Major challenges to the successful implementation and practice of programme management in the construction environment: A critical analysis

For the construction industry to survive the current turbulence in the economic atmosphere, it has the option of integrating new initiatives to march the uncertainties. Programme management is seen as an efficient vehicle to successfully deliver the improvements and changes. However, the implementation of any new system or change initiatives has always been a challenging task; some of these challenges can be faced during the implementation or at practice stage. Programme management is not exempt from such challenges, in order to successfully implement and practice programme management, the knowledge of the major challenges associated to effective implementation and practice should not be left to serendipity or sagacity. Due to the lack of clarity surrounding programme management in the construction industry, the understanding of these major challenges remains vague. To provide a deeper insight into the major challenges to implementation and practice of construction programme management, this paper conducts both a pragmatic and theoretical study by triangulating literature, industrial questionnaire survey and semi-structured interviews. The research was conducted in the UK construction industry and other programme management sectors to analyse and exploit the knowledge of these challenges for effective implementation and practice of construction programmes. A total of 119 usable questionnaires were received and 17 semi-structured interviews were conducted, analysed and synthesised to provide a broader view on the major challenges and how to effectively implement and practice construction programmes.     

A survey of current cost estimating practices in the UK

The results are documented of an investigation into current cost estimating practices of contractors for construction projects. A questionnaire survey of contractors was undertaken, in which the respondents are classified into four groups based on their turnover namely: very small, small, medium and large firms. The survey indicates that contractors, irrespective of size, continue to undertake cost estimating predominantly for construction planning purposes, including the preparation of tenders and cost control of projects during the execution stage and, to a lesser extent, for construction project evaluation. Recent developments in cost estimating methods and tools that consider risks and variability in cost estimates, such as the use of range estimating and parametric estimating techniques, have not been adopted by contractors. The practice of cost estimating does not differ from conventional techniques based on the use of labour and material constants to obtain prices for bills of quantities items on an item by item basis. The study shows that the major causes of inaccuracy in cost estimating continue to be the lack of practical knowledge of the construction process by those responsible for the estimating function, insufficient time to prepare cost estimates, poor tender documentation and the wide variability of subcontractors' prices.     

Profitability of UK construction contractors

This paper describes three analyses to examine differences in construction company POT profitability between (1) different financial years and (2) different sizes of companies. In the first analysis, the aggregated profitability of a sample of 80 UK general contractors was found not to differ significantly from 3.23% for each year of the period examined. The size (turnover) of companies, however, was significantly and positively correlated with profitability. The second analysis, of a sub-sample of eight very large companies, showed that profitability enhancement was associated with diversification into house building and other related activities. The third analysis, of 110 speculative house builders, showed profit margins to be around four times those of general contractors but uncorrelated with company size. Systematic changes were found, however, over the period involved.

In all cases, the variability of profitability between companies was found to reduce with company size, implying a greater consistency in the financial performance of larger companies.     

Achieving best value in private finance initiative project procurement

The wherewithal of achieving best value in private finance initiative (PFI) projects and the associated problems therein are documented. In the UK, PFI has offered a solution to the problem of securing necessary investment at a time of severe public expenditure restraint. In PFI schemes, the public sector clients must secure value for money, while the private sector service providers must genuinely assume responsibility for project risks. A broad‐based investigation into PFI risk management informs the discussion in this paper. It is based on 68 interviews with PFI participants and a case study of eight PFI projects. The research participants comprised of contractors, financial institutions, public sector clients, consultants and facilities management organizations. The qualitative software Atlas.ti was used to analyse the textual data generated. The analysis showed that the achievement of best value requirements through PFI should hinge on: detailed risk analysis and appropriate risk allocation, drive for faster project completion, curtailment in project cost escalation, encouragement of innovation in project development, and maintenance cost being adequately accounted for. Factors that continue to challenge the achievement of best value are: high cost of the PFI procurement process, lengthy and complex negotiations, difficulty in specifying the quality of service, pricing of facility management services, potential conflicts of interests among those involved in the procurement, and the public sector clients' inability to manage consultants.     

Pattern of dietary intake and consumption of street foods among Nigerian students

We have previously shown that the level of nerve growth factor (NGF) undergoes significant changes in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Multiple Sclerosis and in the brain of rats affected by Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis (EAE). The functional significance of the endogenous disregulation of NGF is not known, though recent studies seem to suggest that NGF might be associated with the ability of oligodendrocytes (OLs) to produce and/or utilise NGF. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate whether NGF is involved in the development and differentiation of cells of the subventricular zone (SVz) which arbors undifferentiated cells that can give rise to OLs. The results show that NGF injected into the brain of developing rats and of rats affected by EAE is retrogradely transported from the SVz to the brain parenchyma. These findings suggest that during the early phase of brain development and during EAE, NGF, along with other growth factors, is implicated in growth and/or differentiation of OLs and in protecting neuronal injury. The possible functional role of NGF in these events has been discussed.     

Macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) regulates the expression of fibronectin and its alpha5 integrin receptor in human trophoblasts

Macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF, CSF-1) is secreted by human trophoblasts as well as endometrial cells, while its receptor c-fms is abundantly expressed by the extravillous trophoblasts anchoring the placenta to the uterus, suggesting a role for M-CSF at the maternal-fetal interface. We investigated the effect of M-CSF on the expression of fibronectin and its receptor, the alpha5 integrin, in human trophoblasts. Exposure of trophoblasts to M-CSF produced a two to three-fold increase in fibronectin and alpha5 mRNA abundance at both 24 and 72 hours of culture. A dose-dependent increase in cellular fibronectin secretion into the culture medium was detected at both time points. Immunocytochemistry showed co-localization of cellular fibronectin and alpha5 in the cells, suggesting that attachment of trophoblasts to fibronectin is mediated in part by the alpha5beta1 integrin. We conclude that M-CSF increases fibronectin expression and secretion by the human trophoblasts, and up-regulates its specific receptor, the alpha5 integrin. We hypothesize that M-CSF may partake in the autocrine/paracrine mechanisms regulating trophoblast invasion during implantation.