Project Owners Research Articles

Determining via the Kano Model the Importance of Quality Characteristics in Construction Management

Given the recent changes in the construction environment, construction management (CM) companies have used various methods to recognize, measure, and improve the importance of quality for customer satisfaction to ensure competitiveness in attracting customers. The present study examined the validity of the evaluation rule and determined the weight and weighting factor of each quality characteristic in the Kano model regarding CM. The quality characteristics and customer satisfaction level of the Kano model were utilized to assess the importance of each item, and the results were used to derive the CM work guidelines quality that can maximize customer satisfaction. Besides, based on previous studies, the validity of the determined CM work quality was evaluated through a questionnaire, which modifies the Kano model via the Delphi technique, and interviews with practitioners. This process determined the CM work quality that requires intensive management by selecting the one with high importance, depending on recognition by the project owner. The results of this study demonstrated that the proposed Kano model is effective in determining the importance of CM work quality for assessing the satisfaction level of the owner.

Architect Collectives and the Coproduction of Places in the “Grey Zones” of Urban Development Planning: The Educational Institution as a Mediation Framework

Recent research work carried out in France tends to show that calling on collectives of artists or architects to develop participatory approaches with inhabitants has become a common practice for public or private project owners. However, these interventions are still often limited to communication operations or come up against the inertia of political and professional cultures, which limits their scope. After briefly stating the circumstances that lead urban project owners in France to pay increasing attention to the skills of architectural “collectives”, this article focuses on the presentation of two experiments conducted by two of them. Articulating pedagogical and urban citizenship issues, these experiments were confronted with procedural and normative frameworks, some of which came from the world of urban production, others from the school institution. The aim of this article is to show that the coproduction of spaces that have a strong meaning for their users, but which are unthought of within strategic urban projects, can have a greater impact on the way in which the operational actors envisage their project. After summarizing the main highlights of these two experiments, this contribution discusses the lessons that can be drawn from them in terms of their implementation conditions and the extensions they may have had. From a methodological point of view, the interest of these two experiments lies in the fact that the two associations that were involved in them understood them as experiments from the outset. They thus implemented reflexive mechanisms involving researchers, of which this article is one of the concrete results.

Chinese investment in overseas container terminals: The role of investor attributes in achieving a higher port competitiveness

Chinese enterprises have invested in more than 100 overseas ports globally in the past two decades, but their contribution to the local terminal's competitiveness remains unclear. Differing from the existing qualitative geopolitical interpretation of China-labeled port projects, this study empirically investigates how investor attributes with Chinese characteristics affect the throughput evolution and market shares of the respective container terminals. Our primary focus is on terminal-level performance to eliminate non-Chinese investors' influence in focal ports with multiple terminals. Pooled regression is used to analyze panel data for 68 overseas container terminals of three Chinese international port operators (COSCO Shipping Ports, China Merchants Holdings International and Hutchison Ports) from 2008 to 2019. The regression results show that being a state-owned enterprise, owing a vessel fleet and higher project ownership would benefit the focal container terminal's market share. In contrast, shareholder complexity may adversely impact the terminal's competitiveness. An interesting finding is that for state-owned enterprises, investments in politically unstable areas with fewer regional ports are more likely to result in a greater market share. These findings provide managerial implications for enterprises and enrich literature on foreign port investment.

Towards achieving Platinum standards for Green Building certification: a case study using Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) design

Jakarta International Stadium (JIS) will be the largest FIFA-standard stadium in Indonesia equipped with 82,000 seating capacities, two training pitches, and retractable roof on its top. Parking lots will be limited in numbers; however, many modern public transportation systems will pass over the area to encourage people not to use private vehicles. As the Project Owner, PT. Jakarta Propertindo (Perseroda) has set the target to achieve Platinum-standard in Green Building. As of mid-July 2021, JIS was still under construction with the actual progress of around 64 %, however, its design has met the sustainability’s highest requirements as Green Building Council Indonesia (GBCI) has awarded Greenship platinum to JIS’ design with the score of 81.8%. The final assessment (FA), which includes on-site measurement and verification, will be performed after the construction is completed. This research is aimed to measure the efficacy of Greenship grade in Indonesia’s sustainable building design by comparing it with another international rating system. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) which is famous to its stringency in energy performance assessment, was chosen to be another benchmark for this project. The result shows that if LEED criteria were applied at JIS, the design could score up to 77.4% which meet the conditions for platinum level.

