Factors Affecting Design toward Affordable Sustainable Housing Delivery in South African Construction Industry

The purpose of this study is to establish the factors that affect the design toward affordable sustainable housing delivery because housing is delivered above budget and unaffordable for low-income earners in South Africa. A sequential mixed method involving qualitative and quantitative approach was engaged for this study, and construction professionals were selected as respondents from nine provinces of South Africa to answer four points Likert scale quantitative questionnaires. A total of one hundred and fourteen (114) questionnaires were appropriately completed and retrieved from the respondents. Data collected were analyzed with descriptive statistics which include PCA, correlation, and regression analysis tools on SPSS version 25 to determine factors that affect the design with the regards to affordable housing delivery in South Africa, interview process is used to validate the findings obtained. The findings indicated that improper design leads to failure in achieving client objectives and causes a change in design and demolition. Lack of design of first-rate living conditions for a healthy environment, design sufficiency, and adaptability to meet people’s demand for cost efficient housing were the major factors responsible for unaffordable housing in South Africa. The study recommended that government should establish key policies on housing design to control resource waste and limit construction costs within budget. This will encourage the sensitivity of construction operators about resources control at the planning and implementation stages of housing production

Operational framework for optimal utilisation of construction resources during the production process.

The construction industry contributes a significant amount to a nation's Gross Domestic Product and National Income. The industry products are enormously important to other organisational sectors, and provide a considerable amount of employment to the nation's populace. However, the industry is significantly under-achieving in terms of clients' and stakeholders' satisfaction. In addition, the resources in the industry are currently under-utilised. It is affirmed that resources' wastes management in the industry is far behind that obtainable in other organisational sectors. Thus, there is a need for re-assessment of the way in which the industry generates its products towards utilising the scarce and costly resources efficiently.It is noteworthy that a project could be completed, within the estimated cost, time frame and quality expected, and even satisfying the clients' and stakeholders' implied needs, with lots of resource wastefulness during the construction production process. Despite the lean construction techniques being effective in reducing resources utilisation wastefulness; currently there are difficulties in achieving the approach objectives adequately. Thus, to maximise resources utilisation and avoiding inefficiency, it is paramount to critically evaluate, identify, and establish the several wastage occurrences, occurring either consciously or unconsciously during the project construction process.This research responded to the need for the construction industry to review the use of resources during production process, and to minimise the "gap" between the construction industry and the other sectors in efficient resources utilisation.To establish a valid and reliable best practice operational framework, towards utilising construction resources optimally, this research study was triangulated. Both structured and unstructured questionnaires and in-depth interview research surveys were exploited for its data collection. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 13, (SPSS 13), software was used to analyse the data obtained through the questionnaire research survey, while NVivo, (version 8) statistics software was explored to analyse the information collected through the in-depth interview research survey.This research was grouped into three main studies. The first study evaluated the issues associated with site managers' efficient performance, and causes of site managers' inefficiency in performances established were identified. In this respect, the factors that will enhance site managers to optimally utilise resources were established. Secondly, the scenarios of budgeting for resources' wastes were investigated, and factors that will reduce their effects on optimal resources utilisation were established. Lastly, the causes and modalities of averting resources wastefulness during the production process were investigated and ascertained. The success factor of these studies is the evaluation of the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions, (KAP), of construction participants on resources utilisation. Based on these three main research studies and their sub studies, an operational framework for optimal utilisation of construction resources during the production process was developed, validated and established.This research study was conducted within the UK construction Industry. The implementation of the research findings and inferences will not only enhance optimal resources utilisation in the UK construction industry. In respect that the UK construction industry is vast in innovations, research development and construction reengineering, the established framework is significant for global construction industry adoption

Effects of workers motivation on construction productivity / Adebowale Oluseyi J. and Fapohunda Julius Ayodeji

The issue of construction workers motivation becomes a subject of debate among construction project management professionals. Therefore, there are diverse opinions on whether motivation of construction workers positively impacts construction workers performance or rather adversely affects the general performance of construction labours. This brings about different motivation concepts and principle by researchers towards improvement of construction workforce performance. The paper takes into cognisance the perception of construction practitioners on motivation in relation with construction productivity towards achieving construction project objectives. In order to obtain a viable result of the study, the study adopts quantitative research approach on construction workforce motivation with project managers, contract managers, site managers, contractors, and site supervisors. Quantitative data obtained was analysed with SPSS statistical tools. The perception of construction practitioners was explored on motivation drives of construction workforce. However, it was found that motivation is important for construction workers performance, giving bonus to workers is important to improve workers efficiency and there is a need for construction workers recognition by management. The adequate application of recommendation of this study will enhance construction labour productivity, reduce wastes in construction, improve general construction performance and ultimately heightens customer's satisfaction

Evaluation of site managers’ hindrances towards optimal utilisation of construction resources

