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1 – 10 of over 115000Huimin Li, Zhichao Zhao, Yongchao Cao, Limin Su, Jing Zhao and Yafei Zhang
Servitization and research and development (R&D) innovation provide new developmental opportunities for transformation in the construction industry. This study aims to explore the…
Abstract
Purpose
Servitization and research and development (R&D) innovation provide new developmental opportunities for transformation in the construction industry. This study aims to explore the transformative impact of servitization and R&D innovation on the value added of the construction industry, offering new insights into industry transformation and growth.
Design/methodology/approach
This study utilizes panel data from Chinese listed construction companies from 2014 to 2022 to empirically investigate the relationship among servitization, R&D innovation and value added in the construction industry. The data analysis is augmented by incorporating text mining techniques to rigorously investigate the interplay among servitization, R&D innovation and the value added within the construction industry.
Findings
The research findings indicate that the impact of servitization on value added follows a positive U-shaped relationship, while the influence of R&D innovation on value added exhibits an inverted U-shaped relationship. Additionally, innovation investment plays a negative moderating role in the relationship between servitization and value added.
Originality/value
This study reveals a fresh perspective on how construction companies can leverage servitization as a strategic pathway for transformation and competitive advantage. The research alsoĀ lays a theoretical groundwork for future innovation investment strategies in the construction industry, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach to innovation investments to maximize value added.
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Ayodeji E. Oke, Seyi S. Stephen and Clinton O. Aigbavboa
Existing studies relating to value management in developing countries reveals that the Nigerian construction industry is also facing the challenge of not fully adopting value…
Abstract
Existing studies relating to value management in developing countries reveals that the Nigerian construction industry is also facing the challenge of not fully adopting value management practice into construction, let alone other sectors of the system. The introduction gives the correlation between sustainability and value management as techniques vital to the development of construction in Nigeria. The relative importance of value management is said to give an overview of the new advantages the practice brings to parties involved in an identified project concerned with using value management. Requirements, challenges and behavioural elements pertaining to value management in the Nigerian construction industry summarize the concerns with the application of value management in the country. The conclusion gives a general summary of the elements highlighted throughout this research.
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Ayodeji E. Oke, Seyi S. Stephen and Clinton O. Aigbavboa
Culture is a big influence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The presence of culture and related social practices influences the nature and types of demands from the clients of…
Abstract
Culture is a big influence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The presence of culture and related social practices influences the nature and types of demands from the clients of construction projects. Value management (VM) introduced into this construction industry had to break barriers facing the full adoption of the practice. The introductory aspect of the work explains the growth of the construction industry in the UAE over the years. Sustainability and construction were also discussed to understand the influence of both and the utility to be derived with time. Another part of the work speaks on how to improve the practice of VM in UAE construction by suggesting ideas in the design and construction stages. The effect of environment and the cultural aspect of the people, clients, professionals and so on conclude the later part of the work.
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Emmanuel Itodo Daniel and Christine Pasquire
The purpose of this paper is to present the current knowledge surrounding social value (SV) and show how lean approach supports SV realisation in the delivery of construction…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the current knowledge surrounding social value (SV) and show how lean approach supports SV realisation in the delivery of construction projects.
Design/methodology/approach
A critical literature review was adopted, to gather the current knowledge surrounding SV from mainstream management sciences, construction management and lean literature. A total of 70 studies were critically reviewed.
Findings
The study establishes that the current level of awareness on SV is still low and there is a dearth of scholarly publications on SV especially in the construction management literature. The investigation reveals the potentials of lean approach in supporting the delivery of SV on construction projects.
Social implications
This study conceptualises the community and the physical environment around where the construction project is executed as customers using lean production approach. It shows that the transformation, flow and value view supports smooth workflow, which enhances the achievement of SV objectives. This creates a new insight into how SV can be realised in construction project delivery.
