<p>This study describes the behavior of four important international construction companies within the Czech construction market. The chosen companies are following: SKANSKA CS, STRABAG, HOCHTIEF CZ and OHL ZS. The theoretical part of this paper dissertates about various methods suitable for market analyses, such as strategic maps or Porter´s diagram and foreign market entry modes in general. </p><p>The practical part begins with the general description of the Czech construction market and its history. The SWOT analysis of the Czech construction market also anticipates the future development of the Czech construction market in following five years.</p><p>The next chapters are devoted to the detailed description of chosen companies. The history and profile of the chosen international concerns and of the traditional Czech companies are described in this chapter. This part also characterizes the takeovers of Czech companies by international concerns of SKANSKA CS, STRABAG, HOCHTIEF CZ and OHL ŽS and their following development on the Czech construction market.</p><p>From the detailed description, economic data with the most predicative significance were chosen. This data was subsequently compared in the penultimate part of the study. The Economic data such as sales, profit, return on sales, number of employees, sales on employee and growth of the companies are significant for the comparison. The graphs clearly show the development of the companies since 2000.</p><p>The results of the analyses are concluded in the last chapter, which also contains a suggestion for the possible future research.</p>

This study describes the behavior of four important international construction companies within the Czech construction market. The chosen companies are following: SKANSKA CS, STRABAG, HOCHTIEF CZ and OHL ZS. The theoretical part of this paper dissertates about various methods suitable for market analyses, such as strategic maps or Porter´s diagram and foreign market entry modes in general. The practical part begins with the general description of the Czech construction market and its history. The SWOT analysis of the Czech construction market also anticipates the future development of the Czech construction market in following five years. The next chapters are devoted to the detailed description of chosen companies. The history and profile of the chosen international concerns and of the traditional Czech companies are described in this chapter. This part also characterizes the takeovers of Czech companies by international concerns of SKANSKA CS, STRABAG, HOCHTIEF CZ and OHL ŽS and their following development on the Czech construction market. From the detailed description, economic data with the most predicative significance were chosen. This data was subsequently compared in the penultimate part of the study. The Economic data such as sales, profit, return on sales, number of employees, sales on employee and growth of the companies are significant for the comparison. The graphs clearly show the development of the companies since 2000. The results of the analyses are concluded in the last chapter, which also contains a suggestion for the possible future research.

The research in this paper takes an opportunity to examine the feasibility of developing properties in New Orleans, Louisiana which conform to the Passive House Standard. To date, New Orleans has yet to see a single building built to the energy-efficiency standard. This report begins by describing the concept, the history, and benefits of the Passive House Standard. The report uses the same certification definition of Passive House as Passive House International Standard (PHI). By framing the need for Passive House buildings in light of mounting global and regional consequences resulting from anthropogenic climate change, the report argues that Passive House is the best solution to turning the New Orleans built environment into a carbon-neutral zone and achieving many of the energy reduction commitments made by the Landrieu administration under the Climate Action Strategy for a Resilient New Orleans. The report then examines the feasibility of Passive House from a single-family perspective in one of New Orleans’ hottest neighborhoods, “The Irish Channel” and then overlays the barriers which are specifically hindering the investment logic of Passive House in New Orleans. It is shown that the barriers ultimately align to limit the financial attractiveness of Passive House investment to debt and equity investors as well as developers. Additionally, complications relating to the design, development and construction of Passive House structures are also identified as barriers unique to New Orleans. The final section of this analysis specifically considers how to overcome market barriers by applying opportunistic solutions which are unique to the New Orleans real estate development market. / 0 / SPK / specialcollections@tulane.edu

