Competency-driven benefits realization model for minimization of post-contract transaction costs in design-build (d&b) delivery systems

The construction industry has been struggling with the issue of inconsistent performance with respect to cost of projects, completion time and the delivery of a quality product. In an attempt to address this issue the Design-Build (D&B) project delivery system was initiated primarily to overcome the shortcomings of the traditional procurement strategies. Although, traditionally D&B delivery system was aimed to greatly enhance client‘s benefits, this has not significantly been achieved. It lacks clear benefits realization management process to deliver the planned client‘s benefits. In particular, the Transaction Costs (TCs) incurred at the post-contract phase (PTCs) through D&B system has been the subject of criticism, wherein it has been unable to achieve the expected resounding success of a total shift away from the issues attributed to the traditional systems. This research aims to establish the importance of leveraging on D&B project team-competency and commitment structured within a strategic Benefits Realization Management framework to optimize client‘s benefits in terms of minimizing PTCs. The focus is on the aspect of competencies of key project participants and their project team commitment with respect to minimizing TCs that is structured within a Benefits Realization Management (BRM) practice. Questionnaire survey data was obtained from 231 respondents out of 357 administered questionnaires to G7 contractors registered under CIDB Malaysia that was based on a systematic sampling of the existing CIDB contractor database. The partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was used to test the relationships being hypothesized and to validate and confirm the developed Competency Driven Benefits Realization Model (CD-BREM). Exploratory preliminary research findings reveal that post-contract TCs for D&B projects range from 3.5% to 13.5% of the project value. The primary research findings reveal that D&B team commitment has partial mediating effect between team competency and post-contract TCs. Whilst, BRM was found to have a partial mediating effect between team competency and post-contract TCs and no moderating effect as initially hypothesized. In general the research findings indicate that team competency, commitment and BRM have significant positive influences on post-contract TCs. This research provides a multi-dimensional perspective of the D&B project benefits realization concept and has the potential to address the issue of minimizing PTCs, which is seen as a social waste of wealth. Using CD-BREM it is possible to identify key human factors that can contribute to high project performance that also serves as an enabling mechanism for realizing the full potential of the D&B method for delivering successful projects. This research is timely to help reverse the trend of poor performance within the construction industry as a whole. Further work on the implementation of this CD-BREM model on construction projects and the consideration of including additional independent variables in the research theoretical framework can be explored to strengthen the credibility of the outcome of this research which is aimed at minimizing PTCs