Originality/value
This study extends the on-going debate around the need for SV in construction project delivery and contributes to construction management and lean construction literature on SV. Future studies could build on this to obtain empirical data and develop an approach/method that would support the evidencing of SV delivery on construction projects.
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Sadegh Aliakbarlou, Suzanne Wilkinson and Seosamh Benedict Costello
The purpose of this paper is to focus on exploring the construction client values and qualities reported by scholars over the last 20 years, along with clarifying commonalities…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to focus on exploring the construction client values and qualities reported by scholars over the last 20 years, along with clarifying commonalities and differences between āvalueā and āqualityā in terms of definitions and their constituent attributes in the context of construction.
Design/methodology/approach
An in-depth, systematic literature review was used to develop a basis for identifying client values and qualities. During the research process, citation analysis has been applied to understand these attributes in the literature.
Findings
While the findings may appear to align with the value theory concept of a strong interrelationship between quality and value, the authors argue that there is an intermingling of various subjective and objective preferences within construction scholarship, rather than a broad-brush adherence to the value theory and other related theories.
Research limitations/implications
A qualitative research approach of inductive analysis was conducted using the semantics of terms and codes. Although reliability checks have been conducted, the generalisability of the study findings is subject to natural methodological limitations.
Practical implications
This study provides initial guidance on what contractors need to consider while providing services, and leads contractors to give their clients the best possible experience during a relationship. It proposes a shift in the way construction clients assess their contractors, to improve how services are delivered.
Originality/value
Enhancing client value is not straightforward, hence strong emphasis has been placed on understanding client values in this study, which contributes to the construction literature by facilitating further research leading to stronger construct definitions and theory-building efforts.
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Ayman Ahmed Ezzat Othman and Lamis Yasser Wagih Youssef
This paper aims to develop a framework for implementing the integrated project delivery (IPD) approach during the design process in architecture design firms (ADFs) in Egypt.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to develop a framework for implementing the integrated project delivery (IPD) approach during the design process in architecture design firms (ADFs) in Egypt.
Design/methodology/approach
A research methodology consists of literature review, case studies and survey questionnaire was designed to achieve the abovementioned aim. First, literature review was used to identify and categorise the challenges of implementing IPD during the design process. Second, four case studies were analysed to investigate the values delivered to the client or missed due to the use of IPD or traditional procurement approaches, respectively. Finally, a survey questionnaire was carried out with a representative sample of ADFs in Egypt to investigate their perception towards the challenges of IPD implementation in Egypt. Based on the results of the above, the research developed a framework to facilitate the implementation of IPD in ADFs in Egypt.
Findings
Through literature review, the research identified 30 challenges that hamper the implementation of IPD in ADFs. These challenges were categorised due to their nature into five groups, namely, integration, cooperation, commitment and trust challenges, knowledge, experience skills and decision-making challenges, cultural challenges, legal and contractual challenges and technical and financial challenges. Results of data analysis showed that āpoor communication and spirit of collaboration between project stakeholdersā was ranked the highest influential challenge as IPD is based on collaboration and trust between project participants. In addition, ālack of training and motivation in investing for using IPDā was ranked the lowest influential challenge due to the poor attention paid to training in the construction industry. Moreover, despite the benefits of IPD implementations in many countries worldwide, it is not implemented in the Egyptian context. This necessitated taking action towards developing a framework to facilitate IPD implementation in ADFs in Egypt.
Research limitations/implications
The research focussed on ADFs in Egypt.
Practical implications
Adopting the proposed framework developed through this research will help implementing IPD during the design process in ADFs.
Originality/value
The research identified, categorised and analysed the challenges that obstruct the implementation of IPD in ADFs. The research tackled a topic that received scant attention in construction literature in the Middle East generally and Egypt in particular. In addition, this paper presented a framework to facilitate the implementation of IPD during the design process, which represents a synthesis that is novel and creative in thought and adds value to the knowledge in a manner that has not previously occurred.
