A power‐based leadership approach to project management

The concept of leadership relates to power structuring whereby the project leader may lead and motivate through power disposition. Power, in its diverse guises, combines interpersonal and structural elements and can be enhanced through political manoeuvring. Power may also be distributed unevenly between individuals in the project team. In this article a power‐based model of project leadership is developed, underpinned by a behaviour‐performance‐outcome approach and an appropriate methodology is developed for testing the construction enterprises in China using structural equations modelling. The fitness indices show that the resulting model which postulates that the motivational function of good leadership operates through managing power gaps by means of power‐sharing and power‐amassing is acceptable. The effects (both predominant magnitudes and statistical significance) from the project managers' referent power to power‐sharing and power‐amassing show that the project manager's inherent personal traits and credentials are critical to his/her power exercising so as to motivate members to secure management effectiveness.     

A competency‐based performance model for construction project managers

The role of competency‐based performance management is growing in significance in many industries and sectors. Unlike functional competences, which measure performance against predetermined minimum occupational standards, competency‐based systems are founded on the key behavioural competencies that underlie superior levels of performance. In order to identify the key behaviours leading to performance excellence amongst construction project managers, in‐depth behavioural event interviews were used in which managers were asked to recount critical management incidents, decisions and actions from which their behavioural competencies could be identified. By delineating the sample according to their performance against a range of role‐based criteria, the competencies defining superior management performance were determined. Statistical techniques were then used to develop a model that can be used to predict likely employee performance, which was subsequently validated on a second criterion sample. The research identifies 12 core behavioural competencies that underpin effective project management performance, of which two – ‘composure’ and ‘team leadership’ – were the most predictive. The paper explores the potential role and application of the framework in the drive for performance excellence within the industry, such as in selection, management development, succession planning, performance management and team deployment. It is argued that it offers an innovative alternative to normative micro‐competence‐based approaches that do little to engender performance excellence amongst the industry's key managers and professionals.     

An integrated construction project cost information system using MS Access™ and MS Project™

The integration of time and cost management of construction projects has been recognized as the most effective way for close management. However, it has not been effectively used due to the presence of a large quantity of data with many complex interrelationships. Advanced software using current state‐of‐the‐art could be developed to solve this problem. Nevertheless, construction organizations, especially those of small to medium size, cannot afford to procure such software due to the high cost involved in development and training. Probably, the maximum capability of small to medium size contractors is to purchase general applications – spreadsheet, database, etc. – and general time planning software. Thus, a computer solution for an existing problem using general software will have a higher potential for application. In this context, research was undertaken to establish the feasibility of the use of MS Access? and MS Project? to provide an integrated time and cost management information system encompassing estimating, scheduling, cost control, resource monitoring and costing, and financial control. First, through a literature review, documentary search in contractor organizations and interviews of professionals, the requirements of such a system were identified. Second, detail procedures were established by use of standard system design procedures. Third, a data modelling was developed and a relational database was established with data transfer mechanism between database and time planning software. The research proved that an effective integrated project cost management system could be developed using MS Project? and MS Access? as an economical solution for small to medium construction organizations.     

A web‐based performance assessment system for environmental protection: WePass

In response to the increasing public concern over the effects of construction waste on the environment, a performance assessment system has been designed to provide an instant, online assessment of how well a construction site performs environmentally, e.g. measuring the level of pollution generated from a construction site. Through the use of both Internet and database technologies, it is possible to collect and present data that are essential for environmental management online. To achieve this, a set of environmental performance parameters was derived through a postal questionnaire survey and interviews with experts in the field. A conceptual framework was developed, of which the key components were: template, knowledge base, output data and benchmark group. In combination, these factors provide a system that enables speedy assessment and effective management of environmental performance on construction sites, hence prompt decisions can be made and corrective actions can be taken before potential hazards turn into real disasters.     

The study on the integrated control system for curtain wall building façade cleaning robot

Recently, with a growing number of high-rise buildings in cities, interest in building facade maintenance is increasing. The existing method of cleaning the exterior walls of existing high-rise buildings depended on the methods by workers who used ropes, gondolas, and winch systems. Recently, however, BMU (building maintenance unit) has been developed and applied to resolve safety problems and boost work efficiency. In Germany, USA, France and other countries, various types of robot systems for building façade maintenance are being applied. In South Korea, façade cleaning robots attached with curtain walls are also being developed. In this paper, we propose an integrated control system for the stable control of robots with the building façade cleaning technology. The proposed control system can be divided into three stages such as preparation stage, cleaning stage, and return stage. Each independent robot system performs tasks such as cleaning, moving, and obstacle detection according to each stage. A wireless communication system for stable communication between robots was proposed and applied for controlling the robot system. The proposed integrated control system was applied to building façade cleaning robots and its efficiency was verified compared with existing high-rise building cleaning methods.     

