CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS THAT INFLUENCING SAFETY PROGRAM PERFORMANCE IN MALAYSIAN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS: CASE STUDIES

The construction industry is characterized as one with a poor safety culture globally. To achieve better site safety performance, emphasis has been placed on implementing effective safety programs. The main aim of this paper is to identify the Critical Success Factors that influencing safety program performance in Malaysian construction projects. In order to accomplish the aim of this study, the following objective was taken into consideration which is to study the factors contributing to the success of implementing safety program in construction projects. The study was carried out within Penang and Kedah States; it was basically focused on the respondents who involve in construction. Of 40 sets questionnaires were distributed, only 36 sets questionnaire returned and analyzed. After all the raw data obtained, the data were then inputted and analyzed with the software of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, version 17). The results of this study showed that good communication shall be treated as the most important factor, followed by clear and realistic goals, safety committee/safety officer, sufficient resource allocation and continuous participation of employee. On the other hand, work load/pressure was perceived as the least important factors. Apparently, these five factors have been given appropriate consideration in the construction sites and should be implied if it is not emphasized in construction industry in Malaysia.CSFs; Safety programme, Construction projects, Malaysia

Attitude Of Malaysian On Recycling Of Municipal Solid Waste : Case Studies In The Major Towns Of The East Coast And North Malaysia [TD897.8.M2 A398 2008 f rb].

Pengurusan sisa pepejal di Malaysia menjadi satu tugas yang amat mencabar kebelakangan ini akibat pertambahan penduduk dan perindustrian serta peningkatan dalam kuantiti dan kepelbagaian jenis sisa. Solid waste management in Malaysia has become a challenging task in recent years due to population growth, industrialization and an increase in quantity and variation in the types of waste generated

LEADERSHIP: HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE MANAGER

The purpose of this paper is to examine effective managers Malaysian leadership. The objective was investigated on how mangers can have better understanding of leadership and to use it to their advantage. In addition, this paper also examined to what extant Malaysian leadership ‘managers reflect the level of their social interaction, preference for gathering data, preference for decision-making, and style of making decisions. Finally, it identified several ways on how effective managers could reduce the gap between the difference in their leader to capitalize the strength of their counterparts in order to enhance organization performance and at the same time grasp new ideas so that it could benefit both sides. This study attempted to find out the effect of functional and behavioral competences on the leadership effectiveness in relation to managers in the construction industry in the Penang and Butterworth states in Malaysia. The finding has shown that all managers surveyed basically agreed that IT knowledge and the business knowledge are the most crucial competences that should be acquired to become an effective manager in the construction industry. On the other hand intraprofessional knowledge of behavioural competences was found to be the most important for an effective manager..Leadership, An effective manager, Construction industry, Malaysia.

DELAYS FACTORS IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS DEVELOPMENT: THE CASE OF KLANG VALLEY, MALAYSIA

The problem of project delays in construction industry is a global phenomenon; Malaysia is no exceptional. Delays are always considered as costly to all parties involved in the project and very often it will results in dispute, claims, total abandonment and blight the feasibility for project owners and retard the development of construction industry. Therefore, the objectives of this paper are to identify the main causes and contributor to the project delays because delays can be minimized only when their causes are identified. Moreover, it is also aimed to investigate the most critical stage throughout the process of project development pertaining to the project delays as well as to recommend various methods that could be adopted by the construction industry players to mitigate the problems. In order to achieve the said objectives, a total of twenty one factors of delays which was then grouped under owner related, contractor related and consultant related delay factors and ten methods to mitigate the project delays were based on literature review. The structural questionnaires were distributed to the targeted respondents in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The findings from this paper shown that owner’s slow in decision making was perceived to be the most significant factor and main causes to the project delays. All of the respondents claimed that working drawing stage being the most critical stage in governing all of these owner’s related delay factors. Besides that, the contractor is deemed to be the main contributor to the project delays in Malaysia construction industry. It is assumed by all of the respondents that the contractor should be responsible for any delays at the construction stage which is considered as the most critical stage in governing the project delays. In order to mitigate the project delays, awarding bids to the right and experience contractor was suggested to be the utmost effective solution in resolving those contractor’s related delay factors.CSFs; Project delay, construction industry, construction project development, mitigates delays, Malaysia