Utility Relocation Concept Plan for Mitigation of Utility Relocation Delays

Utility conflicts are a primary cause of construction project delays. To mitigate delays, utility coordination is necessary. Existing utility coordination and communication studies lack an interactive method. This study aims to develop a method for utility coordination and utility conflict management that engages the utility owners early in the project development process to mitigate utility relocation delays. This study contributes to utility coordination by addressing the identified gap of improved incorporation of utility coordination processes into a project. This study provides and tests an interactive communication and model—utility relocation concept plan (URCP)—to develop utility conflict mitigation approaches that are agreeable between the utility owner, project owner, and contractor. URCP is a streamlined utility coordination technique and model that can be used in conjunction with current utility conflict management techniques in the industry. To the authors’ knowledge, a URCP is not currently in use in the industry outside of Kiewit Construction Corporation, nor is a URCP presented in the literature. The development of the URCP facilitates interactive visual discussions between the engineer, contractor, and utility owner. This interaction allows the relocations to be designed by all parties as well as provides advanced notification to the utility owners. Case study analysis revealed that when a URCP was utilized as a utility coordination tool, the amount of time it took to mitigate utility conflicts was reduced by 14.77%. Further research would be required to determine the viability of the URCP method in other geographic areas and other project delivery systems outside of design-build delivery projects.

Human Resources Management to Create Environmental Occupational Health and Safety (Eosh) During the Covid-19 Pandemic (Case Study on the Toll Road Business Entity in Kuala Tanjung – Tebing Tinggi – Parapat)

This study aims to explain, reveal facts, and obtain empirical findings on Human Resource Management to create Environmental Occupational Health and Safety (EOSH) during the Covid-19 pandemic in Kuala Tanjung Tebing Tinggi Parapat Toll Road Business Entity which is focused on on the management of human resource to create environmental occupational health and safety during the Covid-19 pandemic. The research was designed with a qualitative approach using the NVIVO analysis test tool. The data was collected using interview, observation, and document review methods. Research informants were Project Owners, Technical Supervision Consultants, Contractors, and Implementers in the field. The validity of the data quality test was carried out through triangulation of data, sources, methods, and time. Research results and findings of an environmental occupational health and safety system are absolutely necessary in every industry, this needs to be carefully designed before work begins. Because human resources are the main asset, periodic rejuvenation is necessary. HR competency management is absolutely necessary to understand EOSH so that they have the enthusiasm to achieve targets. In the company, innovation is one of the keys to the company's success, it is about how the human resource management are able to provide an attractive reward system, and construct activities which involve many parties. It is necessary to carry out risk management and maintain health protocols to prevent the spread of covid-19 so that work can be completed under any conditions. Keywords : Human Resources Management, Environmental Occupational Health And Safety (EOSH), Covid-19 Pandemic DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/14-3-01 Publication date: February 28 th 2022

Leveraging the Value of Project Scope Growth through Construction Manager-at-Risk Delivery of Public University Capital Improvement Projects

AbstractWhen capital improvement project final costs exceed initial estimates, the overrun is assumed to be an indication of poor performance. However, when a project owner adds scope at any point ...

Exploring Variety in Factors That Stimulate Project Owners to Address Sustainability

Concerns about sustainability drive organizations to assume responsibility for societal impacts. Reducing negative impacts requires organizational change. Given the ability of information technology/systems to optimize business processes, it is an important contributor to more sustainable business practices. Projects play an instrumental role in the transition of organizations towards sustainability. Within projects, the project owner bears the responsibility of aligning the project with the strategies of the organization. However, in the assignment and governance of projects, project owners need to balance different interests and limitations. The study reported in this article focuses on the factors that stimulate project owners to address sustainability. Deploying Q-methodology, the study found 4 distinct stimulus patterns of project owners. The findings confirm that the behavior of managers is influenced by both rational and emotional factors. With these findings, organizations can fine-tune their organizational change efforts, in order to realize their sustainability strategies.

RENT-SEEKING DECISIONS OF THE MAIN PARTICIPANTS IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS BASED ON EVOLUTIONARY-GAME AND SYSTEM DYNAMICS

The performance of a construction project can be severely harmed by its participants’ rent-seeking. In order to prevent such attempt, this research integrates the evolutionary game theory with system dynamics method to simulate the impact of the change of some factors that may cause/reduce rent-seeking. Based on the analysis of the behavioral characteristics and interactive relationships of the main participants (the owner, supervisor, and contractor), an evolutionary game model is constructed and simulated with the method of system dynamics based on the replication dynamic equation of the mixed strategy solution of the three-party static game model. By assigning the parameters of project scale, supervision likelihood, supervision success rate, supervision cost, and penalty intensity, the interaction mechanism of the participants on each factor is revealed through a case-based simulation. The results show that the impacts of these factors on participants’ rent-seeking decisions are significantly different. Furthermore, some management suggestions are provided to prevent rent-seeking for project owner according to the research conclusions. This research can help the project owners take proper measures to prevent rent-seeking of the supervisors and the contractors to improve the performances of the projects.

