Conceptualising risk culture on enterprise risk management (ERM) implementation in construction companies / Wong Ching Ching ... [et al.]

In today's global economy, inadequate risk management and lack of risk culture can threaten a company’s viability. Since construction industry is subjected to uncertainty, construction Public Listed Companies (PLCs) need to implement Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) as an effective technique in managing risk holistically. Although the importance of ERM is widely accepted, the influence of risk culture in its’ implementation is unexplored. This paper presents a conceptual model that shows the relationship between risk culture and ERM implementation. The dependent variable is ERM implementation, consist of four dimensions namely risk identification and risk assessment; risk treatment; monitor and consult; communicate and consult. The independent variables, risk culture compromise of six dimensions, which are risk policy and risk appetite; key risk indicators; accountability; incentives; risk language and internal relationships. This study aims to empirically test the relationship between risk culture and ERM implementation among Malaysian construction public listed companies. Quantitative method through questionnaire survey is adopted as data collection for this study. Risk culture is expected to have direct effects and significantly influence ERM. This study contributes to enhance the body of knowledge in ERM especially in understanding significant of risk culture that influence its’ implementation from Malaysian perspective

Assessing the expected current and future competencies of quantity surveyors in the Malaysian built environment

Purpose: Quantity surveying is a profession that blends engineering, construction and economics. To be competent is to have the ability to apply the set of related knowledge, skills and abilities to perform a task effectively. This paper examines the competency requirements for quantity surveyors (QSs) in the face of changing and increasing client needs. Design/methodology/approach: Based on a detailed meta-analysis of the literature, 12 basic/core and 16 evolving competencies are identified. Primary data were gathered through a field survey involving practicing QSs from client, consultant and contractor organisations, and university students undertaking QS programmes in Malaysia. The data obtained were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Findings: The significance of the basic/core and evolving competencies are presented. Overall, the most important contemporary skills are cost planning, valuation of works, measurement/quantification and contract documentation. The evolved roles require expertise in communication and negotiation, ethics and professional conduct and value management. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicates there are misaligned expectations of the proficiency levels needed to provide contemporary and future services between practitioners in client/consultant organisations, contractors and new generation students. Originality/value: The findings provide guidance on the education, training and practice of quantity surveying to deal with emerging challenges in the dynamic built environments in Malaysia and beyond.</p

The perspective of students on drivers and benefits of building information modelling incorporation into quantity surveying profession in Klang Valley Malaysia

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a very useful tool that facilitates architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals and stakeholders in planning, designing and constructing the buildings through 3D models. BIM can be widened to building operations and data storage which can be accessible by owners and others. Such data help owners and stakeholders to generate results according to the information gained through BIM models. The objectives of this study were to identify the perspective of students on drivers of BIM incorporation into the quantity surveying profession and to identify the perspective of students on benefits of BIM incorporation into the quantity surveying profession. A questionnaire survey was carried out to gain the students’ perspective on drivers and benefits of BIM incorporation into the quantity surveying profession in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Specifically, this study investigated twelve drivers and fourteen benefits of BIM incorporation into the quantity surveying profession. The top three drivers were improving the capacity to provide whole-life value to the client, desire for innovation to remain competitive and strong support from university management and industry. The top three benefits were BIM provides fast, effective and efficient quantity take-off and cost estimation, time savings in the preparation of estimating cost and improved visualization for better understanding of designs for measurement and minimise omissions. For future research, it is recommended that the study be replicated at other regions so that a clearer view of this topic can be obtained. Besides, qualitative research methods could be used in identifying other drivers and benefits not covered in this study. By answering the questions in the survey form, the students were able to gain some knowledge on BIM and its importance to the quantity surveying profession. Also, it would be interesting to include industrial practitioners in this kind of study, allowing comparisons of the results between academia and industry at a later stage. Nonetheless, this study benefited the undergraduate students pursuing the Bachelor of Science (Hons) Quantity Surveying programme, universities, colleges and other institutions that offered the quantity surveying programmes at various levels and quantity surveyors working in the construction industry by exposing them to a comprehensive list of drivers and benefits of BIM incorporation into quantity surveying profession. In a way, this study helped promoted BIM and its implementation in the field of quantity surveying in Klang Valley, Malaysia

The assessment of waste segregation exercise among Malaysian contractors: a descriptive analysis

Construction waste that emerges from construction sites has become a major global concern due to its negative carbon footprint on the environment. Due to underrepresented construction waste specific data in Malaysia, this paper aims to identify sources, causes, types of construction waste and decision-making factors of construction waste management in Malaysia's construction sites. A questionnaire survey was administered to 60 construction practitioners representing different construction sites in Peninsular Malaysia. A descriptive analysis using the Relative Importance Index (RII) was used to rank the items asked in the survey and categorised them into high (RII>70%), medium (50%<RII<70%) or low (RII<50%) importance levels. The findings show that the top-ranked sources of construction waste categorised as high importance level are demolition, site clearance, and refurbishment. The causes, insufficient construction waste management plan, incorrect materials, design changes, over-ordering, errors in the contract document, and on-site technical errors are ranked as highly important. The top common waste materials include concrete, brick, metal, wood, glass and paper. The importance of all decision-making factors is high-rated; unexpectedly, environmental impact is the least important reason for construction waste management contractors. The results provide a perspective of the current practices of construction waste in Malaysia. The outcome is useful for waste managers and policymakers in developing potential waste management strategies for a more sustainable construction industry

