Motivating the construction academic: a conceptual study

The main purpose of this study is to understand factors that motivate and demotivate a construction academic based on existing literature. An extensive examination of published literature failed to reveal any studies on motivation or demotivation of construction academics but for a few studies on motivation of academics in general. These studies revealed over 25 intrinsic and extrinsic factors which were differentiated between factors cited in conceptual and empirical studies. A further distinction was made between factors cited in studies focussed directly on motivation of academics, and factors cited in studies investigating a different topic. Factors so identified, provide a broad base for understanding ‘what’ factors affect motivation and demotivation of academics However, these studies have not taken into account discipline specific, job level, and other contextual issues or prioritised factors based on importance. Moreover, ‘how’ these factors could be used for improving organisational performance focussing on different disciplines and roles within these disciplines have not been studied either. Nevertheless, an examination of these factors revealed that most fall within the control of the university management. As such, there is a need for understanding what management styles could be used for increasing motivation and minimising demotivation, and this is an area that needs investigation focussing on construction specific issues vis-à-vis context and job roles

A conceptual framework for client financed construction and non-traditional approaches for financing construction work

The basic premise of the client-financed-construction philosophy is that those who commission service providers must not only pay for their services for the cost of their labour, materials, plant and equipment but do so in a manner that adds value to all parties. A new framework for proposing, evaluating and implementing such systems has been conceived which is used for evaluating three non-traditional approaches for financing construction work, and thereby validating the framework. The three approaches, namely, ‘rolling advance payment’, ‘rolling material price advance’, and ‘direct financing’ have been described and analysed with the ‘rolling advance payment’ approach being described as a revolutionary approach for solving problems connected with financing contractors and as an approach that has much potential to add value to all parties. The two systems are particularly useful as a crisis management system in projects saddled with cash flow problems bringing ‘life’ to almost ‘dead’ projects with potential benefits to all parties. The paper calls for good construction project management as an essential condition for implementing these schemes with particular attention given to risk management and local construction culture

Resolving retention polarity: the perceptions of structural steel fabricators

This study aims to understand the perceived polarity between main contractors and subcontractors with a view to resolving problems connected with retentions in an environment where a sliding-retention regime is utilised with a retention rate of 10% for work below NZ $ 200,000. Eight structural steel subcontractors operating in Auckland were interviewed. Contrary to popular belief, subcontractors are not averse to retentions with most taking a middle ground. Nevertheless, the apparently fair practice of using back-to-back contract terms is not seen as fair and reasonable. Most solutions acceptable to subcontractors impact negatively on contractors’ cash flow highlighting the need for some form of reciprocity from subcontractors (price discounts, improved performance, etc.) to induce contractors to offer favourable retention regimes. This highlights the need for a theory on ‘retention reciprocity’ to supplement the five theories on retentions. However, given that not all contractors can be expected to display reciprocity fairness, an interventionist approach may be necessary in order to neutralise any imbalances in power between the contracting parties possibly through amendments to the Construction Contracts Act, and when doing so, there is a need to exercise much caution as the outcome of chaotic systems could be quite unpredictable

Monetary retentions for subcontract work: a risk-based approach

The subcontracting culture in New Zealand is such that the same retention regime imposed on contractors is imposed on subcontractors by and large. This paradoxically fair contractual practice of back-to-back terms results in high retention rates (10%) and long defects liability periods set from contractor’s practical completion which has caused concerns for subcontractors with no rational basis for resolving such concerns. This study investigates this phenomenon from a risk based perspective to understand the link between risk and retentions particularly in relation to current practice. Accordingly, it is found that current retention rates do not show an association with overall risk computed as a product of likelihood and consequence based on contractors’ perceptions. However, when risk is viewed through these two components, it is seen that trades with high default risks for either likelihood or consequence results in high retention rates. Additionally, it is also seen that high risk is associated with subcontractor-harsh retention regimes with some exceptions lowering the strength of this association suggesting the need to investigate such trades to understand whether there are other overwhelming reasons for such exceptions. Thus, it is concluded that risk and retention regimes are linked to this extent although for a given level of risk, subcontractor friendly or unfriendly regimes could be achieved by a mix of different retention rates and release mechanisms. In this regard, it is seen that contractors seem to prefer high retention rates than longer defects liability periods for trades which have high risk levels. A further understanding about this relationship could be developed by undertaking a study on perceived overall risk levels and perceived retention regimes

