Knowledge management model and instrument for implementation and adoption; perspective of developing country

This paper presents a KM model that comprises a set of KM hypothesis model and measurement models for understanding and implementation. Research uses 323 questionnaire surveys. A hypothesized model of KM process was tested using structural equation modelling approach with a proposed model and the instrument was therefore developed. Analysis of the five constructs of knowledge acquisition, creation, sharing, storage and dissemination with their reliability and Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient of 0.80, 0.71, 0.82, 0.87 and 0.87 respectively were used. Likewise, all fit indices and factor loadings were significant leading to a frugal model achievement. The study serves as a guide to KM for the construction organization implementation

Determinants of Carbon Emission Disclosure and Reduction in Corporate Real Estate Companies in Nigeria

Carbon emission in developing countries has being on the increase in the last few years, from a 33 percent in 1990 to 40 percent in 1997, when the international climate change mitigation treaty of Kyoto Protocol was agreed on, to 55 percent of today’s total global carbon emission. Hence the difficult to manage global warming without the participation of developing nations take tougher actions than presently is the case, even if the developed economies reduce their emissions to zero by 2030.  The need for climate change mitigation in the context of carbon emission reduction through measurement and disclosure has become a sine-qua-non for climate change mitigation in the developing economies. The study detects four determinant factors for carbon emission reduction in the corporate real estate sector of a developing country to include; social factor, economic factor, the financial market factor and the institutional factor. These factors are supported by the agency theory, stakeholder's theory, Signaling theory and the Legitimacy theory. The application of the result is that policies, programs and incentives to enhance climate change mitigation in developing countries could be built around these factors to encourage private sector participation. The study is limited to the real estate sectors, and other sectors may have diverse degrees of sensitivity, so it may be necessary for policies makers to determine the factor-mix of suitable for other sectors and countries. Keywords: Carbon Disclosure, Corporate Real Estate, Legitimacy theory, Agency theory, Stakeholder theory, Signaling Theory, Nigeria

Review of Green Building Demand Factors for Malaysia

Green building is redefining building practice and Malaysia is poised for early adoption in recognition of the potential economic and environmental benefits that accrue to it. Available reports tend towards the fact that there will be increase in demand for green buildings with the growth in environmental awareness and increase in corporate social responsibility among the companies as well as growing body of evidence demonstrating that green buildings make financial sense. Despite the growing interest, risks of uncertainties still cloud investment in green building. This paper examines Malaysia efforts to spure green building investment and demand with particlualr focus on Green Building Index (GBI) and the enabling green tax incentives. Subsequently the paper reviews potential factors that enhance green building in Malaysia as well as the underlying challenges and barriers. Based on the review, we can infer that the Malaysia green tax incentives for obtaining GBI certification are significant but not outstanding. They are inherent with notable criticisms and may not be sufficiently attractive to potential real estate investors. The review also empower us to hypothesize that the model of green building demand for Malaysia will comprise seven interrelated factors vis-a-avis:- quest for environmental sustainability, quest for increased productivity, quest for improved internal building conditions, quest for higher building value, quest for cost savings, quest for lower risks, and quest for branding and prestige. And that the nature and strength of relationship among the factors will be moderated by some of the challenges and barriers identified in the review. The paper will be useful to researches, practitioners and policy makers in real estate development and market seeking explanations for factors that could enhace demand for green building in Malaysia. Keywords: green building, green building demand, green building index, green building barriers, green building benefits

Green and Sustainable Commercial Property Demand in Malaysia and Nigeria

Green building is redefining real estate practices and commercial properties are attracting greater attention of the paradigm shift. Nevertheless, in many countries including Malaysia and Nigeria, green building investment is still beset with uncertainties about the anticipated returns and benefits. The aim of this study is to identify the predictive factors and variables that motivate decisions to demand and invest in green commercial properties, and to apply discriminant analysis technique to assess if there are significant differences in perception between the real estate development team in Malaysia and Nigeria based on the identified variables. The result showed a significant discriminant function separating the two countries based on their perception of the variables. The green building motivation attributes favoured Malaysia. The Wilks’ Lambda’s F test and the standardized discriminant function coefficients, indicated that there are significant differences in perception between the real estate development team  in Malaysia and Nigeria as measured by personal and altruistic environmental motivations, corporate conscience responsibility motivations and economic and financial motivations. However, economic and financial motivation variables were found to have showed the most predictive power in accounting for the differences in perception. Keywords: green building, real estate investment, sustainability, motivations, perceptions

SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF VOLUNTARY CARBON INFORMATION DISCLOSURE IN THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR OF MALAYSIA

The knowledge is power is a quote effective in the public space, where the level of information and awareness people have determines the level of power they exercise. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence social factors has on corporate voluntary carbon disclosure in the property sector of a developing country. The data was collected from 2013 annual reports of 126 listed companies, comprising sixteen (16) property investment companies, seventy six (76) property companies and thirty four (34) construction companies in Malaysia. The analysis was conducted with Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling, with the bootstrap used for significance testing. The result shows that social factor has a significant influence in determining voluntary carbon disclosure. It was observed in the result that company visibility has a greater influence in motiving disclosure. The implication of the outcome is that, improvement in the level of knowledge and awareness of the public, on the need for corporate participation in climate change mitigation and carbon reduction. The more awareness, the more demand by stakeholders on companies; the more companies will be motivated to disclose carbon information in their annual report

