Acta Structilia

The effect of management control on labour productivity of labour-intensive works in Ghana

In Ghana, many construction projects end in dispute, because contractors are unable to meet the completion time. As many construction operations are labour intensive, the question of labour productivity becomes paramount, especially as higher productivity levels usually translate into superior profitability, competitiveness, and income. This article aims to examine the management control factors affecting construction labour productivity in Ghanaian construction firms. It assesses the measuring techniques that are used to improve labour productivity in the construction firms. The article also determines the relationship between management control and labour productivity on labour-intensive works in Ghanaian construction firms. The study adopted a quantitative research design that used a questionnaire-based descriptive survey. Records available at the Ghana Social Opportunity Project (GSOP) indicate that 920 professionals are involved in labour-intensive works on road infrastructure. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 40 districts involved in road construction projects; 560 respondents were considered for the study. The summary of the data consisted of means, standard deviations, percentages, cross-tabulations, and frequencies. Principal axis factor analysis revealed three (3) components with eigenvalues above 1 that may influence labour productivity of labour-intensive works on road construction. These components are effective communication, supervision technique, and design inadequacies. Construction managers must monitor workforce performance by ensuring that the three factors influencing management control are considered.

In Ghana eindig baie konstruksieprojekte in dispuut, omdat kontrakteurs nie in staat is om die voltooiingstyd na te kom nie. Aangesien baie konstruksie-bedrywighede arbeidsintensief is, word die kwessie van arbeidsproduktiwiteit uiters belangrik, veral aangesien hoèr produktiwiteitsvlakke gewoonlik omskakel in winsgewendheid, mededingendheid en inkomste. Hierdie artikel het ten doel om die bestuursbeheerfaktore wat konstruksie-arbeidsproduktiwiteit in Ghanese konstruksiefirmas be'ínvloed, te ondersoek. Dit assesseer die meettegnieke wat gebruik word om arbeidsproduktiwiteit in die konstruksiefirmas te verbeter. Die artikel bepaal ook die verband tussen bestuursbeheer en arbeidsproduktiwiteit op arbeidsintensiewe werke in Ghanese konstruksiefirmas. Die studie het 'n kwantitatiewe navorsingsontwerp aangeneem wat 'n vraelys-gebaseerde beskrywende opname gebruik het. Rekords beskikbaar by die Ghana Social Opportunity Project (GSOP) dui aan dat 920 professionele persone betrokke is by arbeidsintensiewe werke aan padinfrastruktuur. 'n Doelgerigte steekproeftegniek is gebruik om 40 distrikte te kies wat betrokke is by padbouprojekte; 560 respondente is vir die studie oorweeg. Die opsomming van die data het bestaan uit gemiddeldes, standaardafwykings, persentasies, kruistabelle en frekwensies. Hoof-as faktor analise het drie (3) komponente met eiewaardes bo 1 aan die lig gebring wat arbeidsproduktiwiteit van arbeidsintensiewe werke op padkonstruksie kan be'ínvloed. Hierdie komponente is effektiewe kommunikasie, toesigtegniek en ontwerpontoereikendheid. Konstruksiebestuurders moet werksmagprestasie monitor deur te verseker dat die drie faktore wat bestuursbeheer be'nvloed, in ag geneem word.

Evaluation of the organisational capability of the public sector for the implementation of building information modelling on construction projects

Organisations are required to possess certain capabilities in order to implement Building Information Modelling (BIM), one of the emerging technologies for overcoming the problem of fragmentation in the construction industry. This study examines the organisational capability attributes required for the implementation of BIM in construction projects, with a view to enhancing the performance of public sector projects. The study adopted a quantitative descriptive analysis based on primary data obtained from public sector organisations in Lagos State, Southwestern Nigeria. One hundred and ninety-eight (198) valid questionnaires, obtained from construction professionals within the organisations, provided quantitative data for the assessment. Data collected were analysed, using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings indicate that public sector organisations possess the capability attributes for BIM implementation in building projects at different levels of availability (LAv) and adequacy (LAq), with adequate power supply rated at (LAv = 76.00%; LAq = 75.80%); speedy internet connection (LAv = 70.20%; LAq = 69.80%); change from traditional workflow (LAv = 69.80%; LAq = 64.60%); adequate work environment for workers (LAv = 69.60%; LAq = 64.40%); standardised process (LAv = 66.00%; LAq = 63.40%); sufficient number of workers (LAv = 65.60%) and data-sharing skills (LAv = 65.00%); standardised process (LAq = 63.40%), and collaborative team culture (LAq = 63.00%). The study established that the organisational capability attributes with high availability rating also have high adequacy rating. The research concludes that the general organisational capability attributes of the public sector for BIM on construction projects are not yet sufficiently developed and thus suggests the need to strengthen specific capability attributes that are required to implement BIM.