KEBERKESANAN PENGAPLIKASIAN KERANGKA KECEMERLANGAN PERNIAGAAN MALAYSIA

Model perniagaan dirangka bagi membantu peniaga merancang dan menguruskan aktiviti perniagaan agar dapat bertahan dan berkembang. Bagi memastikan operasi perniagaan berjalan lancar, pembentukan dan pemilihan model perniagaan yang jelas amat diperlukan bagi perkembangan perniagaan. Model perniagaan adalah perancangan bagaimana syarikat mencari wang melalui pembelian dan penjualan barangan dan perkhidmatan. Di Malaysia, Kerangka Kecemerlangan Perniagaan Malaysia (MBEF) telah diperkenal dan digunakan bagi meningkatkan produktiviti perniagaan sebagai panduan kepada para peniaga ke arah kecemerlangan dalam perniagaan. Model perniagaan MBEF ini diharapkan dapat membantu para peniaga untuk mengembangkan perniagaan yang dijalankan. Oleh itu, kajian ini bertujuan untuk melihat sejauh mana keberkesanan model MBEF yang diaplikasikan dalam perniagaan di Malaysia. Kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan reka bentuk penerokaan. Data dikumpulkan melalui kaedah analisis dokumen dan temu bual dengan semi struktur. Data kemudiannya dianalisis menggunakan kaedah analisis kandungan. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan MBEF berupaya membantu syarikat seperti Sophia Taha Holdings Sdn Bhd (STHSB) dan Afy Haniff Group (M) Sdn Bhd dalam pengeluaran produk dan penyediaan perkhidmatan terbaik. MBEF juga membuktikan pemilihan model perniagaan yang tepat mampu mengoptimumkan keuntungan, menambah baik sistem pengurusan serta membantu perkembangan perniagaan ke peringkat global. The business model is designed to assist merchants in planning and managing business activities in order to ensure the survival and longevity of their businesses. The formation and selection of a good business model are crucial for business development in order to provide the smooth running of the business. A company's business model describes how it produces money by buying and selling goods and services. In Malaysia, the Malaysian Business Excellence Framework (MBEF) has been introduced and is being used to boost business productivity and steer merchants toward business excellence. The MBEF business model is expected to assist traders in expanding their operations. As a result, this research aims to see how effective the MBEF model is in Malaysian companies. This is a qualitative study with an exploratory study design. Data was gathered through document analysis and semi structured interview. The data were analyzed using content analysis method. The findings show that MBEF can help businesses like Sophia Taha Holdings Sdn Bhd (STHSB) and Afy Haniff Group (M) Sdn Bhd produce high-quality products and provide excellent service. MBEF also demonstrates that selecting a suitable business model may increase profitability, improve management processes, and aid global business expansion.  Model perniagaan dirangka bagi membantu peniaga merancang dan menguruskan aktiviti perniagaan agar dapat bertahan dan berkembang. Bagi memastikan operasi perniagaan berjalan lancar, pembentukan dan pemilihan model perniagaan yang jelas amat diperlukan bagi perkembangan perniagaan. Model perniagaan adalah perancangan bagaimana syarikat mencari wang melalui pembelian dan penjualan barangan dan perkhidmatan. Di Malaysia, Kerangka Kecemerlangan Perniagaan Malaysia (MBEF) telah diperkenal dan digunakan bagi meningkatkan produktiviti perniagaan sebagai panduan kepada para peniaga ke arah kecemerlangan dalam perniagaan. Model perniagaan MBEF ini diharapkan dapat membantu para peniaga untuk mengembangkan perniagaan yang dijalankan. Oleh itu, kajian ini bertujuan untuk melihat sejauh mana keberkesanan model MBEF yang diaplikasikan dalam perniagaan di Malaysia. Kajian ini adalah berbentuk penerokaan menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif. Data dikumpul dari pelbagai dokumen dan dianalisis menggunakan kaedah analisis tematik. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan MBEF berupaya membantu syarikat seperti Sophia Taha Holdings Sdn Bhd (STHSB) dan Afy Haniff Group (M) Sdn Bhd dalam pengeluaran produk dan penyediaan perkhidmatan terbaik. MBEF juga membuktikan pemilihan model perniagaan yang tepat mampu mengoptimumkan keuntungan, menambah baik sistem pengurusan serta membantu perkembangan perniagaan ke peringkat global. Kata kunci: model perniagaan, kerangka kecemerlangan perniagaan Malaysia (MBEF), Malaysia, perniagaa

TWISTED BUILDINGS: CONCEPTS AND APPROACHES

With the emerging of new technologies, the look for more sustainable towers appears. Through designing twisted towers, an aerodynamic and energy efficient structure can be made to reduce materials and wind loads towards it. By definition, a twisted building is one that has gradually rotating floor plates along its height. The problem here rises due to the risk of structural failure and lack of load transfer and unorganized interior function. Thus, this research aims to detect the design solutions used to execute the twisted buildings achieving stability, safety, and withstanding climatic effects. In order to accomplish the mentioned aim, the research will start with a literature review, desk research, highlighting previous readings solving the problem. Qualitative research will be conducted based on academic articles and the case study of projects such as Dubai’s Infinity Tower by SOM and the second tallest building in Saudi Arabia, the Diamond Tower in Jeddah

Developing a theme-based language course for hotel front-line staff / Rohayu Mohd Yunos..[et al.]

This paper reports on a project to develop an ESP (English for Special Purposes) course for a group of hotel front-line staff at an island resort in Malaysia. The course makes use of a theme- based module focusing on language associated with host-guest interaction. The paper describes in detail three phases of the project as well as the results of the needs analysis. Qualitative and quantitative data were gathered through questionnaires and observations. Findings indicate that multifunctional language skills are needed for the hotel staff particularly in relation to understanding and giving information, asking questions and practicing simple hospitality etiquette. Furthermore, activities to enhance staff confidence in speaking English are also equally important. The paper concludes with some practical implications for ESP teachers and trainers who wish to develop an English Language training module for hotel staff

Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of partially reduced graphene oxide - PEDOT:PSS transducer for biochemical sensing

