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This study examined how and why practitioners in the modern construction industry sought information as part of their everyday work activities. A grounded theory methodology was utilized to identify the main problem and how it was resolved by the participants. The main problem was determined to be the ability to seek accurate information efficiently and effectively. A theory termed wayfinding was developed and described through interviews with 24 current constructors.These constructors were theoretically sampled from many segments of the construction industry, including construction management, general contracting, and subcontracting. Both genders and a variety of positions were sampled, and the constructors' work experience ranged from a few months to several decades. Relevant literature was incorporated from pertinent fields including urban planning, which developed the term wayfinding; architecture and interior design; and computer science. The current construction industry and its information-seeking process were detailed, including the overriding issue of time and its impact on construction.The research indicated that there were three main categories of the theory: reasons for wayfinding, wayfinding tools and methods, and types of wayfinders. wayfinding was employed by constructors for five reasons: to clarify, confirm, source, prepare, and manage risk. Clarifying, sourcing, and preparing were all found to be common reasons for information-seeking, with confirming and managing risk less frequently encountered. The tools and methods used included print sources, Internet resources, networking, branching/filtering, and cost-saving. Networking was the preferred technique, with branching/filtering and cost-saving being employed only by experienced constructors. Familiarity with the process differentiated the novice from the experienced constructor and was not solely based on the number of years' work experience. Novice constructors used physical proximity as a criterion when selecting a source of information, and selected methods purposively to avoid embarrassment.Implications of wayfinding for the practitioner and construction organization were presented. Implications in other fields were discussed for education, architecture and interior design, and technology. Problems with wayfinding included the inherent inefficiency of the design/construction system and a lack of training. Potential changes were also introduced, including technology and contractual relationships. Recommendations were made for current constructors, including novices and experienced practitioners. / Department of Educational Studies

Thesis (M.Hous.M.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-133). Also available in print.

Planning and control of time and other resources are crucial to the construction of large projects. Yet, current computerized techniques are unable to model the work patterns by which construction personnel plan a project. Furthermore, these methods are not capable of reflecting the day to day changes which must be monitored to control the construction site. The purpose of this thesis-is to promote the usability of computerized planning and scheduling through the development of the heuristic manner by which construction personnel perceive the project. Site studies held in cooperation with Poole Construction Limited and Foundation Company of Canada were performed using a computer scheduling system at the University of British Columbia which contained a prototype model of repetitive work. It provided insight to the process of repetition and rhythm by which projects are planned and to the requirements of the updating process necessary to monitor, and hence control the project. Two models evolved. The definition of the general repetitive structure was formulated to provide construction personnel with a tool by which to model the process of repetition. The definition of an updating process was formulated capable of monitoring daily progress on a construction site. Work performed with these models have shown them to be realistic in their approach to construction management. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Civil Engineering, Department of / Graduate

Mozambique was a Portuguese province governed in terms of Portuguese legislation and principles. After the Mozambican independence in June 1975, and during the decade thereafter, all Portuguese legislation were re-evaluated and replaced by new legislation based on socialist/communist philosophies, ultimately culminating in a centralised economy, which was governed according to Marxism/Leninism principles. In terms of this maxim, the primary objectives was to favour and protect state owned companies, resulting in the nationalisation of almost all of the private sector, thus eradicating competitiveness among the economic operators, and leaving the country to become one of the poorest in the world. The implemented political philosophy and associated economic principles furthermore impacted so adversely on the economy that critical changes were required to save the economy from collapse. New economic and political reforms and directives were introduced, moving the country from a socialist orientation to an open economy, a process that was implemented with the support of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. This process was highly complex and arduous, culminating in more often than not, failed implementations in the various sectors of the economy. One such sector, the Construction Engineering Industry is faced with collapse as a result of the complexities of the transition process. Against this background, ‘corrective’ economic legislation aimed to restructure the economy, was designed and implemented, only to result in high taxes and duties being paid by private companies. The present decline in foreign direct investment in the Construction Engineering Industry due to the current social and political uncertainty is of particular concern. More specific, the high interest bank rates on loans, the high duty rates for construction materials to be imported, the current judicial system which is viewed as ineffective in solving complex problems involving the industry, unfair labour laws which protect unproductive workers, and the high levels of bureaucracy, are all factors impacting adversely on any management effort to ensure the sustainability and growth of the Construction Engineering Industry in Mozambique. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) was constituted with the aim of creating an integrated and harmonious development strategy for each of its member countries, due to the fact that each country has its own culture, political dispensation, judicial system, labour laws and economic and fiscal structures. As the Construction Engineering Industries within each SADC country, by implication are subjected to differentiated operating environments and unique complexities, the solution as proposed by the SADC has the potential to culminate in a feasible option for the industry as a whole. For the Construction Engineering Industry of Mozambique however, the proposed solution of the SADC would not serve as a viable or feasible solution. This is due to the fact that the Construction Engineering Industry in Mozambique is not stable and close to collapse as a result of the plethora of inhibiting factors adversely impacting the industry. Against this background the research problem for this thesis reads as follow: “The Construction Engineering Industry in Mozambique is operating within the context of an unstructured complex management paradigm, calling for an evolutionary solution to mitigate the complexities and ensure sustainability and growth” The primary objective of this thesis is to establish to what extent an evolutionary systems approach model could facilitate paradigmatic change in the management of construction engineering in Mozambique to ensure its sustainability and growth. This objective will be met through:  An in depth analysis of the complex phenomena pertaining to the construction engineering industry in Mozambique deploying the enquiry capabilities of the Biomatrix Systems Approach.  Benchmarking the operating environments of the Construction Engineering Industries of South Africa and Mozambique.  The formulation of an evolutionary, unique viable approach so structured to address the complexity associated with construction engineering in Mozambique. This evolutionary approach will be fundamentally based on the Systems Approach and associated Viable Systems Model, juxtaposed with this authors’ own contribution, to ultimately facilitate paradigmatic change in the Mozambican Construction Engineering Industry to mitigate the research problem set for this thesis. / Prof. Dr. L. Pretorius Prof. Dr. J.A. Watkins

