Strategic Approaches to Design Teams for Construction Quality Management and Green Building Performance

Abstract

Buildings exert a profound influence on the environment, with the design phase recognized as the pivotal determinant of a building’s overall performance. Green building design, in particular, introduces heightened complexity, where the attributes of the design team play a pivotal role in shaping performance outcomes. Consequently, the characteristics of the design team emerge as crucial factors in the enhancement of both green building design performance and client attributes. This study aims to empirically examine a model formulated to gauge the extent to which Effective Design Team Attributes contribute to the enhancement of performance in designing green buildings and influencing client attributes. To achieve this objective, a comprehensive questionnaire survey was administered to professionals within the architecture and engineering domains actively engaged in the design and consulting sectors of the building industry. The collected data underwent meticulous scrutiny for authenticity and dependability using the WINSTEPS 5.2.5 software before undergoing subsequent analysis. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 19, with Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach implemented through Amos version 18 to derive the most robust model. The findings underscore the pivotal role of an adeptly managed design team in significantly improving both the performance of green building designs and the qualities of clients. Rasch’s analysis confirmed the validity of our 5-point Likert scale for Design Green Building Performance (DGBP), Effective Design Team Attributes (EDTA), and Client Qualities (CQ). All items demonstrated excellent reliability, separation, and discrimination, ensuring robust data quality. Dimensionality tests revealed the appropriateness of response categories, indicating satisfactory scale performance. The Effective Design Team Model, validated through Principal Components Analysis (PCA), exhibited a satisfactory fit, supported by significant chi-square statistics, high goodness-of-fit indices, and acceptable root mean square residual values. Client attributes displayed a strong association with effective design team management, validating key model elements. The intricacies inherent in the design process can be mitigated by adopting the green design charrette approach. Consequently, the establishment of an effective design team, coupled with green design leadership, active participation, and clarity in roles and responsibilities, emerges as a potent strategy for elevating the performance level of green building designs.