Transforming Construction Risk Management through Digital Tools: A Case Study from Ghana

The construction industry increasingly recognises digital tools\u27 transformative potential in managing and mitigating risks. Like many developing countries, Ghana\u27s construction industry has various risks, including health and safety hazards, technological failures, and supply chain disruptions. These risks can lead to project delays, cost overruns, and safety incidents. While digital tools offer a promising avenue for mitigating these risks, their adoption and impact in Ghana remain under-researched. This study investigates the potential of digital tools in mitigating construction risks in Ghana, focusing on the perceptions and experiences of construction professionals in the Cape Coast region. A purposive sample of 78 construction professionals in Cape Coast, including project managers, site engineers, and safety officers, was surveyed using a close-ended online questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the Relative Importance Index (RII) to rank the significance of various factors and benefits using Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The study identified "health and safety risks" and "technological failures" as the most critical concerns for construction professionals. Using digital tools was perceived as highly influential in completing projects on time and within budget. Improved regulatory compliance and productivity were identified as the most significant benefits of digital tools, while improved worksite safety, though acknowledged, ranked lower in priority. The findings underscore the potential of digital tools to revolutionise construction risk management in Ghana and the need for greater awareness and education regarding the safety-enhancing capabilities of these tools. It is recommended that stakeholders invest in digital solutions, prioritise training programs, and consider cost-effective options suitable for the Ghanaian context. Future research could expand the geographical scope and include more diverse perspectives to refine further and implement digital risk management strategies in the construction sector

A Review of Benefits and Risks of Outsourcing Building Operation and Maintenance

Over the past few years, there has been a growing trend and high demand for outsourcing as a procurement strategy in the field of building operations and maintenance. Successful outsourcing can bring numerous advantages to organisations, encompassing a wide range of benefits. However, if outsourcing fails, there are substantial risks that organisations may face. The objective of this paper is to analyse the current literature concerning the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing building operations and maintenance. Additionally, it aims to compile the findings and identify any potential research gaps in the existing body of knowledge. A comprehensive search through a systematic review of the literature was conducted across numerous journals. Key terms derived from the initial literature review are used first to categorise whether the studies address outsourcing benefits, risks, motivations, or issues. The benefits and risks of outsourcing building operations and maintenance construct were then identified using content analysis methodology and an inductive coding technique. Through a methodological and well-organised approach, this paper offers an extensive collection of previously recognised benefits and risks of outsourcing building operations and maintenance. The findings of this paper indicate several expected benefits of outsourcing building operation and maintenance, including cost savings, a focus on core functions, quality improvement, reduced capital expenditure, increased economic efficiency, and greater flexibility. This paper also classifies the risk of outsourcing building operations and maintenance into five risk factors: client risk, vendor risk, contract risk, communication or relationship risk, and general risk. The result reveals that a well-executed outsourcing strategy assists organisations in effectively managing their building operations and maintenance tasks

The Concepts of Shariah-Compliance for Hotel Reservation in Malaysia: A Review

Hotels have started implementing Shariah Compliant Hotel (SCH) practices due to increasing demand for Shariah Compliant services and facilities from Muslim travellers. Basic principles and attributes of SCH concepts were designed and developed, however, current room reservations especially in online booking platforms that support SCH concepts were not widely practised. This study aims to review previous studies on SCH practices and propose the concept of SCH reservations toward online booking platforms. This study has identified several issues and challenges, including issues on SCH concepts and characteristics and/or attributes, issues on the perceptions and behaviours toward SCH implementation, and issues on how SCH is being implemented. Besides that, this study also finds that the key aspects of SCH research are divided into 4 main aspects; design and development of the SCH concept, characteristics and attribution, the SCH implementation, assessment of SCH implementation, and customer/tourist perceptions and behaviour toward SCH implementations. This study also suggests the concept of integrating SCH concepts into the current online booking platform, via having 4 processes; improving the current online booking platform database design, improving the process of applying SCH practices, validating hotel’s applications, and integrating and viewing SCH in online booking platform

A Review of Adequate Residential Housing Provision for Enhanced Occupants’ Work Performance