Towards developing competency‐based measures for project managers in mass house building projects in developing countries

Within the human resource management (HRM) genre, the identification and development of appropriate competency‐based measures is widely seen as the only viable means for validating and engendering managerial best practices. A competency‐based conceptual model is proposed towards the development of a taxonomy of project managers' (PMs') performance measures in mass house building projects (MHBPs). The model reflects elements of both performance behaviours and outcomes in predicting the performance of PMs at the construction phase of the project life cycle. Data were elicited from members of the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA), whose speciality is the construction of residential buildings, to test the validity of this conceptual model. The findings, which confirm the validity of the model, demonstrate the suitability and potential usefulness of this model for developing a competency‐based agenda towards the professional development of PMs involved in the implementation of MHBPs in developing countries, like Ghana. The model could, therefore, form the basis for curriculum development, recruitment and selection, team deployment and job matching, career development and succession planning to facilitate the achievement of managerial best practices in MHBPs.     

Can project monitoring and control be fully automated?

An extended research programme has examined over the past two decades how productivity in construction projects can be improved through the development of models for project monitoring and control, which process automatically collected data on the actual project performance. Tests that were conducted with these models demonstrate that this approach can help overcome some of the limitations of existing manual methods. However, they also indicate that certain manually obtained data are still required in addition to the automatically collected data. A framework for semi-automated project monitoring and control is proposed, in which both manually and automatically collected data can be incorporated. This framework integrates the monitoring of projects with their control by taking into account the impact on productivity of existing deviations from the planned performance, and of the controlling actions that are proposed to deal with these deviations.     

Decision‐making in a model‐based design process

Decisions early in the design process have a big impact on the life cycle performance of a building. The outcome of a construction project can be improved if different design options can rapidly be analysed to assist the client and design team in making informed decisions in the design process. A model‐based design approach can facilitate the decision‐making process if the design alternatives' performances can be evaluated and compared. A decision‐making framework using a performance‐based design process in the early design phase is proposed. It is developed to support decision‐makers to take informed decisions regarding the life cycle performance of a building. A scenario is developed in order to demonstrate the proposed framework of evaluating the different design alternatives' energy performance. The framework is applicable to decision‐making in a structured design process, where design alternatives consisting of both objective and subjective evaluation criteria can be evaluated.     

A linear‐discrete scheduling model for the resource‐constrained project scheduling problem

For some specific types of construction projects, the classical CPM or PDM scheduling techniques are not the most suitable. Few specific scheduling approaches have been developed to cope with construction projects that are made of either repetitive activities or activities with linear developments. But real‐world construction projects do not consist only of such activities. They are generally made of a mixture of linear and/or repetitive activities and of more conventional activities. To allow this, the linear scheduling problem is reformulated, so classical schedule calculation approaches can be used. The implementation of some Allen's algebra features to avoid adverse discontinuities and to allow crew/work continuity, together with a resource‐driven and space‐constrained scheduling are among the key features of the proposed approach. It is also a spin‐off of off‐the‐field practices used for scheduling real projects in the particle accelerator construction domain; an excerpt from such a construction project is provided for illustrating the methodology.     

Australian project time‐cost analysis: Statistical analysis of intertemporal trends

In statistical analysis of intertemporal movements in time–cost relationships via the Bromilow model it is shown that for Ng et al.’s (2001) Australian data, the K value is not significantly different from unity. This is utilized to develop a new and simpler ratio measure of the time–cost relationship, which has the advantage of being obtainable for each project. A scatter plot and a statistical analysis of the project ratios indicate significant yearly fluctuations but no underlying trend. Assuming similar characteristics of the data from previous studies, equivalent average ratios are estimated and plotted, confirming Ng et al.’s visual appearance of a possible downward trend. However, the statistical analysis is inconclusive on the issue, there being insufficient data (six points) for a full analysis.     

Performance evaluation of a pure oxygen‐based activated sludge system treating a combined paint industry wastewater and domestic sewage

Activated sludge system based on pure oxygen has been developed to increase the biodegradation of wastewater. This system was used for the treatment of combined wastewater from the paint industry effluent and sewage. The results of continuous test showed that it is possible to achieve 87.8–93.6% COD, and 97.7–99.2% of BOD removal resulting in an effluent quality of 55–90mg/L of COD and less than 10.0mg/L of BOD. Dissolved oxygen content through out the tank showed a concentration, ranging between 3.26 and 3.9mg/L, indicating good oxygenation in the system. Excess sludge generated in the ASP was found to be 3.0kg/d and it has a good manurial value with NPK of 112, 68 and 32mg/L, respectively. Moreover the sludge showed very good settling character with a capillary suction time of 8.0 seconds.     

A user‐based method for rating street trees

Responses to questionnaires completed by 1,174 householders who rated characteristics of their street trees were subjected to factor analysis. The most important factors were general benefits, ground disturbance, disease, safety, seasonal marking, droppings and suckers, which became the basis for scales on which each species could be scored. These scales represent an economical and coherent method which can complement simulation and expert rating systems, for describing householder opinion towards street trees.     

