Even with advanced technology and new project management methodologies, construction company leaders continue to face challenges to improve labor productivity. This multiple case study was an exploration of the strategies that construction company leaders use to improve labor productivity in Doha, Qatar. The case population consisted of 6 construction company leaders operating in Doha, Qatar, who successfully identified and implemented strategies to improve labor productivity. The conceptual framework for this study was the expectancy theory. The data collection process included semistructured interviews and company documentation. Data were compiled and organized, disassembled into fragments, reassembled into a sequence of groups, and interpreted for meaning. Methodological triangulation and member checking bolstered the trustworthiness of those interpretations. Five themes emerged from these 6 construction company leaders: exploring, identifying, and evaluating issues affecting labor productivity; applying an appropriate leadership style; motivating the workforce; providing training and development; and implementing effective project management processes. By improving labor productivity, similar construction companies can complete construction projects faster and with lower construction costs. The implications for positive social change include the potential to lower construction costs and enable individuals with lower incomes in Doha, Qatar, to afford houses that they could not previously afford.

Every business involves risk, but due to its nature, construction business involves more risk than many other industries. Therefore, risk assessment is indispensable to the success of construction companies in terms of, preventing dramatic financial losses. When the decision process for expanding the operations in the international construction market is concerned, it becomes more important for companies to analyze the risk of the target country. For this reason, construction firms benefit from many different risk assessment methods. Contractors prevalent practice of risk assessment is identifying related risks and making an evaluation relying on their personal judgments (without substantial explicit support), but none of the applied methods is construction specific. To overcome this, a construction specific country Risk Breakdown Structure (RBS) is prepared. While preparing this construction specific RBS, not only macro level country risks but also market risks for construction are considered in order to reflect the real risks of performing construction business in foreign countries. Consequently, a tentative country RBS specific for construction industry is constructed and its reliability is tested by interviews carried out with six professionals from four Turkish construction companies operating in international markets. After finalization of the RBS, utilization method of practical aspects of RBS is questioned by interviewing the experts. Finally, a case study is conducted to propose a company-specific system for iv the implementation of RBS. The case study findings demonstrate the applicability of RBS and its potential as a systematic country risk assessment tool.

Rapporten har ett fokus på Byggnads Informations Modeller (BIM), ett IT-tekniskt verktyg och arbetssätt som har vuxit fram i byggbranschen alltmer under de senaste åren. Hur detta IT-verktyg används hos medelstora byggentreprenadföretag redovisas i denna rapport.Syftet med rapporten är att verka positivt på utvecklingen mot effektivare och resurssnålare arbetsprocesser inom byggbranschen genom att bidra med kunskap om hur användandet av BIM ser ut bland dessa företag, varför det ser ut som det gör, ifall BIM behövs och vad som kan förändra läget i någon riktning.Metodarbetet har bestått av litteraturstudier och intervjuundersökningar.Arbetet inleddes med studier av rapporter och texter relaterade till BIM och intervjuer med representanter för ledande branschföretag inom bygg samt ett par branschorganisationer med inriktning på BIM. Därefter följde ytterligare litteraturstudier med inriktning på förändring och förändringsarbete och enkät och intervjuteknik. Arbetet ledde fram till olika grundteser och förklaringsmodeller som låg till grund för och utformade de intervjufrågor som ställdes vid huvudintervjuerna med elva medelstora byggentreprenadföretag.Huvudintervjuerna gav ett resultat som visade att företagen generellt sett såg på BIM som något positivt, med fördelar såsom lättare kommunikation och som ett hjälpmedel att minska fel i produktionen. Resultatet visade även att det fanns utmaningar såsom mjukvarukompabilitet och en beroendeproblematik mellan projektets involverade parter som innebar att för att tekniken ska kunna ge fördelar måste alla parter använda tekniken.Förklaringarna till det låga användandet bland medelstora byggentreprenadföretag var flera, vanligast var brist på krav från beställarna. Förklaringarna var också avsaknad av behov, kostsamma investeringar, konkurrerande målsättningar, kompabilitetsproblem med mjukvaror och avsaknad av kunskap om BIM.För att gynna en större användning föreslås att tekniska hinder