Assessing Organisations' Readiness for Technological Changes in Construction Industry

Of late, the advancements in technology have witnessed a spike in the number of schemes aimed towards enhancing the deployment of technologies in construction-based entities, thereby increasing the demand for technological modifications. This paper intends to scrutinise the keenness of construction entities to identify technological changes within the construction sector. The goals of this research work are to ascertain the degree of willingness for technological alterations, the norms which construction entities should possess regarding the readiness for technological alterations, and the obstacles encountered by construction firms in terms of technological alterations. Ten semi-structured interviews were carried out comprising ten G7 contractors in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur regarding on the implementation and adopting the technological changes within their companies. Based on the observations, most construction firms in Malaysia are fairly prepared to encounter technological fluctuations. Furthermore, the research deliberates many norms which are essential to generate the technological readiness in construction firms along with the obstacles which could impact the organisational inclination for technological changes. This work intends to help construction companies evaluate their degree of readiness and organise themselves for better adoption of technological alterations in their businesses

Adaptation Criteria towards Quality Culture for the Malaysian Contractors

The construction sector has lagged behind regarding quality development. Though quality issues have become the major concern in the construction industry, there is an absence of the theory that propagates construction quality among contractors which lead to quality performance. This paper discusses the adaptation criteria for the Malaysian contractors that could be adapt for the management as well as the staff. Extensive literature reviews were done to identify adaptation criteria within the Malaysian context. Therefore, this paper encourages the contractors to implement these criteria in the workplace in order to improve the quality of life of contractors that will lead to project success.Keywords: Quality Culture, Adaptation Criteria, Malaysian ContractorsISSN: 2398-4287© 2017. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Measuring the Benefits of Building Information Modeling (BIM) Adoption: Trends, Gaps, and Future Directions

Building information modelling (BIM) adopters require well-documented, quantitative, and financial simulation studies as solid evidence for the benefits of BIM to implement it and evaluate its success. However, to move towards more practical analyses to be performed by the end-users, more discussions on process to measure BIM benefit should be held, despite the large number of studies related to BIM benefit indicators. Therefore, this study examines the proposed and simulated methods used to measure the benefits of BIM in previous studies. A systematic literature review (SLR) of 21 articles was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and analysed using meta-ethnography and thematic qualitative analysis. The SLR depicted the trends of studies published over the years. The results indicate that out of the 31 BIM benefits identified, only 17 BIM benefits have been measured in simulations. 4 other BIM benefits were suggested to be explored in line with their magnitude of importance. Comparative case studies were used conventionally to collect the data for measuring these benefits. This has since shifted to conducting case studies of single BIM projects along with supplementary data collection for counterfactual assessment. Furthermore, predictive ex-ante studies are currently blooming. At present, ongoing studies are being conducted to demonstrate the detailed technique with which to calculate and measure the benefits of BIM. This paper provides researchers and analysts with initial insights that can be used to move forward with BIM benefit measurements

A Systematic Review of Employee Turnover Antecedents in the Construction Industry

High turnover is regarded as a failure to fulfil work-life balance, among the approaches to improve employees life quality. This paper conducted a systematic literature review, offers an overview of the present state of research concerning the turnover antecedents in the construction industry. Through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA), this paper concluded that work-life quality is due to organisation, individual and external antecedent. The recommendations, including the development of life quality strategy and to conduct more employee turnover. This paper assists in improving employees life quality through the identification of adverse outcome of turnover.Keywords: Construction industry; Employee Turnover; PRISMAeISSN: 2398-4287 © 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/e-bpj.v5i13.210

Better understanding of project management amongst UiTM contractors / Hamimah Adnan … [et al.]

