JournalTOCs

Journal of Construction Business and Management
Number of Followers: 4

This is an Open Access Journal

Open Access journal
ISSN (Online) 2521-0165
Published by U of Cape Town

[3 journals]

Editorial
- Authors: Abimbola Windapo
  Abstract: Welcome to the ninth issue of the Journal of Construction Business and Management. Globally, poor project performance has become an area of concern to researchers, construction practitioners and policymakers. The lack of understanding of the factors causing poor project performance is responsible for developing appropriate management strategies to address the problem. Achieving the successful completion of construction projects remain a pressing goal. Several approaches have emerged proposed to construct quicker, greener, sustainable, affordable buildings and infrastructure with better quality and low environmental impact. However, the problem of poor project performance persists. This journal edition presents scholarly discussions on theoretical and empirical challenges confronting practitioners and enterprises in the construction industry. The intention is to understand the practice and theoretical lens used in its explanation or interpretation. This journal edition covers the following subjects: quality management practices, environmental waste management practices, unethical practices, positive organisational behaviour, occupational eustress, theft and vandalism. The issue contains five articles written by twelve scholars based in Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa and the United Kingdom. The first article by Odiba, Demain and Ruikar (2021) develops a contextual model for improving the culture of quality that can facilitate effective quality management practices in construction organisations. The designed model is a quality system that construction organisations can use in identifying some typical barriers hindering effective Quality Management System (QMS) implementation; assisting in the development of cultural values that can drive effective QMS implementation; undertaking effective QMS practices as they relate to construction and recognising the potential results and longer-term benefits obtainable from implementing effective QMS. The second article by Oladiran, Bayewun and Aderogba (2021) investigates the environmental waste management practices (EWMPs) of contractors on construction sites. Construction wastes pose challenges to contractors and clients on construction projects globally, with significant consequences on the environment. Contractors were aware of material storage strategies, ordering the exact amount of materials and checking deliveries properly. Based on these findings, the study recommends that construction firms, governments, and institutions involved in regulating the sector should sponsor the training of professionals on the various EWMPs towards improving their awareness. The causes of quackery in quantity surveying practice are examined in the paper by Dada and Bamigboye (2021). The article highlights that the reasons for quackery in quantity surveying practice are multidimensional and can be narrowed down to unethical practices, client engagement, job security, regulatory and issues related to corruption. The fourth paper by Ogwueleka and Ikediashi (2021) assesses the effects of positive organisational behaviour (POB) constructs on eustress amongst construction employees based on the rationale that organisational behaviour has been characterised by negativity than positively. The study focuses on identifying the areas that can propel positive mental health among construction employees to improve their performances and increase work productivity. Five constructs of POB models and five parameters of eustress that have a significant influence on eustress were identified and outlined in the paper. The phenomenon of theft and vandalism on construction job sites in Sub-Saharan Africa has not been fully explored to guarantee the implementation of evidence-based security management practices to minimise losses and improve projects' profitability margins. The fifth paper by Simukonda and Kamwela (2021) investigated the management of theft and vandalism by large contractors to identify implementation issues that need improvement. The study found that the key security management practices used on construction sites include inventorying construction materials, tools and equipment, termination of employment for offenders, and reporting theft and vandalism to enforcement agencies. I thank all authors who submitted papers for consideration. I also value the contributions and unrelenting efforts of the JCBM editorial board members and panel of reviewers in ensuring that manuscripts are of high quality and keeping the journal on the path to attaining the expected standard and quality. Finally, these articles should help inspire new ethical, waste and security management practices. As ever, if there is something you would like to share with us, compliments, criticisms, feedback and suggestions on how to improve the quality of the journal, don't hesitate to get in touch. Abimbola Windapo PhD Editor-in-chief
