Abstract There is no doubt that each project manager uses different methodologies, methods, tools and techniques (MMTTs) while dealing with constant pressure to deliver results in a complex and changing environment, where complexity and stakeholders’ expectations are continually growing. This article presents results from the study about project managers’ choice on artefacts that they frequently use in their regular work. This study was conducted within the context of selected environment (one country and one sector of engineering projects), but designed methodology and results might also be significant for a wider audience. The results were based on the feedback that were received from 31 project management (PM) professionals gathered in the form of a structured questionnaire, followed by an interview with three PM experts for validation. The results confirmed a variety of PM artefacts in use and provided their ranking by perceived usefulness. The additional results indicated correlation between PM success and usage of MMTTs, as perceived by project managers. This study also resulted in several interesting findings, such as popularity and usefulness of artefacts, rigidity of PM processes, and maturity of PM organizations, about the topic. Despite of rather small sample taken from one country's environment, the results could serve as a solid information for moving ahead, while considering the significance of PM artefacts, as well as for their further development. The key findings are also messages to PM professionals to consider whether they use available and appropriate PM artefacts and is there a room for more efficient and effective usage.
{"title":"A study of project managers’ choice on key methods, tools and techniques in managing engineering projects","authors":"M. Radujković, M. Klepo","doi":"10.2478/otmcj-2021-0002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/otmcj-2021-0002","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract There is no doubt that each project manager uses different methodologies, methods, tools and techniques (MMTTs) while dealing with constant pressure to deliver results in a complex and changing environment, where complexity and stakeholders’ expectations are continually growing. This article presents results from the study about project managers’ choice on artefacts that they frequently use in their regular work. This study was conducted within the context of selected environment (one country and one sector of engineering projects), but designed methodology and results might also be significant for a wider audience. The results were based on the feedback that were received from 31 project management (PM) professionals gathered in the form of a structured questionnaire, followed by an interview with three PM experts for validation. The results confirmed a variety of PM artefacts in use and provided their ranking by perceived usefulness. The additional results indicated correlation between PM success and usage of MMTTs, as perceived by project managers. This study also resulted in several interesting findings, such as popularity and usefulness of artefacts, rigidity of PM processes, and maturity of PM organizations, about the topic. Despite of rather small sample taken from one country's environment, the results could serve as a solid information for moving ahead, while considering the significance of PM artefacts, as well as for their further development. The key findings are also messages to PM professionals to consider whether they use available and appropriate PM artefacts and is there a room for more efficient and effective usage.","PeriodicalId":42309,"journal":{"name":"Organization Technology and Management in Construction","volume":"13 1","pages":"2327 - 2340"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46279637","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract The objective of this study is to analyse the impact of management practices on the productivity of building construction projects in India. The methodology adopted for this study is to identify and analyse the management practice attributes from the literature review and expert focus group interviews. The identified attributes were analysed and priorities using relative weight were given by the respondents. The collected data were further analysed using SPSS 21 software. The quantitative research methodology was adopted to analyse the collected data and the following tools and techniques were applied to the data: reliability analysis to check the consistency of data collected for this study and relative importance index (RII) to prioritise and rank the attributes based on the weighted average score given by the respondents. The findings of this study concluded that coordination between all stakeholders, ability to handle the crisis by the project managers, social skills of key team managers, timely payment of completed works and design capability and frequent design changes are the most significant attributes of management practice, affecting construction productivity and having a rating on the RII of 0.91, 0.90, 0.88, 0.87 and 0.87.