Modelling capability-based risk assessment for international construction project ventures / Loo Siaw Chuing

Globalization has created more opportunities for contractors to enter international construction markets. Despite the financial markets meltdown in the autumn of 2008, international contractors are still finding opportunities in the international marketplace. International projects are exposed to more diverse and complex risks, thus higher possibility of loss, than domestic projects. Similarly, the vast uncertainties and complexities in international construction would render project selection decisions to be intricate as compared to domestic construction. As a result, copious risk assessment tools and methods have been proposed to assist this decision making, most of them based on Probability-Impact (P-I) risk model. Although P-I risk model is useful to assess risks, firm’s capabilities are missing in the early assessment to provide accurate risk picture to decision makers for project selection decision in the international construction. This study aims to develop a risk assessment model, through the determination of the extent to which firm’s capabilities impact on international construction project risk significance values, for improved productivity and performance. The international construction firm’s capabilities are explored using resource-based view, dynamic capabilities, and Porter’s generic value chain theories. The conceptual framework postulated that international construction firms could lower the exposure to risks in the international construction foray by a combination of firm’s capabilities. A total of 252 survey questionnaires were sent out in 2013 to 2014 to 155 international construction firms and 65 firms responded via either structured interview or questionnaire survey. The respondents are project selection decision makers in their firms and thus are approached through face-to-face interviews if they are based in Malaysia or contacted via email if they are based in their home countries. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS and PLS-SEM software. The results from structural iv model evaluation found that only 53 out of 110 hypothesized relationships were significantly important. It was discovered that four firm’s capabilities have less influence on the risks studied; they are financial, innovation, physical, and procurement capabilities. This suggests that human resource, organizational, business management, organizational learning, construction, and project management capabilities are more influential towards international construction risk significances. A novel Capability- Risk Assessment (CapRA) model was developed and validated using the PLS-SEM technique. The model was then formulated into modified P-I risk model equations and computerized into a CapRA calculator to facilitate construction firms in selecting international construction projects. The Mean Absolute Percentage Error found that CapRA is able to improve prediction accuracy by 16% to 21%. International contractors are recommended to use CapRA to conduct preliminary assessment on their firm’s capabilities and risks of potential projects. This study contributes to the knowledge of risk assessment by enhancing the P-I risk model with firm’s capability component. The model developed enables firms to be informed of the combination of firm’s capabilities needed to lower the exposure to certain risks. Thus, a proper assessment of firm’s capabilities and project risks before coming into any decision can be achieved. Future study could incorporate other influencing variables such as various contract clauses to refine CapRA

Novel Capability-Based Risk Assessment Calculator for Construction Contractors Venturing Overseas

Globalization creates opportunities for contractors to enter lucrative international markets yet international projects are exposed to more diverse and complex risks than domestic projects. Owing to vast uncertainties and complexities, international construction entry decisions are intricate. Although conventional Probability-Impact (P-I) risk models are useful, the firm's capabilities are missing in early assessments for project selection decision. Hence, this study aims to develop a capability-based risk assessment (CapRA) calculator for international contractors venturing overseas. The international construction firm's capabilities are explored using resource-based views, dynamic capabilities, and Porter's generic value chain theories to conceptualize an integrated framework for risk assessment. Additionally, a questionnaire was sent to international construction firms operating outside their home countries to appraise their firm's capabilities and international construction project risk significance values. Then, a partial least squares approach was used to analyze the data. The findings are used to develop a novel CapRA model, which is then formulated into modified P-I risk model equations and computerized into a CapRA calculator to simplify the application. In essence, this study contributes to both knowledge and practice by developing and testing a model to improve the accuracy and facilitate project selection decisions for international construction firms. © 2019 American Society of Civil Engineers

Sound Absorption Performance Of Modified Concrete: A Review

Concrete, known as the second most consumed material in the world after water, is a versatile, inexpensive and durable construction material. Due to its high density, concrete is usually employed as rigid walls in buildings and also as sound barrier in highway. Researchers have proposed several methods to treat the concrete to also be capable of absorbing sound and thus improving the sound quality in a room. However, there exists limited information regarding the sound absorbing capability of concrete or more generally the cement-based materials. This paper reviews the sound absorption properties of various modified concrete materials from the existing published works. The influence of aggregate types and alteration of concrete ingredients on the acoustic properties of modified concrete materials are discussed. From the review, it is concluded that the sound absorption of the concrete or cement-based material can be improved by creating porous structures in the materials through different methods, namely incorporating lightweight aggregate, creating physical voids, such as in pervious concrete or by inducing voids with the inclusion of foam in cellular concrete. Another proposed method is also to incorporate large amount of hemp shiv to produce hemp concrete. A linear relationship is found to generally estimate the noise reduction coefficient as the function of the density of the materials using the data available from the published works

Case 1 routes (redrawn).

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