Libyan Construction Research Articles

The Effect of Risk Management Practices on Project Performance: A Case Study of the Libyan Construction Industry

Purpose: The general aim of the study was to investigate the implementation of risk management in the construction industry in Libya. Theoretical framework: The role of risk management in project management in the construction industry in Libya is described in this paper. The study involved more than three hundred construction companies located in Tripoli and Benghazi as these are two main cities in Libya where construction was most active and involved big projects and large investment. Design/methodology/approach: Questionnaires which were designed based on cluster sampling were sent to respondents i.e., basically the company managers and 250 replies were obtained. Structured equation modelling was used to analysis the information by Smart-PLS program. The risk management processes defined by identification, assessment and monitoring which contributed to the project success was also related to the financial risk. Findings: The study found that risk management practices had substantial and favourable effects on the success of the project's execution. Further the awareness of quality management in terms of risks was most encouraging. Research, Practical & Social implications: The current findings of this research have shown that most studies focus on the effect of risk management practices as strong tool to improve the project performance. A productivity survey might give a better overview of risk management at other sectors as it concerns the actual output of the construction companies. Originality/value: The systematic literature review approach was hardly found in study of risk management and project performance. At the same time, the exploratory method was applied to synthesize previous studies on risk management and project performance in construction companies.

Value engineering: Case study of Libyan educational buildings

The Libyan Government decided to build 1,500 schools in the reconstruction plan. Libyan Construction Industry (LCI) suffers from projects’ poor value. So, effective management of resources is crucial. LCI should adopt cost-optimizing tools. This study applied value engineering (VE) to School Model 15 at Al-Khums City to maximize the utilization of the available budget. The saving of the significant items ranged between 20% and 30% leading to cost reduction in the overall project. The study concluded that Educational Facilities Authority (EFA) could save about 30% of the assigned funds. This result encourages the EFA to create a VE department in its organization.

Adoption of Building Information Modelling In Libyan Construction Firms: A Technological, Organizational, and Environmental (TOE) Perspectives

Building information modelling (BIM), a recent information technology (IT) innovation in virtual design and construction, has been regarded as the most critical technology in the construction industry over the last decade. As a result, BIM adoption is rapidly increasing; however, this new phenomenon is not spreading as rapidly as it is in emerging regions such as Libya. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that affect BIM adoption at the organizational level by integrating the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory, the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework, and the institution theory. The data was gathered through a survey of 411 Libyan construction firms. Partial least squares were used for data analyses and to test the hypotheses. The results demonstrated that the (Perceived Relative Advantage and Compatibility) related positively to BIM adoption, while complexity related negatively to BIM adoption will top management support positively with Coercive Pressure on the adoption of BIM. The study’s findings provide significant insight into crucial factors that might increase the level of BIM adoption.

Fuzzy model for Libyan construction projects delivery system selection

The construction project delivery system may be traditional or non-traditional, dependent upon the project-specific requirements and construction industry climate. Many factors are to be considered when making a decision, making it a multi-criteria decision. At the first stage of a project, most selection factors are vague. The project delivery system selection influences all project stages. In the next decade for Libya, there is a tremendous need to adopt a Projects Delivery System (PDS), which avoids the adverse objectives and conflicts that have characterized the Libyan construction industry for too long. This paper aims to assist decision-makers in understanding these concepts better. By utilizing the Fuzzy model, based on proposed criteria assigned to delivery systems evaluation for Libyan construction projects and the opinion of experts, PDSs were evaluated. The study outcome is twofold. Firstly, it selects the proper criteria and explores a Libyan construction project delivery decision-making system based on the Fuzzy theory perspective. Then has ranked the project delivery systems for the Libyan construction industry as follows: 1st rank construction manager at risk, 2nd rank construction manager as an agency, 3rd rank design-build, and 4th rank design-bid-build system. This study can be a quick and effective approach for construction owners.