{"title":"Impact of management practices on construction productivity in Indian building construction projects: an empirical study","authors":"Saurav Dixit","doi":"10.2478/otmcj-2021-0007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/otmcj-2021-0007","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The objective of this study is to analyse the impact of management practices on the productivity of building construction projects in India. The methodology adopted for this study is to identify and analyse the management practice attributes from the literature review and expert focus group interviews. The identified attributes were analysed and priorities using relative weight were given by the respondents. The collected data were further analysed using SPSS 21 software. The quantitative research methodology was adopted to analyse the collected data and the following tools and techniques were applied to the data: reliability analysis to check the consistency of data collected for this study and relative importance index (RII) to prioritise and rank the attributes based on the weighted average score given by the respondents. The findings of this study concluded that coordination between all stakeholders, ability to handle the crisis by the project managers, social skills of key team managers, timely payment of completed works and design capability and frequent design changes are the most significant attributes of management practice, affecting construction productivity and having a rating on the RII of 0.91, 0.90, 0.88, 0.87 and 0.87.","PeriodicalId":42309,"journal":{"name":"Organization Technology and Management in Construction","volume":"13 1","pages":"2383 - 2390"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43178664","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Buildings are interactive environments in which their operations and occupants are linked. Although buildings are operated according to the standards, occupant complaints may arise when there is a mismatch between indoor environmental conditions and actual user needs. Therefore, the accuracy of thermal comfort prediction models suggested by the standards and alternative prediction models need to be investigated. This study aims at assessing the performance of the predicted mean vote (PMV) model suggested by the ISO 7730 Standard to detect occupant thermal dissatisfaction. In addition, a multivariate logistic regression model was developed to predict thermal complaints with respect to “too warm” and “too cold.” This case study was conducted in a commercial building located in Paris, France, between January 2017 and May 2018. Indoor environmental conditions were monitored via sensors and an online tool was used to collect occupant thermal complaints. A total of 53 thermal complaints were analyzed. The results showed that all the operative temperature measurements in both the heating and cooling seasons were within the thresholds suggested by the standards. The PMV method suggested that only 4% of the occupants were dissatisfied with the indoor environment whereas the actual dissatisfaction ratio was 100% under these indoor environmental conditions. In addition, the multivariate logistic regression model showed that operative temperature and season have a significant effect on thermal complaints. Furthermore, the accuracy of the developed model was 90.6%.
{"title":"Analyzing and modeling thermal complaints in a commercial building in France","authors":"Ezgi Kocaman, Merve Kuru, G. Calis","doi":"10.2478/otmcj-2020-0017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/otmcj-2020-0017","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Buildings are interactive environments in which their operations and occupants are linked. Although buildings are operated according to the standards, occupant complaints may arise when there is a mismatch between indoor environmental conditions and actual user needs. Therefore, the accuracy of thermal comfort prediction models suggested by the standards and alternative prediction models need to be investigated. This study aims at assessing the performance of the predicted mean vote (PMV) model suggested by the ISO 7730 Standard to detect occupant thermal dissatisfaction. In addition, a multivariate logistic regression model was developed to predict thermal complaints with respect to “too warm” and “too cold.” This case study was conducted in a commercial building located in Paris, France, between January 2017 and May 2018. Indoor environmental conditions were monitored via sensors and an online tool was used to collect occupant thermal complaints. A total of 53 thermal complaints were analyzed. The results showed that all the operative temperature measurements in both the heating and cooling seasons were within the thresholds suggested by the standards. The PMV method suggested that only 4% of the occupants were dissatisfied with the indoor environment whereas the actual dissatisfaction ratio was 100% under these indoor environmental conditions. In addition, the multivariate logistic regression model showed that operative temperature and season have a significant effect on thermal complaints. Furthermore, the accuracy of the developed model was 90.6%.","PeriodicalId":42309,"journal":{"name":"Organization Technology and Management in Construction","volume":"13 1","pages":"2416 - 2425"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45035236","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Farid Ghaffari Moghaddam, A. Akbarpour, A. Firouzi
Abstract Suitable distribution of particles and the presence of hydration lead to the improved compressive performance and optimum (even reduced) cost in the production of reactive powder concrete (RPC). This study was conducted to obtain a better understanding of RPC and analyze the behavior of modified RPC (MRPC) using the properties of surface resistivity, water penetration, compressive strength, and modulus of elasticity, apart from the cost. The present study was carried out to investigate how to optimize the size and diversity of the aggregate in order to increase the applications and reduce the costs. The options were selected from among the 12 alternatives classified during the construction stages. According to the six weighting parameters used for comparing with the sample, the derived framework can be described as a mixing design for RPC. Five weighting criteria were considered with values of one of the five criteria missing, and in one case, all criteria were taken with equal weights. For the final analysis, the Expert Choice software was used to create a framework for the optimal mix design of RPC and MRPC. The MRPC mixing designs showed good results, with very slight differences compared to RPC. In many cases, MRPC can be used instead of RPC.