Determining the relationship between leadership practices and leadership needs in Saudi construction companies

Effective leadership is demonstrated by influencing and guiding the activities of the team toward achieving its goals. This study attempts to determine the relationship between leadership practices and leadership needs in construction companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A postal questionnaire survey was conducted to achieve the main aim of this research. Questionnaires were mailed to 155 construction companies in Jeddah city between September and October 2012. Of these, only 138 questionnaires were returned and analyzed. Significant associations were found among all variables. It was found that the two dimensions' personal competence (B=0.370, t=4.393, p<0.01) and professional competence (B=0.312, t=3.05, p<0.01) as leadership needs were significant towards leadership practices. This study suggests that the company leader, director, executive and non-executive should give direct reports autonomously and encourage others to face challenges, solve problems, and develop their own accountability which could significantly increase the effectiveness of company leaders in the construction industry of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Solid waste management in Romania

Pollution and health risks generated by improper solid waste management are important issues concerning environmental management in developing countries including Romania. In most cities, the use of open dumps in common for the disposal of wastes, resulting in soil and water resource contamination by leachate in addition to odors and fires. Solid waste management infrastructure and services in developing countries are far from achieving basic standards in term of hygiene and efficient collection and disposal. The paper presents an overview of current solid waste management (SWM) practices in Romania and suggests solutions to some of the major problems. Urban and rural waste management is considered and collection, transport, processing, recycling or disposal of waste materials is discussed relative to the National Waste Management Strategy and the National Plan for Waste Management, as well as European and national legislative framework. It was showed that land disposal will continue to be a disposal option but due to stricter regulation. Local and regional authorities are heavily and increasingly involved in the management of waste. In most cases, they are responsible for developing and implementing municipal waste management plans based on the medium to long term. Due to an increase in population and changes in lifestyle, the quantity and quality of MSW in Romania has changed. Lack of infrastructural, suitable planning and public awareness are the main challenges of MSW management in Romania

Reasons for non-participation in recycling of solid waste in northern Malaysia: A case study

It is widely accepted that public support is vital to the success of most recycling programmes.The actions of householders are paramount to the success of any sustainable waste management policies whether local, regional or national.This paper presents a study of householders' attitudes to recycling of solid wastes in Malaysia, which supports the idea that careful planning and design are critical for the success of a new recycling programme.A postal questionnaire survey was administered to households in Penang state located in north Malaysia. Quantitative analysis of the 417 responses focused on reasons for non participation in current recycling schemes. Statistical analysis showed that many householders refrain from recycling because of their negative perceptions of the distance to the recycling points and the lack of recycling facilities in their neighbourhood

Critical success factors in construction industry in Sudan

Always, the organizations are recognizing the corporate strategic into actions requires projects. Hence, it is vital that projects are successful. Critical success factors are very important cause influence that to project success. This paper seeks to identify the major factors influencing the success of the project, particularly in Sudan. A questionnaire survey was used and this survey into critical success factors for projects is based on a considerable sample of 35 participants. As results, this survey revealed that, project understanding and communication, are ranked as higher critical success factors in Sudan

Causes of construction delay: a case study in Libya

Delays on construction projects are a universal phenomenon. And it is probable that most construction projects will incur some sort of a delay before they are completed. Even though various studies have been considered into the causes affecting delays, these studies seldom discuss common and general causes of delays in construction projects. Thus, comprehensive study on these delays is essential. Since the problems are rather contextual, the study needs to focus on specific causes of delaying like insufficient coordination and ineffective communication between involved parties in construction projects located at Benghazi City in Libya. Literature review and a questionnaire survey targeted at construction projects in the Libya’s country and have been used as the tools to carry out this study. This paper presents the findings of a survey aimed for identifying some of the most important causes of delays in construction projects in the above mentioned city. It is hoped that these findings will guide efforts to enhance the performance of the construction Industry. This paper also explores and provides some guidelines and actionable information which can be led to enhance the construction process