A framework for outsourcing facilities management services in Nigeria's public hospitals

Literature has established FM as a global business model that continues to explore how organisation can grow faster through expansion into new markets, find new ways of fostering innovation through collaborative outsourcing that will achieve right balance between the decision to outsource, risks and legal requirements embedded in the service level agreement (SLA) between client organisations and their FM outsourcing vendors. The study aims to develop and test a framework for outsourcing facilities management services using data from Nigeria’s public hospitals. The specific objectives are among others; to determine a set of key factors that influence the decision to outsource facilities management services in public hospitals; to conduct an empirical survey of facilities management services outsourced in public hospitals; to access the satisfaction of users of outsourced FM services and model the satisfaction of users on quality of outsourced facilities management services using SEM; and assess the probability and severity of risks associated with outsourcing of facilities management services in public hospitals. Data for this study were collected using a cross sectional 2-strand questionnaire survey and case study. During the first strand of questionnaire survey, a total of 85 responses were received from the six states comprising the study area while 11 of them were discarded due to missing data resulting in 74 usable responses. This gave an overall response rate of 45.4%. A total of 246 survey responses were received during the second strand of questionnaire survey. Of these, 38 were not fully completed and therefore discarded leaving 208 as usable responses. This resulted in an overall response rate of 25.1%. The case study component involved semi-structured interview section with 4 participants representing 4 cases (3 hospitals and 1 FM organisation). Findings revealed that 25 of the 31 factors were significant in explaining the decision to outsource FM service in Nigeria’s public hospitals; while 15 of them grouped into 5 broad categories were recommended for framework construction based on their factor loadings during analysis. Also, 6 facilities management services including plant management and repairs; general cleaning services; waste disposal and environmental management; landscape maintenance; security; and catering/restroom management are completely outsourced in all the 74 hospitals. Findings additionally revealed that service quality in relation to catering, plant maintenance, waste management, security, landscape maintenance, and cleaning services received very high satisfaction ratings from respondents. Findings also established 24 out of the 35 risk factors as critical, 4 factors as somehow critical, and 5 factors as not critical. Besides, 9 risk factors were selected based on their factor loadings from PCA to develop the outsourcing framework. Drawing on theoretical analysis and input from the questionnaire survey and case study, an outsourcing framework comprising 4 components was developed to assist public hospitals administrators achieve sustainable best practice resource management. It is recommended among others that further research be conducted to develop standardised criteria for vendor selection processes

Influence of digitalisation adoption level on construction project delivery in Nigeria

Purpose The rate of project failure across the globe seems to reinforce poor performance as a norm. However, engagement with construction digitalisation (CD) represents a departure point for improving project performance. Amidst researchers' recent empirical engagement with CD, the knowledge of the relationship model between CD and project delivery (PD) is abysmal. As a result, developing a business case for CD in developing countries has been slow due to the dearth of empirical evidence. This paper aims to investigate the influence of digitalisation on project performance. Design/methodology/approach Anchored on cross-sectional survey research design using a questionnaire survey in which a total of 183 copies of structured questionnaires were randomly distributed to medium- and large-sized construction firms operating in Abuja, Nigeria's federal capital. A total of 126 valid responses were received giving an overall response rate of 68.8%. The responses were analysed using mean item score, principal component analysis and multiple linear regression. Findings Findings from the regression analysis reveal that digitalisation has varying levels of impact on PP measured using quality, time and cost. The relationship model with time performance is weak (r = 0.526, r2 = 0.277); on cost performance, the significant model is also weak (r = 0.502, r2 = 0.252) and moderate on quality (r = 0.663, r2 = 0.439). CD influences project cost, time and quality performance despite the weak relationship model. The results indicate that the most effective benchmark of CD is quality performance. Originality/value This study established the relationship between digitalisation and construction PD within the construction industry context, an area lacking research attention in emerging economies. This study is the first study in emerging economies that established the influence of digitalisation on construction PD statistically

Facilities management strategic roles and services quality performance in Nigeria's banking sector