Daar word van organisasies vereis om sekere vermoèns te besit om Bou-inligtingmodellering (BIM), een van die opkomende tegnologieè om die probleem van fragmentasie in die konstruksiebedryf te oorkom, te implementeer. Hierdie studie ondersoek die organisatoriese vermoè-eienskappe wat benodig word vir die implementering van BIM in konstruksieprojekte, met die oog daarop om die prestasie van openbare sektorprojekte te verbeter. Die studie het 'n kwantitatiewe beskrywende analise aangeneem wat gebaseer is op primêre data wat verkry is van openbare sektor-organisasies in Lagos-staat, Suidwes-Nigeriè. Honderd agt-en-negentig (198) geldige vraelyste, verkry van konstruksieprofessionele persone binne die organisasies, het kwantitatiewe data vir die assessering verskaf. Data wat ingesamel is, is ontleed deur beide beskrywende en afleidingsstatistieke te gebruik. Die bevindinge dui daarop dat organisasies in die openbare sektor beskik oor die vermoè-eienskappe vir BIM-implementering in bouprojekte op verskillende vlakke van beskikbaarheid (LAv) en toereikendheid (LAq), met voldoende kragtoevoer wat gegradeer is teen (LAv = 76.00%; LAq = 75.80%); vinnige internetverbinding (LAv = 70.20%; LAq = 69.80%); verandering vanaf tradisionele werkvloei (LAv = 69.80%; LAq = 64.60%); voldoende werksomgewing vir werkers (LAv = 69.60%; LAq = 64.40%); gestandaardiseerde proses (LAv = 66.00%; LAq = 63.40%); voldoende aantal werkers (LAv = 65.60%) en vaardighede om data te deel (LAv = 65.00%); gestandaardiseerde proses (LAq = 63.40%), en samewerkende spankultuur (LAq = 63.00%). Die studie het vasgestel dat die organisasievermoè-eienskappe met 'n hoè beskikbaarheidsgradering ook 'n hoè toereikendheidgradering het. Die navorsing kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat die algemene organisatoriese vermoè-eienskappe van die openbare sektor vir BIM op konstruksieprojekte nog nie voldoende ontwikkel is nie en dui dus op die behoefte om spesifieke vermoè-eienskappe wat nodig is om BIM te implementeer, te versterk.

Perceptions of safety behaviour-modifying techniques in construction firms: insights from Lagos, Nigeria

Unsafe behaviour is a major contributing factor to accidents on construction sites. Measures must be taken to instil safety behaviour in construction workers, in order to reposition the industry for greater safety and performance on construction sites. The article examined the safety behaviour-modifying technique (SBMT) adopted by construction firms in Lagos State with a view to increasing the likelihood of safe acts of workers in the study area. To achieve this aim, four major grouped components of SBMT (goals, training, feedback, and incentive) were identified consisting of 24 variables obtained from the literature. The literature informed the structured questionnaire that was administered to 106 representatives of construction firms within Lagos State. The SBMT positions within construction firms were ranked, using the mean score (MS), and independent t-test was employed to compare the techniques used within the firms. The results of the analysis revealed that the safety training component was the most widely used SBMT in both large and medium-sized businesses. It was also observed that construction firms pay less attention to feedback on safety performance and to providing incentives to personnel who carried out their work in a noted safe manner. The study recommended that, in addition to consistent safety training provided to workers, construction firms should set realistic and achievable safety goals, provide workers' safety feedback, and reward workers for safety behaviour on construction sites. This practice may reduce the rates of accidents and injuries on construction sites, leading to a safer construction industry with less work-place fatalities.

Onveilige optrede is 'n groot bydraende faktor tot ongelukke op konstruksieterreine. Maatreèls moet getref word om veiligheidsgedrag by konstruksiewerkers te vestig ten einde die bedryf te herposisioneer vir groter konstruksieterreinveiligheid en werkverrigting. Die artikel het die veiligheidsgedragwysigingstegniek (SBMT) ondersoek wat deur konstruksiefirmas in Lagos-staat aangeneem is met die oog op die verhoging van die waarskynlikheid van veilige optrede van werkers in die studiegebied. Om hierdie doel te bereik, is vier groot gegroepeerde komponente van SBMT (doelwitte, opleiding, terugvoer, en aansporing) gel'dentifiseer wat bestaan uit 24 veranderlikes wat deur die literatuur verkry is. 'n Gestruktureerde vraelys gebaseer op die literatuur, is aan 106 verteenwoordigers van konstruksiefirmas in Lagos-Staat gestuur. Die SBMT-posisies in konstruksiefirmas is gelys volgens die gemiddelde telling (MS) en 'n onafhanklike t-toets is gedoen om die tegnieke wat binne die firmas gebruik word, te vergelyk. Die bevindinge toon dat die veiligheidsopleidingskomponent van die SBMT die meeste in beide groot en mediumgrootte besighede gebruik word. Daar is ook waargeneem dat konstruksiefirmas minder aandag gee aan terugvoer oor veiligheidsprestasie sowel as die verskaffing van aansporings aan personeel wat hul werk op 'n bekende veilige wyse uitgevoer het. Die artikel beveel aan dat bykomend tot konsekwente veiligheidsopleiding wat aan werkers verskaf word, konstruksiefirmas realistiese en haalbare veiligheidsdoelwitte moet stel, veiligheidsterugvoer aan werkers verskaf moet word en werkers beloon moet word vir veiligheidsgedrag op konstruksieterreine. Hierdie praktyke kan die ongelukke- en beseringskoerse op konstruksieterreine verminder wat lei tot 'n veiliger konstruksiebedryf met minder sterftes in die werkplek.

