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Article
Publication date: 26 August 2022

N.K. Mustaffa, S.A. Kudus and M.F.H.A. Aziz

There is a growing awareness of the dangers of climate change and global warming due to increasing energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions. Campus universities…

Abstract

Purpose

There is a growing awareness of the dangers of climate change and global warming due to increasing energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions. Campus universities are critical for implementing low-carbon development efficiently, given the large population and socio-economic activities concentrated on campus. This paper aims to explore the existing campus management initiatives and recommends holistic driving elements towards successful low-carbon campus development.

Design/methodology/approach

This study’s triangulation of information was supplemented by contributions from 116 respondents on the UiTM Shah Alam campus and eight professional interviews with stakeholders involved in low-carbon campus projects.

Findings

The study reported that low-carbon strategies had been implemented on the UiTM Shah Alam campus, with most existing programmes and activities focusing on low-hanging fruit initiatives. Moreover, the findings indicate that financial, cultural, behavioural, organisational and physical constraints are critical challenges to effectively implementing low-carbon approaches. The proposed techniques suggest that generating green funding, defining clear targets, developing standard procedures for carbon assessment and monitoring, also boosting education and outreach programmes lead to the improvement of low-carbon campus efforts.

Practical implications

The outcomes of this paper offer perspective to campus administration and community into an evaluation of current approaches and strategies for merging low-carbon systems. The effectiveness of low-carbon implementation was ensured by addressing issues concerning low-carbon uptake and fostering low-carbon improvement.

Originality/value

Besides providing a better understanding of techniques to implementing low-carbon development in Malaysia, the critical hurdles and driving factors, the output from this study adds to the existing knowledge available concerning the campus community’s existing comprehension.

Details

Journal of Facilities Management , vol. 21 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1472-5967

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 October 2023

Junjie Li, Jiaying Zhang, Chunlu Liu and Xiangyun Luo

This research paper aims to establish a comprehensive framework for the barriers to CER in the construction industry, assesses the barriers' relative degrees of hindrance and…

Abstract

Purpose

This research paper aims to establish a comprehensive framework for the barriers to CER in the construction industry, assesses the barriers' relative degrees of hindrance and causal mechanisms.

Design/methodology/approach

Firstly, 26 carbon emission reduction (CER) barriers in the construction industry were identified based on a systematic literature review (SLR) and categorized into five dimensions: policy, economy, society, technology and organization (PEST + O model). Secondly, the Best–Worst Method (BWM) was used to clarify the degrees of hindrance of the CER barriers. Then, the Grey-Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (Grey-DEMATEL) was used to visualize the directional cause–result relationship network among prominent barriers. Finally, the Boston matrix model was used to propose differentiated strategies to address CER barriers in the construction industry.

Findings

The calculated centrality and causality of the prominent barriers indicated that the lack of relevant legal policies and normative guidelines, the poor binding force and enforcement of existing relevant policies, the lack of effective economic subsidies and incentives and the difficulty in the operation, transformation and upgrading of existing construction CER are the key barriers that CER needs to address first in the construction industry. Considering the order of priority and the optimal path, differentiated countermeasures are proposed to address key, driving, independent and effect barriers.

Originality/value

This study develops a BWM–Grey-DEMATEL integrated multi-criteria decision-making model. An innovative C-shaped strategic map for addressing CER barriers in the construction industry is proposed by integrating the dual dimensions of time and space. This will guide practitioners, policymakers and decision-makers in developing CER strategies.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 December 2021

Verona Ramas Joseph and Nur Kamaliah Mustaffa

The demand to reduce carbon emissions has become an increasingly important social factor due to the unprecedented impacts of climate change. However, most existing publications…

1988

Abstract

Purpose

The demand to reduce carbon emissions has become an increasingly important social factor due to the unprecedented impacts of climate change. However, most existing publications have focused on minimizing emissions during the operational phase of buildings. At the same time, there is a lack of comprehensive research conducted on carbon emissions, specifically during the construction phase. The purpose of this paper is to identify, review and classify current practices related to carbon emissions management in construction operations to gain greater insight into how to reduce and mitigate emissions and achieve more sustainable solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study reviewed the published literature on carbon emissions from construction. A total of 198 bibliographic records were extracted from the Scopus collection database and analyzed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). PRISMA is used as a basis for reporting possible trends, research methods and strategies used in published literatures. A total of 99 papers related to carbon emissions in the construction operations were further reviewed and analyzed. This review paper draws on existing research and identifies current carbon management patterns in construction projects.

