Technological advancements and their influence on buildability in construction projects: a phenomenological analysis

Purpose – Transaction costs arise from economic exchange rather than production activities. However, the term “transaction cost” is not consistently defined in the construction industry because the concept of transaction cost is not universally accepted by all stakeholders in construction projects. As a result, empirical studies are few and conflicting because accessing data on transaction costs is problematic, and the interpretation of the data is difficult. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the transaction costs borne by the owner in a construction project from the perspective of transaction cost economics and construction project characteristics. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire survey was administered to construction owners. The factors that impact transaction costs were analyzed in the context of human-related issues (the owner's and the contractor's positions in the transaction), and environment-related issues (the transaction environment, and project management efficiency). Statistical analyses were conducted to compare the transaction costs incurred in the pre- vs post-contract phases of a project relative to the private vs public sector, different project delivery systems, different procurement methods, and different types of contracts. Findings – The owners surveyed believe that transaction costs may be reduced if the owner and the contractor follow some basic guidelines (e.g. experience in similar projects, prompt payment, good relationship with project participants, no irregularities in bidding, and only few material substitutions and claims), if the project is well-run (e.g. technical competency, strong leadership, prompt decision-making, effective communication, and fair/speedy conflict management), and if the transaction environment is favorable (e.g. fair risk allocation, early contractor involvement, and complete design documents). The findings of the survey also indicate that post-contract transaction costs are much higher than pre-contract transaction costs expressed as percent of project value and that transaction costs are affected by the owner (public vs private), the procurement method, the project delivery system, and the type of contract. Originality/value – The primary contribution that this research makes to the body of knowledge is a better understanding of transaction costs incurred by construction owners in the USA. The highest transaction costs are to be expected in the post-contract phase of public projects awarded on a unit price basis, but can be reduced, hence reducing overall project cost.

For the past decade Botswana’s construction industry has been embroiled in a lot of controversies based on construction project constraints. These are characterized by construction project delays, budget overruns as well as scope creep and some of these construction projects have been deemed unsuccessful by different stakeholders. To find a mitigating factor for these problems, construction project constraints must be investigated beyond just the triple constraints to provide a solution for the Botswana construction industry. Therefore, the overall purpose of this study was to investigate how construction project constraints and stakeholders influence the outcome of a project. The study adopted a qualitative approach through face-to-face interviews with selected stakeholders such construction professionals, clients and other beneficiaries in the Gaborone and greater Gaborone areas. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data. The findings of the study established that the success of a construction project is subjective and is based on who is being asked, the construction professionals, the client and other beneficiaries had different perspectives on success of a project. The study revealed that initial constraints in a construction project tend to be carried along to the final stages of a construction project. However new few construction project constraints also emerge at the final stages of a construction project. The study found that stakeholders such as the client and other beneficiaries have a significant impact on construction projects due to their influence both positive and negative depending on the level of engagement.

PurposeCost overrun is a significant issue in construction, an undesirable feature the industry has long been associated with. Poor procurement practices are often blamed for subsequent cost overruns in construction, especially with conventional procurement methods leading to outrageous cost overruns. The purpose of this study is to review the features of the new models of construction procurement (NMCP) and assess their potential to reduce cost overruns in construction projects.Design/methodology/approachA literature review was conducted to identify the issues of procurement leading to cost escalations. Primary data were obtained through exploratory, semi-structured interviews using a case study approach.FindingsClients’ lack of knowledge was highlighted as a key issue in procurement that interlinks with many factors causing cost escalation. The findings suggest that the features contained within the NMCP, such as early contractor involvement and collaboration throughout the project team, have the potential to make a positive contribution to addressing cost escalation in construction.Research limitations/implicationsThe primary research was undertaken as an exploratory study and presents the contractor's perspective. Further research is therefore suggested, with multiple organisations representing all key stakeholders in a construction project, including clients, consultants, sub-contractors and suppliers.Practical implicationsThe study recommends awareness of the NMCP be raised throughout the industry, and simplified information must be made available to help widen uptake of these contemporary procurement methods.Originality/valueAddressing the dearth of research concerning the use of NMCP within the industry, this study makes a niche contribution to the body of knowledge on construction cost management by illustrating the potential offered by these new procurement methods for addressing cost escalation. For an industry where collaboration is accepted with reservations, this case study demonstrates how novel collaborative strategies such as open book costing, project bank accounts and shared pain and gain mechanisms can be implemented as part of the procurement strategy and how such strategies can contribute towards minimising the cost escalation inherent in construction projects.

