restrict employers' ability to provide comprehensive learning opportunities. This research discusses some of the distinctive issues associated with work-integrated learning in the construction industry and proposes some potential opportunities for overcoming these restrictions.

Major quantitative techniques for risk analysis in the construction industry : a comparative analysis

Risk analysis is one of the critical functions of the risk management process. It relies on a detailed understanding of risks and their possible implications. Construction projects, because of their large and complex nature, are plagued by a variety of risks which must be considered and responded to in order to ensure project success. This study conducts an extensive comparative analysis of major quantitative risk analysis techniques in the construction industry. The techniques discussed and comparatively analyzed in this report include: Programme Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT), Judgmental Risk Analysis Process (JRAP), Estimating Using Risk Analysis (ERA), Monte Carlo Simulation technique, Computer Aided Simulation for Project Appraisal and Review (CASPAR), Failure Modes and Effects Analysis technique (FMEA) and Advanced Programmatic Risk Analysis and Management model (APRAM). The findings highlight the fact that each risk analysis technique addresses risks in any or all of the following areas – schedule risks, budget risks or technical risks. Through comparative analysis, it has been revealed that a majority of risk analysis techniques focus on schedule or budget risks. Very little has been documented in terms of technical risk analysis techniques. In an era where clients are demanding and expecting higher quality projects and finishes, project managers must endeavor to invest time and resources to ensure that the few existing technical risk analysis techniques are developed and further refined, and that new technical risk analysis techniques are developed to suit the current construction industries requirements.

Labour productivity measurement with variable returns to scale in Australia's construction industry

As an important productivity indicator, the change of labour productivity is one indispensable marker in determining the rise or fall of overall industrial performance. This study aims to address whether the labour productivity level of the Australian construction industry has, in fact, shown a huge improvement during the last few decades. This article constructs a measuring method estimating labour productivity changes based on the data envelopment analysis technique with variable returns to scale. By adopting a production frontier approach, the labour productivity index can be broken down into components attributable to efficiency change, technological progress and capital accumulation. The numerical results exemplified by a single-input and single-output system indicate that the average annual labour productivity levels of the construction industry are slowly growing in all the Australian states and territories. However, the year-on-year change in the overall labour productivity performance does not maintain a long-term increase over the period 1990–2008. The study forms the basis for further industrial productivity research. Proposals and recommendations are expected to be beneficial for making policy and strategic decisions to improve the performance of the construction industry.

A review of the cost estimation issues in the tender preparation process in construction industry

Cost estimation process is undertaken to predict the total cost of the project. Studies indicate that one of the construction company failures in contracting is because of the uncertain, incorrect, and unrealistic cost estimation. Cost estimation process are heavily influenced by the complexity of the project, scale and scope of construction, market conditions, method of construction, site constraints, client’s financial position, buildability and the location of the project. However, there are other combinations factors that have not been studied thus far. Hence, this paper focuses on the review of other researchers’ findings in relation to cost estimation issues in the construction industry. Among the findings, it has been revealed that the cost estimation issues are related to accuracy, human factors, practical knowledge and insufficient cost data/information. The aim of this paper is to investigate these factors and determining other potential factors that may influence cost estimation process in the construction industry.

The factors that affect the cost estimation activities in the tender preparation process in the Malaysian construction industry

The possibility of winning the tender is subject to the cost estimation proposed by the contractors compared to the cost estimation prepared by the client’s representative. Studies indicated that one of the construction company failures in the tendering process is due to the uncertain, incorrect, and unrealistic cost estimation. Failure to provide a competitive cost estimation on time is the main reason the contractor is not successful in winning the tender, and will not be considered for the tender evaluation stage. The aim of this paper is to validate the key factors that affect the cost estimation activities in the tender preparation process. This paper describes the results of a pilot study, from a questionnaire survey on the factors that affect the cost estimation activities in the tender preparation process. The study shows the importance of all the factors in the cost estimation activities in the tender preparation process in terms of human factors, working culture, and information technology.