The role of different project management techniques to implement projects successfully has been widely established in areas such as planning and control of time, cost and quality. Project management is the science and the art of planning, organizing and managing resources to bring the best achievement of specific project goals and objectives. Project management is a long term procedure needing the involvement of many persons and an efficient plan: without these, a project can end in chaos. This aim of this study is to provide a better understanding on the implementation of project management practice by UiTM contractors to ensure the success of project is guranteed without major problems occured. Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify the implementation of project management among UiTM contractor registered under Development Unit, UiTM. Questionnaires survey was distributed to 120 UiTM contractors and eight (8) indepth interview were held among the contractors. The purpose of this method is to gather information on their project background and also their project management skill. It was found that all of the contractors has a basic knowledge and understanding on project management skills.It is recommended that a reasonable project plan and appropraiate organisational structure to the stable implementation of a project. Contractors were recommended to produce their Key Performance indicators of the completed project. They need to have a good and proper programme of work and suitable project management system with an updated information system

Evolution of Malaysia’s Plans Policies, Initiatives and Strategies on Green Procurement Implementation: A Review

Malaysia’s plans have evolved over the years, highlighting several goals to sustain economic growth and development in all constituent states of Malaysia. The five-year development plan comprises a comprehensive and integrated plan, policies, and strategies to lead the government in achieving the desired economic and socioeconomic goals. The first Malaysia plan was introduced in 1966-1970, and the development of Malaysia’s plans has continued since then. In the Tenth Malaysia Plan, the government emphasised sustainable management, responding to global climate change, and focusing on strategies and mitigation adaptation to ensure sustainable growth. Keeping environmental sustainability is a global commitment, especially in the construction industry, which contributes the most to environmental issues. Green procurement has been introduced to the construction industry as a way forward and a strategy towards sustainability. The primary objective of this paper is to analyse the evolution of the five-year development plans policies, initiatives, and strategies that have been proposed by the government on green procurement practices in Malaysia’s plans. The study employs integrative literature review to analyse the contents and features of Malaysia’s plans and its related government policy documents on green procurement. The findings of this study will assist stakeholders in better understanding the significance of green policies, initiatives, and strategies on green procurement implementation in Malaysia’s plans towards achieving inclusive, sustainable development in the construction industry

Preliminary Investigation on Possible Fire Causation in Multistorey Buildings in Selangor

The development of high and complex multistorey buildings has increased dramatically over the past 20 years, leading to new and updated approaches to the provision of appropriate fire safety rules. Multistorey buildings record the highest number of fire incidents compared to other types of buildings in Malaysia. Hence, this study aims to investigate possible causes of fire incident in multistorey buildings. A comprehensive literature review along with interviews were conducted to explore the factors causing multistorey building fires. These exercises were conducted to identify the fire scenario (characteristics of fire, building and occupant), possible causes of multistorey building fire, and means to reduce the possibilities and causes of multistorey building fire incidents. Preliminary interviews with three (3) respondents who are involved in the construction and maintenance of multistorey buildings in Selangor were first conducted. The respondents have either designer, maintenance personnel or local authority backgrounds. Based on the data obtained, the top possible causes of multistorey building fires are electrical failure, cooking, smoking, sparks, and poor maintenance of building’s fire safety. Some means that can be employed to reduce the possible causes of multistorey building fires involve increased fire safety awareness and human behavior among building occupants, good building layout and materials, improved and regular maintenance of buildings, active and passive firefighting equipment and knowledge, and reduced usage of unsafe and defect electrical equipment. This study may help add new information to the existing body of knowledge on the risk of fire cases, fire injuries and fire fatalities in multistorey buildings in Malaysia. Besides, it may also be used by building occupants, designers, developers, property managers, staff working on/in community house, maintenance personnel, and local authorities. It can also serve as a requirement enforced by the government and help improve current research on the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of building design and construction. Lastly, it can also provide a higher overall quality of life for people who live and work in multistorey buildings

Preliminary Investigation on Possible Fire Causation in Multistorey Buildings in Selangor