Childhood and adolescent tuberculosis (TB) survivors often face ongoing challenges even after completing their treatment. While the biomedical aspects of TB recovery are well studied, there is still limited understanding of how young survivors cope with the long-term impact of TB on their daily lives, development, and aspirations. Guided by an illness-narrative and phenomenological perspective, this qualitative study explored the lived experiences of children and adolescents who had completed treatment for pulmonary TB in The Gambia. Using a phenomenological approach, we purposively selected 33 participants from a larger longitudinal cohort study. Data were collected through participatory workshops that incorporated art-based methods and semi-structured in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns in participants’ post-treatment experiences. Four main themes emerged: (1) persistent physical health challenges, such as fatigue and chest pain; (2) psychosocial difficulties, including stigma, fear of recurrence, and social withdrawal; (3) educational disruption and academic setbacks; and (4) evolving career aspirations, shaped by both limitations and newfound motivation. Participants’ experiences varied by age and gender, with younger children relying on caregiver interpretations and older adolescents articulating complex emotional and identity-related reflections. Gender norms influenced the types of responsibilities and social roles participants attempted to resume. The findings highlight the multifaceted and long-term impact of TB on young survivors. Recovery was experienced as a continuum from illness to post-treatment life, requiring rehabilitation-oriented support that integrates psychosocial counselling, school re-entry, and community-based stigma reduction. Integrating such support into post-TB care and public health programming is essential to improving outcomes for paediatric TB survivors.

Childhood and adolescent tuberculosis (TB) survivors often face ongoing challenges even after completing their treatment. While the biomedical aspects of TB recovery are well studied, there is still limited understanding of how young survivors cope with the long-term impact of TB on their daily lives, development, and aspirations. Guided by an illness-narrative and phenomenological perspective, this qualitative study explored the lived experiences of children and adolescents who had completed treatment for pulmonary TB in The Gambia. Using a phenomenological approach, we purposively selected 33 participants from a larger longitudinal cohort study. Data were collected through participatory workshops that incorporated art-based methods and semi-structured in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns in participants' post-treatment experiences. Four main themes emerged: (1) persistent physical health challenges, such as fatigue and chest pain; (2) psychosocial difficulties, including stigma, fear of recurrence, and social withdrawal; (3) educational disruption and academic setbacks; and (4) evolving career aspirations, shaped by both limitations and newfound motivation. Participants' experiences varied by age and gender, with younger children relying on caregiver interpretations and older adolescents articulating complex emotional and identity-related reflections. Gender norms influenced the types of responsibilities and social roles participants attempted to resume. The findings highlight the multifaceted and long-term impact of TB on young survivors. Recovery was experienced as a continuum from illness to post-treatment life, requiring rehabilitation-oriented support that integrates psychosocial counselling, school re-entry, and community-based stigma reduction. Integrating such support into post-TB care and public health programming is essential to improving outcomes for paediatric TB survivors.

Construction projects are premised upon contractual arrangements, and contracts constitute the basis of their success. A contract enables execution of work and transfer of payments, tracking of key performance indicators, and facilitation of collaboration among project stakeholders. Historically, construction projects have faced critical challenges due to poor alignment between clients' expectations, contract terms, and contractor performance. The advent of advanced digital technologies under the concept of Industry 4.0 has the potential to benefit construction projects through application of blockchain-enabled smart contracts. However, the adoption of smart contracts in construction projects is in its early stages, and the factors that will influence its adoption remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to explore and establish the critical factors influencing adoption of smart contracts in construction contractual arrangements. This study administered an international questionnaire survey among experienced construction practitioners with involvement in smart contract initiatives and activities. The results obtained from descriptive statistics and fuzzy set-based analysis show that trialability, relative advantage, competitive advantage, and compatibility of smart contracts are the important predictors of the adoption of such contracts. The findings suggest that practitioners share a view that technological characteristics of blockchain-enabled smart contracts are critical to their adoption, regarding the technology's perceived practicality in improving effectiveness and efficiency of construction projects. This study contributes to technology diffusion research in construction and highlights drivers that require practitioners' and industry leaders' attention to ensure successful adoption of smart contracts for cost-effective delivery of construction projects.