elimineras genom standardisering och utveckling av arbetssättet och mjukvaran rörande BIM, det föreslås också att konkurrerande målsättningar elimineras genom kunskapsspridning om BIM i branschen, både hos entreprenörerna, -för att främja god utbildning så att personalen vill arbeta med tekniken, och hos beställare, -så att de börjar efterfråga BIM och därigenom ger tekniken konkurrensfördelar. / The report has a focus on Building Information Models (BIM), an IT-technical tool- and workmethod that have emerged increasingly in the construction industry in recent years. How this IT tool is used in medium-sized building construction companies is presented in this report.The purpose of the report is to promote positive development towards more efficient and resource-efficient work processes in the construction industry by providing knowledge on how the use of BIM exists among these companies, why it is the way it is, if BIM is needed and what can change the current status in any direction.The work-method has consisted of literature studies and interview surveys.The work began with studies of reports and texts related to BIM and interviews with representatives of leading construction industry companies and a couple of industry organizations with focus on BIM. This was followed by continued literary studies focused on change and change management, survey and interview techniques. This work led to various basic theories and explanatory models as the basis for and the design of the interview questions asked at the main interviews.The main interviews was conducted with eleven medium-sized building construction companies and gave a result that showed that companies generally looked at BIM as something positive with advantages such as easier communication and as a means to reduce errors in production. The result also brought some light to the fact that there existed challenges like software compatibility and dependency between the parties involved in the project, which means that for the technology to be able to provide wanted benefits all parties involved have to use the workmethod.The reasons for the low usage among medium sized construction contractors was several, the most common was the lack of demands of the clients. The reasons were also the absence of need, costly investments, competing objectives, compatibility issues with software and lack of knowledge of BIM.In order to promote a greater usage of BIM it is proposed that the technical obstacles are eliminated through standardization and development of the processing method and software, it is also proposed that the competing objectives are eliminated by spreading and increasing knowledge of BIM in the industry, both amongst entrepreneurs, -to promote good staff training so that the staff will want to work with the technology, and amongst construction clients, -so that they start asking for BIM and thereby provide the technology with a competitive edge.

Identifying and prioritising effective service delivery drivers' in selected civil construction companies are more than merely satisfying customers' need. By successfully identifying and prioritising effective service delivery drivers within the selected civil construction companies, the companies will be able to achieve competitive advantage above their competitors. This study, by using a questionnaire as a measurement instrument, established that a gap currently exist between what civil construction companies, their employees and their customers regards as effective service delivery drivers within the civil construction industry. By closing this gap, the civil construction companies will be able to generate or maximise profits for their shareholders as there will be common understanding of the level of performance to meet the customer's expectations. The company will also have engaged employees as they would know what is expected from them on a daily basis. The study further highlights the benefits of managing these identified service delivery drivers and elaborate on the factors needed to successfully manage a service level agreement between a civil construction company and their customers. Civil construction companies however will have to revisit these drivers on a continuous basis as client satisfaction is associated with continuous improvement, permanent assessment of service delivery drivers and the service delivery standards. In essence, there are still a lot of challenges and opportunities when it comes to quality service delivery drivers in the civil construction industry. Each company needs to conduct a SWOT analysis to evaluate their competitiveness within the industry. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Identifying and prioritising effective service delivery drivers' in selected civil construction companies are more than merely satisfying customers' need. By successfully identifying and prioritising effective service delivery drivers within the selected civil construction companies, the companies will be able to achieve competitive advantage above their competitors. This study, by using a questionnaire as a measurement instrument, established that a gap currently exist between what civil construction companies, their employees and their customers regards as effective service delivery drivers within the civil construction industry. By closing this gap, the civil construction companies will be able to generate or maximise profits for their shareholders as there will be common understanding of the level of performance to meet the customer's expectations. The company will also have engaged employees as they would know what is expected from them on a daily basis. The study further highlights the benefits of managing these identified service delivery drivers and elaborate on the factors needed to successfully manage a service level agreement between a civil construction company and their customers. Civil construction companies however will have to revisit these drivers on a continuous basis as client satisfaction is associated with continuous improvement, permanent assessment of service delivery drivers and the service delivery standards. In essence, there are still a lot of challenges and opportunities when it comes to quality service delivery drivers in the civil construction industry. Each company needs to conduct a SWOT analysis to evaluate their competitiveness within the industry. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

近年來房價持續攀升，政府決定實施特種貨物及勞務稅條例以降低投機買賣之行為，達到防止房價泡沫化，平抑房價之目的。為探討資本市場對該條例之預期，本論文首先以事件研究探討特種貨物及勞務稅條例消息公布之際，上市櫃建設公司是否產生負的累積異常報酬率，並採用迴歸模型探討公司特性與該公司受特種貨物及勞務稅條例影響幅度的關聯性。本論文進而透過對上市櫃建設公司營業收入及營業毛利率在特種貨物及勞務稅條例消息公布後是否產生不利影響之探討，了解特種貨物及勞務稅條例消息公布對建設公司銷售面之實質影響，最後採用迴歸模型探討公司特性與建設公司銷售面受影響幅度之關聯性。 本研究研究結果發現： 1、在特種貨物及勞務稅條例消息公布之相關事件日，上市櫃建設公司普遍均產生顯著的負向股票異常報酬率。 2、股票累積異常報酬率與公司特性關聯性之迴歸結果顯示，研議及開徵特種貨物及勞務稅消息公布之事件日，存貨比率較高、公司規模較大、公司成長性較高之上市櫃建設公司，其累積異常報酬率較低。 3、在特種貨物及勞務稅條例消息公布後，上市櫃建設公司之營業收入產生不利影響，但對營業毛利率並無顯著之不利影響。 / In order to curb the housing price hike and prevent housing bubble, Taiwan government implemented the Specifically Selected Goods and Services Tax Act. The Act is expected to have negative impacts on stock market returns of construction companies and real estate market. Using event study method, this study examines the stock market reactions to the announcements of the legislature policy. This study explores the relation between the stock cumulative abnormal returns (CAR) of the Act and firm characteristics. This study finds that the stock market reacts negatively when the news of the Act are released. The regression results indicate when the news of the Act are released, for construction companies, CARs are negatively related with inventory-to-total assets ratio, corporate size and growth. This study also finds the construction companies’ revenue reflected the negative impacts on real estate market.

Submitted by Bruna Rodrigues (bruna92rodrigues@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-09-30T14:08:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissISMR.pdf: 5225633 bytes, checksum: 3964aaa110c5fcc9937a9703d753f179 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-04T18:50:45Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissISMR.pdf: 5225633 bytes, checksum: 3964aaa110c5fcc9937a9703d753f179 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-04T18:50:51Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissISMR.pdf: 5225633 bytes, checksum: 3964aaa110c5fcc9937a9703d753f179 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-04T18:50:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissISMR.pdf: 5225633 bytes, checksum: 3964aaa110c5fcc9937a9703d753f179 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08-25 / Não recebi financiamento / In the current globalized world, the market is characterized by the high competitiveness, easy access to information and high consumer demand. The analysis of the impacts of lean office application to the supply unit on a construction company is very relevant, considering that companies focused on the civil construction area depend for consolidation of their businesses, efficient management strategies and suppliers of materials and services, external to their organization. The use of lean office as a management tool in the purchasing department of construction companies offers a competitive advantage amid the current market situation. Thereby, this study seeks to clearly conceptualize the lean philosophy and its tools as well as the management of the information systems and also the management of the supply chain, among other aspects. One construction company was then selected for the design research. This company contributes with information for the accomplishment of this work. The method used in this dissertation consists in describing the company, drawing the preliminary map of the supply unit, from this, it was possible to draw up the value stream map in the present state. With this map it could be analyzed and proposing improvements in the production process and then, designed a value stream map in the future state, applying these enhancements. The results led to the identification of flaws and possible opportunities for management improvements in the company. / No atual contexto globalizado o mercado é caracterizado pela alta competitividade, fácil acesso às informações e