The development of high and complex multistorey buildings has increased dramatically over the past 20 years, leading to new and updated approaches to the provision of appropriate fire safety rules. Multistorey buildings record the highest number of fire incidents compared to other types of buildings in Malaysia. Hence, this study aims to investigate possible causes of fire incident in multistorey buildings. A comprehensive literature review along with interviews were conducted to explore the factors causing multistorey building fires. These exercises were conducted to identify the fire scenario (characteristics of fire, building and occupant), possible causes of multistorey building fire, and means to reduce the possibilities and causes of multistorey building fire incidents. Preliminary interviews with three (3) respondents who are involved in the construction and maintenance of multistorey buildings in Selangor were first conducted. The respondents have either designer, maintenance personnel or local authority backgrounds. Based on the data obtained, the top possible causes of multistorey building fires are electrical failure, cooking, smoking, sparks, and poor maintenance of building’s fire safety. Some means that can be employed to reduce the possible causes of multistorey building fires involve increased fire safety awareness and human behavior among building occupants, good building layout and materials, improved and regular maintenance of buildings, active and passive firefighting equipment and knowledge, and reduced usage of unsafe and defect electrical equipment. This study may help add new information to the existing body of knowledge on the risk of fire cases, fire injuries and fire fatalities in multistorey buildings in Malaysia. Besides, it may also be used by building occupants, designers, developers, property managers, staff working on/in community house, maintenance personnel, and local authorities. It can also serve as a requirement enforced by the government and help improve current research on the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of building design and construction. Lastly, it can also provide a higher overall quality of life for people who live and work in multistorey buildings

Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Life Cycle Costing Sub-Cost Distribution for Industrialised Building System using SEM-PLS

Industrialised Building System (IBS) contributes a great shift in sustainable construction, however previous studies have proven that one of the hindrances in promoting sustainable in IBS, is a high cost for pre-cast material components, thus effected the overall cost. In addition, the introduction of Life Cycle Costing (LCC) leads in providing a better and comprehensive cost estimation; as well as provides a significant advantage in the preparation of cost estimates, hence it provides a better baseline for decision making. The lacking application of LCC in IBS is still in trivial impact, where Malaysia experiences a slower progress of IBS construction, even though robust steps has been taken by the Government to influence construction players to accommodate LCC in projecting a comprehensive cost estimates, especially for IBS projects. This paper highlights an outcome of study that simulate the causal effect relationship between IBS Cost Factors and LCC Cost Distribution. A questionnaire survey was used to associate the IBS cost factors and LCC cost distribution and followed by Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) analysis which validate the relationships between the factors. The result of analysis was developed based on findings from 102 responded questionnaires which were distributed to Quantity Surveyors from various agencies. There were 5 LCC cost distribution factors used in this research and 43 IBS Cost Factors to get associated with. SEM-PLS was used to eliminate the cost association by eliminating factors recorded a loading value less than 0.70. From 43 IBS Cost Factors used earlier, only 15 cost factors were retain for further analysis and the development of a cost estimates using LCC approach. The outcome of this analysis is expected to guide the construction players to achieve more practical cost estimates and feasible alternatives for decision making in IBS construction, by focusing on the critical cost contributed to the overall cost of IBS project in Malaysia

Contractual Aspects in the Utilisation of Level Two Building Information Modelling (BIM) within Malaysian Public Construction Projects

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a technology and process that are transforming way of designing, constructing, operating and using the building or facility. In essence, BIM models is a platform for collaboration as it encourages intensive communication and interdependence among multidisciplinary project members. In Malaysia’s BIM Guide, this collaborative process can be seen in Level 2 BIM Maturity which all designers engaged in projects work together to create a single computer-generated 3D Model. From this process, many benefits that BIM promises such as clash free construction, quality of design and greater certainty could be achieved. Therefore, the Malaysian Government announced the implementation of at least 40% of Level 2 BIM for public projects costing RM100 million and above in 2019. However, despite mutual understanding between construction players, the full integration of BIM in the project lifecycle seems to be a daunting task. In the context of the Malaysian Public Sector, many uncertainties could arise pertaining to legal and contractual matters i.e. whether or not the existing contractual instruments are able to support the collaborative environment and digital information sharing that Level 2 BIM engenders. This paper presents a narrative review of published literature on the concept of Level 2 BIM and contractual consideration based on the utilisation of BIM within Malaysian Public construction projects, which includes books, government publications, conference presentation slides, newspaper articles and paper-based journal articles. This paper concludes that in order to legitimise multidisciplinary collaboration and integration of information in BIM within existing standard forms of contract, the development of a contract protocol and suitable procurement model are necessary