This research aims to apply the phenomenological and psychosocial approaches in analyzing the main character in "L’Enfance d’un Chef" by Jean-Paul Sartre. In this study, the author uses a qualitative descriptive method to explore the subjective experience of the character and the concept of freedom in the literary work. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of human experience in their social environment through a phenomenological approach in literature. The study starts with identifying the background and context of the literary work and exploring the theories related to this research, including phenomenology and psychosocial theory. The author applies phenomenological and psychosocial approaches to analyze the main character and understand his subjective experience. The results show that the main character, Lucien, has a complex and interrelated subjective experience with his social environment. Phenomenological analysis helps the author understand how Lucien perceives and gives meaning to his life experience, while psychosocial analysis helps the author understand the social and psychological factors that influence Lucien's life experience. The conclusion of this study is that the phenomenological and psychosocial approaches can be used to analyze characters in literature and can provide a deeper understanding of the subjective experience of humans in their social environment

The management of large-scale construction projects involves the efficient and effective management of financial resources. The physical cost of a construction project governs the estimation of construction budgets and forecasts. However the Transaction cost economics theory in the construction industry aims to promote the relationship and impact of transaction related costs in construction projects. These costs are related to the economic exchange of a product or service and differ from the actual physical production costs of a construction project. Previous academic studies have identified transaction costs and the factors of influence. However a significant gap in the research area is the analyses of the influence procurement methods have on transaction costs in construction projects. Procurement methods dictate the contractual obligations of the parties and the method in which the project is delivered and essentially represent different types of transactions, thus it is assumed that procurement methods influence transaction costs in construction projects. In this paper, transaction costs are categorized into pre and post contract. The identified factors that are expected to influence transaction costs are associated with predictability of owner’s behavior, predictability of contractor’s behavior, project management efficiency, and uncertainty in the transaction Environment. It is also expected that different procurement systems have various levels of impact on transaction costs. Empirical research is proposed to further test the prepositions in this paper.

Many factors play a role in the life cycle of construction industry projects, focusing on human resources and relationships as the main axis of business development. Thus, the conflict of interests between the stakeholders in the construction industry projects is a clear and challenging problem. The increased number of stakeholders in the project complicates human relationships and, consequently, increases the possible conflicts. The conflicts may result in claims if not resolved. The success of construction projects and their cost and time management can be affected by the poor management of claims. Therefore, this research aims to take a significant step to improve the efficiency of projects by identifying and ranking the causes of claims and analyzing their effects on key efficiency indicators. Firstly, causes of claim are collected according to experts’ opinions and literature and classified based on key efficiency indicators using the integrated analytic hierarchy process-technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (AHP-TOPSIS) technique. According to findings, delays with a proximity coefficient of 0.728 are the most significant factors in making claims with a great effect on the key efficiency indicators of the construction project. The changes in most construction projects are ranked in second place, followed by acceleration command, extra work, changing workshop conditions, and contractual ambiguities. The present study results may reduce the challenges in managing the construction industry claims and ensure the successful completion of projects.

