Relative Importance Index Value Research Articles

Causes of Delay in EPC Projects: The Case of Indonesia

The construction industry is a significant part of the economy in developing countries. During Indonesia's 2010-2020 period, many large-scale EPC projects were launched to build new plants and infrastructure facilities. However, most of these projects experienced delays. This research aims to identify the causes of delays in EPC projects in Indonesia. It also investigates whether specific characteristics of EPC projects within the fertilizer industry in Indonesia, particularly those associated with state-owned companies, contribute to these delays. Data was collected through questionnaires with samples from company construction experts involved in EPC projects consisting of 41 owners, 14 contractors, and 12 consultants. The Relative Importance Index (RII) was subsequently computed, revealing the top ten delay causes for EPC projects in Indonesia based on the highest RII values consisting of delays in procuring equipment/materials, contractor difficulties in funding the project, ineffective project planning and scheduling, the winner of the tender is the lowest bidder, rework due to errors during construction, poor communication and coordination between parties involved in the project, delays in the work of design, disputes in understanding the EPC contract and project specification, unrealistic the duration of the project and delays in the owner's decision. Comparison of delay factors with other developing countries in Asia and Africa shows similarities. Notably, among these categories, contractor-related factors demonstrated the highest RII values. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient shows that all respondents highly agreed with the individual ranking of delay factors.

Identification of antibiotic-resistance markers of Edwardsiella tarda using aptamers

Edwardsiella tarda poses significant challenges in the aquaculture sector due to its antibiotic resistance, leading to substantial economic loss in the aquaculture industry. Therefore, it is imperative to identify antibiotic-resistance markers to prevent and control E. tarda. In the present study, we used tetracycline-sensitive (S) and resistant (R) E. tarda strains and six non-target bacterial strains, to develop aptamers through the Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment technique. We then conducted comparative analysis of these aptamers based on their relative importance index values and selected six candidate sequences (M1, M13, M15, N57, N69, and N71) for affinity verification. The results showed that M1 had significantly higher affinity towards both the S and R strains compared to the non-target strains. M13 and M15 had significantly higher affinities for the S strain compared to the R strain and non-target strains, and N57, N69, and N71 had significantly higher affinities for R strains relative to the sensitive and non-target strains. Subsequent analysis indicated that N57 and N69 specifically recognized unique sites in the R strain. Therefore, our study presents a novel approach for detecting and controlling antibiotic-resistant strains of E. tarda and identification of drug-resistant markers in bacteria.

The role of psychological contract in enhancing safety climate and safety behavior in the construction industry

Purpose This study aims to explore the “psychological contract of safety” (PCS), a key factor in the safety climate (SC), which relies on the behavioral safety actions of workers at construction sites. While numerous factors have been identified in various sectors across different countries, there is a consensus among researchers that there is a dearth of common assessment factors specifically for the Indian construction industry (ICI). Therefore, this study undertakes a systematic review of existing literature to identify the factors that determine PCS in construction and to ascertain the relative importance index (RII) of these variables and their interrelationships using structural equation modelling (SEM). Design/methodology/approach A structured survey was conducted among 420 professionals in the ICI to collect data. This data was then analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods to derive results. Findings The findings of the study indicate that PCS factors have a significant impact on the construction industry (CI). The inferential analysis ranks “Safety System” as the top factor with the highest RII value. The chi-square results highlight two key SC factors that enhance and regulate an organization’s safety performance. The SEM results reveal that SC factors contribute to the improvement of PCS and influence worker safety behavior. Originality/value The outcomes of this study will be beneficial for stakeholders aiming to improve safety at construction sites and enhance safety performance by fulfilling the mutual safety obligations of employers and employees and by improving safety norms, procedures and policy-making. This paper also provides a theoretical framework for scholars to reassess the results in various contexts.