Assessment of Critical Success Factors (CSFs) influencing the successful implementation of the construction projects in Libya

The Libyan construction industry enhances the overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country and the quality of life by providing necessary facilities such as hospitals, schools, roads, and other essential infrastructures. In addition, the industry mobilises and uses local, human, and material resources in development endeavours to promote community job opportunities and improve economic competitiveness. However, Libya's construction industry faces severe challenges and difficulties due to fast developments and dependence on foreign experts. Hence, the primary focus of this study is to assess the critical success factors that critically influence the successful execution and performance of the contraction projects in Libya. Consequently, this paper determines nine critical success factors that are significant and can positively influence construction projects. A questionnaire survey had been distributed, with 64.47% response rate in Libya based on different demographic parameters. From the Relative Important Index (RII) analysis, the study's findings suggest that Factors Related to Materials (FRM) are the most critical category in Libya. This finding might indicate that the instability in the city's economic, political, and financial sectors highly influence the successful execution of the construction projects in Tripoli, Libya.

Challenges to the Implementation of Sustainable Construction Practices in Libya

Sustainability is considered to be a central part of every global policy change because of the likelihood of negative effects of particular policies on the already endangered environment and on society. Whilst sustainability is receiving significant attention in construction sectors in developed countries, this seems to be less true for developing countries. Thus, this study explores the challenges faced by the construction sector in one such developing country, Libya, in integrating sustainability practices into its common scope of activities. The study adopted a mixed research approach consisting of a questionnaire survey and expert interviews. Completed questionnaires (134 No.) were analysed using statistical techniques. The findings from the survey informed the topics for the interviews with 10 experts where the collected data were analysed through content analysis. The outcomes of the research explained that the awareness of sustainability in construction was weak in the practice of the Libyan construction sector. Additionally, the failure of supporting institutions to create an effective application of sustainability guidelines, lack of stricter legislation, building codes or standards were also found to be major challenges. The study contributed to knowledge by providing a better understanding of sustainability and clarified the main challenges faced by the stakeholders and which they have to consider in order to improve sustainable construction in Libya. The practical implications of the study include the strategies identified to avoid or minimise the challenges and their consequences.

The Adoption of Value Engineering Practices in the Libyan Construction Industry

Libya is a developing country that suffers from an acute shortage of appropriate infrastructure and buildings. The reconstruction of Libya, especially in the aftermath of the 2011 uprising and the subsequent conflicts, requires applying effective strategies to minimize waste of, and efficiently manage, available resources. It is suggested that the adoption of Value Engineering (VE) may improve efficiency in decision-making. The aim of this paper is to present the process of using the Delphi Method to develop a research instrument suitable for assessing current VE practices as well as the factors that could influence the adoption of VE in the Libyan construction industry. The development of this research instrument has passed through three major refining phases, namely: (i) Back Translation, (ii) Pilot Study and (iii) Delphi Method. By the end of the Delphi study, 12 factors, derived from the literature, have been rated as relevant to the research instrument and considered as factors that could influence the adoption of VE in the Libyan construction industry. These factors are as follows; 1) awareness, 2) knowledge, 3) adhocracy culture, 4) market orientation, 5) transformational leadership style, 6) organizational learning, 7) product innovativeness, 8) process innovativeness, 9) business innovativeness, 10) information technology, 11) government regulations and 12) readiness to adopt VE. This paper may complement the existing body of knowledge on using the Delphi Method to enhance research instrument.

Value Engineering Practices in The Libyan Construction Industry: A Preliminary Study

The current reconstruction of Libya infrastructure requires the implementation of Value Engineering (VE) in the Libyan Construction industry for minimization of waste and efficient use of available resources. The purpose of this paper is to present a preliminary findings on the assessment of the current VE practices and factors that could influence the adoption of VE in the Libyan Construction industry. This study uses a quantitative approach to achieve the objectives. A pilot test was conducted prior to conducting a Delphi study. This is to ensure that participants of Delphi study understand the questions they are required to answer. A total of thirty (30) respondents participated in the pilot test. The purpose of pilot study is to verify and validate the questionnaire form that will be used in the Delphi study. With some minor changes, the Delphi study was conducted in four (4) rounds with participation of 31 respondents. Then, the data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The Cronbach Alpha values of the variables are between 0.692 and 0.92. This result showed that the reliability test result is within the acceptable values. The sample size for the main survey was determined by using the Slovin’s formula. Using a simple random sampling technique, a total of 390 respondents were determined as the minimum sample size for this study.