Introduction. The current stage of economic development is characterized by the increasing impact of advanced digital information and communication technologies (ICT) on the entire system of human interactions, encompassing the processes of production, distribution, exchange, and consumption of both material and immaterial goods. Among the emerging phenomena in today's economic relations system are digital ecosystems, which are created and developed through the actions of international technological companies. The purpose of the paper is to define the essence and content of the concept of "digital ecosystems" for further analysis and understanding in an economic context. Results. It is argued that, in an economic sense, the concept of ecosystems is a continuation of the scientific inquiries of various scholars studying changes and relationships in the business environment from the perspectives of competition and collaboration among its participants. Today, business ecosystems created and developed by international technological companies typically operate through digital platforms, services, and solutions, transforming them into digital business ecosystems. The paper identifies key types of digital ecosystems in business and emphasizes the existence of other types of digital ecosystems (governmental, hybrid) that also require further exploration. The role of international technological companies in shaping global digital ecosystems is explored, using Amazon as an example. It is clarified that leading global technology companies play a crucial role as conductors of the ecosystem of ecosystems. In digital ecosystems, boundaries are constantly changing, participants and components are updated. As a result, the description of the structures of digital ecosystems varies among different authors. Conclusion. Theoretical guidelines are provided for further research on digital ecosystems in economics and business, both from the perspective of economic strategy developers and theoretical economists.

The construction industry is subject to more risks than other businesses for its complexity and longevity. As a result, many researchers have emphasized the importance of risk management in construction projects. However, in China, due to the lack of good understanding of project stakeholders, several risks associated with construction projects and their correlation cannot be analyzed effectively. To provide a deeper insight into project stakeholders and risk correlation in construction projects, this paper first reviews the status quo of project stakeholder management in China. And then a project stakeholder network is mapped based on stakeholder theory and features of construction projects in China, and the correlation of project stakeholders’ risks is also analyzed. This paper also develops an analytic hierarchy model for the project owner to analyze the correlation among their own risks and those risks attributed to project stakeholders. Finally an empirical case study is used to demonstrate the application of the proposed model. The research findings in this paper will contribute to both the practice and the research of risk management and stakeholder management in China’s construction industry.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the rent-seeking behavior of stakeholders in construction projects and to provide a reference for further studies on collaboration in China, which could thus improve the collaborative management in construction and reduce the waste of resources.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, the authors discuss and analyze the current situation of rent-seeking behavior in infrastructure construction projects, integrated project delivery (IPD), and the application of a building information model (BIM) in China. The authors analyze the collusive behavior between the supervision department and the contractor via the rent-seeking model on the basis of the game theory and present that BIM and IPD have a positive impact on rent-seeking activities of construction projects. The key factors influencing the rent-seeking activities from the perspective of the owner are studied via a questionnaire survey.FindingsThe research status of IPD in China includes the application of IPD, IPD collaborative management and the combination of lean construction (LC), IPD and BIM. The enthusiasm of the adoption of BIM and IPD is higher for design institute, construction units, research institutions and universities. The findings indicate that the owner appears to have a significant influence on stakeholders in construction projects, such as supervising efficiency, rewards and punishment. Therefore, the results also demonstrate that the construction project based on BIM and IPD can effectively avoid the rent-seeking activities of the participants.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are primarily based on questionnaire data originated from Central China; hence there are some limitations that are worth noting.Practical implicationsFirst, it provides compelling data evidence for the adoption of BIM and IPD in China. Second, it paves a solid foundation for the behavior of stakeholders in construction projects based on BIM and IPD.Originality/valueIn this paper, a game model of contractor, supervisor and owner is established, and a preliminary attempt is made to introduce BIM and IPD into the model for the behavioral research of participants.

Risk management requires a comprehensive review of possible hazards, their possible outcomes as well as some recommendations about minimizing the risk. The study emphasises that the project risk management refers to an analysis of the risk factors and a creation of the strategy minimising negative effects of the risk. It was pointed out that a construction project is this kind of projects that can be defined as a unique process of high complexity (design documentation, various stages of creating the building), which has clearly defined time frames and a given financial limit. It is executed as a team work, by qualified or highly qualified specialists of different matters, for example masonry, precast, etc. Additionally, it requires a use of modern equipment and an adequate preparation of the investment. Therefore, the risk management focuses on the problems allowing for troubleshooting. A basis of the risk management is to recognise the fundamentals, which are crucial for the construction project management, i.e. an object perspective, including technological, supporting and management processes as well as an entity perspective – project stakeholders. Construction projects require also an acquaintance with the specificity of the branch. The article refers to the risk management in construction project and, in particular, a phenomenon of participants’ fairness in such projects. The problem of fairness of the entities involved in a project should be understood as a fair play, according to the arrangements agreed in a contract and compatible with current formal procedures and social rules. It was indicated that fairness can be treated as an important factor in predicting the success of such projects. Interviews conducted among contractors in Kuyavian-Pomeranian region showed varied fairness requirements put to individual participants of construction projects. The article presents results of the research. It shows a desired attitude of the surveyed enterprises towards a problem of the fair behaviour. These behaviours, relating to individual stakeholders, have been underlined in different phases of the construction projects’ life cycle.