  PubDate: 2021-12-10
  DOI: 10.15641/jcbm.5.1.1155
  Issue No: Vol. 5, No. 1 (2021)
Development of a Conceptual Framework for Effective Quality Management
Practices in Construction Organisations
- Authors: E Odiba, P Demian, K Ruikar
  Pages: 1 - 16
  Abstract: Effective quality management practices are critical to successful project delivery. However, the quality challenges in developing countries such as Nigeria, which is the focus of this research, have been a concern to construction practitioners and other interested parties such as clients and regulatory bodies. Some scholars suggest that part of these challenges can be attributed to ineffective quality management systems; thus, leading to consequences such as building collapse, poor organisational/industry reputation, poor/lack of traceability, poor documentation process, and lack of planned audit. This research aims to develop a contextual model that is intended to improve the culture of quality that can facilitate effective quality management practices in construction organisations in Nigeria. A mixed (quantitative and qualitative) methodological approach was deployed based on a pragmatic research philosophy paradigm. A questionnaire (quantitative) survey was adopted to gather data and results from the data analysis and reviewed literature were discussed, and the findings supported the development of a conceptual quality management model in construction as the outcome of this research. The designed model comprises eight integrated components. The model is a quality system that construction organisations can use: to identify some typical barriers hindering effective QMSs implementation; to assist them to develop cultural values that can drive effective QMSs implementation; to undertake effective QMSs practices as they relate to construction, and to recognise the potential results and longer-term benefits obtainable from implementing effective QMSs. The model was evaluated and validated by professional construction practitioners and academic experts for its usefulness and applicability. Future study should focus on the practical validation of the model. Keywords: ISO 9001; Quality Management Practices; Quality Management System.
  PubDate: 2021-06-07
  DOI: 10.15641/jcbm.5.1.922
  Issue No: Vol. 5, No. 1 (2021)
Awareness and Usage of Environmental Waste Management Practices (EWMP) of
Contractors on construction sites.
- Authors: O. J. Oladiran, A. A. Bayewun, A. M. Aderogba
  Pages: 17 - 27
  Abstract: Construction wastes pose challenges to contractors and clients of construction projects globally, with significant negative consequences on the environment. This study investigates the environmental waste management practices (EWMPs) of contractors on construction sites. The objectives are to determine the level of awareness and adoption of EWMPs. The population of the study was construction professionals on sites in Lagos State, Nigeria. Random sampling technique was used to select 63 companies out of the 126 construction companies in categories C, D and E of firms registered with Lagos State Public Procurement Agency. The targeted respondents were construction professionals in the selected companies. Questionnaires were used to collect data from respondents. Descriptive statistics tools, including mean, percentage and frequency were used for analysis. The study's findings reveal that contractors are aware of about 28 out of the 47 EWMPs identified from literature. These include good site materials storage, ordering exact amount of materials and checking deliveries properly. It also reveals the strategies that are not used as belonging to material exchange/recyclers' association, polluter pays principle, usage of self-contained mini or mobile concrete crusher. It is concluded that although contractors are aware of 28 EWMPs, 26 EWMPs are used on construction sites which are 60% and 55%, respectively. It implies that awareness determines the usage of the EWMPs. The implication is that if the awareness of EWMPs is increased, the implementation among construction contractors will be improved. It is therefore recommended that professionals should increase their awareness and usage of neglected EWMPs. This can be achieved through construction firms, governments and institutions sponsoring training of professionals on EWMPs. Additionally, polluter pays principle and recyclers’ association should be enforced in project implementations. This can be achieved through government legislation and government regulatory policies for project procurements.
  Keywords: Awareness; Best practices; Construction sites; Nigeria; Waste management.
  PubDate: 2021-06-07
  DOI: 10.15641/jcbm.5.1.924
  Issue No: Vol. 5, No. 1 (2021)
Diagnosing the Causes of Quackery in Quantity Surveying Practice in Lagos
State, Nigeria
- Authors: J. O. Dada, G. O. Bamigboye
  Pages: 28 - 37
  Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to examine the causes of quackery in quantity surveying practice to address the menace for enhanced service delivery. Using survey research design, primary data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaires on quantity surveyors in the 125 registered quantity surveying firms in Lagos State, Nigeria. The respondents were asked to rate the identified 34 causes of quackery in quantity surveying practice on a 5-point Likert scale. The elicited data were analysed using mean score analysis. Factor analysis was, after that, used to explore and detect the underlying relationship among the identified variables and categorise them into key factors. The results of the mean score statistics identified 32 important causes of quackery in quantity surveying practice, with the four most important ones being an unwillingness to seek professional advice and consultation, unwillingness to pay for professional services, lack of effective systems of punishment for quacks and inadequate monitoring by the quantity surveying professional association and regulatory body. It was concluded that the causes of quackery in quantity surveying are multidimensional and can be narrowed down to unethical practices, client engagement, job security, regulatory and corruption-related issues. The identified causes of quackery in quantity surveying practice will be useful in formulating policy and serve as future research agenda towards eradicating the menace and engendering an enhanced service delivery. Keywords: Causes of quackery; Nigeria; Quackery; Quantity surveying; Service delivery.
  PubDate: 2021-07-04
  DOI: 10.15641/jcbm.5.1.950
  Issue No: Vol. 5, No. 1 (2021)
Exploring the effects of positive organizational behaviour (POB) models on
occupational eustress amongst construction employees
- Authors: A. C. Ogwueleka, D. I. Ikediashi
  Pages: 38 - 46
  Abstract: The general perspective of organizational behaviour (OB) has been characterized more by negativity than positively. The introduction of a positive approach into OB is known as positive organizational behaviour (POB), which focuses on employees' positive emotions and strengths to enable them to thrive and reinforce the organization. The study assesses the effects of POB constructs on eustress amongst construction employees in Nigeria. Data were collected from 326 respondents practising in the construction firms using a quantitative survey and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential surveys, including structural equation modelling (SEM). The study identified five constructs of POB models and five parameters of eustress that have a significant influence on eustress. The study focuses on identifying the areas that can propel positive mental health among construction employees to improve their performances and increase work productivity. Therefore, it recommends that construction stakeholders should consider adopting company policies that can drive their implementations. Keywords: Construction employees, distress, occupational eustress, positive organizational behaviour delivery.
  PubDate: 2021-10-03
  DOI: 10.15641/jcbm.5.1.1041
  Issue No: Vol. 5, No. 1 (2021)
The Management of Theft and Vandalism on Construction Jobsites in the
Southern Region of Malawi
- Authors: W. SIMUKONDA, N. Kamwela
  Pages: 47 - 59
  Abstract: The phenomenon of theft and vandalism on construction job sites in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has not been fully explored to guarantee the implementation of evidence-based security management practices (SMPs) to minimise losses and improve projects' profitability margins. This study investigated the management of theft and vandalism by large contractors in the Southern Region of Malawi to identify implementation issues that need improvement. A quantitative approach using an empirical survey-based questionnaire was adopted. 44 SMPs identified from the literature review were tested by data collected from a sample survey of 40 large contractors in the Southern Region of Malawi. The descriptive statistical method of mean score ranking was used to analyse the data through IBM Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Among the five-point Likert scale agreement measurements used, 11 SMPs were found to be "always used", 12 SMPs "often used", 15 SMPs "sometimes used", and six SMPs "rarely used". Overall, the top three highly ranked SMPs (in descending order) were inventorying construction materials, tools and equipment, termination of employment for offenders, and reporting theft and vandalism to enforcement agencies. Contrariwise, the use of closed-circuit television (CCTV), alarm systems and access control systems (ACS) was the least ranked SMPs. The contractors’ management improvements for theft and vandalism would need to focus on implementing proactive anti-theft and anti-vandalism SMPs whose choice should be informed by comprehensive Jobsite security risk assessment. Dissemination of the results may help contractors understand their security management strategies and implement practical solutions for curbing theft and vandalism on job sites to minimise its endemic effect on contractors’ financial performance. Keywords: Theft and Vandalism; Security management practices; Likert scale; Malawi.
  PubDate: 2021-11-16
  DOI: 10.15641/jcbm.5.1.1072
  Issue No: Vol. 5, No. 1 (2021)