Communication strategy tool user guide

The application of Cradle to Cradle (C2C) principles in business sites is likely to be hampered by several barriers, some of which are socio-cultural in nature. To promote change and new thinking in the way business sites are designed, built and operated, there is the need to properly understand socio-cultural issues that create ‘lock-in’ to existing practices (Peterson and Anderson, 2009) so that these can be taken into account in the way C2C is presented to different business site stakeholders to secure their commitment to C2C inspired projects. These socio-cultural barriers are deeply rooted in the basic assumptions and value priorities of stakeholders. Strategies for communicating and promoting the C2C vision must therefore be aligned with such stakeholder value priorities and assumptions

Control influence on trust and relational governance in the client-contractor dyad

The construction industry has in recent years witnessed a paradigm shift towards the use of more collaborative contracting relationships and integrated processes in an attempt to improve construction project delivery. Trust is central to the success of these contracting approaches and although efforts are usually aimed at improving trust relations in client-contractor relationships, there has so far been mixed findings on how trust is influenced by formal control mechanisms discharged via formal contracts. In construction contracting, there is therefore the need to investigate how different governance modes and control mechanisms deployed on construction projects are perceived by those being controlled and how this in turn influences trust. Through a critique of the extant literature on trust and control in construction, this study reveals that the trust-control relationship which can be both complimentary and supplementary has far reaching implications on the measurement/assessment of trust in the construction project context. The orientation of governance and control mechanisms selected by clients and the behavioural consequences of these from contractors can thus be used as a measure of the degree of trust that exists in the dyad

Beyond sustainable buildings: eco-efficiency to eco-effectiveness through cradle-to-cradle design

The cradle-to-cradle (C2C) philosophy has been described as a paradigm changing innovative platform for achieving ecologically intelligent and environmentally restorative buildings. Whereas conventional sustainability efforts focus on doing “less harm” to the environment,C2C proposes a radically new way of thinking about waste, renewable energy and promotion of diversity. Industry specific barriers to change however hinder adoption of C2C in the built environment. In this study, it is argued from a synthesis of extant literature that many of these barriers are rooted in socio-cultural factors, a better understanding of which could help accelerate adoption of C2C principles in the built environment. Using business park developments as a backdrop, a framework for interrogating the socio-cultural context within which development projects take place and barriers to C2C adoption is proposed. The framework incorporates the competing values framework which is adapted to facilitate diagnosis and matching of different organisational value profiles to the choices that development stakeholders are likely to make in relation to C2C implementation. A key theoretical proposition which derives from this framework is that stakeholder organisations that subscribe to open system values are more likely to overcome socio - cultural barriers and implement C2C principles as a design model compared to stakeholder organisations that orient towards internal process values. It is anticipated that culture profiles of key stakeholder organisations and the nature of their alignment towards C2C oriented changes will be identified through empirical testing of this framework

The role of built environment practitioners in driving the socio-economic sustainability aspects of sustainable regeneration

In the United Kingdom (UK), over the past three decades efforts have been made to ensure adequate promotion of sustainability objectives through various policy initiatives. However, despite the effort and the existence of these policy initiatives, sustainability projects in particular, regeneration projects are yet to deliver their intended sustainability objectives. While there is a rise in demand for higher sustainability benefits by stakeholders such as clients, communities and policy makers, the delivery of sustainability benefits from sustainability regeneration projects are yet to meet the expectations of these stakeholders. This article provides an overview of sustainability benefits within the context of the sustainable regeneration projects in the UK from a study that examines the roles and sustainability drivers of construction practitioners towards the promotion of sustainability on their regeneration projects. To do so, a qualitative research approach is adopted using a semi-structured interview technique for the study. The data obtained was analysed using content analysis. The findings revealed that out of the eight socio-economic sustainability drivers presented to practitioners, enhancement of reputation was the most important ‘socio-economic’ sustainability driver while the least important driver was legislative and legal requirement. The findings further revealed that majority of practitioners/ organisations were promoting the socio-economic sustainability driver they believed will enable them to meet their own corporate business objectives