Payment and audit mechanisms for non private‐funded PPP‐based infrastructure maintenance projects

The introduction of a non private‐funded public–private partnerships (PPP) approach to the maintenance and operation of infrastructure facilities necessitates an equitable performance standard, a sensible penalty mechanism and a credible auditing system. Yet, with limited research on this type of scheme, it is not clear whether the payment and audit mechanisms can adequately gauge the performance of private partners and truly reflect the quality of service provided in their payment. The question is whether the reliability of the payment reduction and auditing mechanisms pertinent to the non‐private funded PPP infrastructure maintenance can be systematically verified. With reference to a case study in Hong Kong, field data have been collected and tested according to the sensitivity analysis and level of confidence. The results indicate that the level of payment reduction due to poor performance is fair and the audit frequency is adequate to reflect the overall performance of the service provider. The approaches adopted in this research should provide an objective basis for public and private partners to formulate a mutually acceptable and effective mechanism for non private‐funded PPP infrastructure maintenance contracts.     

Finance‐based CPM/LOB scheduling of projects with repetitive non‐serial activities

Projects of repetitive non‐serial activities constitute a major category of construction projects which can be scheduled more conveniently using the line of balance (LOB) technique. Generally, scheduling activities such that the expenditures are always in balance with the available cash is a must to devise financially feasible schedules. The objective is to integrate a CPM/LOB model for a project of repetitive non‐serial activities with a cash flow model and utilize the integrated model to devise financially feasible schedules. The genetic algorithms (GAs) technique is employed to maximize the profit at the end of the project under the constraints of available cash. The optimization of the integrated models was demonstrated using an example project of 15 activities carried out at five units. The CPM/LOB model was validated against the results of a dynamic programming model in the literature and further by conducting a sensitivity analysis of the results of the integrated model. Finally, the model offers an effective financial planning tool for projects of repetitive non‐serial activities.     

By‐products formation in catalytic combustion of aromatic compounds over a pt‐based catalyst

By‐products formation in the catalytic combustion of different aromatic compounds has been experimentally investigated. A commercial Pt‐based catalyst, in the shape of a short monolith, has been employed. Toluene, styrene, o‐xylene and cumene have been tested at low concentrations for conversions in the range 5–50%. The results confirm the formation of benzene in the combustion of toluene and styrene, as previously observed by other researchers, but in a very small amount; testing cumene, significant amounts of acetone have been found in the outlet flow. Some hypothesis about the reaction mechanism are put forward.     

Influence of process performance during the construction stage on achieving end‐project goals

Within a project environment, good process performance can be seen as indicative of eventual success of achieving end‐project goals. A model is proposed for identifying the links between process performance during construction and end‐project goals. The model is developed using process mapping technique to identify a number of process‐based key performance indicators (KPIs) designed for use in controlling process performance in the construction stage. These KPIs were then linked to generic project goals to measure the perceived degree of influence of process performance on the achievement of end‐project goals. The strength of these links within the model was established through a number of in‐depth interviews with respondents. Analysis of the results using methods of ranking and statistics has shown that some processes are perceived to have stronger relationships with the end‐project goals than others. The proposed process‐based KPIs hence offer an opportunity for control of the processes during the construction stage and eventually to influence the projects’ outcomes. In addition to the management of project time and cost, the model provides a broader focus of control that includes other multiple aspects such as the management of interactions between internal and external stakeholders as well as of information and quality management.     

Enabling discovery‐based learning in construction using telepresent augmented reality

Construction engineering students often complain about the lack of engagement and interaction with the learning environment. Notwithstanding, many instructors still rely on traditional teaching methods which include the use of chalkboard, handouts, and computer presentations that are often filled with many words and few visual elements. Research shows that these teaching techniques are considered almost obsolete by a many students specially those who are visual learners or team workers. Also, the influence of visual and social media has changed student perceptions and how they expect the instructional materials to be presented in a classroom setting. This paper presents an innovative pedagogical tool that uses remote videotaping, augmented reality (AR), and ultra-wide band (UWB) locationing to bring live videos of remote construction jobsites to the classroom, create an intuitive interface for students to interact with the objects in the video scenes, and visually deliver location-aware instructional materials to them.     

The work‐life experiences of office and site‐based employees in the Australian construction industry

A survey was conducted among employees of a large Australian construction firm. Comparisons were made between employees who differed by gender and work location. Male employees in site‐based roles reported significantly higher levels of work to family conflict and emotional exhaustion than male employees who worked in the regional or head office. Site‐based male employees were also less satisfied with their pay than male respondents who worked in the regional of head office. Few significant differences were found between women who worked in different locations. Neither were significant differences between men and women who worked in the same location reported. The results are explained in terms of women's tendency to work in administrative, secretarial or support services roles, which typically demand fewer hours. The paper concludes that the experiences of site‐based construction employees, particularly men, warrant further attention to explore the sources of work‐life imbalance and burnout.