The construction industry is truly the engine of national economy through which the total of physical development is achieved. The construction industry is a vital element of the economy and has a significant effect on the efficiency and productivity of other industry sectors. One cannot think of widespread investment in manufacturing, agriculture, or service sectors unless the construction results of infrastructure facilities are in place. In some of the developing countries, the growth rate of construction activity outstrips that of population and of GDP (Chitkara, 2004).
 Cost, time, and quality are used to measure the project performance and success. Generally, the success of a project is defined by accomplishing it within specified cost, time and quality. However, the construction industry is full of projects that are completed with significant time and cost overruns (Amhel et al.,2010). According to Faridi et al. (2006) delays have an adverse impact on project success in terms of time, cost, quality and safety. The effects of construction delays are not confined to the construction industry only, but influence the overall economy of a country.
 Construction industry is a very important industry in a country’s development and it can increase or generate economic development of the country. A study showed that since seventies, the economic in Malaysia has undergone rapid growth. It found that construction industry constitutes an important element of Malaysian Economy However, majority of the construction are facing problem in achieving the completion of project within stipulated time and cost. In other words, time and cost overrun is a common issue that frequently happens in the construction project worldwide generally, time overruns happen when a task within a project is not completed by the time the project plan specifies. Meanwhile, cost overrun occurs when the expenses required to complete a project exceed the amount budgeted.
 Since seventies, the economics of Malaysia has undergone rapid growth. Construction industry constitutes an important element of Malaysian economy. It shows how important to control and manage the projects in good quality and efficiently. There are four fundamental constraints needed to be considered when managing the construction projects, which are scope, cost, time, and quality. In order to manage the projects successfully, it is necessary to consider whether the project is within those four constraints. Cost has its proven importance as the prime factor for project success.
 Most of the significant factors affecting project costs are qualitative such as client priority on construction time, contractor’s planning capability, procurement methods and market conditions including the level of construction activity (Elchaig et al, 2005). A project otherwise completed may not be regarded as a successful endeavor until and unless it satisfies the cost limitations applied to it. Cost is among the major considerations throughout the project management life cycle and can be regarded as one of the most important parameters of a project and the driving force of project success.
 Despite its proven importance it is not uncommon to see a construction project failing to achieve its objectives within the specified cost. Cost overrun is a very frequent phenomenon and is almost associated with nearly all projects in the construction industry. This trend is more severe in developing countries where these overruns sometimes exceed 100% of the anticipated cost of the project.
 The construction industry is large, complex, volatile, risky, and requires tremendous capital outlays and tight money. It provides a bigger challenge to maintain its scheduled time, budgetary cost, and appropriate quality (Shaikh et al., 2010). A major criticism facing the construction industry is the growing rate of cost overrun and delays in project delivery. Enshassi et al. (2003, 2008) explain that the increasing complexity of construction projects and the environment within which they are constructed place greater demands on construction managers to deliver projects on time, within budget and with high quality. On-time completion and conformity with assigned cost of every project are the most important factors in the success of project plans. However, completing construction projects on time and within budget has been a major problem (Flyvbjerg et al., 2003; Sanders and Eagles, 2001).
 Construction delay and cost overrun occurs all over the world and many studies have been carried out to assess the causes of cost and time overruns in construction projects. For example, in Malaysia construction industry is highly dynamic sector and plays very important role in the development of country and hence in Malaysia, construction industry started a rapid growth since its independence. However, construction industry in Malaysia is facing chronic problems including poor performance of time and cost, construction waste, poor productivity and over dependent of foreign workers. Of these challenges, poor time and cost performance is considered as a critical issue. As reported by only 46.8% of public sector and 37.2% of private sector projects were found completed within the stipulated budget in Malaysia while only 20.5% of the public projects 33.35% of the private sector projects were completed within the time.