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Salinda Perera, Steven Davis and Marton Marosszeky
Value in construction is defined in so many ways and used to mean many different things, often linked to cost, time, objectives and customers that there exists no concise and…
Abstract
Purpose
Value in construction is defined in so many ways and used to mean many different things, often linked to cost, time, objectives and customers that there exists no concise and complete description of what constitutes value within a construction context. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to study the current perceptions of value by the construction players and compare with emerging theories of value in the literature.
Design/methodology/approach
Empirical evidence of prevailing perceptions of value within the support role provided by the head contractor (HC) to the subcontractors (SCs) is presented based on two years of action research on six construction sites in Sydney, Australia.
Findings
The results show that value management during the construction phase is currently understood as intrinsic to other HC functions. The paper presents a list of activities identified by HCs and SCs as key support services to be performed by the HC to enable efficient progression of construction.
Research limitations/implications
There are limitations in generalising the outcomes of this study to the construction industry. Further research is required in advancing the role of the HC in overall construction organisation.
Originality/value
This paper adds value in advancing the role of the HC in construction. Empirical evidence of valueābased management closely following the current perceptions of the construction players compared to managing value as a separate function is presented.
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Application of sustainable construction is highly important in achieving construction project goal as well as reducing energy consumption and waste. In view of this, value is a…
Abstract
Application of sustainable construction is highly important in achieving construction project goal as well as reducing energy consumption and waste. In view of this, value is a critical aspect of construction project delivery, and in as much as value is more than just money in construction, this chapter addresses value as one of the paramount factors that determine project success in the construction industry. It explained the concept of sustainable construction from value point of view, the meaning and concept of value and its essentiality in the construction industry.
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Our main objective in this article is to discuss the problems of construction labour market stabilisation in the context of technological change. To study this topic the article…
Abstract
Our main objective in this article is to discuss the problems of construction labour market stabilisation in the context of technological change. To study this topic the article is divided into two parts. In the first part there is an analysis of the existing features of the construction labour market in Canada and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, in the light of economic stabilisation and technological change. In the second part an econometric model for the construction labour market in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador is developed and estimated. The statistical results are analysed in the light of achieving economic stabilisation with an equally capitalālabour augmenting type of technological change.
Brandsford Kwame Gidigah, Kofi Agyekum and Bernard K. Baiden
Though the Public Procurement Act of Ghana makes room for specific socio-economic policies (environmental, social, economic and other policies which are intended to promote social…
Abstract
Purpose
Though the Public Procurement Act of Ghana makes room for specific socio-economic policies (environmental, social, economic and other policies which are intended to promote social and economic impact), there is no explicit definition and provision for social value as an evaluation criterion, culminating in the absence of a definition in the Act. This paper elicits the conception and understanding of social value from stakeholders in the Ghanaian construction industry.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted a qualitative method that relied on a semi-structured interview of 30 participants purposively drawn from Western, Western North and Central regions of Ghana. An inductive thematic analysis approach, which involved identifying repetitions, exploring similarities and differences, noting linguistic connectors, and a framework were employed to analyse the data.
Findings
The study established no single definition or explanation for social value in the construction industry in Ghana. However, it was revealed from the study that the concept of social value could be defined from the functional perspective of the definer, particularly from the perspective of a Procurement Officer, Works Engineer, and a Quantity Surveyor. A new insight from the study that differs from the body of literature is that participants equated benefits derived from physically constructed projects as social value.
Social implications
The study has implication for public administration and practice regarding the decision-making process in the construction industry in Ghana. It provides a vital awakening on social value as a criterion in evaluating construction works procurement in Ghana. The ability of participants to equate the benefits derived from executed construction projects as social value creates a new perspective on understanding the meaning of social value in the procurement of works construction.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the state-of-the-art and ongoing discourse on the concept of social value globally. The findings create an important catalyst for social value research in the Ghanaian construction industry.
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