published_or_final_version / Surveying / Master / Master of Science in Construction Project Management

published_or_final_version / Management Studies / Master / Master of Business Administration

A Thesis Submitted to Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Johannesburg, August 2017 / This research investigates how on-site craft gangs adapt to the production environment on-site and how on-site learning is affected by prior learning in orders to optimise productivity. To achieve the aim of the study, previous experience of construction production process of craft gangs, site supervisors and the project managers working in Nigerian construction firms was evaluated. The researcher employed a mixed method research approach utilising qualitative and quantitative approaches. The research strategies used in this investigation included interviews and observation method. A face-to-face semi-structured interviews of (15) participants comprising of craft gangs, site supervisors and the project managers was used in the qualitative method of the data collection to explore the project specific constraints and the response mechanism used to resolve the various constraints. A standard observation data form was used in all the observed seven (7) gang’s blockwork craft gangs on the construction site. The interview transcript results collected were analysed using content analysis, an objective and systematic form of data analysis applicable to analysing interview data. In the application of the learning curve model to the blockwork craft gang’s, the straight-line model was used in the preliminary analysis of the application of learning curve theory to blockwork craft gang’s. In this study, the ordinary least squares technique, frequently referred to as linear regression was used for the data analysis. 0.05% significance level was used as a satisfactory degree of the inferences in the observation part of this study. Blockwork craft gang’s observed at the site shows approximately an overall average learning of 94.21%, resulting in 5.79% improvement in blockwork gang’s productivity. In addition, substantial impact on productivity of blockwork construction was achieved in wall construction. This research work is fundamental in construction management by way of developing an understanding into the changing aspects of on-site blockwork craft gangs learning and its impact on productivity. The repetitive nature of blockwork activities has an important influence on the optimisation of productivity. Construction craft gangs productivity constraints and response mechanism generated in this study provides a methodological instrument for addressing the major constraints influencing craft gangs productivity. This instrument will also permit future research on the project specific constraints and the response mechanisms used to resolve the constraints. / MT 2018

by Lee Chi-pong Leonard and Wong Chi-kwong. / Bibliography: leaves 171-172 / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1982

An interaction dynamics perspective conceives the cooperation process as an action chain consisting of the actions and reactions between cooperating partners when they respond to disruptive events. The action chain is characterized by three constructs: action acquiescence, action simplicity, and action reciprocity. I further develop an action pattern model that clarifies the relationships among partner relation, governance structure, action pattern, and cooperation performance in a partnership. / Extant literature in strategic alliance has inconsistent conclusions on why some cases of cooperation succeed but some fail. I argue that the interaction process in cooperation may be the missing piece in the puzzle. Drawing on an interaction dynamics perspective, this dissertation examines what factors affect the interaction process and how variations of the interaction process affect cooperation performance. / In the second study, a questionnaire survey was conducted and a sample of 263 construction projects was obtained. The regression analysis indicated that partner relation affected action pattern, and this effect was moderated by governance structure. Contrary to conventional belief that action pattern mediates the effect of partner relation on cooperation performance, I found that action pattern and partner relation affected cooperation performance independently. / The action pattern model was empirically tested in the dyadic partnership between architects and contractors in two related studies. In the first study, qualitative data from 12 construction partnerships were collected through semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, and documents between architects and contractors. Overall, the case studies provided some "thick descriptions" of the action repertoire in cooperation. Results showed that cooperating partners adopted particular actions as deliberate strategic signaling to each other and as a means of reward/punishment. Moreover, actions tended to stabilize after repeated interaction cycles as cooperating partners categorized each other into specific portraits. / The interaction dynamics approach provides a new and promising perspective to study inter-firm cooperation. This dissertation suggests that how process unfolds in cooperation is crucial for cooperation success and carefully "matched" alliance may fail without appropriate management of the interaction process. / Lui Siu-yun Steven. / "August 2000." / Adviser: Ngo Hang-Yue. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 61-08, Section: A, page: 3253. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 141-156). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest dissertations and theses, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.