Selection Model of Subcontractor Relationships by Using Discriminant Analysis

Subcontractors usually handle some parts of special works in construction projects. The development of the subcontractor’s relationship is one of the main issues to ensure the project's success. Many existing models were proposed for evaluating the subcontractor prequalification and performance, but a selection model of subcontractor relationships was still neglected for supporting the decision-making of the main contractor. Currently, main contractors use only their experience and personal preference to choose the type of subcontractor relationships. These practices can reduce the opportunities for finding a suitable subcontractor who could add more value to future explorative work. Moreover, if they mismatch the relationship type with the subcontractor, the main contractors will work with a poor-performance subcontractor. Thus, this wrong selection has hindered the benefit of a long-term relationship subcontractor. This study developed a selection model of subcontractor relationships to solve the problem. The methodology of this research collected data from the primary contractor's assessment of 15 projects, with 93 subcontractors based on factors influencing the current relationship type. Then, the selection model of subcontractor relationships was developed by using discriminant analysis. As a result, time control in planning, work quality, cooperation, and trust factors that influenced the outcome of the model development, were able to classify subcontractors into short-term or long-term relationships. The finding result was also validated and shown at an acceptable level. Therefore, the model development could support the decision-making of the main contractor in choosing the type of subcontractor relationship

Using Artificial Neural Network for Selecting Type of Subcontractor Relationships in Construction Project

Since some subcontractors could perform their professional skills faster and less expensive, many main contractors have adapted those companies to help their construction works and gained more profits. After the relationship between main contractor and subcontractor was consistently developed by many construction projects, main contractors would be willing to define a potential subcontractor who could ensure a good productivity in the future. Previously, main contractors were experienced by wrong selection of subcontractor in relationship development. Thus, it could cause some controversies between main contractor and subcontractor and hinder benefits with a right subcontractor for a long run business. To minimize the problem of main contractor, this paper used an artificial neural network as a tool for determining the subcontractor in relationship development. As the result, the artificial neural network provided higher accuracy in training and validating data and it could give main contractor more confident in decision making for selecting type of subcontractor relationships

Developing an Automated System for Checking the Strut Arrangement in Deep Excavation

At the early stage of the project, the clash problem in the strut arrangement was reviewed by using two-dimensional construction drawings. This practice was time-consuming and error-prone. Moreover, some 3D construction software could detect clashes between the structural strut and permanent building structures. But they were still limited in this arrangement including (1) decision of strut arrangement relying on human judgment; (2) unable to distinguish between unreal clash and real clash in the strut arrangement based on work practice, and (3) unable to present overview of all clash detections from each strut at one time. To solve these problems, this paper integrated rule-based approach with Building Information Modelling (BIM) to develop an automated system for detecting and solving clashes of the structural strut. The methodology primarily developed three main modules of an automated system by using rule-based approach. Then, these modules applied with BIM software, visual programming and spreadsheet for generating, checking and solving the clashes. To proof the efficiency, a case study of office basement construction was applied to test the system. As a result, this system could improve the strut arrangement work by reducing the human judgement. Moreover, the system has shortened the time of the strut arrangement by only specifying on the real clash problems. Last, this system also could provide better visualization of clashes

Effect of Encouragement-based Management Mechanism on Construction Firms’ Manpower Development: An Empirical Study from Vietnam

The construction industry should seek to enrich its workforces due to the increasing lack of trained and skilled employees. This study attempts to investigate the relationship between encouragement-based management mechanism (EMM) and manpower development (MD) in construction firms and examine the moderating effect of firm size on this relationship by conducting bivariate Pearson correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analyses to analyse empirical data collected from 79 construction firms in Vietnam. The results show that EMM positively affected MD, and this positive effect was stronger in small/medium-sized construction firms than in large firms. The findings could provide construction firms in Vietnam, as well as other developing countries, with a better understanding of the effect of EMM on MD. Hence, they could establish appropriate and wise encouragement-based strategies to enhance their manpower. This study could contribute to the extant literature on construction manpower development by providing empirical evidence of the EMM−MD relationship in the context of construction firms

Developing within-company information and communication technologies (ICT) innovation diffusion networks : a study of three Australian major contractors