The construction industry is truly the engine of national economy through which the total of physical development is achieved. The construction industry is a vital element of the economy and has a significant effect on the efficiency and productivity of other industry sectors. One cannot think of widespread investment in manufacturing, agriculture, or service sectors unless the construction results of infrastructure facilities are in place. In some of the developing countries, the growth rate of construction activity outstrips that of population and of GDP (Chitkara, 2004). Cost, time, and quality are used to measure the project performance and success. Generally, the success of a project is defined by accomplishing it within specified cost, time and quality. However, the construction industry is full of projects that are completed with significant time and cost overruns (Amhel et al.,2010). According to Faridi et al. (2006) delays have an adverse impact on project success in terms of time, cost, quality and safety. The effects of construction delays are not confined to the construction industry only, but influence the overall economy of a country. Construction industry is a very important industry in a country’s development and it can increase or generate economic development of the country. A study showed that since seventies, the economic in Malaysia has undergone rapid growth. It found that construction industry constitutes an important element of Malaysian Economy However, majority of the construction are facing problem in achieving the completion of project within stipulated time and cost. In other words, time and cost overrun is a common issue that frequently happens in the construction project worldwide generally, time overruns happen when a task within a project is not completed by the time the project plan specifies. Meanwhile, cost overrun occurs when the expenses required to complete a project exceed the amount budgeted. Since seventies, the economics of Malaysia has undergone rapid growth. Construction industry constitutes an important element of Malaysian economy. It shows how important to control and manage the projects in good quality and efficiently. There are four fundamental constraints needed to be considered when managing the construction projects, which are scope, cost, time, and quality. In order to manage the projects successfully, it is necessary to consider whether the project is within those four constraints. Cost has its proven importance as the prime factor for project success. Most of the significant factors affecting project costs are qualitative such as client priority on construction time, contractor’s planning capability, procurement methods and market conditions including the level of construction activity (Elchaig et al, 2005). A project otherwise completed may not be regarded as a successful endeavor until and unless it satisfies the cost limitations applied to it. Cost is among the major considerations throughout the project management life cycle and can be regarded as one of the most important parameters of a project and the driving force of project success. Despite its proven importance it is not uncommon to see a construction project failing to achieve its objectives within the specified cost. Cost overrun is a very frequent phenomenon and is almost associated with nearly all projects in the construction industry. This trend is more severe in developing countries where these overruns sometimes exceed 100% of the anticipated cost of the project. The construction industry is large, complex, volatile, risky, and requires tremendous capital outlays and tight money. It provides a bigger challenge to maintain its scheduled time, budgetary cost, and appropriate quality (Shaikh et al., 2010). A major criticism facing the construction industry is the growing rate of cost overrun and delays in project delivery. Enshassi et al. (2003, 2008) explain that the increasing complexity of construction projects and the environment within which they are constructed place greater demands on construction managers to deliver projects on time, within budget and with high quality. On-time completion and conformity with assigned cost of every project are the most important factors in the success of project plans. However, completing construction projects on time and within budget has been a major problem (Flyvbjerg et al., 2003; Sanders and Eagles, 2001). Construction delay and cost overrun occurs all over the world and many studies have been carried out to assess the causes of cost and time overruns in construction projects. For example, in Malaysia construction industry is highly dynamic sector and plays very important role in the development of country and hence in Malaysia, construction industry started a rapid growth since its independence. However, construction industry in Malaysia is facing chronic problems including poor performance of time and cost, construction waste, poor productivity and over dependent of foreign workers. Of these challenges, poor time and cost performance is considered as a critical issue. As reported by only 46.8% of public sector and 37.2% of private sector projects were found completed within the stipulated budget in Malaysia while only 20.5% of the public projects 33.35% of the private sector projects were completed within the time