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to delineate different types of site manager attributes that significantly contribute to construction project management efficiency and evaluate the factors that hinder the site manager during construction production processes. Towards efficient resources utilisation, site managers require various qualities and potentials. Design/methodology/approach – To achieve valid result, the research study was triangulated by exploring literature, which was augmented with both quantitative questionnaire and qualitative interview research methods. The research data were collected in the UK building industry. Findings – It was found that the barriers that often affect efficient utilisation of construction resources in the industry are poor communication, disagreement, misunderstandings, bad weather, union strikes and construction participants’ personality conflicts. This research study presents severity of site manager’s hindrances, factors that affect site manager’s efficiencies, solutions to minimise the hindrances on site manager’s efficient performance and factors that should be constant towards site mangers’ efficient performance. Among these solutions found evident that will enhance site managers’ performance and minimise the effect of the hindrances are an enhanced planning and adequate programming of construction resources before and during project execution, rational team building and an efficient construction team for project, in addition to adequate information dissemination and transfer of knowledge. Originality/value – The adequate implementation of the solutions presented in this paper will not only enhance the performance of site managers on resources utilisation but will also augment client satisfactions

Operational Framework for Optimal Utilisation of Construction Resources during the Production Process

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Achieving optimal resources utilisation through efficient integration of project management systems and techniques: An overview

Management of a project is the responsibility of all construction project personnel working within the project province; striving for the succession and successful achievement of the project objective(s). The construction project managers strive to maintain the progress and mutual interaction of various parties involved in project initiation and execution to ensure that the risk of failure is reduced. Thus, maximisation of resources utilisation during the construction process could only be achieved through effective implementation of various management techniques. Thus, this study evaluates different project management systems and techniques and presents models towards achieving optimal resources utilisation through efficient integration of these management techniques

Innovations towards efficient construction resources optimal utilisation in the construction industry – A review

Purpose: Construction resources are not only increasing in cost daily, but are becoming relatively scarce. In addition, prospective clients and developers need value for the money invested; contractors' reputations and profits are indispensable, while national development is also imperative. These scenarios make the need for evaluation of current innovations towards efficient construction resources optimal utilisation towards efficient construction resources optimal utilisation in the construction industry. Methodology and Design: This paper presents an evaluation (review) on current innovation towards efficient construction resources optimal utilisation in the construction industry. The need for efficient resources utilisation and the state of the construction industry in the UK construction industry were significantly appraised. Some innovative and the current approaches and techniques towards the enhancement of construction products’ delivery were presented. This study ultimately presents a framework (the approaches) of concurrent evaluation of the current practices, (system and sequence) towards achieving best practice in the construction industry. Findings: The areas need to be changed in construction industry include the working conditions, skills and training, design approaches, use of technology and relationships between companies. Thus, some of the current effective practices in the construction industry identified include the Lean construction techniques, partnering and the supply chain systems, benchmarking, and the construction key performance indicators (KPIs). Originality/value: This paper presents the need for efficient resources utilisation and some current approaches in the construction industry which lead to optimal resources utilisation and construction resources waste management, (CRWM). Based on the approaches discussed, construction organisations will tend to deliver their products more efficiently, cheaper and faster, and perpetuate stakeholders’ satisfactions

Essential factors towards optimal utilisation of construction resources

Purpose – This paper aims to evaluate and present the essential factors that will enhance site managers’ efficient performance which will perpetuate optimal construction resources utilisation. The capability of controlling and monitoring construction resources and the application of production information to achieve predetermined objectives of scope, cost, time, quality and clients’ satisfaction are the primary functions of site managers. However, the effective implementation of this production information is usually hindered by some factors, often resulting in conscious, unconscious or unavoidable resource wastage. Design/methodology/approach – The research is triangulated. The investigations are based on an action survey, comprising structured quantitative questionnaires and qualitative interview surveys conducted with a few project managers in the UK construction industry. Findings – The research evaluates problems associated with the site managers’ project delivery and establishes essential factors towards efficient resources utilisation. Among the identified predicaments are the design team’ attitudes towards site managers’ corrections, modification and alterations; communication gap between the design and construction teams; and production information inadequacy. Thus, the factors identified which will enhance the efficiencies of the site managers are communication effectiveness and effective information dissemination, conducive environment, production information simplicity and explicitness, in addition to skilled workers’ participation in knowledge transfer and sharing, to mention but a few. Originality/value – The facts presented in this study will significantly enhance site managers’ optimal resources utilisation, and provide the opportunity for construction resources waste minimisation. Thus, the adequate implementation of the innovative measures presented in this study will not only enhance the performance of site managers on resources utilisation, but will also augment client satisfactio

Impacts of e-commerce on construction materials procurement for sustainable construction

2015 World Congress on Sustainable Technologies (WCST)Sustainable building construction has become essential in the construction industry with the aim of satisfying the present and future needs of construction stakeholders. Selection and procurement of appropriate materials that satisfies the principles of sustainability is paramount in construction. To this end, the traditional method of materials procurement has been found to be inefficient considering the increased innovations and diversity of materials available for construction. This paper explores the implementation of Ecommerce especially e-procurement as a strategy for improving the process of materials procurement in the South African construction industry. This study obtained data quantitatively through questionnaires administered to 150 construction professionals in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. A total of 93 responses were retrieved and analysed. Findings indicated: building cost reduction, enhanced environmental protection and enhanced implementation of government policies as benefits of sustainability in materials procurement towards sustainable building production. However, eprocurement implementation during materials procurement are hindered by (a) lack of awareness, (b) resistance to change, (c) high cost of installation and operation and (d) internet fraud. Given the benefits and impacts of e-commerce, adequate implementation of these findings should proffer a suitable strategy in addressing the challenges of materials procurement towards sustainable building construction