elevada exigência do consumidor. A análise dos impactos da aplicação do lean office na unidade de suprimentos de uma construtora, é de alta relevância, visto que empresas voltadas à área da construção civil dependem, para consolidação dos seus empreendimentos, de estratégias de gestão eficientes e de fornecedores de materiais e serviços externos à sua organização. Sendo assim, a utilização do lean office, como ferramenta gerencial na unidade de compras, oferece às empresas construtoras uma vantagem competitiva em meio à presente situação do mercado. O presente trabalho procurou conceituar a filosofia enxuta e suas ferramentas, o gerenciamento dos sistemas de informação e a gestão do setor de suprimentos, entre outros aspectos. A partir destes, buscou-se uma empresa construtora para realizar uma pesquisa-ação. Esta construtora contribuiu com informações necessárias para realizar esta dissertação. O método utilizado nesta dissertação consiste em descrever a empresa, desenhar o mapa preliminar da unidade de suprimentos e a partir deste elaborar o mapa de fluxo de valor presente para a unidade, analisando-o e propondo melhorias em seu processo de produção. Em seguida criar um mapa de fluxo de valor no estado futuro, aplicando estes aprimoramentos. Os resultados levaram à identificação das falhas e das possíveis oportunidades de melhorias de gestão na empresa estudada.

Nos últimos anos, a discussão sobre a implementação do conceito de modelagem da informação da construção tem permanecido nas pautas das empresas do setor da construção civil em todo o mundo; no entanto, no cenário brasileiro, o descompasso entre a estratégia setorial e as iniciativas individuais de algumas empresas tem chamado a atenção. Partindo do princípio de que o conceito de modelagem da informação da construção, em função do seu caráter de inovação tecnológica, carrega consigo a necessidade de mudanças, a reflexão e adaptações sobre os diversos processos que permeiam a produção dos empreendimentos de construção torna-se fundamental. Nesse contexto, o objetivo desta tese é propor um conjunto de Diretrizes para Gestão do Processo de Projeto em Empresas Incorporadoras e Construtoras. As Diretrizes estão pautadas na necessidade de definir o projeto como um processo estratégico, inserindo a sua gestão como elemento fundamental para a facilitação e integração do fluxo de informações no âmbito do empreendimento. Para a concretização do objetivo da tese, realizaram-se Estudos de Caso em empresas Incorporadoras e Construtoras brasileiras com o objetivo de diagnosticar as práticas vigentes de gestão do processo de projeto. Em paralelo, conduziu-se a reflexão sobre as responsabilidades do gestor do processo de projeto no âmbito da modelagem por meio de Grupos de Foco envolvendo gestores do processo de projeto e especialistas em tecnologia da informação aplicada à construção. Além disso, a metodologia de pesquisa contempla um Estudo de Caso com foco para a implementação do Conceito de Modelagem da Informação no contexto setorial do Reino Unido. Como resultado das Diretrizes, apresenta-se o Modelo para Gestão do Processo de Projeto no Contexto da Modelagem, seguido pelo Plano de Reestruração para o Departamento de Projetos, o qual visa à proposição de um modelo estruturado para condução das mudanças necessárias nas áreas responsáveis pelo processo de projeto das empresas Incorporadoras e Construtoras. / The discussion about BIM (Building information Modelling) implementation has remained on the agendas of construction companies worldwide in recent years; however, in the Brazilian context, the gap between the industry strategy and few companies which have decided to implement BIM autonomously has been the main aspect that draw attention. Assuming BIM as a technological innovation, which carries with it changes, it is fundamental to analyse and adapt the design and construction processes. In this context, the thesis aims propose a set of Guidelines to Manage the Design Process of Brazilian Real Estate Development Companies. The Guidelines has taken the Design Management as a strategic process which must facilitate and integrate information flow among the Construction Project agents. In order to achieve the objective of Thesis, Case Studies have carried out in order to diagnose the design management current practices in the Brazilian Real Estate Development Companies. Aiming to discuss the Design managers\' responsibilities in contexts where BIM is applied, Focus Groups were organized and Design Managers, BIM specialists and also Academics have participated in the discussions sections. In addition, the research methodology have included a Case Study focusing on the BIM implementation in United Kingdom construction industry. As results and Guidelines, the Design Management Modeling in BIM context, followed by the Restructuring Planning are proposed. The Restructuring Planning was defined specifically for Real Estate Development Companies and aims to propose structured way, comprehending processes which should be re-designed and a set of steps for driving the necessary changes in order to use Design Management Guide in BIM context are proposed.