Appropriate building repair and maintenance strategies using multi-criteria decision-making analysis - a Delphi study

As an influential and significant factor in improving the service of building components and elements, maintenance plays an essential role in maintaining reliability, availability, and quality, as well as increasing efficiency and security. Therefore, how to define this maintenance system and determine the appropriate criteria and strategies for that play an important role in the cost and longevity of the buildings after construction and during their operation. The purpose of the article is to determine the effective criteria for evaluating buildings based on maintenance and repair (R) and finally determining the appropriate strategy for the maintenance of residential buildings, using multi-criteria decision-making methods. These criteria were first identified by reviewing the literature and using the Delphi method to obtain the opinions of maintenance experts. The criteria were then prioritized, based on the SWARA method, and the results were compared and evaluated. Based on comparison, safety, health, environment, and proper utilisation were rated the top four criteria to consider for building R Finally, using the VIKOR¹ method, it was found that the breakdown maintenance (BM) and corrective maintenance (CM) strategies are the best strategies to use for the R of residential buildings.

As 'n invloedryke en beduidende faktor in die verbetering van die onderhoud van geboukomponente en -elemente, speel instandhouding 'n noodsaaklike rol in die handhawing van betroubaarheid, beskikbaarheid, kwaliteit en die verhoging van doeltreffendheid en sekuriteit. Daarom, hoe om hierdie instandhoudingstelsel te definieer en die toepaslike kriteria en strategieè daarvoor te bepaal, is belangrik vir die koste en langdurigheid van die geboue na konstruksie en tydens die bedryf daarvan. Die doel van die artikel is om die effektiewe kriteria vir die evaluering van geboue op grond van onderhoud en herstel (R) te bepaal en uiteindelik die toepaslike strategie vir instandhouding van residensièle geboue te bepaal deur gebruik te maak van multi-kriteria besluitnemingsmetodes. Hierdie kriteria is eers ge'identifiseer deur 'n literatuurstudie en die Delphi-metode is gebruik om instandhoudingskundiges se menings daaroor te verkry. Daarna is die kriteria geprioritiseer op grond van die SWARA-metode, en die resultate is vergelyk en geèvalueer. Gebaseer op vergelyking, is veiligheid, gesondheid, omgewing en behoorlike benutting as die top vier kriteria aangewys om te oorweeg vir die R van geboue. Laastens, met behulp van die VIKOR-metode, is gevind dat die breakdown maintenance- (BM) en corrective maintenance- (CM) strategieè die beste strategieè is om te gebruik vir die R van residensièle geboue.

Sustainability awareness and practices in the Zambian construction industry

The construction industry makes a significant contribution to the global green-house gas emission. It is, therefore, critical that construction industry professionals should be aware of and practise sustainable construction. However, there is a paucity of studies on the awareness of sustainability and their practices in developing countries, with some results seemingly contradicting. This article explored the awareness and practices of sustainability in the Zambian construction industry. Data was collected from construction industry professionals through a questionnaire survey and a total of 112 responses were received. The relative importance index (RII) and a series of linear regression analyses were used to analyse the data. The participants' perception of sustainability was primarily enviro-centric as opposed to the economic or social context. However, social and economic sustainability practices ranked highest, while environmental sustainability practices ranked in the bottom five of the 16 practices. While the participants perceived the environmental context as more critical in their understanding of sustainability, their practice reflected a focus on the social and economic sustainability context. The findings imply that merely increasing the level of knowledge and awareness of environmental sustainability may not lead to gross improvements in environmental sustainability practices. Therefore, studies that recommended increasing knowledge and awareness, in order to increase the implementation of environmentally sustainable construction, may have neglected the effect of the other barriers to sustainable construction which may be more critical. Studies with multivariate analyses such as structural equation modelling are needed to establish the contributory effect of the various barriers to environmental sustainability practices and so establish the extent to which knowledge and awareness alone, and other factors, can improve environmental sustainability practices.