Factors inhibiting the adoption of industrial revolution 4.0 in Malaysian construction industry

PurposeThe construction industry is a major economic driver in Malaysia, playing a pivotal role in the developing nations economic growth. Malaysia's reliance on labor-driven construction practices often sees local industry lagging in adopting technological advancements common to the construction sector on a global scale. This study investigates the challenges faced by project players in using new construction industrial revolution (IR) 4.0 technologies and the difficulties in implementing these technologies in construction projects.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative survey was distributed to 183 practitioners in the Malaysian construction industry. The collected data (N = 121) has been analyzed using statistical software to calculate relative importance index values for the identified factors. A triangulation approach to validate the factors obtained from the survey was conducted with an expert group to ensure there were no additional considerations identified in the study.FindingsThe study results show that the main factors in adopting construction IR 4.0 technologies are 1) high implementation costs, 2) hesitation to adopt technologies, 3) lack of standards, 4) legal and contractual uncertainty and 5) complexity. By investigating these factors, cost and regulation issues can gradually be resolved, with construction firms implementing new technologies, educating workers and ensuring government involvement in training for skill development to support IR 4.0.Originality/valueThe outcome of these efforts to resolve construction productivity would be beneficial in their industry impact on practice and digital transformation. Additionally, the results add to the body of knowledge for construction practitioners and technology developers to work together efficiently on the implementation of construction 4.0 technologies.

Views of Specialists on Abandoned Building Project in FCT - Abuja, Nigeria

This research aimed at investigating the causes and effects of abandoned building construction project in Abuja Municipal Area Councils (AMAC) of FCT, Nigeria so as to proffer solution to the problem(s). This research uses a qualitative method of research in which a structured close ended questionnaire was prepared to capture information on the causes and effects of abandoned building construction projects in AMAC. It was on this basis that a structured questionnaire with Likert Scale design method was adopted. One hundred and ten (110) consultants obtained from professional bodies like Council for Regulation of Engineering (COREN), Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), Architect Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), Quantity Surveyors Registration Board of Nigeria (QSRBN) and Procurement Consultants were contacted to get their views on abandonment of building construction project. Eighty-Eight (88) responses were obtained to give a return rate of 80%. All information found were analysed using the Relative Importance Index (R.I.I) formula. The higher the Relative Importance Index value, the more significant is the cause or effect of abandoning building project. Sixteen (16) important causes of abandoning building construction project and nine (9) main effect of abandoning building construction project were identified. This research therefore concluded that if the causes and effects of abandoning building construction projects are corrected through the application of numerous recommendations made on this research, building construction project abandonment will be history in the research area and indeed the country at large.

The Rank of Factors Affecting Labor Productivity on Construction Projects

Human resources or labor is one of the factors that influence the success of a construction project. Based on this
 statement, it is necessary to analyze labor productivity. Many factors can affect labor productivity. This
 research aims to determine the ranking of factors that affect labor productivity in high-rise building
 construction projects in Jabodetabek. These factors are divided into 2 parts, namely internal factors, and
 external factors. Internal factors are factors derived from within labor control and external factors are factors
 derived from outside labor control. The method used in this research is a quantitative research method using a
 questionnaire. Furthermore, this research is analyzed using IBM SPSS software for validity and reliability
 testing and analyzed using the Relative Importance Index (RII) to determine the ranking of these factors.
 Based on the results of the validity and reliability tests, 18 variables were declared valid and reliable. The
 highest ranking of the factors that affect labor productivity when viewed as a whole is work skills which is a
 variable from internal factors with an RII value of 0,906, while the highest ranking of external factors is
 equipment quality with an RII value of 0,883.

Investigation of Price Escalation and Its Mitigation Mechanisms on Selected Building Construction Projects of Jimma University

Fee escalation in construction refers to a boom in the price of an item inside the preliminary agreement or the bottom cost of an undertaking. racking production mission fees must be an ongoing procedure that must always be carried out on all projects, because the reasons for which the price will increase vary from project to project and due to the construction segment. The motive of this observation was to assess fee escalation, escalation factors and mitigation mechanisms in deciding on construction initiatives. From February 1 to 30, 2020, a questionnaire was administered to twelve workers and interviews with seven key informants were conducted for an in-depth look at four selected Jimma University construction projects, which were project A to project D. Relative importance index values were generated and ranked for the elements affecting fee escalation to see their relative significance. It was found that there has been a moderate degree of charge increase within the initiatives studied, from 12% to 21%. The mitigation modalities observed with the aid of the projects, particularly inserting escalation clauses in contractual agreements, making changes requiring funding and increasing time limits, seem to be inadequate, as they do not provide a foundation for choices and remedy of disputes instead of mitigating the escalation of tasks starting from 3.21% to 12%. KEYWORDS: Escalation, Mitigation, Price, Construction projects.