Investiga-se através da atuação de grandes firmas construtoras no Brasil o desenvolvimento de novos sistemas construtivos, em particular do concreto armado, como um dos fatores protagonistas da modernização da arquitetura entre 1922 e 1937. Intenta-se examinar os diversos programas construtivos, através da premissa da técnica, e suas inferências na realização arquitetônica. Busca-se tomar conhecimento de uma práxis calcada na verdade construtiva e no diálogo entre o arquiteto e o engenheiro. Parte-se do entendimento de novo fenômeno que interferiu na forma de projetar a arquitetura, alterando sua concepção e provocando a cisão entre a técnica e a arte. A modernização urbana teve como características: a concentração das principais atividades modernas nos núcleos urbanos, a reforma dos espaços das cidades para adequá-las aos novos labores e a mudança da percepção ambiental através de novos meios de comunicação, transporte e infraestrutura. A fundamentação desse cenário permite nos abarcar o processo de inserção das construtoras estrangeiras no Brasil. Para tanto, pretende-se compreender a constituição do conhecimento sobre o concreto armado seja no âmbito da engenharia brasileira, seja na da arquitetura. Sabe- se que três temas correntes faziam parte do repertório dessa cultura técnica: a racionalidade, o uso diferenciado dos sistemas modernos de construção e a criação de novas formas. Essas firmas especializadas no sistema construtivo eram verdadeiros campos de experimentação e, consequentemente, de formação de profissionais capazes de criar nova estética advinda da técnica. A atuação de alguns desses profissionais vem sendo tratada por outros trabalhos, mas uma lacuna permanece: o papel das empresas construtoras na modernização da arquitetura brasileira. Com base no estudo de acervos, como o da construtora de origem dinamarquesa Christiani & Nielsen e de empresas construtoras de origem alemãs atuantes na Argentina e no Brasil, esta tese incorpora, além dos objetivos já revelados, também a identificação de profissionais da construção pouco reconhecidos e suas ações nas atitudes modernizadoras do Brasil do século 20. / It has been investigated, through the performance of the largest construction companies in Brazil, the development of new building systems, particularly of the reinforced concrete, as a major contributing factor for the modernization of architecture between 1920 and 1940. The objective is to analyze the various construction programs, their technical premises, and their interferences in the architectural achievement, seeking the awareness of a practice based on the constructive truth and on the dialogue between architect and engineer. The starting point is the understanding of a new phenomenon, which has interfered in the way of designing the architecture, changing its notion, and inducing the division between technology and art. The urban modernization had as characteristics: the concentration of the main modern activities in the urban core, the restructure of city spaces to fit them to new labors and changes in environmental perception through the new media, transportation, and infrastructure. The fundamental principals of this scenario allow us to embrace the process of insertion of foreign construction companies in Brazil. For this, the intention is to understand the nature of the knowledge about reinforced concrete in the scope of either, Brazilian engineering or architecture. It is known that three current themes were part of the repertoire of this technical culture: the rationale, the differential use of modern building systems, and the creation of new forms. These specialized firms in the building system were real fields for experimentation and, consequently, of formation of professionals capable of creating a new aesthetic emerged from the technique. The performance of some of these professionals has already been addressed by other works, but a gap remains: the role of construction companies in the modernization of Brazilian architecture. Based on studies of collections, such as the one from Danish contractor Christiani & Nielsen, and construction companies originated in Germany and operating in Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil, this thesis includes, besides the already revealed objectives, the identification of construction professionals barely recognized, and their actions towards the attitudes for Brazilian modernization in the 20th century.