The innovation diffusion and knowledge management literature strongly supports the importance of communities of practice (COP) for enabling knowledge about how to use and adopt innovation initiatives. One of the most powerful tools for innovation diffusion is word-of-mouth wisdom from committed individuals who mentor and support each other. Close proximity for face-to-face interaction is highly effective, however, many organisations are geographically dispersed with projects being virtual linked sub-organisations using ICT to communicate. ICT has also introduced a useful facilitating technology for developing knowledge networks. This paper presents findings from a research program concentrating on ICT innovation diffusion in the Australian construction industry. One way in which ICT diffusion is taking place was found to be through within-company communities of practice. We undertook in-depth unstructured interviews with three of the major 10 to 15 contractors in Australia to discuss their ICT diffusion strategies. We discovered that in all three cases,within company networked communities of practice was a central strategy. Further, effective diffusion of ICT groupware tools can be critical in developing COP where they are geographically dispersed

Developing within-company information and communication technologies (ICT) innovation diffusion networks : a study of three Australian major contractors

The innovation diffusion and knowledge management literature strongly supports the importance of communities of practice (COP) for enabling knowledge about how to use and adopt innovation initiatives. One of the most powerful tools for innovation diffusion is word-of-mouth wisdom from committed individuals who mentor and support each other. Close proximity for face-to-face interaction is highly effective, however, many organisations are geographically dispersed with projects being virtual linked sub-organisations using ICT to communicate. ICT has also introduced a useful facilitating technology for developing knowledge networks. This paper presents findings from a research program concentrating on ICT innovation diffusion in the Australian construction industry. One way in which ICT diffusion is taking place was found to be through within-company communities of practice. We undertook in-depth unstructured interviews with three of the major 10 to 15 contractors in Australia to discuss their ICT diffusion strategies. We discovered that in all three cases,within company networked communities of practice was a central strategy. Further, effective diffusion of ICT groupware tools can be critical in developing COP where they are geographically dispersed

Utilization of Building Information Modeling for Arranging the Structural Kingposts

The kingpost was a vertical element that was used to support the structural strut in the deep excavation. The structural kingpost was commonly arranged by experienced engineers who used two-dimensional construction drawings. Thus, it was still time-consuming and error-prone. Currently, an available construction program has been developed to arrange the structural kingpost by identifying the clash problems in the 3D environment. However, they have a limitation for detecting the clash that was unable to visualize the concurrent clashes between kingpost and many underground structures. Then, the engineer cannot see all the clash incidents with each kingpost and move the kingpost to avoid the clashes successfully. Since the kingpost arrangement was still an inefficient practice that was limited in the visualization aspect, this research used engineering knowledge and advanced construction technology to detect and solve the clashes between kingposts and underground structures. The methodology used engineering knowledge of kingpost arrangement to develop the system modules by using a rule-based approach. Then, these modules were developed into the system by using visual programming of Building Information Modelling (BIM). To test the system, an underground structure from building construction was selected as a case study to apply the developed system. Finally, the finding of this study could overcome human judgment by providing less interaction in the kingpost arrangement and visualization improvement of clash occurrences in the 3D model

An Empirical Examination of Knowledge Management and Organizational Learning as Mediating Variables between HRM and Sustainable Organizational Performance

Despite increasing competition, the construction industry is still lagging behind other industries in several aspects such as productivity growth, technology adoption, and human resource management. Although the causal link between human resource management (HRM) and organizational performance (OP) is well established and reinforced by several studies, the mediating mechanisms through which HRM practices impact organizational performance remain areas lacking consensus. This article, therefore, aims at examining the mediating roles of knowledge management (KM) and organizational learning (OL) in the established relationship between HRM and the long-term or sustainable peformance of Thai construction firms. Confirmatory factor analysis and partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) were employed as the methods of analysis. Based on the dataset of 194 responses, the empirical results of the study strongly supported the three hypotheses that assumed positive relationships between (1) HRM and OP, (2) HRM and knowledge management, and (3) organizational learning and the OP of the firms under study. These findings thus provide empirical evidence for the three relationships. However, empirical results testing the roles of KM or OL or both as mediating variables behind the link between HRM and sustainable OP were not confirmed by the dataset. Therefore, one of the practical implications provided by this study is that Thai construction firms should be better aligned and integrated their HRM practices, knowledge management, and organizational learning to enhance the firms’ competitive advantage and to help lead the firms towards a more sustainable pathway of business operations. However, since the fragmented activities of construction make it hard to apply human resource management effectively, such good alignment and integration of HRM, KM, and OL for improving performance may, in practice, be quite challenging for most construction firms