The Assessment of Occupational Safety and Health Risk Management on Construction Projects During the Covid-19 Pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has weakened various business sectors, including the construction services business. This research aims to identify OHS risks in building construction projects during the Covid-19 pandemic, provide an assessment and provide control solutions for these risks. The research method begins with identifying risk factors and distributing risk assessment questionnaires to thirty building construction companies. Then determine the risk rating with the Relative Importance Index (RII) and the risk category using the AS/NZS 4360:2004 standard. The risk control questionnaire was finally distributed to three selected respondents, including a director, a project manager, and an OHS manager, all of whom have at least an undergraduate degree. Based on the analysis, it is found that there is a similarity in the ranking of risk factors from the calculation of the RII value and the AS/NZS 4360:2004 standard, indicating that there is a positive and significant relationship between these two methods. The top three risk factors based on RII are: Covid-19 spread, falling from a height, and being electrocuted. Based on the AS/NZS 4360:2004 standard, these three factors are considered high and moderate risk, while the risk control solutions are: comply with and implement health protocols, use PPE, strong/sturdy scaffolding, install safety nets, arranging safe electrical lines, conduct socialization, and educate workers about Covid-19.

The Effect of Project Communications Management on Project Time Performance

The construction industry plays a significant role in the country, while project delays cause various problems. Regarding that, communication is very influential on the project performance, especially time performance. This study aims to identify the factors that affect project communications, identify the effect of project communications management on project time performance, and analyze project communications management strategies for improving time performance. The calculation of the Relative Importance Index was carried out to determine the factors that affect project communications. Meanwhile, a simple linear regression analysis was carried out to find out the magnitude of the effect of project communications management on project time performance. The project communications management strategy was obtained by mapping stakeholders using the power/interest grid method. The data was collected based on observations and the results of questionnaires filled out by 38 respondents, consisting of the owner, supervisor consultant, and contractor on the design-build project used as a case study. The results showed the top 10 factors influencing project communications with the highest Relative Importance Index value. The simple linear regression analysis result showed that project communications management has a positive and significant effect on project time performance with a coefficient of determination value of 69.6%. The suggested project communications management strategy is to optimize the application of the main factors of project communications, tailored to the result of the power/interest grid for each project stakeholder.

Organisational Elements Controlling the Labour Efficiency in Sri Lankan Road Construction Projects: Engineers’ Perspective

Labour efficiency is crucial for a construction firm’s long-term viability. According to recent studies, modernising organisational and administrative procedures is essential to improving labour efficiency in many developing countries, including Sri Lanka. The perspectives of construction engineers play a key role in strengthening organisational policies and management practices in the construction industry. As a result, based on the viewpoint of construction engineers, this study aims to identify the critical organisational elements that highly influence labour efficiency in Sri Lankan road construction projects. The elements/factors were qualitatively discovered after a thorough literature review. Then, a questionnaire survey was conducted among construction engineers employed by 31 Sri Lankan road construction contractors. The Relative Importance Index (RII) method was used to quantify each element’s level of influence on labour efficiency. Based on RII values, 33 organisational elements were determined as critical, where lack of communication and cooperation between the parties, delay in salary payment and lack of labour training facilities were determined as the top three ranking elements in the list. The validity and reliability of the results were confirmed by additional statistical tests. Using problem-based communication strategies, industry consultations were conducted among construction experts to determine the necessary future measures from relevant authorities based on the identified critical elements. These consultation outcomes suggest that the organisational policies of construction enterprises currently in place addressing financial procedures, communication strategies, resource management, performance management and training development practices must be improved in light of the new normal conditions facing the industry. The study findings might help to close the gap between management/organisational policies and workforce practices. Despite the fact that the study findings are limited to the Sri Lankan road construction industry, some of them could be used to address comparable issues in other developing nations.

Critical project management success factors analysis for the construction industry of Bangladesh

PurposeThis paper aims to identify the critical project management success factors and analyze those factors to achieve a sustainable construction industry in Bangladesh.Design/methodology/approachThis study identified 41 major problematic factors from the related literature. In this research, a detailed questionnaire survey was conducted among the experts and stakeholders of the construction industry of Bangladesh. The survey was carried out on a Likert scale and ranked the critical factors using the relative importance index (RII). The 41 problematic factors were divided into five group factors and ranked by the RII index to prioritize the factors. Finally, stakeholders' opinions were analyzed with the critical assessed factors, which was a very effective technique to eliminate the risks and uncertain occurrences in the construction industry of Bangladesh.FindingsThe factors analysis revealed that cost overrun, traffic jam, low wedges, slow payment for completed works and financial issues of the owner were leading critical factors in construction projects. Moreover, the critical factors are divided into five-factor groups, namely, financial management, monitoring and feedback, competency management, communication and coordination management, and risk management, which exhibit 0.767, 0.720, 0.711, 0.710 and 0.658 RII values. After all, the stakeholders' opinion suggested that implementing modern tools and techniques can help to avoid the critical situation in the construction industry of Bangladesh.Practical implicationsThe construction industry of Bangladesh is moving away from stable construction work day by day. Previously, the potential CSFs were discussed unstructured way. Hence, detecting early warning signals in a structured way has become necessary for the building firm's survival.Originality/valueThough some scattered critical issues are discussed in different literature, the critical issues of the Bangladeshi construction industry were not investigated extensively. Therefore, this study finds out the potential critical issues of the construction industry of Bangladesh to accumulate such harmful construction issues in a single platform so that the construction industry can have an overview of them with the help of innovative technologies.