Bakgrund: Världen står idag inför en mängd olika hållbarhetsutmaningar, bland annat till följd av att många företag använder en linjär ekonomisk modell. Baserat på detta har modellen för cirkulär ekonomi utvecklats. Ett nödvändigt steg i omställningen till en cirkulär ekonomi är att övergå till en cirkulär affärsmodell. För att göra detta har den tidigare forskningen identifierat en mängd olika cirkulära aktiviteter. Det saknas däremot industrispecifik empiri på hur företag inom byggindustrin praktiskt går tillväga för att göra detta. Vi kommer därför undersöka byggföretagens arbete med att övergå till en cirkulär affärsmodell genom en jämförande flerfallstudie.  Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att skapa en ökad förståelse för hur de fem största byggföretagen i Sverige använder cirkulära aktiviteter för att övergå till en cirkulär affärsmodell, samt vilka mönster som finns mellan dem. Dessutom syftar studien till att undersöka vilka skillnader som föreligger mellan byggföretagens cirkulära affärsmodeller.  Metod: Denna flerfallstudie har en kvalitativ forskningsstrategi, iterativ forsknings- ansats, och utgår från ett hermeneutiskt forskningsperspektiv. Det empiriska materialet består av semistrukturerade intervjuer med respondenter från de fem största byggföretagen i Sverige, och dokumentstudier i form av års- och hållbarhetsrapporter, samt byggföretagens hemsidor.  Slutsats: Studien visar att de studerade byggföretagen i Sverige utför nio olika cirkulära aktiviteter för att övergå till en cirkulär affärsmodell. Vidare påvisades olika mönster, i form av både likheter och skillnader, mellan byggföretagens arbete med dessa cirkulära aktiviteter. De mest framstående visade sig handla om huruvida arbetet utförs internt och/eller externt, samt huruvida det utförs i förebyggande syfte. Utifrån dessa mönster, i kombination med befintlig teori om resursflöden, konstruerades ett generiskt, jämförande ramverk som innefattar fyra typer av cirkulära affärsmodeller. Sammantaget kunde det konstateras att dessa cirkulära affärsmodeller skiljer sig åt mellan byggföretagen. / Background: Today, the world faces several different sustainability challenges, partly due to the fact that many companies use a linear economic model. Based on this, the model for circular economy has been developed. A necessary step in the conversion to a circular economy is to transition to a circular business model. To do this, the previous research has identified a number of different circular activities. However, there is a lack of industry specific empirical evidence on how construction companies practically perform this. We will therefore investigate the construction companies’ work on the transition to a circular business model through a comparative multiple case study.  Purpose: The purpose of the study is to increase the understanding of how the five largest construction companies in Sweden use circular activities in order to transition to a circular business model, as well as what patterns that exist between them. In addition, the study aims to investigate what differences there are between the construction companies’ circular business models.  Methodology: This multiple case study has a qualitative research strategy, an iterative research design, and is from a hermeneutic research perspective. The empirical material consists of semi structured interviews with respondents from the five largest construction companies in Sweden, and document studies in forms of annual- and sustainability reports, as well as the construction companies’ websites.  Conclusion: The study shows that the examined construction companies in Sweden perform nine different circular activities in order to transition to a circular economy. Furthermore, different patterns in forms of similarities and differences were detected between the construction companies’ practice of these circular activities. The most prominent patterns concerned whether the circular activities were performed internally and/or externally, and whether they were performed preventively. Based on these patterns, in combination with existing theory about resource flows, a generic and comparative framework was constructed that includes four types of circular business models. From this, it could be established that the circular business models differ between the construction companies.