Key knowledge factors in Thai construction practice

This research has mainly focused on the practice of knowledge management in Thai construction projects at the on-site work level. The main objective was to identify whether or not knowledge factors influence on-site execution of works. A combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches was employed. The focus group interview with 16 construction managers was conducted to gather in-depth information related to practice of project knowledge management. This data was used to develop the questionnaire to explore key knowledge factors. The questionnaire was sent to 103 participants in 70 construction projects in Thailand. The survey data were analyzed by factor analytic techniques to identify key knowledge factors influencing on-site construction works. The findings showed that there were six key knowledge factors: (1) visionary leadership, (2) reward or incentive, (3) collaboration, (4) trust, (5) information technology, and (6) individual competency or skills.     

Strategic Assets Driving Organizational Capabilities of Thai Construction Firms

This research study aims to identify strategic assets which currently drive and enhance the organizational capabilities of construction firms. There were 258 sets of questionnaires assessing the level of importance given to 106 substantial resources underlying six organizational capabilities of Thai construction firms that were analyzed. Using factor analysis, these 106 items were reduced to 14, which were termed strategic assets. These 14 strategic assets were then classified based on their influence on the six organizational capabilities. The results indicate that Thai construction firms concentrate mostly on developing excellent reputation, creating strong bargaining power with suppliers and subcontractors, and strengthening the firm’s financial stability. However, they do not give much importance to effective risk and investment management, continuous development and innovation, and explicit strategic management. These findings provide in-depth insight to comprehensively understanding a Thai construction firm’s capabilities. These 14 strategic assets should thereafter be used to develop a practical tool for managers of construction firms to evaluate their firm’s strengths and weaknesses as well as to identify strategic assets required to enhance competitiveness in the market.     

Aqueous Co-precipitated spherical shape PbZrO3 nanopowders: Perovskite phase formation

The perovskite phase formation of nanocrystalline powder of lead zirconate (PbZrO₃, PZ) was investigated. The structure, phase formation and morphology of PZ powders were characterized using the X-ray diffraction technique (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope (TEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Tetragonal zirconia (t-ZrO₂) phase was found as an intermediate phase during the calcinations process, followed by the crystallization of the orthorhombic PZ phase. The change in relative amount of the residual t-ZrO₂ phase as a function of calcination temperature was estimated from the relative intensities of selected Raman peaks. From a TEM photograph, the PbZrO₃ powder was found to be spherical in shape with uniform nanosized features. The average particle size for the calcined powders was about 10.44±1.21 nm.