Expansive learning in contemporary construction organisations

Purpose – The evolving roles of BIM and smart building technologies in the design and management of construction projects often present unexpected events and variabilities, which tend to erode professionals’ prior knowledge authority. The purpose of this paper is to explore how construction organisations can deploy knowledge and adapt to the requisite skills in order to make fitting responses to the ever evolving technological and organizational transformations to address the prevailing construction challenges. Design/methodology/approach – The paper opted for abductive research approach which ensures back-and-forth iterative dialogue between the empirical data and an amalgam of the theoretical proposition towards new understanding of the phenomenon under investigation. Multiple case study method was adopted to collate the empirical data from three separate construction organisations as they transitioned into BIM compliant work processes. Findings – The study has described new processes that not only mediate existing practices, but focuses on consistently resolving known tensions and contradictions between prior knowledge and the requirement of the changing work situation. The study also illustrates the cognitive synchronisation of the learning approaches within contemporary work organisations that align well with the merits and utilities entrenched within their niche technological choices. Research limitations/implications – Due to the chosen research methodology, it is acknowledged that future comparative studies using a much larger quantitative data sample to further elucidate the findings of this paper would be an interesting further step. Originality/value – The study contributes to construction management literature by providing new insights into expansive learning environments capable of addressing cognitive contradictions and ambiguities inherent in the changing contemporary work patterns in the construction context as a consequence of BIM deployment

Managing change in BIM-Level 2 projects: benefits, challenges, and opportunities

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to validate perceived benefits and challenges of BIM-Level 2 in managing change in projects and identify opportunities for enhancing these benefits and reducing the challenges. This research is timely because, these benefits and challenges remain largely unvalidated following the passing of the BIM-Level 2 mandate in the UK, and the opportunities for enhancing the benefits and reducing challenges remain relatively unexplored. Design/methodology/approach: To achieve the aim, questionnaires were sent to BIM-Level 2 practitioners in the UK; in all, 41 responses were received. Following that, interviews with 10 BIM practitioners were carried out to identify opportunities for reducing challenges and increasing benefits. Findings: From the findings, the benefits from the literature were all validated. Beyond these, some emergent benefits were identified, such as cost saving and risk reduction. Most challenges from the literature were validated with emergent challenges identified, largely to do with the social dimension in the BIM-Level 2 process. Opportunities identified to enhance benefits and reduce challenges were mainly socially driven. These opportunities were classified as either reactive or proactive. Research limitations/implications: Opportunities for reducing challenges and increasing benefits identified from this research can inform the change management processes in BIM-Level 2. Practical implications: Findings show the processes and requirements for managing change in BIM-level 2. Social implications: The identification of behaviours reveals the social requirements for BIM-level 2. Originality/value: This research identifies opportunities required to reconstruct the change management process in BIM-Level 2. This forms a basis for future work to explore the antecedents of these social requirements

Stakeholder management in PPP projects: external stakeholders’ perspective

Purpose – This paper focuses on external stakeholders’ perspective of stakeholder management in Public Private Partnerships (PPP) projects within the context of developing countries where public opposition to PPP projects is prevalent. The aim is to identify the key enablers to PPP projects’ success from the perspective of external stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach – Data was collected from two case studies via semistructured interviews in two PPP project locations in Nigeria. 14 external stakeholders comprising community leaders, trade unionists and human right activist participated in the research. Findings – Five key enablers of external stakeholder management were identified. These are (1) the choice of project location; (2) transparency of the internal stakeholders; (3) timing of stakeholder engagement; (4) knowledge of PPP; and (5) relationship with internal stakeholders. Originality/Value – External stakeholders’ perspective of stakeholder management in PPP projects within the context of developing countries new to PPP has been established. The practical implications of the five enablers can be used by policy makers and industry professionals to ensure effective stakeholder management of PPP projects

Genetic effects on gene expression across human tissues

Characterization of the molecular function of the human genome and its variation across individuals is essential for identifying the cellular mechanisms that underlie human genetic traits and diseases. The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project aims to characterize variation in gene expression levels across individuals and diverse tissues of the human body, many of which are not easily accessible. Here we describe genetic effects on gene expression levels across 44 human tissues. We find that local genetic variation affects gene expression levels for the majority of genes, and we further identify inter-chromosomal genetic effects for 93 genes and 112 loci. On the basis of the identified genetic effects, we characterize patterns of tissue specificity, compare local and distal effects, and evaluate the functional properties of the genetic effects. We also demonstrate that multi-tissue, multi-individual data can be used to identify genes and pathways affected by human disease-associated variation, enabling a mechanistic interpretation of gene regulation and the genetic basis of diseas

