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A systemic exploration of drivers for and constraints on construction productivity enhancement

Arshad Ali Javed (Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)
Wei Pan (Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)
Le Chen (Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)
Wenting Zhan (Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)

Built Environment Project and Asset Management

ISSN: 2044-124X

Article publication date: 11 May 2018

Issue publication date: 5 July 2018

1917

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the complex interdependence of the factors in driving or hindering construction productivity at the industry, project and activity levels in a systemic manner.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-methods design, which combines a critical literature review, an interview-based survey with 32 industry experts and five focus group meetings participated in by 109 representatives of a wide range of industry stakeholder groups, was employed to identify the drivers for and constraints on construction productivity enhancement in Hong Kong and explore the interrelated insights into the drivers and constraints.

Findings

The study conceptualised and validated a systemic framework for examining construction industry productivity, and developed three causal loop diagrams (CLDs) for illustrating the dynamic structures that underpin the complex systems of the drivers and constraints.

Research limitations/implications

Although the scope of the study was limited to Hong Kong, the results could be interpreted for critical learning in other urban contexts.

Practical implications

The systemic perspective of construction productivity and the CLDs of the drivers and constraints support the systems thinking of industry stakeholders in the formulation of holistic strategies for long-term construction industry productivity enhancement.

Originality/value

The study conceptualises construction productivity from a systemic perspective and provides empirically supported CLDs to facilitate future investigations into the complex system of construction productivity.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This work was made possible by the research funding from Construction Industry Council (CIC) (Project No. 200007741). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CIC. Acknowledged are also the participants in the study, as well as the Editor and the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions.

Citation

Javed, A.A., Pan, W., Chen, L. and Zhan, W. (2018), "A systemic exploration of drivers for and constraints on construction productivity enhancement", Built Environment Project and Asset Management, Vol. 8 No. 3, pp. 239-252. https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-10-2017-0099

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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