Corporate Social Responsibility, and Employee Commitment in Libyan

This study's main objective was to explore the influence of Corporate Social Responsibility on employees, customers, environment, and community on employees’ commitment to the organization in the construction industry in Libya. This study as well allows the researchers to understand and how the association of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) influenced employees in the Libyan construction industry. The study used descriptive analyzes are often used to describe and convert the general characteristics of data to evaluate their distribution, variability, and central trend. It also guides a large number of respondents to evaluate and interpret their answers to identify their characteristics after the research sample has been received. The limitation of this study is that the questionnaire could be answered only by those familiar with the English language, and the information provided by the respondents is presumed true.

Gaining Legitimacy in Post-Qaddafi Libya: Analysing Attempts of the Muslim Brotherhood

The Libyan Muslim Brotherhood needed to manoeuvre underground for several decades, just as most opposition groups in Libya had to—because of the repression from the Qaddafi regime. In 2012, however, the political wing of the Libyan Muslim Brotherhood (LMB), the Justice and Construction Party (JCP, sometimes also called the Justice and Development Party) participated in popular elections just shortly after its inception. Seven years later, one can unanimously say that the movement was not able to take power in the country. This paper will analyse the LMB in post-revolutionary Libya by concentrating on the attempts of establishing legitimacy in the political sphere—while continuously being informed by historical influences. Methodologically, the paper examines primary sources, key academic texts but also factors in interview data from semi-structured interviews. Overall, the paper addresses the puzzle of why Libya as a predominantly Sunni, conservative country did not translate into a conservative Sunni movement like the LMB faring well; with that, derailing the impression that the whole region was “going Islamist” after the so-called Arab Spring. The LMB today is still influenced by the historical treatment it received under Qaddafi, which lead it to base itself mostly in exile, hence it struggled to entrench itself in the country. The LMB was pointed towards their opponents’ fearmongering of an alleged Islamist takeover, mostly without addressing self-inflicted wounds, such as their inability to unite or to convince major parts of the population of their political programme.

Using the Balanced Scorecard as a Strategic Management System in the Libyan Construction Industry

Using the Balanced Scorecard as a Strategic Management System in the Libyan Construction Industry

An Investigation of the Factors that Impact the Intention to Adopt and Use mICT in the Libyan Construction Industry

Information technology has been identified as a vital means for supporting construction project processes, yet the level of adoption in the construction industry has been low relative to other sectors. Mobile Information and communications technology (mICT) allows people to access information from wherever they are, and as work in the construction industry is mainly fieldwork, with workers being highly mobile, mICT holds promise for the sector, particularly in developing countries. The aim of the study reported in this paper was to investigate factors that could impact stakeholders’ adoption of mICT in the Libyan construction industry. A model of mICT adoption was developed, and tested using data collected from a survey of 202 construction industry stakeholders from 15 companies in Libya. The analysis was undertaken using structural equation modelling. It was found that perceived usefulness and ease of use are important in determining intention to adopt mICT, and that they are influenced by self - efficacy and facilitating conditions. The cost of technology was not found to be a barrier to adoption. Recommendations are made to the construction industry in Libya and relevant government authorities, in order to help improve awareness of the potential of mICT and to help improve potential users’ self-efficacy.