Genetic effects on gene expression across human tissues

Characterization of the molecular function of the human genome and its variation across individuals is essential for identifying the cellular mechanisms that underlie human genetic traits and diseases. The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project aims to characterize variation in gene expression levels across individuals and diverse tissues of the human body, many of which are not easily accessible. Here we describe genetic effects on gene expression levels across 44 human tissues. We find that local genetic variation affects gene expression levels for the majority of genes, and we further identify inter-chromosomal genetic effects for 93 genes and 112 loci. On the basis of the identified genetic effects, we characterize patterns of tissue specificity, compare local and distal effects, and evaluate the functional properties of the genetic effects. We also demonstrate that multi-tissue, multi-individual data can be used to identify genes and pathways affected by human disease-associated variation, enabling a mechanistic interpretation of gene regulation and the genetic basis of disease

Empowerment and control dynamics in project teams: a multilevel examination of the antecedents and jobperformance consequences

published_or_final_versionReal Estate and ConstructionDoctoralDoctor of Philosoph

Enhancing performance measurement of public procurement processes through the application of procurement delay index

Considering procurement process performance assessment, measurement systems such as balance scorecard and capability maturity models are used to assess procurement performance to give a reasonable indication of actual performance. These tools are ideal for practical applications that depend on other performance criteria but are short of comparing planned to actual timelines set for procurement processes. This fosters persistent delays in public procurement. Six Sigma implementation benefits including addressing process delays have fostered its implementation for service improvements. Unfortunately, Six Sigma implementation in public procurement is very rare largely due to its expensive nature. The objective of this study is to develop a Procurement Delay Index (PDindex): a performance measure in the context of a Six Sigma methodology that provides a specific value to describe the delays in the procurement process. To enhance uniformity in performance measurement of process timeliness, a rating scale for determining the timeliness of the procurement process is proposed. A practical demonstration of the application of PDindex for use by procurement professionals is also presented. PDindex serves as a standard by which to determine procurement processes’ timeliness and is less expensive to implement. A PDindex of 3σ has been recommended as the acceptable limit for procurement process delays

Assessment and enforcement of liquidated and ascertained damages in construction contracts in Ghana

The enforcement of Liquidated and Ascertained Damages (LADs) can be problematic when the amounts are poorly assessed and there are lapses in the administration of contracts. The relevance of LAD clauses in construction contracts in Ghana, as well as the methods employed in their assessment and enforcement were investigated. A parallel survey method was adopted. Three sets of similar questionnaires (slightly modified) were administered to professionals in client, consultant and contractor organisations in contract administration roles, to explore their experiences in the assessment and enforcement of LADs. LADs are not serving their purpose in construction contracts in Ghana. Clients have created situations that render LADs unenforceable. LAD amounts are also not genuine pre-estimates of expected loss to be incurred, as assumptions and guesses rather than genuine calculations on case-by-case basis are adopted in their assessment. This research indicates that the enforcement of LADs can be enhanced if clients become more diligent in their contractual, mostly financial, obligations. Since a purposive sampling procedure was adopted the findings and conclusions of this research are only tentative, but nevertheless raise serious issues regarding contract administration practices in Ghana

Stakeholder perspectives on the value of car parking

Car parking is a routine yet highly complex part of daily life for both drivers and those affected by parking. This paper aims to unravel how key stakeholders value parking, by looking beyond the traditional possibilities associated with supply and demand to help better inform decision makers with their parking related dilemmas, by drawing on a series of in-depth interviews. First, interviews were conducted with eight academics who maintain a research interest in parking, to validate key stakeholders and their parking dilemmas as identified from literature. Second, interviews with 20 representatives spanning an assortment of key stakeholder groups affected by parking were undertaken, to determine their perspectives on the value of parking. The findings indicate that a considerably broader reach of stakeholders are affected by parking than the existing literature suggests, and the process of means by which stakeholders value parking is more sophisticated than previously thought. This new finding dispels traditional beliefs relating to how stakeholders value parking; the article outlines the extent to which such beliefs are mistaken, and provides the foundation for further work to understand the extent of these replacement values