Research of the construction industry efficiency in China-based on DEA panel data approach

The efficiency of the construction industry is analyzed based on provinces panel data in China in this paper. The Mean Number of Employee and the Mean Completed Investment are used as inputs. The Mean Actual Sales of Commercial Houses and the Mean Net Profit are used as outputs. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model is used to measure the efficiency of the construction industry. Shanghai and Zhejiang are found technically efficient. Shandong is scale efficient but technology efficiency is lower. There are two provinces are decreasing returns to scale and other provinces are increasing returns to scale. On the whole, the technology efficiency of the construction industry of China is lower. Based on the conclusions, the paper proposes some suggestions to improve the efficiency of the construction industry in China.

Factors affecting commitment and satisfaction of project managers in the construction industry

Construction project managers normally need develop their professional knowledge and practical skills in construction technologies and management on the basis of long term work experience. Their organizational commitment and job satisfaction level significantly influence their performance attitudes and job achievements. Keeping construction project managers highly committed to and satisfied with the employed companies is extremely vital to employed construction companies but is really difficulty due to the non-attractive job circumstances. This research investigates the major demographic variables that affect the organizational commitment and job satisfaction of project managers in the construction industry. Based on an empirical study, the statistical results indicate that some demographical variables play a substantial role in construction project managers' organizational commitment and job satisfaction. With this knowledge, construction organizations can draw up operational strategies to retain their project managers.

Lessons learned practices in the UAE construction industry

The failure of learning from our mistakes or those of others, has generated unnecessary waste of time and costs, in the construction industry, due to its project based, fragmented and unstable nature. Lessons Learned, as an important way of improving projects performance, is analyzed in this study, with the aim to explore the current practice of Lessons Learned in the UAE construction industry. A literature review has revealed what “Lessons Learned” is under different contexts, and focused on various factors influencing a Lessons Learned Programme. The research method of a series of structured interviews, followed by an on line questionnaire, is adopted in this study. It was found that although the concept of Lessons Learned is quite familiar by most of professionals in the project management in the UAE construction industry, Lessons Learned practice is mainly performed in an informal way (individually or ad hoc). As for barriers for Lessons Learned practice, Culture factors, such as “Afraid to be blamed for mistakes” and “lack of learning culture” (1st and 2nd rank) influence significantly in Lessons Learned practice. It is also found that a formal lessons learned programme does exist in some organizations. However, with the lack of a dedicated Lessons Learned repository and Lessons Learnt system, Lessons Learned has yet a long way to reach its potential.

Improving the practice of subcontract nomination in the UAE construction industry

Subcontracting is a common aspect of procurement strategy in construction. The practice of subcontract nomination has produced many problems to the construction industry in the UAE. Examining the nature of associated challenges and investigating new approaches to improve the nomination practice become more critical and demanding. An initial research on the relevant literature was conducted to establish a better understanding of the problems and possible solutions. Then, a series of semi structured interviews were carried out with senior construction professionals in the UAE to examine how the findings of the initial research apply and relate to the UAE construction industry. The analysis and findings of the interviews formed the basis of a closed questions questionnaire. The respondents of the questionnaire were mainly asked to rate the nomination challenges and the approaches to improve the nomination practice. The research concluded that despite the significant reasons and benefits of nomination, the associated risks and challenges don’t encourage adopting it. The full involvement of the MC in the nomination process from the outset and the better detailed provisions of the contract nomination clauses were found the best possible approaches to improve the practice of subcontract nomination in the UAE.

Study of the road construction industry in Sri Lanka: emphasis on improving performance of the industry

Outcome of the research is to identify significant factors influencing the productivity and performance of the road construction industry in Sri Lanka and to compare the identified factors with the Australian construction industry. Also to recommend strategies to improve productivity and performance of the Sri Lankan Industry.