Critical analysis of pandemic impact on AEC organizations: the COVID-19 case
Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology
ISSN: 1726-0531
Article publication date: 11 August 2021
Issue publication date: 3 January 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the interrelationships between COVID-19 pandemic impact and architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) organizations. To achieve that aim, the objectives are to: identify the critical pandemic impact (CPI) of COVID-19 on AEC organizations; compare the CPI between the different organization characteristics; and analyze the interrelationships between the CPI.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review of 519 articles and in-depth interviews with 40 AEC practitioners were carried out, yielding 12 COVID-19 impacts. Then, data on the 12 impact’s criticality were collected through a survey among AEC practitioners. In total, 127 valid responses were received and analyzed using mean ranking analysis, analysis of variance and Spearman’s correlation. The findings were also compared with pandemic impacts from prior works.
Findings
Five CPI exist among the 12 impacts, namely, “reduced construction productivity,” “reduced foreign investment in the construction industry,” “reduced demand on construction-related works,” “disruption in the supply chain” and “reduced number of public projects.” “Reduced foreign investment in the construction industry” and “reduced demand on construction-related works” significantly impact small-medium enterprises than large enterprises. Also, “disruption in the supply chain” and “reduced construction productivity” are recurring impacts in all countries compared. Finally, moderate relationships exist between “reduced foreign investment in the construction industry” and “reduced demand on construction-related works” and “disruption in the supply chain” and “reduced construction productivity.”
Originality/value
The findings can be used to prioritize available resources in developing short-term responses for COVID-19. Also, action plans can be developed to mitigate the CPI from recurring.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia, through the Post COVID-19 Special Research Grant Scheme [RDU200705]. The authors would like to thank the editors and anonymous reviewers whose invaluable comments and suggestions substantially improved the paper. The authors are also thankful to the industry practitioners that participated in this work.
Citation
King, S.S., Rahman, R.A., Fauzi, M.A. and Haron, A.T. (2022), "Critical analysis of pandemic impact on AEC organizations: the COVID-19 case", Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 358-383. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-04-2021-0225
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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