Evaluating the significance of amino acids (AAs) in cyanide-treated rice plants under different nitrogen fertilization using the relative importance index of AA

The biosynthesis of amino acids (AAs) in plants is affected by different nitrogen (N) sources. The effects of exogenous cyanide (KCN) on the concentrations and profiles of AAs in rice seedlings were carried out in the presence of nitrate (+NO3−)/ammonium (+NH4+) or N deficiency (-N). Targeted metabolomics analysis indicated that the highest accumulation of AAs in CN−-treated rice seedlings was detected in the “CN−+NH4+” treatments than in other treatments, wherein the doses of exogenous KCN did not significantly affect the total amount of AAs in rice seedlings at the same N fertilized condition. The total content of AAs in rice shoots under “CN−+NH4+” treatments was higher than other treatments, while the total content of AAs in rice roots under “CN−+NO3−” treatments was higher than other treatments. Also, the profiles of 21 AAs in CN−-treated rice seedlings showed tissue-specific under different N fertilization. The relative importance index (RII) of AA was used to evaluate the importance of AAs in CN−-treated rice seedlings under different N fertilization. The common AAs with higher RII values were compared between three different treatments of KCN (e.g., 0, 1, and 2 mg CN/L). Under “CN−+(-N)” treatments, Ala, Asp, Glu, Val, and Gly (Ala, Gly, Val, and Lys) were the common AAs in rice roots (shoots). Under “CN−+NO3−” treatments, Ala, Glu, Asp, Ser, and Thr (Asp, Ala, Thr, Ser, and Asn) were the common AAs with higher RII values in rice roots (shoots) between all CN− treatments. Under “CN−+NH4+” treatments, Asp, Gln, Asn, and Ala (Asp, Glu, and Thr) were the common AAs with higher RII values in rice roots (shoots) between all CN− treatments. These results suggested that using the RII to describe the change and fluctuation of AAs in rice plants may reflect the different N utilization strategies in response to exogenous CN− exposure.

Study of Perceptional Attitude of Resource Limited Uri Populace of District Baramullah Toward Traditional Medicinal Usage in the Kashmir Himalayas

ABSTRACT The ethnic knowledge of alternative medicines of Tehsil Uri was documented for its diverse eco-edaphic and floral features. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaire, face-to-face interviews, and group discussions. The 573 informants were selected through snow-ball sampling. For quantification of the data Relative Importance Index (RII), Relative Frequency Citation (RFC) and Use Value (UV) were used. A total of 97 medicinal plants were reported for their medicinal values. The informants of age 40 years or above were more knowledgeable. Most of the local people (73.08%) used medicinal plants to cure digestive problems. The dominant family was Asteraceae (N = 16) and the most dominant life form was herb (73 Sp.). Leaves (38 Sp.) were the most commonly used plant part and decoction (N = 22) was the most common mode of preparation. The highest RFC value was reported for Juglans regia (0.88); the highest RII value was obtained for Achillea millefolium (0.97), and Punica granatum had the highest UV of 0.100.