Adequate housing provision for the workforce ensures their maximum contribution to the fulfilment of the organisational goals and objectives; it ensures the comfort and security of the workers, thereby enhancing their work ethics, which results in increased efficiency and enhanced overall productivity. Housing is an essential contributor to a man\u27s quality of life, as people spend a significant portion of their lives in their residential homes. Hence, the adequacy of residential housing has a significant influence on the occupants’ quality of life and work output. Therefore, it is important to improve the quality of residential housing to the satisfaction of the occupant. Thus, this study aims to present a literature review on the provision of adequate housing to increase workers\u27 performance. Several literature sources are used to identify related studies that shed light on the relationship between adequate housing and occupant workers\u27 productivity. The study revealed the conceptual dimensions of residential housing adequacy and occupants’ work performance, which include the physical conditions of the house, the suitability of facilities in the house for its occupants, and the affordability of the house in terms of occupation. The study further revealed that good quality and appropriate facilities in a house are essential for the occupant\u27s physical and mental well-being, whereas unhealthy homes can negatively affect the occupant\u27s work performance and overall productivity. Therefore, to improve home dwellers\u27 work performance, stakeholders like owners, architects, estate managers, urban planners, builders, and construction engineers should prioritise the occupants\u27 general well-being and implement housing systems that promote high performance

Facilitating Hotdesking in a Hybrid Office Environment: Lessons from the Hotdesking Experiences of Workers in a Malaysian GLC

In recent years, the dynamic evolution of work arrangements has prompted organisations to adopt hybrid office environments, where remote work and on-site presence harmonise. Within this context, hotdesking has emerged as a flexible solution for optimising workspace utilisation and fostering collaboration. This research explores the experiences of workers within a prominent Malaysian Government-Linked Company (GLC). The qualitative research presented herein aligns with three pivotal research objectives, collectively contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the hotdesking landscape within the Malaysian GLC context. This research captures the essence of how workers navigate different types of non-territorial activities that are associated with hotdesking. Through illuminating direct and participant observation as well as semi-structured walking interviews that were conducted between July and August of 2023, the study unveiled three types of work activities and six types of non-territorial work settings within the organisation. The aims revolves around an exploration of the underlying themes that define the hotdesking experiences of workers at the study site. This thematic analysis provides insides into how different underlying themes are shaping up based on the evolving spatial and social dynamics of the hybrid office. The findings demonstrate the crucial role of the physical workspace, the adaptive strategies employed by workers, and the multifarious factors contributing to their satisfaction levels. These insights provide valuable guidance to organisations seeking to cultivate effective and satisfying hybrid office environments. This research provides a holistic view of the intricate world of hotdesking, anchored in the experiences of workers within a Malaysian GLC. By addressing the research aims, it extends the understanding of hotdesking dynamics, contributing empirically derived insights that enrich the discourse on modern workspace strategies

Condition Precedents to the Extension of Time (EOT) Claims in Building and Infrastructure Projects: A Review of the Malaysian Litigation Cases

Delays in building and infrastructure construction projects are a persistent issue that significantly affects the project completion and often results in legal disputes, increased costs, and reduced productivity. Generally, building and infrastructure construction contracts include Extension of Time (EOT) provisions to address delays and to protect the contractor from liquidated damages and penalties due to neutral events and delays caused by the employers. However, EOT claims frequently entangled with disputes due to contractors’ failure to fulfil the condition precedent required for such claims. This purpose of the study is to identify issues relating to the condition precedent for Extension of Time (EOT) claims based on the Malaysian litigation cases and to analyse the ground of judgment on Extension of Time (EOT) claim. The study examines building and infrastructure construction-related cases reported in the Malayan Law Journal (MLJ) from 2013 to 2023. A systematic methodology that incorporates a comprehensive literature review and data collection from court cases using PRISMA guidelines was employed in this research. The findings reveal several issues relating to condition precedent to EOT claims, which are notification requirements, causation, criticality of delay, substantiation of claims, and mitigation efforts. The analysis to the grounds of judgment on EOT claim litigation cases shows that courts often examine whether proper and timely notices were given as required by the contract, the need for clear and convincing evidence to establish the causation of delays, the criticality of the delay events and their impact on the project\u27s critical path, the substantiation of claims with adequate documentation, and the contractor\u27s efforts to mitigate delays. This study contributes to the understanding and raising awareness for contract parties to fulfil the condition precedent to EOT claims. The findings provide significant insights for the project stakeholders in improving claim management practices and reducing time-related disputes in the construction industry

An Examination of the Influence of Housing Attributes on Residential Property Rental Value in South-western Nigeria Using the Hedonic Pricing Model

This study adopts the hedonic pricing model to examine the influence of housing attributes on residential property rental value in south-western, Nigeria. This is to provide information on the housing attributes that could increase residential property rental values based on the current market situation. The study used primary data and employed quantitative data analysis. The data obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study revealed the significant factors that influence rental value across different residential property types in south-western Nigeria. The paper is significant because it provides the necessary information on the influence of housing attributes in the study area. Hence, it enhances increasing knowledge in profitability, which could shape both local and foreign investors\u27 investment decisions