Optimized recentered confidence spheres for the multivariate normal mean

Casella and Hwang, 1983, JASA, introduced a broad class of recentered confidence spheres for the mean $\boldsymbol{\theta}$ of a multivariate normal distribution with covariance matrix $\sigma^2 \boldsymbol{I}$, for $\sigma^2$ known. Both the center and radius functions of these confidence spheres are flexible functions of the data. For the particular case of confidence spheres centered on the positive-part James-Stein estimator and with radius determined by empirical Bayes considerations, they show numerically that these confidence spheres have the desired minimum coverage probability $1-\alpha$ and dominate the usual confidence sphere in terms of scaled volume. We shift the focus from the scaled volume to the scaled expected volume of the recentered confidence sphere. Since both the coverage probability and the scaled expected volume are functions of the Euclidean norm of $\boldsymbol{\theta}$, it is feasible to optimize the performance of the recentered confidence sphere by numerically computing both the center and radius functions so as to optimize some clearly specified criterion. We suppose that we have uncertain prior information that $\boldsymbol{\theta}= \boldsymbol{0}$. This motivates us to determine the center and radius functions of the confidence sphere by numerical minimization of the scaled expected volume of the confidence sphere at $\boldsymbol{\theta}= \boldsymbol{0}$, subject to the constraints that (a) the coverage probability never falls below $1-\alpha$ and (b) the radius never exceeds the radius of the standard $1-\alpha$ confidence sphere. Our results show that, by focusing on this clearly specified criterion, significant gains in performance (in terms of this criterion) can be achieved. We also present analogous results for the much more difficult case that $\sigma^2$ is unknown.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1306.241

Fletcher-Turek Model Averaged Profile Likelihood Confidence Intervals

We evaluate the model averaged profile likelihood confidence intervals proposed by Fletcher and Turek (2011) in a simple situation in which there are two linear regression models over which we average. We obtain exact expressions for the coverage and the scaled expected length of the intervals and use these to compute these quantities in particular situations. We show that the Fletcher-Turek confidence intervals can have coverage well below the nominal coverage and expected length greater than that of the standard confidence interval with coverage equal to the same minimum coverage. In these situations, the Fletcher-Turek confidence intervals are unfortunately not better than the standard confidence interval used after model selection but ignoring the model selection process

The Two Perpendicularly Positioned Projection Units that Simultaneously Projects Multiple Projections Where the Images Projected will occur at multiple Distances

This paper describes a configuration which enables to simultaneously project multiple projections that will occur at multiple distances. The entire configuration consists of 2 perpendicularly positioned projection units and a beam splitter. Each projection unit will consists of 4 cyclically arranged beam splitters, 4 cyclically arranged small video displays, 4 cyclically arranged black surfaces and 4 convex lenses arranged in array configuration and a one single large video display. The 2 projection units which are perpendicularly positioned to each other will collectively have the capability to project 4 types of projections. Each projection type will have the capability to project the image projected at a unique distance

Intellectual capital reporting between a developing and developed nation

Purpose - This paper examines the patterns of intellectual capital reporting (ICR) of large listed firms in a developing nation, Sri Lanka. The aim of this study is to highlight the differences in ICR practice between developing and developed nations. Design/methodology/approach - The paper begins by examining each of the top 30 firms by market capitalization listed on the Colombo stock exchange in 1998/1999 and 1999/2000. Using the content analysis method, it reviews the annual reports of these firms to determine the types of intellectual capital (IC) items reported in Sri Lanka. It then compares these findings with a similar study undertaken in Australia during the same period (Guthrie and Petty, 2000). Findings - ICR differences were identified between Sri Lankan and Australian firms, and it is argued that that these differences can be attributed to economic, social and political factors. The paper highlights the need for a uniform ICR definition and a reporting framework that provides comparative and consistent reporting under the auspices of a regulatory body. Practical implications - This study highlights important policy issues for Australia, Sri Lanka and other nations. These issues are even more pertinent in the light of the gradual international adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), formulated by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Originality/value – Most papers on intellectual capital reporting have focused on firms in developed countries. This study offers insights into comparative reporting practices between a developed and a developing country