Electron-transfer kinetics and impedance at the electrode-solution interface affect biosensor performance. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS) are used to understand the reversibility of electron transfer and impedance at the electrode-solution interface, respectively. Effective surface areas calculated based on the Randles-Sevcik equation for a bare screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE), a graphene oxide (GO)-poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonic acid (PEDOT:PSS)–modified electrode (GO-PEDOT:PSS/SPCE), a partially reduced graphene oxide-PEDOT:PSS–modified electrode (prGO-PEDOT:PSS/SPCE), and glucose oxidase (GOx) crosslinked with glutaraldehyde on partially reduced graphene oxide-PEDOT:PSS–modified electrodes (GOx/prGOPEDOT:PSS/SPCE) are 0.0717 mm2, 0.0794 mm2, 0.219 mm2, and 0.160 mm2, respectively. Nyquist plots from EIS show charge transfer resistance (Rct) of 430 μΩ, 148.2 Ω, 200.7 Ω, and 209.6 Ω, respectively, for the same electrodes. The high effective surface area and the Rct of prGO-PEDOT:PSS/SPCE indicate that the prGO-PEDOT:PSS composite is suitable as a transducer layer for glucose biosensing

Cyclic Voltammetric and Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy Studies of Graphene- and Conductive Polymer–based Enzyme Electrodes

Screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs), modified with graphene oxide and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonic acid (GO-PEDOT:PSS/SPCEs), and SPCEs modified with partially reduced GO and PEDOT:PSS (prGO-PEDOT:PSS/SPCEs) were studied for electrochemical transduction. Randles-Sevcik analysis showed that the prGO-PEDOT:PSS/SPCE has a higher effective surface area of 219.3 µm2in comparison to the unreduced GO-PEDOT:PSS/SPCE (87.0 µm2) and the bare SPCE (71.7 µm2). Using electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), we determined that the prGO-PEDOT:PSS/SPCE has a lower charge-transfer resistance (Rct) of 163.82 Ω in comparison to the GO-PEDOT:PSS/SPCE (427.87 Ω) and the bare SPCE (13.31 kΩ). Glucose oxidase (GOx) was immobilized on all electrode types, including GO/SPCE as additional control and tested with low (0.2 mM), intermediate (0.6 mM), and high (1 mM) glucose concentrations. GOx/GO/SPCEs showed the largest change in anodic peak current (Ipa), 8.5, 7.5 and 4.9 µA for low, intermediate, and high glucose concentrations, respectively. Interestingly, GOx/prGO-PEDOT:PSS/SPCEs have no change in both anodic and cathodic peak current, although they exhibit better redox capability, while GOx/SPCEs have very low Ipa. The results show that the high effective surface area and low charge-transfer resistance (Rct) of prGO-PEDOT:PSS/SPCEs do not necessarily result in a sensitive glucose sensor in cases where immobilization of enzymes on the material can affect electron transfer

Cyclic Voltammetry and Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy of Electrodes Modified with PEDOT:PSS-Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite

Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are electrochemical techniques to characterize reversibility of electron transfer and impedance at the electrode-solution interface, respectively. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and conductive polymer PEDOT:PSS are often used to enhance electron transfer at electrode surface. This chapter provides a step-by-step methodology of CV and EIS conducted on screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) modified with rGO-PEDOT:PSS and brief discussion on the CV and EIS results. The CV of rGO-PEDOT:PSS shows a reversible electron transfer in comparison to SPCE modified with PEDOT:PSS. For EIS, rGO-PEDOT:PSS was found to reduce the Warburg impedance, suggesting enhanced electrode conductivity. These results suggest that rGO-PEDOT:PSS is a suitable material for biosensing purpose

Solar water heating system in Libyan buildings

Solar energy is a clean and abundant energy resource that can be used to supplement several energy needs. Solar energy can be utilized as a form of heat, such as solar water heating, and as electricity, such as solar photovoltaic. Solar water heating systems are commonly referred to in the industry as Solar Domestic Hot Water systems. The challenges (increasing demand for energy, sustainable development, low competitiveness, reducing environmental impacts) and the opportunities (value added, job creation, transfer of knowledge and technology acquisition) that North African countries are experiencing today in this field, call for collective action across the whole region, oriented towards tangible results, including Libya faces challenges in providing energy in light of the continuing power outages. The objectives of this research are to identify the current practices of solar water heating system in Libyan buildings, to identify the factors that hinder the application of solar water heating system in Libyan buildings, to suggest on the application of solar water heating system in Libyan buildings. Questionnaires were used to collect the data from contractors and consultants in the construction industry. Ranking and analysis of variance (correlation) were used to analyse the data collected with the use of version 21 SPSS. It was found that the application of renewable energy in construction project is very low. However, the factors that hinder of solar water heating system in Libya were lack of consultant's initiatives, lack of financial commitment, and lack of commitment design team, lack of government interest to promote solar water heating system and high tax on solar energy by government. The result of this finding implicate that the construction industry in Libya need to improve its approach in using solar water heating system by understanding its current practices and finding ways to solve of the factors that hinder