The valuation tool user guide: monetizing Cradle to Cradle®

This User Guide outlines the object, scope and expected deliverables from the Valuation Tool component of the Cradle to Cradle ® C2C BIZZ project. It describes the compendium of subtools that have been developed comprising: i) overview of funding tools; ii) C2C investment appraisal tool; and iii) C2C value indexing tool. The underpinning methodologies, as well as their inherent strengths and limitations are also described. The C2C BIZZ project as a whole aims specifically to promote and enhance the implementation of C2C methods in business site development within North Western Europe (NWE) (PAD, p.14). It is intended to infuse C2C notions into conventional site development, restructuring and management. The primary focus of the project is on planning, building and managing of business sites with C2C credentials (PAD, p.18) using sites in Lille Metropole (La Lainiere), London (London Sustainable Industries Park) and Luxemburg (Ecoparc Windhof) as experimental fields. C2C BIZZ is not concerned with the internal operations and activities of occupiers or users of the developed site. Accordingly, the scope of the valuation tool is confined to the planning, building and management of C2C sites. The deliverable from this component is a compendium of subtools (see Figure 1 below) that may be used to analyse the financial performance of C2C credentials in business sites to aid the making of a business case for such developments and evaluating the financial incentives for particular C2C site development projects. This entire work is premised on the argument that the wider adoption of C2C principles within the built environment depends on the rate of uptake by the private sector. The private sector, being profit driven, are likely to engage in C2C site development if they are convinced of its capacity to contribute to their business goals which ultimately is a return on their investment. The tool development described in this document attempts to provide a framework for collating an evidence base that can assist in articulating the business case for C2C in business site developments

Genetic variability, stability and heritability for quality and yield characteristics in provitamin A cassava varieties

Open Access Article; Published online: 25 Jan 2020Cassava is widely consumed in many areas of Africa, including Ghana, and is a major part of most household diets. These areas are characterized by rampant malnutrition, because the tuberous roots are low in nutritional value. Provitamin A biofortified cassava varieties have been developed by the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, but adoption of these varieties in Ghana will largely depend on their agronomic performance, including fresh root yield, dry matter content, resistance to major pests and diseases, mealiness, starch content and the stability of these traits. Eight provitamin A varieties with two white checks were planted in three environments for two seasons to determine stability and variability among the varieties for important traits. There were significant variations in performance between varieties and between environments for cassava mosaic disease, root number, fresh root yield and starch content. High broad-sense heritability and genetic advance were observed in all traits, except for storage root number, and could be exploited through improvement programs. This study identified the best performing enhanced provitamin A varieties for traits that are key drivers of variety adoption in Ghana. In view of this, some varieties can be recommended for varietal release after on-farm testing. The study also showed the possibility of tapping heterosis after careful selection of parents

Evaluating why quantity surveyors conflict with collaborative project delivery system

The recurring poor performance and lack of collaborative culture in the UK construction industry has been a topic of debate for many years now. This has triggered an industry wide demand for performance improvement and innovation in the construction sector. Several studies over the years have reported and linked these concerns to fragmentation, deep-seated cultural resistance and negative commercial behaviours among project participants. Traditionally, Quantity Surveyors (QSs) within the UK system are popularly known for their commercial management functions i.e., contract advice and cost related roles. But, the lack of evidence on collaborative practice across the commercial roles often performed by the QSs in practice has revealed a separation within the construction model where QSs are formulated outside the core project production team (client, designers, and constructors). This continues with further practical implications like process waste, value loss, conflicts among others. However, recently, there were calls for industry-wide modernisation with an appeal specifically on QSs to create positive link within the value chain as against being a burden to it. Based on a literature review and a case study approach, the study further discovered other commercial factors deterring collaborative practice that is emanating from QSs position outside the production system. These factors among others are: commercial background &training, customer &safeguarding practice, excessive monthly reporting & commercial governance and balancing standards with innovation

Positioning quantity surveyors in a collaborative production system

The lack of trust and collaboration between Quantity Surveyors (QSs) with other project stakeholders, is impeding their ability to create value and minimize wastes in construction processes. Precisely, the adversity that exists between the client & contractor's quantity surveyors (PQS/CQS) and the rest of the key stakeholders has allowed 'self - interest' to thrive to an extent that it hinders the practicality of achieving true collaboration in practice. Traditionally, QSs within the UK system are popularly known for their commercial management functions i.e., contract advice and cost related roles. But, prevailing customer practice has brought about a 'duality' in the construction model where now QSs functions are separated from that of the project production team (client, designers, constructors). Accordingly, a recent industry report (Modernize or Die), cautioned that the UK industry need to transform to a much higher-level model i.e., manufactured led construction–delivering in a more integrated system (ideally through collaboration). Furthermore, the report also calls on the QS professionals to revalidate their core competencies for the industry to modernize. This shows that many of the QSs functions acting on either side, that amount to multiple transactional interfaces needs to disappear. Through a literature review and in-depth interviews, the study contributes by examining QSs position in a collaborative production setting, revealing how they might collaborate with other stakeholders in construction. In addition, it also revealed an example of practice that shows how QSs can challenge and improve their current position going into collaborative practice