Critical Risk Factors of Joint Venture Projects in the Oil and Gas Industry between Malaysia and Thailand

Oil and Gas (O&G) industry is one of the riskiest, most dynamic and challenging industries and plays a vital role in every nation’s economy. Like any other major industry, O&G is exposed to a host of both predictable and unpredictable risks. Joint venture projects (JVP) are often regarded as risky businesses as there is a high failure rate among them because of the complexities involved. This paper aims to identify the critical risk factors (CRFs) of JVPs for O&G between Malaysia and Thailand. Via systematic literature review (SLR) the risk factors for O&G and JVPs around the globe are identified and a set of questions relating to them designed and used in a pilot study. A total of 15 respondents from different background experiences working in O&G JVPs were requested to answer the designed questionnaire during the pilot study. The data collected involves 170 respondents currently working or have worked in O&G JVPs. The relative importance index (RII) for each risk factor’s (RF) value was quantified and the RFs ranked based on the value. A RII value exceeding 60% is considered to have agreement and of importance to the respondents. The RII value can be used as an indicator to rank the RFs from the most to the least critical. The CRF categories determined in this study are environmental, cultural and social, and organisation. Under environmental, the main CRFs are losses due to fluctuations in exchange rates/interest rates. For cultural and social, the main CRFs are problems associated with cultural differences and cooperation. Organisational issues are related to organisational fit, incompetent project management team, difficulty in finding and keeping skilled workers, and low worker productivity.

Determining the effectiveness of pre-university student’s online learning in geography subject using relative importance index

This study aims to examine the Relative Importance Index (RII) that influences online learning in the subject of Geography. This study is a survey study involving five secondary schools in the state of Perak, Malaysia consisted of 135 form six students selected by simple random sampling. Data were collected through a questionnaire containing 45 items to measure interest, acceptance, and effectiveness. The collected data were analyzed via SPSS software using descriptive analysis and RII analysis. Findings of the study for RII show that ‘when learning there is an interesting video display’ has the highest RII value (RII = 0.8933), while ‘I prefer to learn through the internet because any time I can learn’ contributes the second highest RII value (RII = 0.8296) for the factor acceptance criteria. For the learning effectiveness criteria, the ‘online learning factor created curiosity to me in the subject of Geography’ has the highest RII value (RII = 0.8281). Finally, for the achievement criteria, the factor of ‘understanding the important contents in learning through attractive colors and graphics contributes the highest RII value (RII = 0.8207). On average, the RII value of the interest criterion was in the highest position (RII = 0.8076), followed by the achievement criterion (RII = 0.7684). Meanwhile, the learning effectiveness criteria were in the lowest position (RII = 0.7516) of the overall study criteria. The conclusion from this study shows that the criteria of interest and achievement are the main factors of online learning choices of form six Geography students.

A meta-analysis of factors affecting labour productivity of construction SMEs in developing countries

PurposeThe global construction industry is significant to economic development, whereas the sector, particularly its small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have continued to suffer from low labour productivity for decades. This has given rise to the concern of relevant construction stakeholders on the need to address the challenges undermining labour productivity growth in construction. Hence, this study aims to conduct a meta-data analysis of factors that hamper productivity growth of construction SMEs in developing countries.Design/methodology/approachA systematic review of existing studies relative to factors affecting construction labour productivity (CLP) is presented. Thereafter, eight developing countries-based studies that are specific to SMEs were selected for meta-data analysis using relative importance index values from the studies.FindingsThe essential productivity influencing factors were identified and quantitative data of the selected studies were synthesised. The effect summaries derived from the meta-data analysis revealed that the most significant factors that negatively affect CLP amongst SMEs include: workers’ skills, inadequate training, rework, management style and incentive to labour.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited to scientifically analysed secondary data relative to SME contractors in developing countries.Practical implicationsThe findings of the study can be adopted by construction stakeholders to evolve productivity growth policies for construction SMEs in developing countries.Originality/valueSynthesis of quantitative data of different studies has lent deeper insight into a more realistic and scientific precision of factors affecting labour productivity of construction SMEs.

Critical Risk Factors of Joint Venture Projects in the Oil and Gas Industry

The Oil and Gas (O&G) industry is one of the riskiest, most dynamic and challenging industries and plays a vital role in every nation’s economy. Like any other major industry, O&G is exposed to a host of both predictable and unpredictable risks. Joint venture projects (JVP) are often regarded as a risky business as there is a high failure rate among them because of the complexities involved. This paper aims to identify the critical risk factors (CRFs) of JVPs for O&G between Malaysia and Thailand. Via systematic literature review (SLR) the risk factors for O&G and JVPs around the globe are identified and a set of questions relating to them were designed and used in a pilot study. A total of 15 respondents from different background experiences working in O&G JVPs were requested to answer the designed questionnaire during the pilot study. The questionnaire survey passed the required Cronbach Alpha value of 0.6 with a score of 0.98. The data collected involved 170 respondents currently working or have worked in O&G JVPs. The relative importance index (RII) for each risk factor’s (RF) value was quantified and the RFs ranked based on the value. A RII value exceeding 60% is considered to have agreement and of importance to the respondents. The RII value can be used as an indicator to rank the RFs from the most to the least critical. The CRF categories determined in this study are environmental, cultural and social, and organisation. Under environmental, the main CRFs are losses due to fluctuations in exchange rates/interest rates. For cultural and social, the main CRFs are problems associated with cultural differences and cooperation. Organisational issues related to organisational fit, incompetent project management team, difficulty in finding and keeping skilled workers, and low worker productivity. All the listed RFs underwent a comprehensive study on their impact and probability of occurrence to determine the best processes, methods, and tools for managing the risks. It is recommended that key players in the O&G industry consider all the RFs of JVPs during the risk management evaluation stage.