Findings

Data indicated an upward trend in the number of publications in carbon emissions research during the last few years, particularly in 2015, 2017 and 2019. The most significant contributions to the domain were reported from China, Europe and the USA. This paper found that most studies conduct the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method to estimate carbon emissions. This paper found that the primary studies have focused on construction machinery and equipment emissions. The strategies such as establishing uniform standards for carbon emissions policies and regulations, equipment and logistic planning and low carbon design material will potentially impact carbon emissions reductions.

Practical implications

This paper provides information that will be beneficial for the construction industry to design and manage construction operations. It will also be of interest to those looking to reduce or manage construction emissions.

Originality/value

Although there is a diversity of current thinking related to the practical estimation and management of carbon emissions in construction projects, there is no consolidated set of keys of standardized carbon emissions management in practice. By assessing the existing paradigms of carbon assessment methods and tactics in the construction industry, this study contributed to the existing knowledge base by providing insights into current techniques in the construction sector for monitoring and mitigating emissions.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 30 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 November 2023

Suhaib Arogundade, Mohammed Dulaimi, Saheed Ajayi, Abdullahi Saka and Olusegun Ilori

Extant studies have discussed numerous carbon reduction drivers, but there is a dearth of holistic review and understanding of the dynamic interrelationships between the drivers…

Abstract

Purpose

Extant studies have discussed numerous carbon reduction drivers, but there is a dearth of holistic review and understanding of the dynamic interrelationships between the drivers from a system perspective. Thus, this study aims to bridge that gap.

Design/methodology/approach

The study conducted a review using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and adopted interpretive structural modelling (ISM) to analyse and prioritise the drivers.

Findings

Eighteen drivers were identified and grouped into five, namely, policy instruments, bid-related, cost and risk, education and training, and reward and penalty drivers. The ISM revealed two hierarchical levels of the drivers with only higher cost of electricity/fuel on the higher level, making it the most important driver that could influence others.

Practical implications

The study presents an overview of decarbonisation drivers in the literature and would be of benefit to the government and stakeholders towards achieving net zero emissions in the construction industry.

Originality/value

The findings of the study present drivers of carbon reduction and prioritise and categorise them for tailored interventions within the construction sector. Also, it could serve as foundational knowledge for further study in the construction process decarbonisation research area.

Details

Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology , vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1726-0531

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 11 June 2024

Atikah Shamsul Bahrin, Ahmad Rais Mohamad Mokhtar, Ariff Azly Muhamed and Veera Pandiyan Kaliani Sundram

This study aims to provide a novel approach to examining the connection between several aspects of low-carbon supply chain practices (LCSCPs), eco-innovation (EI) and the…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to provide a novel approach to examining the connection between several aspects of low-carbon supply chain practices (LCSCPs), eco-innovation (EI) and the performance of manufacturing firms in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study employed a quantitative research strategy, utilizing survey data collected from a sample of 120 manufacturing firms located in Malaysia. The main aim of this study was to analyze the research framework and test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The results of the study indicate that EI has a mediating role in the link between LCSCP and manufacturing firm performance (MFP). EI serves as a mediating factor in the association between MFP and four components of LCSCPs, specifically low-carbon product design, low-carbon process improvement, low-carbon purchasing and low-carbon logistics.

Practical implications

The results of this study hold significant potential for supply chain professionals in their endeavors to decrease carbon emissions. Practitioners can help eliminate carbon footprints (CFs) by selecting the right LCSCP techniques that support EI and MFP. When creating low-carbon management methods in supply chain management (SCM), practitioners must take into account the potential mediating role of EI.