Purpose-Facilities management (FM) as a strategic management tool has been an attractive research topic among scholars and practitioners alike for decades. The primary purpose of this paper is threefold: to assess the extent of use of FM roles (strategic, tactical and operational); to examine user satisfaction of service quality performance; and to analyse the influence of FM roles on service quality performance using data from Nigeria's banking sector. Design/methodology/approach-Relying on exploratory cross-sectional survey, 350 copies of a structured questionnaire were purposively distributed to senior management staff, bank staff, FM supervisors and bank customers in Lagos, Nigeria. One hundred and forty valid responses were returned to give a response rate of 40%. Data collected were analysed using descriptive, Spearman rank correlation and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Findings-It was discovered that strategic facilities planning, IT planning strategy and real estate decisions are the most important FM roles at the strategic level; resource management, data control and planning change at the tactical level; and implementations, building operations and emergencies at the operation level. Findings equally revealed that visual appealing of materials associated with services (tangibles), insisting on error-free records (reliability), willing to help (responsiveness), having the knowledge to answer questions (assurance) and giving individualised attention (empathy) were the most important service quality performance indicators. Furthermore, the study revealed that strategic FM roles significantly influenced tangibles, reliability and responsiveness of staff and the services. Besides, tactical FM roles significantly influenced all service quality indicators except assurance, while operational FM roles had significant influence on tangibles, responsiveness and empathy. Originality/value-To the best of the author's knowledge, this study has provided first ever insight into the extent of FM strategic roles in the banking sector and influence of FM roles on service quality performance

Influence of digitalisation adoption level on construction project delivery in Nigeria

PurposeThe rate of project failure across the globe seems to reinforce poor performance as a norm. However, engagement with construction digitalisation (CD) represents a departure point for improving project performance. Amidst researchers' recent empirical engagement with CD, the knowledge of the relationship model between CD and project delivery (PD) is abysmal. As a result, developing a business case for CD in developing countries has been slow due to the dearth of empirical evidence. This paper aims to investigate the influence of digitalisation on project performance.Design/methodology/approachAnchored on cross-sectional survey research design using a questionnaire survey in which a total of 183 copies of structured questionnaires were randomly distributed to medium- and large-sized construction firms operating in Abuja, Nigeria's federal capital. A total of 126 valid responses were received giving an overall response rate of 68.8%. The responses were analysed using mean item score, principal component analysis and multiple linear regression.FindingsFindings from the regression analysis reveal that digitalisation has varying levels of impact on PP measured using quality, time and cost. The relationship model with time performance is weak (r = 0.526, r2 = 0.277); on cost performance, the significant model is also weak (r = 0.502, r2 = 0.252) and moderate on quality (r = 0.663, r2 = 0.439). CD influences project cost, time and quality performance despite the weak relationship model. The results indicate that the most effective benchmark of CD is quality performance.Originality/valueThis study established the relationship between digitalisation and construction PD within the construction industry context, an area lacking research attention in emerging economies. This study is the first study in emerging economies that established the influence of digitalisation on construction PD statistically

Analysis of Project Failure Factors for Infrastructure Projects in Saudi Arabia: A Multivariate Approach

The rapidly changing face of the Saudi construction industry occasioned by the boost in oil revenue means that the best project management practices must be given priority to be able to confront the challenges associated with the management of infrastructure projects. The study develops a framework for identifying and classifying causes of project failures in the Saudi construction industry. A quantitative questionnaire survey was used to solicit responses from 67 respondents in the city of Jeddah, selected using an online questionnaire survey. Target respondents were mainly civil engineers, architects, quantity surveyors and building engineers who have years of experience in the management of infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia. Findings reveal that poor risk management was rated the most critical failure factor for infrastructure projects, while budget overruns and poor communication by management followed closely at second and third, respectively. Additionally, eight components were extracted from the 24 items used for factor analysis. Among the extracted factors are project management deficiencies, risk challenges and government interference. Recommendations include, among others, that project risk management frameworks should be redesigned to guide clients and other stakeholders in an effort to reduce a project's unexpected exposure to risk

Analysis of Project Failure Factors for Infrastructure Projects in Saudi Arabia: A Multivariate Approach

The rapidly changing face of the Saudi construction industry occasioned by the boost in oil revenue means that the best project management practices must be given priority to be able to confront the challenges associated with the management of infrastructure projects. The study develops a framework for identifying and classifying causes of project failures in the Saudi construction industry. A quantitative questionnaire survey was used to solicit responses from 67 respondents in the city of Jeddah, selected using an online questionnaire survey. Target respondents were mainly civil engineers, architects, quantity surveyors and building engineers who have years of experience in the management of infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia. Findings reveal that poor risk management was rated the most critical failure factor for infrastructure projects, while budget overruns and poor communication by management followed closely at second and third, respectively. Additionally, eight components were extracted from the 24 items used for factor analysis. Among the extracted factors are project management deficiencies, risk challenges and government interference. Recommendations include, among others, that project risk management frameworks should be redesigned to guide clients and other stakeholders in an effort to reduce a project's unexpected exposure to risk