Die konstruksiebedryf lewer 'n beduidende bydrae tot wêreldwye kweekhuisgasvrystelling. Dit is dus van kritieke belang dat professionele mense in die konstruksiebedryf bewus moet wees van en volhoubare konstruksie moet beoefen. Daar is egter min studies oor die bewustheid van volhoubaarheid en volhoubaarheidpraktyke in ontwikkelende lande met sommige resultate wat oènskynlik teenstrydig is. Daarom het hierdie artikel die bewustheid en praktyke van volhoubaarheid in die Zambiese konstruksiebedryf ondersoek. Data is van professionele persone in die konstruksiebedryf ingesamel deur middel van 'n vraelysopname en 'n totaal van 112 antwoorde is ontvang. Die relatiewe belangrikheidsindeks (RII) en 'n reeks lineêre regressie-ontledings is gebruik om die data te ontleed. Die deelnemers se persepsie van volhoubaarheid was primêr enviro-sentries in teenstelling met die ekonomiese of sosiale konteks. Sosiale en ekonomiese volhoubaarheidspraktyke is egter die hoogste gelys terwyl omgewingsvolhoubaarheidspraktyke onder die laagste vyf van die 16 praktyke gelys was. Dus, terwyl die deelnemers die omgewingskonteks as meer krities in hul begrip van volhoubaarheid beskou het, weerspieèl hulle in praktyk 'n fokus op die sosiale en ekonomiese volhoubaarheidskonteks. Die bevindinge impliseer dat deur bloot die vlak van kennis en bewustheid van omgewingsvolhoubaarheid te verhoog, dit nie noodwendig lei tot verbeterings in omgewingsvolhoubaarheidspraktyke nie. Studies wat die verhoging van kennis en bewustheid aanbeveel het om die implementering van omgewingsvolhoubare konstruksie te verhoog, het moontlik die effek van die ander hindernisse tot volhoubare konstruksie, wat meer krities kan wees, verwaarloos. Daarom is studies met meerveranderlike ontledings soos strukturele vergelykingsmodellering nodig om die bydraende effek van die verskillende hindernisse tot omgewingsvolhoubaarheidspraktyke vas te stel en so vas te stel tot watter mate kennis en bewustheid alleen, en ander faktore, omgewingsvolhoubaarheidspraktyke kan verbeter.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the South African construction industry

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted on many economic sectors globally. The regressed economic environment exacerbated its effects on the construction industry, especially in developing countries such as South Africa. The article presents an evaluation of the impact of COVID-19 on the construction sector, focusing on the construction delivery methods in South Africa. The effect of COVID-19 was evaluated against the South African Council for Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP)'s project life cycle framework. A mixed data-collection method was used for the study. Literature was consulted, and empirical data was collected through focused online panel discussions and structured questionnaires administered through online polls. This article presents the results as effect and frequency of issues arising from COVID-19, industry projections, and recommendations on sustainability. Findings showed a general hold on original investment decisions by clients, in both the public and private sectors; increased professional services' scope of works, and increased health and safety compliance requirements, together resulting in higher costs.

Die COVID-19-pandemie het 'n negatiewe impak op baie ekonomiese sektore wêreldwyd gehad. Die verswakte ekonomiese omgewing het die uitwerking daarvan op die konstruksiebedryf vererger, veral in ontwikkelende lande soos Suid-Afrika. Die artikel gee 'n evaluering van die impak van COVID-19 op die konstruksiesektor, met die fokus op die konstruksieleweringsmetodes in Suid-Afrika. Die effek van COVID-19 is geèvalueer teen die Suid-Afrikaanse Raad vir Projek- en Konstruksiebestuursberoepe (SACPMP) se projeklewensiklusraamwerk. 'n Gemengde data-insamelingsmetode is vir die studie gebruik. Literatuur is geraadpleeg, en empiriese data is ingesamel deur gefokusde aanlyn-paneelbesprekings en gestruktureerde vraelyste wat deur middel van aanlyn-peilings geadministreer is. Hierdie artikel vertoon die resultate as die effek en frekwensie van kwessies wat voortspruit uit COVID-19, bedryfsprojeksies en aanbevelings oor volhoubaarheid. Bevindinge het getoon dat daar 'n algemene houvas op oorspronklike beleggingsbesluite deur kliènte is, in beide die openbare en private sektor; verhoogde professionele dienste op die omvang van werke, en verhoogde vereistes vir voldoening aan gesondheid en veiligheid, wat saam tot hoèr koste lei.