Recently, construction cost variations have been larger and less predictable. These variations are apparent in trends of indices such as Engineering News Record (ENR) Construction Cost Index (CCI) and National Highway Construction Cost Index (NHCCI). These variations are problematic for cost estimation, bid preparation and investment planning. Inaccurate cost estimation can result in bid loss or profit loss for contractors and hidden price contingencies, delayed or cancelled projects, inconsistency in budgets and unsteady flow of projects for owner organizations. Cost variation has become a major concern in all industry sectors, such as infrastructure, heavy industrial, light industrial, and building. The major problem is that construction cost is subject to significant variations that are difficult to forecast. The objectives of this dissertation are to identify the leading indicators of CCI and NHCCI from existing macroeconomic, energy and construction market variables and create appropriate models to use the information in past values of CCI and NHCCI and their leading indicators in order to forecast CCI and NHCCI more accurately than existing CCI and NHCCI forecasting models. A statistical approach based on multivariate time series analysis is used as the main research approach. The first step is to identify leading indicators of construction cost variations. A pool of 16 candidate (potential) leading indicators is initially selected based on a comprehensive literature review about construction cost variations. Then, the leading indicators of CCI are identified from the pool of candidate leading indicators using empirical tests including correlation tests, unit root tests, and Granger causality tests. The identified leading indicators represent the macroeconomic and construction market context in which the construction cost is changing. Based on the results of statistical tests, several multivariate time series models are created and compared with existing models for forecasting CCI. These models take advantage of contextual information about macroeconomic condition, energy price and construction market for forecasting CCI accurately. These multivariate time series models are rigorously diagnosed using statistical tests including Breusch-Godfrey serial correlation Lagrange multiplier tests and Autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (ARCH) tests. They are also compared with each other and other existing models. Comparison is based on two typical error measures: out-of-sample mean absolute prediction error and out-of-sample mean squared error. Based on the unit root tests and Granger causality tests, consumer price index, crude oil price, producer price index, housing starts and building permits are selected as leading indicators of CCI. In other words, past values of these variables contain information that is useful for forecasting CCI. Based on the results of cointegration tests, Vector Error Correction (VEC) models are created as proper multivariate time series models to forecast CCI. Our results show that the multivariate time series model including CCI and crude oil price pass diagnostic tests successfully. It is also more accurate than existing models for forecasting CCI in terms of out-of-sample mean absolute prediction error and out-of-sample mean square error. The predictability of the multivariate time series modeling for forecasting CCI is also evaluated using stochastically simulated data (Simulated CCI and crude oil price). First, 50 paths of crude oil price are created using Geometric Brownian Motion (GBM). Then, 50 paths of CCI are created using Gaussian Process that is considering the relationship between CCI and crude oil price over time. Finally, 50 multivariate and univariate time series models are created using the simulated data and the predictability of univariate and multivariate time series models are compared. The results show that the multivariate modeling is more accurate than univariate modeling for forecasting simulated CCI. The sensitivity of the models to inputs is also examined by adding errors to the simulated data and conducting sensitivity analysis. The proposed approach is also implemented for identifying the leading indicators of NHCCI from the pool of candidate leading indicators and creating appropriate multivariate forecasting models that use the information in past values of NHCCI and its leading indicators. Based on the unit root tests and Granger causality tests, crude oil price and average hourly earnings in the construction industry are selected as leading indicators of NHCCI. In other words, past values of these variables contain information that is useful for forecasting NHCCI. Based on the results of cointegration tests, Vector Error Correction (VEC) models are created as the proper multivariate time series models to forecast NHCCI. The results show that the VEC model including NHCCI and crude oil price, and the VEC model including NHCCI, crude oil price, and average hourly earnings pass diagnostic tests. These VEC models are also more accurate than the univariate models for forecasting NHCCI in terms of out-of-sample prediction error and out-of-sample mean square error. The findings of this dissertation contribute to the body of knowledge in construction cost forecasting by rigorous identification of the leading indicators of construction cost variations and creation of multivariate time series models that are more accurate than the existing models for forecasting construction cost variations. It is expected that proposed forecasting models enhance the theory and practice of construction cost forecasting and help cost engineers and capital planners prepare more accurate bids, cost estimates and budgets for capital projects.

The aim of my diploma thesis is to analyze the current situation of Panelárna St. Město, joint-stock company on construction market, and to suggest measures that can be used as a basis for top management decisions regarding future operations. To achieve the objective, internal and external analysis methods were used. Methods of external analysis included PEST analysis and Porter's five forces analysis. Internal analysis was made by using financial analysis, analysis of resources and analysis of the activities. Results of internal analysis are expressing opinion to tangible assets, intangible assets, human resources and financial resources, in addition to evaluating the tie between activities and total economical stability of the company. Information from external analysis served for assesing current and future progress of construction, intensity of competition, and for identifying factors that may become a source of opportunity and threats. Set suggestions and recomendations for future strategy will emerge from the synthesis of internal and external analysis.

This diploma thesis deals with the customer satisfaction of the chosen construction company. The aim of the thesis is to analyze the perception of customer satisfaction in the chosen construction company and to use the questioning method to find the connection between the various elements of the marketing mix and their influence on the overall rating of the company by the customers. The first part describes the construction segment and its development. The analytical part deals with elements of satisfaction from the perspective of the owner of the company and from the point of view of customers through the questioning method. The results of both parts are compared and subsequent improvements suggested.

