Enhancing public engagement in a fast-paced project environment

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A structural equation model of feasibility evaluation and project success for publicprivate partnerships in Hong Kong

A successful publicprivate partnership (PPP) scheme can be described as one that can lead to the delivery of high-quality end products and/or services, which can satisfy the needs of the community, achieve the intended targets/goals of the government, as well as provide a favorable financial return for the private sector involved with the project. This study aims to establish an evaluation framework for the initial feasibility evaluation of a PPP project that would satisfy all the stakeholders. The factors for evaluating the feasibility of PPP projects can be classified into five broad categories: technical; financial and economic; social; political and legal; and others. Through the structural equation modeling approach, data attained from a questionnaire survey conducted in Hong Kong was analyzed and a model was developed to examine the relationships between different evaluation factors and the overall satisfaction of stakeholders. The results indicate that technical and social aspects are critical to the feasibility of PPP projects, and therefore, are the determining factors for success. This paper should assist relevant stakeholders to improve their understanding on the relative importance of the evaluation factors, and help to establish a comprehensive framework for decision makers to evaluate the feasibility of PPP projects. The predictors for PPP project success were also determined to enrich the knowledge base and help formulate management strategies to better implement the PPP project delivery approach. © 2010 IEEE.published_or_final_versio

Equipping construction and related engineering students for the market needs in mainland China

Electronic Proceedings - http://www.iiis.org/CDs2010/CD2010SCI/EEET_2010/index.aspThanks to a strong internal demand, the economy of mainland China has been increasing sharply during the last decade. It is generally expected that the economic growth in China will persist in the foreseeable future. The economic development of China has given rise to an immense demand for infrastructure and construction facilities. While a number of these projects are complex and large in scale, construction and related engineering professionals who have experience on projects of these kinds should have a good opportunity to provide their services in China. To help promote exporting the services of construction and related engineering professionals, the tertiary education sector and professional institutions have a crucial role to play to equip their students. However, many construction and related engineering programs are tailored for the local markets. Broadening the international exposure of students should become the future direction of construction and related engineering programs. In this paper, the results of a survey conducted with students and professionals in Hong Kong are highlighted. The teaching and learning activities having been built into the construction and related engineering programs are identified. Finally, recommendations for improving the construction and related engineering program structure conclude the paper.published_or_final_versionThe 2nd International Symposium on Engineering Education and Educational Technologies (EEET 2010), Orlando, FL., 29 June-2 July 2010. In Proceedings of the 2nd International Symposium on Engineering Education and Educational Technologies, 2010, p. 1-

Company failure in the construction industry: a critical review and a future research agenda

TS 1M – Project and Organisation Management I: Paper no. 4360Company failure is not only extremely disruptive to an industry but may also cause significant rippling effects in an economy. Construction companies are vulnerable to bankruptcy due to the fragmented nature of the industry, high competition, the high uncertainty and risk involved, and considerable fluctuations in construction volume. It is important to recognize any potential company failures at the earliest opportunity. While bankruptcy prediction has long been regarded as a critical topic in the accounting and finance sectors, this research topic is still under-explored in the context of the construction industry. This paper aims to provide a synthesis of the previous business failure prediction models for construction companies and put forward a future agenda in this research area. Common causes of construction company failures are also reviewed. Using the results from the proposed research, it is anticipated that construction companies will be better able to prevent business failure and this should be relevant to the current needs of the construction industry and significant to the society.postprintThe 24th FIG International Congress: Facing the Challenges – Building the Capacity, Sydney, Australia, 11-16 April 2010

Reducing embodied carbon of construction facilities through product-based carbon labelling scheme

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Rethinking public participation in infrastructure projects

The mission of any public infrastructure and construction (PIC) projects is to improve the well-being of the society. In spite of this, as some of these projects might impact on the environment and affect the habitat of local residents, it is not unusual to attract criticism or even opposition from various stakeholder groups. Consequently, there is an increasing concern about the effectiveness of public participation for PIC projects. The authors strive to examine the salient elements of public participation by considering the questions of 'who', 'what' and 'how' in the process. The paper begins by reviewing the international public participation practices and the models proposed by various researchers. The key aspects to be considered during the public participation process are then highlighted. The paper concludes by proposing a comprehensive participatory framework for PIC projects, especially those of a highly sensitive nature. The results show that the standpoints of various stakeholders can be rather diverse and it is necessary to ensure a consensus is reached at different project stages through a well-planned, whole-cycle participatory exercise in order to maximise the chance of project success. More importantly, better acceptance towards other views and more education on the importance of public participation are needed to ensure that society benefits from economic and social development without sacrificing the rights and best interests of the minority groups.published_or_final_versio

Rethinking public participation in infrastructure projects

The mission of any public infrastructure and construction (PIC) projects is to improve the well-being of the society. In spite of this, as some of these projects might impact on the environment and affect the habitat of local residents, it is not unusual to attract criticism or even opposition from various stakeholder groups. Consequently, there is an increasing concern about the effectiveness of public participation for PIC projects. The authors strive to examine the salient elements of public participation by considering the questions of 'who', 'what' and 'how' in the process. The paper begins by reviewing the international public participation practices and the models proposed by various researchers. The key aspects to be considered during the public participation process are then highlighted. The paper concludes by proposing a comprehensive participatory framework for PIC projects, especially those of a highly sensitive nature. The results show that the standpoints of various stakeholders can be rather diverse and it is necessary to ensure a consensus is reached at different project stages through a well-planned, whole-cycle participatory exercise in order to maximise the chance of project success. More importantly, better acceptance towards other views and more education on the importance of public participation are needed to ensure that society benefits from economic and social development without sacrificing the rights and best interests of the minority groups.published_or_final_versio

Challenges facing carbon dioxide labelling of construction materials

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Empirical study of the risks and difficulties in implementing guaranteed maximum price and target cost contracts in construction

Author name used in this publication: Patrick T. I. Lam2009-2010 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalAccepted ManuscriptPublishe

Professional image of dentists in Hong Kong

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