A system dynamics approach to risks description in megaprojects development

The inherent risks and their interactive impacts in megaproject development have been found in numerous cases across the world. Although risk management standards have been recommended for the best practice, there is still a lack of systematic approaches to describing the interaction among social, technical, economic, environmental and political (STEEP) risks with regard to all complex and dynamic conditions of megaproject construction for better understanding and effective management of the management mechanism in terms of the nature risks, including their dynamic interactions and impacts in megaproject development. Purpose – Present a model to describe STEEP risks and their interactions in megaproject development. Design/methodology/approach – A case study methodology is adopted. Following comprehensive literature review, qualitative data were gathered from case studies through interview conducted on Tram Network Project in Edinburgh. Casual loops of typical evolution of key indicators of risks were then developed and a hypothesised model of social and environmental (SE) risks was derived using system dynamics (SD) modelling technique. The model was then set up in accordance with British Standards on risk management in order to provide a generic tool for risk management in megaproject development. Findings – The study reveals that cost and time overruns at the developmental stage of the case project are caused mainly by the ineffectiveness of traditional risks assessment techniques used in assessing risks on timely basis and accurate information from the early stages of the project. Evidences collected are used to explain the nature of STEEP risks in particular, the SE risks in the past stages of project development. Further research is also discussed for applying SD methodology in risk management in megaproject development

Factors Inhibiting Digital Transformation of Indigenous Construction Firms in Nigeria

Despite the inherent benefits that digitalisation brings to businesses across sectors, indigenous construction firms in developing countries like Nigeria seem unprepared and reluctant to embrace the digital trend. Qualitative research technique was adopted through a case study approach and utilised interviews as the primary source of generating data among eight case companies in Abuja, Nigeria. Data generated were analysed using conversational analysis as a specific data analysis approach in thematic analysis. Findings revealed critical factors inhibiting digital transformation to be lack of funds, shortage of trained professionals, lack of technical know-how, and low level of awareness are the top four factors identified. The paper therefore concludes that overcoming these identified factors is a key to the survival of indigenous construction firms in a globally competitive market and the factors inhibiting the digital transformation of the construction industry in Nigeria are not just limited to one construction firm but could differ from other construction firms. The paper recommends effective partnership among key stakeholders of construction firms to work out an appropriate roadmap that would position the construction industry on the right track toward digital transformation

The Factors of Transformational Leadership Style for Construction Projects: a Case of Nigerian Construction Industry

The construction process owes as much importance as the success of the product. Therefore, the role of a project manager (PM) who coordinates both process and product is inevitable. This aim of this study is to assess factors of transformational leadership style by the PM in the Nigerian construction industry. A survey research design approach with structured questionnaire as an instrument of gathering data was adopted. Out of 1233 copies of questionnaire distributed, data from 975 respondents with valid responses were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings revealed these three frequently used factors to be "Insists on only the best performance"; "Has a clear understanding of where the project team is going"; "Shows the team that he/she expects a lot from them". These are intellectual stimulation and charismatic (idealised) influence components of transformational leadership only. The rejection of null hypothesis based on hypothesis validity testing indicated a divergent opinion or perception by all and that the entire construction team share different views on the frequency of usage of factors of transformational leadership styles. The study concludes that combining these frequently used factors with beneficial ones of other styles will engender, sustain and boost project delivery in Nigeria. Hopefully, the findings of this research will help to address the adoption of most suitable leadership style in Nigerian construction industry. The appropriateness or otherwise of adoption (either in part or a whole) of factors of transformational leadership is established by this study

Lecturer's pedagogical attributes and teaching quality for construction and engineering education in UK universities: mediating effect of research informed teaching

PurposeResearchers have opined that the quality of commitment to pedagogical approaches by lecturers is one of the most important factors in determining student academic success. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the mediating effect of research informed teaching on the relationship between lecturer commitment to use of pedagogical approaches and teaching quality, with a view towards enabling delivery of high quality teaching and learning in HEIs.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on an online survey of the perception of 186 undergraduate and postgraduate students in four major UK universities. Covariance-based structural equation modelling (SEM) methodology was used to quantity and clarify the influence of lecturers' pedagogical attributes on teaching quality, mediated by research-informed teaching.FindingsFindings reveal that: lecturers' pedagogical attributes have significant positive effect on teaching quality, research-informed teaching have significant positive effect on teaching quality, lecturers' pedagogical attributes have weak positive effect on research-informed teaching, and research-informed teaching partially mediates (indirect effect) the relationship between lecturers' pedagogical attributes and teaching quality.Practical implicationsStructural equation models are useful for clarifying concepts in pedagogy and have implications for education managers on how to improve teaching and learning in HEIs.Originality/valueThe paper presents a unique quantitative model for measuring the degree of teaching quality in universities