Originality/value

To date, this work is one of the first efforts to investigate the role of EI as a mediator between LCSCP and MFP. Moreover, this research adds to the existing knowledge and improves understanding of how low-carbon development is being implemented in Malaysia, with the ultimate objective of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Details

Journal of International Logistics and Trade, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1738-2122

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 May 2023

Xichen Chen, Alice Yan Chang-Richards, Tak Wing Yiu, Florence Yean Yng Ling, Antony Pelosi and Nan Yang

With growing concern about sustainable development and increased awareness of environmental issues, digital technologies (DTs) are gaining prominence and becoming a promising…

Abstract

Purpose

With growing concern about sustainable development and increased awareness of environmental issues, digital technologies (DTs) are gaining prominence and becoming a promising trend to improve productivity, sustainability and project performance in the construction industry. Nonetheless, the uptake of DTs in the construction industry has been limited and plagued with roadblocks. This study aims to identify critical barriers for construction organisations to adopt DTs and to demonstrate relationships between organisational characteristics and the perceived DTs adoption barriers.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted an explanatory sequential design by combining the advantages of quantitative and qualitative data. Data collection methods include literature review, a pilot study, questionnaire survey, and semi-structured interviews. Questionnaire data were analysed by using SPSS and multivariate regression technique. The interview data were processed by using content analysis to validate and supplement findings from the questionnaire.

Findings

Based on the survey and interview results, eight critical barriers were identified: the three top critical barriers are (1) “status quo industry standards”, (2) “lack of client interest” and (3) “lack of financial need/drive for using DTs”. The eight critical barriers were further classified into technical, environmental, and social dimensions to determine the major constructs that hinder DTs adoption. A theoretical framework articulating critical barriers with underlying components and root causes was also proposed. Furthermore, by using multivariate regression analysis, a model was developed to link the organisational characteristics with barriers to DTs adoption.

Practical implications

By referring to the framework and the model developed, academics, industry practitioners, and decision makers can identify pivotal areas for improvement, make informed decisions and implement remedial measures to remove the barriers to digitalisation transformation.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on construction innovations by investigating barriers to DTs adoption holistically as well as perceptions of the impact of organisational attributes on these barriers. It establishes the groundwork for future empirical research into the strategic consolidation of movement of DTs adoption and diffusion.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 October 2022

Jianbo Zhu, Qianqian Shi, Ce Zhang, Jingfeng Yuan, Qiming Li and Xiangyu Wang

Promoting low-carbon in the construction industry is important for achieving the overall low-carbon goals. Public–private partnership is very popular in public infrastructure…

Abstract

Purpose

Promoting low-carbon in the construction industry is important for achieving the overall low-carbon goals. Public–private partnership is very popular in public infrastructure projects. However, different perceptions of low-carbon and behaviors of public and private sectors can hinder the realization of low-carbon in these projects. In order to analyze the willingness of each stakeholder to cooperate towards low-carbon goals, an evolutionary game model is constructed.

Design/methodology/approach

An evolutionary game model that considers the opportunistic behavior of the participants is developed. The evolutionary stable strategies (ESSs) under different scenarios are examined, and the factors that influence the willingness to cooperate between the government and private investors are investigated.

Findings

The results illustrate that a well-designed system of profit distribution and subsidies can enhance collaboration. Excessive subsidies have negative impact on cooperation between the two sides, because these two sides can weaken income distribution and lead to the free-riding behavior of the government. Under the situation of two ESSs, there is also an optimal revenue distribution coefficient that maximizes the probability of cooperation. With the introduction of supervision and punishment mechanism, the opportunistic behavior of private investors is effectively constrained.

Originality/value

An evolutionary game model is developed to explore the cooperation between the public sector and the private sector in the field of low-carbon construction. Based on the analysis of the model, this paper summarizes the conditions and strategies that can enable the two sectors to cooperate.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 31 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 April 2023

Chibuikem Michael Adilieme, Rotimi Boluwatife Abidoye and Chyi Lin Lee

The property valuation process involves the property valuer expressing expertise in reaction to a client' instruction. However, there are instances where clients, driven by…

388

Abstract

Purpose

The property valuation process involves the property valuer expressing expertise in reaction to a client' instruction. However, there are instances where clients, driven by self-interest, impose their will to influence valuers into returning property valuation figures that are not the true reflection of the valuer's assessment. This paper set out to revisit the issue of client influence in property valuation by conducting a scoping review to establish key findings, gaps, implications and solutions.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 21 articles on client influence published from 1997 till date were systematically obtained from Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and through citation searching and reviewed through a “Patterns, Advances, Gaps, Evidence for practice and Research recommendations (PAGER)” framework. Further analysis and visualisation were performed using VOSviewer software.