A BIM Approach for the Design of Industrial Warehouses

All around the world, the Building Information Modeling (BIM) is transforming the architecture of engineering design and of construction industry. While it is in an early implementation stage in African Sub-saharan Countries, many construction regulators and project owners are beginning to enforce the BIM application from the project design stage to its commissioning. The aim of this research work is to provide an approach for designing industrial warehouses using BIM as it was done in the industrial zone of the Kribi Deep Sea port in Cameroon. The proposed methodology is presented in six steps: definition of BIM general requirements, design of the 3D BIM architectural model, sizing of wall and roof for specific requirements, design of the 3D BIM structural model, coordination of 3D BIM models and interference detection and creation of 4D BIM model. Results obtained from the application of BIM on the design of a warehouse, dedicated to preserve the natural and biological essence of cocoa and coffee products in a hostile marine environment, show that this methodology is easily appropriated and implemented by local design and construction engineers through available engineering software in the local market.

Broadening Access to STEM through the Community College: Investigating the Role of Course-Based Research Experiences (CREs).

Broadening access to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions through the provision of early-career research experiences for a wide range of demographic groups is important for the diversification of the STEM workforce. The size and diversity of the community college system make it a prime educational site for achieving this aim. However, some evidence shows that women and Black, Latinx, and Native American student groups have been hindered in STEM at the community college level. One option for enhancing persistence in STEM is to incorporate the course-based research experiences (CREs) into the curriculum as a replacement for the prevalent traditional laboratory. This can be achieved through the integration of community colleges within extant, multi-institutional CREs such as the SEA-PHAGES program. Using a propensity score–matching technique, students in a CRE and traditional laboratory were compared on a range of psychosocial variables (project ownership, self-efficacy, science identity, scientific community values, and networking). Results revealed higher ratings for women and persons excluded because of their ethnicity or race (PEERs) in the SEA-PHAGES program on important predictors of persistence such as project ownership and science identity. This suggests that the usage of CREs at community colleges could have positive effects in addressing the gender gap for women and enhance inclusiveness for PEER students in STEM.

Evaluación de métodos de pronóstico EVM/ES en proyectos de construcción hospitalaria

The objective is to evaluate 22 time and 12 cost forecasting methods based on Earned Value (EVM/ES) under three assumptions of future performance and in terms of the opportunity, accuracy, and stability of the forecasts. Little attention has been paid in the literature to future performance assumptions and evaluation under these parameters. Method: A total of 6,951 entry data points were used applying statistical measures of error and dispersion based on empirical evidence from 34 hospital construction projects in Mexico. Findings: Using contractor payment estimates as Actual Cost (AC), the more predictive time forecasting methods are those under the assumption that future performance will be as planned and, for cost, under the SPI(t) Schedule Performance Index. Relevance: The research shows the conditions under which the diverse methods offer timely and realistic predictions to be used as a reference in the monitoring and control of hospital construction projects. The limitation of the research consists of using durations and costs from completed projects without considering the possible changes formalized in contractual modifications throughout project’s execution. Future research using EVM/ES input data from the project owner's perspective is suggested.

Impact of Owners’ Involvement in the Success of Indian Infrastructural Projects

Press reports are repeatedly stating that most of the Infrastructure Projects of India are running behind schedules, and obviously with cost over rums. Such time and cost overruns not only impact the expectation of the stakeholders adversely but shall hamper the development prospects of the country significantly. Often the Project management is blamed for their failures in meeting the project objectives. But the base organizations that champion the projects, who conceive them, arrange financial support and then handover to the project management professionals for getting them carried out are not active players in the project execution sphere. The base organizations which champion the projects and are of a permanent nature are defined as Project Owners by literature, while the Project management organizations are of temporary nature. Such owners are not aware of the roles and responsibilities that they should fulfil to ensure project success. The negative impact on time and cost overrun that could be achieved by the increased involvement and interventions by Owners is not well established even.This paper aimed to find out the key areas that call for the involvement of owners in various infra structural projects, and to assess how far the owners get involved in the management of public projects at present, in selected Project sites within India, by conducting a Questionnaire survey. Help from previous published works helped in designing the instrumentation for the survey. It was intended to find out the opportunities for improvement from the survey results. The results exposed a very strong negative correlation between the Owner’s contributions/ level of involvement with Time over run and Cost overrun. This revealed a significant opportunity for improvement in the success prospects of Indian Infra Projects.