Social Determinants on Carbon Disclosure in Corporate Real Estate

Information is power is an effective quote in the public space, as the level of information and awareness of the society determine the degree of influence they exercise.This study investigates the effect of economic, financial-market, institutional and social factors on corporate carbon disclosure.This study determines the influence social factors have on corporate voluntary carbon disclosure in the real estate sector of Malaysia. Data was collected from 2013 annual reports of 126 listed companies in the real estate sector, comprising sixteen (16) property investment companies, seventy-six (76) property companies and thirty-four (34) construction companies in Malaysia.The analysis was conducted with Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling, and bootstrapping.The result shows that social factor has a significant influence in determining voluntary carbon disclosure, among other factors.The constructs that have the strongest influence on voluntary carbon disclosure are firm size and political visibility.The implication is that the size and visibility of a company is significantly increases social pressure on a company hence it voluntarily participates in carbon disclosure

Climate change mitigation and voluntary disclosure in Malaysia’s listed property companies

Climate change mitigation is a challenge faced by most nations of the world. The task is even more challenging in Malaysia considering the occurrence of sequence of floods within the past and the need to be a part of the developed economy by 2020 which needs environment protection. This paper examines the state of climate change mitigation and the practice of voluntary carbon disclosure in sustainable development practice among listed Property companies in Malaysia. Consequently the paper analyses policies and programs on-going in Malaysia to create an enabling environment for the implementation of climate change mitigation. From the studies, it can argued that Malaysia has made significant progress in setting up legal framework for the implementation of climate change mitigation and voluntary environmental disclosure, but critical mass is yet to be achieved. This was achieved as a function of Malaysia’s membership to United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and ratifying the Kyoto Protocol and also participates in the Clean Development Mechanism; and further establishes nationwide ecological protection laws which are implemented in the government’s Development Plans and development industry master plan. Lastly, the impetus given to the free market sector to be participants in mitigation through the Bursa Malaysia listing requirement that specifies corporate social responsibility reporting as part of the annual reports, with measurement, disclosure and management of emission integral part. The review allows us to infer that the Malaysia voluntary environmental disclosure and climate change mitigation practice in the property sector has made initial progress but there is need for more market driven motivation to be introduced so that more companies especially those in carbon-intensive practice would be involved

Confirmatory Strategic Information Technology Implementation for Building Information Modelling Adoption Model

Information technology (IT) developments in the construction industry require a proportionate response by construction professionals. Building information modelling (BIM) requires strategic changes to the traditional ways construction is carried out. BIM adoption in Malaysia is growing because of recent efforts to sensitise construction professionals on the need for strategic IT implementation. This paper builds on the theory of business process reengineering and computer integrated construction for a BIM adoption model. Data were collected from 352 construction professionals (architects, quantity surveyors, engineers and contractors). The data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 18 for descriptive modelling and Analysis of Moment of Structures (AMOS) version 18 for structural equation modelling. Descriptive results showed a high prevalence of the need for BIM competent professionals. Multivariate results revealed a high correlation within the measurement model for business process re-engineering and computer integrated construction. The second-order confirmatory model showed that business process reengineering and computer integrated construction had a high impact on strategic IT Implementation. Overall, the model validated the conceptual framework of the impact of strategic IT implementation on the adoption rate of BIM in the perception of construction industry professionals in Malaysia. The result denotes the first part of the full adoption model, which can be compared with the adoption rate in other countries. Subsequent research using a diverse sample selection focuses on the mediating effect of collaboration on BIM adoption

Environment variables on IT adoption: a case of Nigerian construction organizations

Pirm’s external environment combines many attributes and plays a vital role in IT adoption. Technological innovations are adopted as organizational reactions to change and for influencing the business environment. This study examined the effect of external environment on IT adoption in construction organizations. Specifically, the study empirically explores the external variables, assessed their effects and determined how they can optimally be combined to enable IT acceptance. The data collected was analysed using structural equation modelling analytical approach. Results of the analysis revealed that external environment strongly influence firm’s IT adoption with a path coefficient of 0.70 and a z-value of 10.5. Furthermore, a confirmatory factor analysis conducted confirmed competitive pressure, government support and market uncertainty as the most significant variables of firm’s external environment in relation to IT implementation with a standardized parameter estimates of 0.75, 0.51 and -0.41 respectively. Precisely, competitive pressure and government support were strongly and positively related to IT adoption while market uncertainty exhibited a strong but negative relationship. It was recommended that managers of construction organizations should, strategically, overcome the pressures they exert from their competitors for improved market share and general organizational performance. Furthermore, government should strive to provide adequate IT infrastructures and enablers within its responsibilities such as adequate electricity, incentives and clear IT policy