Findings

This study found that based on the number of studies, the issue of client influence has received empirical attention, which is few and far between, with financial institutions identified as the major culprits in most of those studies. One core reason for this is the stakes involved in the finance sector, which relies on property valuation for loan disbursement and performance measurement. Furthermore, previous studies have focused on identifying the issue through the lens of the property valuer without giving recourse to the client's perspective on what may drive the issue.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides evidence that the issue of client influence persists, with some elements of bias in the methodology. Furthermore, the solutions proffered have focused on the valuer and have not been tested to ascertain their effectiveness. Future studies can consider examining the issue from the perspective of financial institutions.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first review studies on client influence on property valuation. It is also the first to identify a pattern in client influence studies that points to the issue being perpetuated by financial institutions. Furthermore, it is the first in recent time to reveal how limited study has been conducted in the area as well as the solutions which have neither been tested nor implemented.

Details

Property Management, vol. 41 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-7472

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 July 2022

Yi-Hsin Lin, Wenqing Han, Chan Joong Kim, Li Jiang and Nini Xia

The purpose of this paper is to verify the mediating role of commitment between market-oriented organizational culture and international market performance, and to discuss the…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to verify the mediating role of commitment between market-oriented organizational culture and international market performance, and to discuss the moderator effect of national institutional environment on this mediating role.

Design/methodology/approach

The research design follows a mixed methodology, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. In the first phase, research hypotheses are proposed based on a literature analysis. In the second phase, sample data are collected through interviews and questionnaires sent to domestic contractors in China and South Korea, and a validity analysis of the results is carried out. Correlation and regression analyses are then performed on the valid data to verify hypotheses to prove the existence and influence of mediating effects. Hayes PROCESS Macro is used on the regression results to test the mediating effect of commitment on international project performance and the moderation effect of institutional environment.

Findings

The results reveal that the commitment between partners has a mediating effect on the relationship between market culture and international project performance; however, no hierarchy culture is revealed. The mediating effect of commitment is regulated by the institutional environment.

Research limitations/implications

Although the reliability and validity of the questionnaire data in this study are in line with research standards, a larger sample size would improve the reliability of the results. Further, the interviewed samples are mainly from China and South Korea; large representative samples from additional countries, such as Japan, should be considered to gain a fuller understanding and more comprehensive results.

Originality/value

By emphasizing the differences between the two institutional environments of developing and developed countries in East Asia, a theoretical and empirical basis is provided. International construction enterprises in other countries can apply the findings to improve their international market performance in different institutional environments. The findings also provide an empirical reference that international construction enterprises in China and South Korea may use to adjust their organizational cultures and commitments to improve market performance.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 30 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 March 2024

Florence Yean Yng Ling and Kelly Kai Li Teh

This study investigated what are the effective leadership styles and practices that boost employees’ work outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of facilities…

Abstract

Purpose

This study investigated what are the effective leadership styles and practices that boost employees’ work outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of facilities management professionals (FMPs).

Design/methodology/approach

Three predominant leadership styles (transformational, transactional contingent reward and disaster management) were operationalized into 38 leadership practices (X variables) and 8 work outcomes (Y variables). The explanatory sequential research design was adopted. Online questionnaire survey was first conducted on FMPs who managed facilities during the critical periods of COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore. In-depth interviews were then carried out with subject matter experts to elaborate on the quantitative findings.

Findings

During the pandemic, FMPs were significantly stressed at work, but also experienced significant job satisfaction and satisfaction with their leaders/supervisors. Statistical results revealed a range of leadership practices that are significantly correlated with FMPs’ work outcomes. One leadership practice is critical as it affects 4 of the 8 FMPs’ work outcomes - frequently acknowledging employees’ good performance during the pandemic.

Research limitations/implications

The study explored 3 leadership styles. There are other styles like laissez faire and servant leadership that might also affect work outcomes.

Practical implications

Based on the findings, suggestions were provided to organizations that employ FMPs on how to improve their work outcomes during a crisis such as a pandemic.

Originality/value

The novelty is the discovery that in the context of a global disaster such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the most relevant leadership styles to boost employees’ work outcomes are transactional contingent reward and disaster management leadership. The study adds to knowledge by showing that not one leadership style is superior – all 3 styles are complementary, but distinct, forms of leadership that need to work in tandem to boost FMPs’ work outcomes during a crisis such as a pandemic.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

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