External Consultant Involvement for Organizational Capability Building in Complex Construction Projects: A Perspective from Interorganizational Learning Process

External management consultants have been increasingly employed by owners of complex construction projects (CCPs) to foster management innovation and improve their organizational capability. However, the dynamics of the owner-consultant collaboration process in such projects are still unknown. To bridge this gap, this paper explores the roles of external consultant involvement in fostering management innovation and developing an organizational capability in CCPs. Based on survey data collected from 102 such projects across different types in China, the partial least square-structural equation modeling analysis results uncover the positive effect of external consultant involvement in creating management innovation and building organizational capability. In particular, the mediating role of management innovation is identified in the exploration and transformation learning processes with external consultants involved. The findings of this study provide a novel explanation for the creation of management innovation in CCPs through external consultant involvement and useful guidance to project owners to better identify and utilize external consultants in the future.

The effect of entrepreneurship on the sustainability of small enterprises and productivity financed by the ministry of social development of Jordan

This study aimed to identify the impact of entrepreneurship on the sustainability of small enterprises and productivity financed by the ministry of social development of Jordan. To achieve the objectives of the study, a descriptive analytical method was adopted, and a questionnaire was designed and distributed to members of the study sample consisting of owners of productive projects funded by the Ministry of Social Development in Jordan. The results show that Entrepreneurship has a significant impact on the sustainability of small enterprises and productivity financed by the ministry of social development of Jordan.

Joint Ownership of Production Projects as a Commitment Device against Interest Groups

This paper investigates an unexplored rationale for joint ownership of a production project. We model projects with autocorrelated productivity shocks as creating an option value of investing over time so that later investments benefit from the information revealed by the realization of earlier investments. However, internal and external interest groups may pressurize owners into paying out early revenues. Joint ownership provides a commitment mechanism against them, thereby enabling more efficient levels of investment. The Business Environment and Enterprises Performance survey data corroborate the model's prediction that organizations under interest-group lobbying pressure are more likely to choose joint ownership.

What promotes motivation and learning in project management students?

This article discusses what promotes motivation and learning in students of project management. It is based on a qualitative study with six students from different project groups at a higher education institution in Norway. The study shows that ownership of self-chosen projects and regular feedback from the supervisor lead to hard work, intrinsic motivation and learning in all phases of the project. Participation in project groups with considerable autonomy within a tight framework creates positive communities of learning and experiences of flow. Presenting interim status reports to the class in combination with final written and oral assessment leads to competition between the project groups and extrinsic motivation to perform best, which results in deep learning. The study shows that project-based teaching is an important tool to encourage student motivation and learning.

An alternative valuation of public-private partnerships by using the Black-Scholes model: the Portuguese highway case

This study evaluates Portuguese highway PPPs' initial valuation using real options methods to assess the potential mispricing of these projects that is model dependent. Our findings suggest that some of these PPPs could be completed without resorting to outside financing for the initial investment by selling a right to ownership of projects. This different approach to real investments using options could also enable hedging future operational risks without changing the project operationally. Overall, our study addresses a relevant policy implication - whether governments should protect their interest by adopting PPP valuation as real options.

Factors Affecting the Efficiency of Concessional Loans at Environment Protection Funds in Vietnam

This study uses survey data of 427 officials working at 22 central and local environment protection funds in Vietnam that are implementing concessional lending activities. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0 software and the application of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis in AMOS 22. The results showed that the factors: Policy mechanism, human resource quality, credit risk management and local support are factors that positively and positively affect the effectiveness of preferential loans for environment protection projects and the management capacity of project owners.

EVOLUTIONARY GAME ANALYSIS FOR RENT-SEEKING BEHAVIOR SUPERVISION OF MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS BASED ON PROSPECT THEORY

Major infrastructure projects (MIPs) possess significant strategic positions in the national economy and social development. However, recently, the rent-seeking behavior between supervision units and project contractors has intensified in project construction. This paper aims to study the behavior decision-making of stakeholders in rent-seeking behavior supervision system of MIPs. In the complex and uncertain environment of MIPs, game players have cognitive bias and value perception preference. Therefore, this study introduced prospect theory and constructed the perceived return matrix and evolutionary game model of MIP rent-seeking behavior supervision among project owners, supervision units, and project contractors. From the perspective of risk perception theory, the reasons for the behavioral tendencies of game participants and the conditions for the steady state of strategy selection were explored through system dynamics simulations. The results showed that the stable state of the optimal strategy in the rent-seeking behavior supervision system of MIPs is related to the cognitive bias of the game players and is influenced by the level of regulation cost, the intensity of punishment and the size of accident losses. The contribution of this study lies in providing theoretical basis and decision support for constructing a long-term preventive mechanism for rent-seeking activities in MIPs.