A Re-examination of Housing Investment Performance in Nigeria

Arising from the lack of a holistic performance analysis of housing investment in Nigeria, this paper re-examines the return-risk performance of residential property assets by focusing on the tier 1 property markets of Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. Data on the rental and capital values of residential property assets, comprising bungalows, blocks of flats, and detached houses, from 1999 to 2022 were obtained from estate surveying and valuation firms in the three locations. Mean return and standard deviation were employed to analyse return and risk profiles. Variations in return and risk profiles were further examined using a four-year sub-period analysis. The return-risk ratio was also employed to measure the attractiveness of the investment. The downside risk measure of the Sortino ratio was utilised to determine the risk-adjusted performance of the residential property assets. The results revealed that, on mean return and return-risk tradeoff bases, bungalow investments had superior performance compared with other property types across the geographic areas. When aggregated, residential property assets in Port Harcourt experienced superior return-risk performance relative to other locations. On sub-period analysis, the study established variations in the performance of the residential property assets across time periods and locations. On the risk-adjusted performance measure, it was found that bungalows in Lagos had the highest risk-adjusted performance. Detached house investments across the three locations were also found to exhibit low downside risk-adjusted performance. The study concluded that investors could gain high and attractive returns when making bungalow housing investment decisions with a huge potential for downside risk-proof returns. Moreover, investors could further expand this potential by concentrating more housing investment activities in Port Harcourt, as returns in this location are insulated from downside risk. However, investors should be cautious when investing in detached house assets across the three locations, as returns from this asset might be susceptible to downside risk

Green Features: A Pathway to Climate Change Mitigation in Gombe State University (GSU), Nigeria

The adoption of green features in the built environment has emerged as a promising pathway towards climate change mitigation. This article explored the role of green features in mitigating climate change concerns within the Nigerian context, with a focus on the case study of Gombe State University (GSU) as a case study. The study employed a multiple approach, including literature review, case study analysis, and content analysis of relevant documents, to investigate the implementation of sustainable sustainability initiatives at GSU. Key findings from the study revealed that GSU has made a significant stride towards climate change mitigation by successfully implemented various green initiatives, including afforestation, erosion control measures, renewable energy integration, and eco-friendly waste management. Specifically, the university has planted over 3,000 seedlings (including 500 date palms and other fruit and non-fruit trees) and established a mini-animal zoo park for animal conservation. These efforts have greatly demonstrated an improved eco-friendly and conducive learning atmosphere and mitigate the effect of climate change and in return reduced the carbon footprint and erosion control. The research concluded by demonstrating that green features can be a successful strategy for Nigerian universities to combat climate change and create sustainable campuses. Thus, recommending integration of green features into institutional policies, increased awareness campaigns within the educational sector, encouraging renewable energy adoption, implementing comprehensive waste management strategies, and further research on optimizing green features for the Nigerian context. By embracing these recommendations, Nigerian universities can serve as models for climate change mitigation and sustainable development, contributing to the country\u27s efforts to achieve SDGs Goals 13

Effect of Micro Economic Factors on Residential Property Value in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria

The research aims to assess the microeconomic factors affecting residential property values in Birnin Kebbi. Property serves as an asset for any individual, as real estate is one of life\u27s primary goals. Besides the need to eat and drink, property also plays a crucial role in daily life. Property values are influenced by various factors, which can be either microeconomic or macroeconomic in nature, or both. Many microeconomic variables are related to property attributes and buyer demographic profiles. To achieve this aim, two objectives were formulated: (i) to examine the types of property and microeconomic factors affecting property values in the study area, and (ii) to assess the effect of microeconomic factors on residential property values. Both primary and secondary sources of data were used for data collection. Out of 377 questionnaires administered, 321 were retrieved. Simple random sampling and stratified random sampling methods were employed. Quantitative methods were used for data analysis, and all data gathered were analysed using descriptive statistics and the Likert scale. The study found that physical characteristics of residential properties, such as types of materials used, building design, room sizes, parking spaces, building age, and landscape, significantly influence property values. Additionally, the types of finishes (roofs, walls, ceilings, and floors), infrastructural facilities, and social amenities (number of toilets, electricity fittings, waste disposal and sewage, potable water supply, and various sanitation facilities) also play a role. The effects of microeconomic variables on property values in the study area include insecurity, increased traffic, property price changes, nuisances, environmental quality, property demand, and time consumption. The study recommends that prospective property developers ensure the use of standard building finishes to maximize returns on their investment in property value. Additionally, the government should introduce policies to ease difficulties in importing housing materials and promote the manufacture of local ones