Green infrastructure indicators to plan resilient urban settlements in Pakistan: Local stakeholder's perspective

Over the recent years, urban green infrastructure (UGI) modelling has emerged as an adaptation strategy to enhance cities' resilience against ever-rising environmental hazards. The UGI improves urban eco-system functions to protect human health and wellbeing, both locally and globally. Pakistan lacks inclusive and resilient land-use planning policies as well as frameworks to protect its inhabitants, and ecosystems from the rising climatic hazards. So, this research aims to determine and assemble sustainable UGI planning indicators based on local stakeholder's perspectives. It is to develop a comprehensive and integrative indicator-based framework model to build climate-resilient urban regions in Pakistan's northwest parts. The in-depth online expert's survey is administered through 172 questionnaires themed around UGI, urban resilience and climate change adaptation. The data is analysed by using Relative Importance Index (RII) and Interquartile Range Technique (IQR). The finding shows potential twenty-two (primary and secondary) sustainable UGI indicators, classified into three main categories; Extremely Important (E-Imp); Important (Imp) and Moderately important (M-Imp) levels. Subsequently, a set of vital green elements that achieved (RII value ≥ 0.76) were identified that upgraded and strengthened each UGI indicator's quality. Additionally, it helps to reinforce an intricate connection among climate resilience strategies, green spaces, ecosystem functions, and human health/wellbeing in the study region. The UGI model facilitates policy planning and decision-making process for resilient land use planning and urban sustainability.

Influence of organisational culture on knowledge management in BIM-enabled construction environments

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to comprehend the influence of the organisational culture on knowledge management (KM) in an automated construction environment.Design/methodology/approachAn abductive research approach is used, constantly matching theories and observations on KM and organisational culture in testing the influence within a building information modelling (BIM)-enabled environment. A questionnaire survey is used for the primary data collection. Simultaneously, expert interviews are conducted to find the rationale through triangulating data. The primary data analysis is conducted through relative importance index (RII) calculation and content analysis.FindingsThe analysis has declared an increment in the level of influence of culture on KM in a BIM-enabled environment when compared to the conventional construction environment. Coordination and integration, strategic direction and intend and organisational learning are the leading cultural factors that have an increased influence on KM with RII values of 0.8730, 0.8540 and 0.8222, respectively. Because BIM is a technology-infused solution in the construction industry, it can be concluded that technical implementations positively shape the organisational culture to improve the KM process.Research limitations/implicationsThe data collection and findings of this research paper regarding the influence of organisational culture on KM are limited to scenarios in the construction industry. Yet, these findings could be implied to similar industries as well, when the KM process is under question.Originality/valueThe study provides the perception of knowledge in terms of the technological implementations such as BIM and organisational culture in the construction industry.

Assessment of critical factors influencing the performance of labour in Sri Lankan construction industry

The performance of labour is one of the most important factors affecting the physical progress of any construction project. This study intended to extensively investigate on the factors influencing labour performance in the Sri Lankan construction industry. A qualitative study conducted from a literature review and a series of interviews revealed 117 factors under 6 categories. Subsequently, a questionnaire survey was carried out among the construction firms in Sri Lanka and the responses were received from 217 contractors. Overall, 73 factors were identified as critical based on their Relative Importance Index values. Lack of training facilities, delay in salary payments, lack of labour motivation, low salary for labourers and poor performance evaluation of labour skills were found as the top five ranking factors. This study also highlights the need for training programmes that contain the direct scope of productivity improvement, and identified the expected programme outcomes for the effective design of new training programmes to improve the practices on labour operations. The findings of this study are expected to be useful to the Sri Lankan construction industry in effectively upgrading present practices. Some of these findings may also be tested in other developing construction industries in similar scenarios.