Nowadays, the focus of the construction market is on sustainability aspects, for which purpose, the employment of wood seems promising. Nevertheless, in countries having high potentiality like Sweden, the timber construction market finds difficulties in growing. The reason lies in the lack of standards for design and industrialization and on the strong competition of the concrete industry. The timber-concrete hybrid solution is presented in this study as a solution beneficial for both the timber and the concrete markets: the former would benefit of a pulling action towards standardization and larger market, while the latter would fulfil the environment-friendly requirements and better differentiate in the competitive landscape. Therefore, the objective of this thesis is to provide a framework to evaluate innovations in construction market, highlighting the characteristic issues related to the matching of timber and concrete constructions, and detecting the main economic and technical factors to help in the decision-making process. This framework will help to organize and evaluate all the information and the boundary conditions about the introduction of a concrete-timber hybrid construction solution, which eventually would enhance the timber construction market itself through a preliminary association with concrete market. Firstly, some consideration on the market areas and on the general perceptions towards the timber construction are presented; then, the focus is moved onto the dynamics of concrete and timber supply chains, highlighting similarities, diversities, and possible reciprocal benefits, to finally detect the market indicators to be considered for a decision-making path related to the timber-concrete hybrid construction. From the technical side, a conceptual design is proposed, considering the industrialization of such hybrid solution. Annex A shows how standardization and modularity of the products would enable compatibility and interchangeability between timber and concrete, on account of the open system within the construction market. Annex B displays a schematic picture of how the exploitation of timber and concrete’ properties, with the industrialization of these two materials, can be best employed for a hybrid building. A preliminary technical evaluation of the timber-concrete hybrid is carried out by dividing the building into modular units and focusing on the main systems (horizontal loadbearing system, vertical loadbearing system, external envelope, inner partitions), while making consideration on structural design, fire protection, building technology details, building service systems integration, construction plan, and costs. The innovations within the construction market are often hindered by the fear to undertake a high-risk project. The proposed framework allows to increase the awareness on the general factors to be evaluated, and to undertake a gradual adoption of the “new” timber construction solution. The key points underlying the whole timber-concrete hybrid problem are standardization and modularity, necessary for a quality-oriented production. Further studies need to be carried out with an applicative intent: application of the general framework to real cases and pilot projects; automatic tools for the design and construction optimization including economic and technical factors; innovative and original hybrid solutions, which better exploit the timber-concrete synergy.

The diploma thesis deals with the subcontracting management on a construction contract. The purpose is to define costs for permanent employees and for external employees in specific construction company, known as a subcontractor. There are some concepts which are defined, such as construction contract and market, prices in construction, project management. The following part evaluates the way how the subcontractors are selected for the construction contract and its management. There is a research of preparedness this construction contract. In the end there is an evaluation of selection process with the subcontractors in the specific construction contract, subconstructors management and construction contract management.

Thesis is focused on "Taking into account the marketing aspects in the sale of real estate" and deals with the current situation of the real estate market in the Czech republic with an emphasis on marketing at the point of sale recruitment of real estate. The situation of the real estate market is compared with the designated area for the marketing research, therefore, district Vyškov. In the framework of the marketing research was carried out analysis of the real estate agents and their customers by using questionnaires. On the basis of the results of the analysis were designed marketing strategies for sales and recruitment of individual types of real estate. The diploma work has two parts theoretical and practical. In the first part I deal with the specifications of the basic concepts related with marketing, in the second part is already applied marketing research in practice. In conclusion are given suggestions and recommendations for improvement.

During the past years, wooden one and two family houses showed a higher growth rate on the German construction market compared to conventional material like brick and stone. Wood as construction material became more and more attractive. Furthermore, a growing demand on multifamily houses could be recognized, yet, wood has not been considered as an alternative in this field of application until now. Trying to understand the end-users attitudes towards wooden multifamily houses, this licentiate thesis aims at exploring German end-users’ perceptions of wooden multifamily houses. To collect the necessary data, the Association Pattern Technique (APT) was applied, which is a two-stage method and has its foundations in the Means-End theory. In the first stage, 31 in-depth laddering interviews were carried out, which served as the base for the matrix-survey in the second stage, where 229 answers were received. Extending the existing method in the matrix-survey stage allowed for important additional data to be uncovered. The results show that individuals associate certain product attributes with wooden multifamily houses and that these attributes are thought to entail specific consequences. These consequences are in turn linked with the personal values of the respondents. The most dominant perceptual orientations of different groups of respondents are shown and significant differences could be found in how individuals in German perceive wooden multifamily houses depending on age, income and habitation.