Editorial

Citation

Goulding, J. (2010), "Editorial", Construction Innovation, Vol. 10 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ci.2010.33310caa.001

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: Construction Innovation, Volume 10, Issue 3

The first paper by Romuald Rwamamara, Håkan Norberg, Thomas Olofsson and Ove Lagerqvist presents work which investigates how 3D and 4D visualisation technologies can be used to improve health and safety gains in the construction workplace. It charts the core construction processes, and acknowledges the importance of visualising design information at the earliest stages (in order to reduce potential construction site injuries and fatalities from the outset). In this respect, 3D, 4D and nD modelling tools are analysed as part of the holistic solution. The research methodology adopted used a combination of semi-structured interviews with five construction project planners from three construction projects in Sweden, and observations of a 4D model used in one of the three projects. The rationale of this approach was to capture the core perceptions and health and safety opportunities at the design stage (virtually) vis-à-vis hazard identification. Research findings note that visualisation tools now offer users an increased opportunity to analyse and assess design and construction information in a more holistic and robust way. For example, health and safety risks in the design process can now assimilate clash detection, work tasks sequence, workspace congestion, etc. so that alternative solutions can be sourced in order to not only reduce or eliminate rework, but also minimise heavy material handling and repetitive work which has often been linked with musculoskeletal injuries.

The second paper by Zhikun Ding and Fungfai Ng explores the complexity of knowledge in architectural design. Specifically, it investigates how architects share knowledge in practice and how architectural design institutes share organisational knowledge. This sharing of knowledge was acknowledged as being particularly important, as it encompassed such issues as reflection-in-action, mentoring, legitimate peripheral participation, communities of practice, and the concept of Guanxi. The research methodological approach adopted in this paper used multiple-case studies to identify the knowledge sharing patterns in architectural design institutes in the People’s Republic of China. Research findings identified that individual architects primarily shared knowledge by means of reflection-in-action, conversation and problem solving; whereas architectural design institutes used formal or informal mentoring, legitimate peripheral participation, communities of practice and workshops to share organisational knowledge (albeit with different knowledge-sharing patterns). This work reinforces the importance of understanding how the knowledge transference process can often transcend traditional boundaries.

The third paper by Osama Moselhi and Zafar Khan identifies the importance of labour productivity in the successful delivery of engineering, procurement and construction projects. It analyses the parameters that can often influence productivity, with specific emphasis on the key determinants associated with formwork operations (in order to quantify variations and improve the reliability of raw labour productivity data). This was achieved by capturing real time observations and input from supervisors of work on site in Canada using two construction projects. The research methodology used a five-step approach to analyse labour productivity to study the impact of a set of factors using a neural network model. These factors included: temperature, relative-humidity, wind speed, precipitation, gang size, crew composition, height of work, type of work and construction methods employed. Research findings identified that of the 21 data sets of nine factors studied, temperature was found to have the most significant impact on productivity, closely followed by height, then by the type of work. This work provides a deeper understanding into the pivotal factors that can often affect the labour productivity of formwork operations in construction.

The fourth paper by Gary Holt examines the distinct characteristics and trends associated with contractor selection between the periods circa 1990 and 2009. In this respect, it is postulated that contractor selection has attracted significant academic research endeavours in the extant literature, and the evolving nature of this is reflected upon to:

1. 1.

   understand the foci of this research;

2. 2.

   identify research drivers;

3. 3.

   tease out favoured methodological approaches;

4. 4.

   analyse the main research tools employed; and

5. 5.

   summarise the products of the research effort.

The research methodological approach adopted studied 20 years of literature in this field in order to provide a temporal transit observational window covering these five areas. Research findings identified that the main research foci was observed as: modelling the selection process; studying selection criteria; and “interrogation” of existing selection systems; and the foci justifiers were mainly linked to the “importance” and “difficulties” of selection decision making. From an approach perspective, deterministic modelling was the favoured methodological approach, followed by documentary synthesis then questionnaire surveys; and the preferred research tools were found to be system interrogation, rank order analysis, and Likert scale/importance indices. In summary, almost two-thirds of the research products were found to be selection models, with derived or proffered processes, and knowledge relating to selection criteria.

The fifth paper by Yat-Hung Chiang, Eddie W.L. Cheng and Patrick T.I. Lam examines the epistemology and determinants of capital structure decisions of building contractors in Hong Kong. This work analyses the seminal literature on capital modelling decisions to provide a deeper understanding of the factors and determinants of capital structure choice, especially, the balance between equity and risk. In this respect, the research approach adopted used a questionnaire survey to solicit Hong Kong building contractors’ (all contractors registered with the Works Branch and the Housing Authority of the Hong Kong Government) view on the predictive power of a set of financial ratios on capital structure. This was undertaken using seven proxies of capital structure regressed against five financial ratios (profitability; non-debt tax shield; tangibility; prime lending rate; and volatility of interest rate). Research findings note that both measures of long-term debts were proven to be related to “tangibility”, and that perceived growth opportunities were significantly related to three proxies of capital structure (total debt to capital, long-term debt and long-term leverage). This new insight provides a richer understanding on the optimisation of capital structure determinants, especially cognisant of other such issues which include culture, previous relationships, organisational behaviour, etc.

The final paper by Gul Polat investigates the process of allocating marketing resources to the construction domain in order to maximise returns. In this respect, the real challenge organisations typically have to face is to decide which marketing activities they should invest in; and this can be seen as a multi-objective optimisation problem with multiple obligatory and flexible goals with different priorities, interdependencies, and constraints. These issues are discussed through the extant literature, and especially through the marketing mix. The research methodological approach adopted teases out the primary marketing activities identified in seminal literature, and uses an analytic network process model to calculate the importance weights of the different marketing activities, then uses a zero-one-goal-programming model to reflect upon obligatory and flexible goals with different priorities, interdependencies and constraints (using two case studies for illustration purposes). Research findings highlighted an integrated decision support methodology as a proposed way forward, the rubrics of which are purported to be able to make “considered” and “optimised” judgements on marketing resources, along with constraints, priorities, goals and deviations.

Jack Goulding