Examining the effect of training strategies on employees' performance in the Libyan construction industry

Training is described as a structured intervention that is aimed at enhancing and improving key elements vital in individual performance. In other words, training and development consist of set of strategies, policies, lessons, tools and procedures designed to enhance the members or the employees at the organization. This study examined the effect of training strategies on the employees' performance in the Libyan construction companies. The population of this study consisted of the employees who worked in the construction companies in the eastern and central parts of Libya. A substantial literature review was done to obtain the information on training strategies and the development of human resources. A total of 400 designed structured questionnaires were distributed randomly to employees such as managers, heads of departments, technicians and workers in the selected companies. Of these, 243 questionnaires were duly completed and returned, yielding a response rate of 60.8%. As results, it was found that the perception level towards training strategies was high (mean=3.34, sd=0.62). The results showed that there were significant relationships between all dimensions of training strategies and objective achievement. Training from the point of view of the trainers was found to have strong relationship with objective achievement (r=0.620, p<0.01), followed by administrative and supervisory services (r=0.589, p<0.01), curricula of training program (r=0.529, p<0.01) and trainers (r=0.418, p<0.01). There were also significant relationships between motivation and desire to change with training objective achievement.

Ranking of the Main Criteria for Contractor Selection Procedures on Major Construction Projects in Libya Using the Delphi Method

The construction sector constitutes one of the most important sectors in the economy of any country. Contractor selection is a critical decision that is undertaken by client organizations and is central to the success of any construction project. Contractor selection (CS) is a process which involves investigating, screening and determining whether candidate contractors have the technical and financial capability to be accepted to formally tender for construction work. The process should be conducted prior to the award of contract, characterized by many factors such as: contactor’s skills, experience on similar projects, track- record in the industry, and financial stability. However, this paper evaluates the current state of knowledge in relation to contractor selection process and demonstrates the findings from the analysis of the data collected from the Delphi questionnaire survey. The survey was conducted with a group of 12 experts working in the Libyan construction industry (LCI). The paper starts by briefly explaining the general outline of the questionnaire including the survey participation rate, the different fields the experts came from, and the business titles of the participants. Then the paper describes the tests used to determine when the experts had reached consensus. The paper is based on research which aims to develop rank contractor selection criteria with specific application to make construction projects in the Libyan context. The findings of this study will be utilized to establish the scope of work that will be used as part of a PhD research.

A Review of Customer Satisfaction Factors in Libyan Housing Projects

Customer satisfaction and customer relationship are crucial aspect in any enterprises including housing construction projects. In general, the housing developers are facing a number of new challenges in different countries including Libya. The construction industries/housing developers need to continuously improve their products and services to meet customers' satisfaction desires and to remain in the current competitive market. This paper focuses on analysing the satisfaction factors of customers including qualityaspects of products and services in the construction projects. A framework was developed to evaluate the dynamics relationship between customer satisfaction and quality products or services, aiming to help companies' managers and policy makers to understand the needs and points of view of their customers. Apragmatic analysis was conducted to explore and analyse the customer satisfaction factors in construction industry considering different aspect of customer groups in Libya. Results indicate that there is a high demand of improvements in the contractor's performance in terms of cost, time and quality of products. It was also found that Libyan construction companies have been forced to transform their policies after on Libyan war 2011 to focus on client and customer satisfactory policies, or say centric for the purpose of improving client requirements and turn the business into more advantageous for any company.

Cost Risk Appraisal: An Application of Project Risk Management Process in Libyan Construction Projects

Projects delay and cost overrun have become general facts in the construction industry. Project cost risk analysis considers the different costs associated with a project and focuses on the uncertainties and risks that may affect these costs. An implementation of PRM (project risk management) process on regional construction project has been carried out to maximize the likelihood of project meeting its objectives within its constraints. Qualitative and quantitative risk analyses have been carried out. The qualitative analysis is presented in a table that shows top ranked risks in Libyan construction projects based on probability-impact grid technique. In quantitative risk analyses, Mont Carlo simulation technique has been conducted to quantify and evaluate the overall level of risk exposure associated with the project completion cost. A project simulation uses a model that translates cost uncertainties into their potential impact on project objectives. A frequency curve model that represents simulation results of project completion costs has been constructed. The frequency curve model shows all possible outcomes of expected project cost at different probabilities. Project manager or decision maker can select the appropriate project budget. If a probability of 0.95 confident project budget is selected that means cost overrun risk can be minimized to a probability of 0.05. It is very helpful for project manager to take decisions based on information that shows project completion cost and its associated probability rather than using single information of estimated cost.

Development of a methodology for analysing and quantifying the impact of delay factors affecting construction projects

Delays are one of the biggest problems facing by the construction industry and they have significant financial and social impact in construction projects. The paper presents a framework of Delay Analysis System (DAS) with the aim of analysing the impact of delay factors in Libyan construction projects. The system has designed by integrating the possible delay factors, critical activities of a project using@risk simulator. A case study of building project was demonstrated to identify the impact of delays and the sensitivity of delay factor. The case study result showed that the project might be delayed by 97 to 103 days in comparison to the planned duration. The developed DAS is a tool for analysing and identify the impacts of delay factors and assist to construction manager to take necessary measure in reducing the delay impact. The paper provides a methodology for analysing the possible delay impact in a construction project and informing to construction manager in advance of the possible delay factors.

Developing Competency Model for the Project Manager in the Libyan Construction Industry

Managers are more likely to perform better or to stay longer in their position if their personal characteristics meet the requirements of the position. The importance of project manager’s competency to construction derived from the nature of changing business circumstances of the industry. Developing the requisite competency on project manager is to ensure efficient performance that will bring to successful of a project. PEAKS framework was adapted and applied in order to determine the competency of the construction project managers within the Libyan construction industry. Two objectives which are following (i) to identify the construction project manager's perceptions on the level of importance of the competencies against their personality; and (ii) to determine the level of competencies of construction project managers were proposed to be achieved. Quantitative approach was implemented in this study whereby 50 questionnaires were sent out. However, of these, only 41 questionnaires were returned and analyzed. As result, it can be concluded that our project managers today are at the high level of competent. Keywords: Competency, Project manager, Construction industry, Model

An Evaluation of the Critical Success Factors for Construction Projects in Libya

The construction industry is one of the more important economic activities that contribute towards the economic growth of any nation. The construction industry in Libya faces serious challenges and difficulties due to fast developments and dependence on foreign experts. The current capacity of the Libyan construction industry in order to meet national housing supply needs. Recently, the country is witnessing a new construction boom that will bypass all other construction activity of the past decades. New houses, airports, ports, railways, and roads need to be built and upgraded. Hotels, office buildings and resorts are required to meet the needs of an expanding tourism industry. The main reason for conducting this study was to evaluate which critical success factors are most important in phases of construction projects. This study was in the Wadi Alhaya region in southern part of Libya. A quantitative approach was selected. As conclusion, this paper identifies ten critical success factors that are important and will impact positively on construction projects if they are focused on by all the stakeholders and it can be concluded that the critical success factors found to be most influential in this study could be utilized in future work which examines different situations and environments. Keywords: Evaluation, Critical success factors, Construction projects, Libya

An Empirical Investigation of Total Quality Management in Libya

Rapid socio-economic and technological changes have urged the implementation of new approaches to procure construction projects. Total Quality Management (TQM) is one of the approaches that contribute towards ensuring that projects are being delivered to the stakeholder requirements. This study identifies critical success factors (CSFs) that affect the implementation of TQM in the Libyan Construction Industry (LCI) and develops guidelines which help companies implement and maintain quality management systems. To achieve these aims, the research employed both quantitative and qualitative methods. Based on a thorough review of literature, a questionnaire was developed and distributed to 200 managers. Data from 130 completed questionnaires were then analysed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), which reveals the internal structure of the data in a way that explains the dimensions of TQM implementation in LCI. The results identify five reliable and valid TQM dimensions, namely organisation management, communication to improve quality, training and development, employee involvement and recognition, and culture. Supported by relevant literature and interviews with a number of managers, they provide the basis for developing the guideline for successful implementation of TQM in Libyan construction companies.