{"title":"Providing a framework for optimizing a mixing design of reactive powder concrete (RPC)","authors":"Farid Ghaffari Moghaddam, A. Akbarpour, A. Firouzi","doi":"10.2478/otmcj-2020-0024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/otmcj-2020-0024","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Suitable distribution of particles and the presence of hydration lead to the improved compressive performance and optimum (even reduced) cost in the production of reactive powder concrete (RPC). This study was conducted to obtain a better understanding of RPC and analyze the behavior of modified RPC (MRPC) using the properties of surface resistivity, water penetration, compressive strength, and modulus of elasticity, apart from the cost. The present study was carried out to investigate how to optimize the size and diversity of the aggregate in order to increase the applications and reduce the costs. The options were selected from among the 12 alternatives classified during the construction stages. According to the six weighting parameters used for comparing with the sample, the derived framework can be described as a mixing design for RPC. Five weighting criteria were considered with values of one of the five criteria missing, and in one case, all criteria were taken with equal weights. For the final analysis, the Expert Choice software was used to create a framework for the optimal mix design of RPC and MRPC. The MRPC mixing designs showed good results, with very slight differences compared to RPC. In many cases, MRPC can be used instead of RPC.","PeriodicalId":42309,"journal":{"name":"Organization Technology and Management in Construction","volume":"13 1","pages":"2438 - 2449"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2021-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45853076","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract The study investigated the cultural features of construction companies in Lagos state and determined the organisational culture profile of the construction companies in the study area, with a view to providing information that could enhance the organisational performance of Nigeria construction firms. Primary data were sourced through the administration of 196 structured questionnaires to 98 construction companies (i.e., two questionnaires per company) represented by their construction professionals and administrative staff. The information elicited from the returned 140 questionnaires (71% return rate) included features of organisational culture and dominant characteristic element of organisational culture profile of the construction companies. Data collected for this study were analysed using percentages, factor analysis and mean score (MS). The result showed a dominant organisational cultural feature of strategic direction explaining 17.73% variance in respondent’s perception. However, communication (9.66%), adaptability (8.43%) and employee involvement (6.88%) were also relevant. The organisational culture profile showed a predominant market culture (MC) with focus on production and goal accomplishment (MS = 3.62), a hierarchy culture (HC) of a coordinator, organiser and efficiency expert (MS = 3.60) and an ad hoc culture with strategic emphasis on dynamics and readiness (MS = 3.56). The family type of culture is undermined within the companies (MS = 3.47). The study concluded that strategic direction being a MC feature corroborates a predominant MC revealed by assessing organisational culture of construction companies in Lagos state, Nigeria.
{"title":"Organisational culture of construction companies in Lagos State, Nigeria","authors":"T. O. Alao, O. Aina","doi":"10.2478/otmcj-2020-0012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/otmcj-2020-0012","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The study investigated the cultural features of construction companies in Lagos state and determined the organisational culture profile of the construction companies in the study area, with a view to providing information that could enhance the organisational performance of Nigeria construction firms. Primary data were sourced through the administration of 196 structured questionnaires to 98 construction companies (i.e., two questionnaires per company) represented by their construction professionals and administrative staff. The information elicited from the returned 140 questionnaires (71% return rate) included features of organisational culture and dominant characteristic element of organisational culture profile of the construction companies. Data collected for this study were analysed using percentages, factor analysis and mean score (MS). The result showed a dominant organisational cultural feature of strategic direction explaining 17.73% variance in respondent’s perception. However, communication (9.66%), adaptability (8.43%) and employee involvement (6.88%) were also relevant. The organisational culture profile showed a predominant market culture (MC) with focus on production and goal accomplishment (MS = 3.62), a hierarchy culture (HC) of a coordinator, organiser and efficiency expert (MS = 3.60) and an ad hoc culture with strategic emphasis on dynamics and readiness (MS = 3.56). The family type of culture is undermined within the companies (MS = 3.47). The study concluded that strategic direction being a MC feature corroborates a predominant MC revealed by assessing organisational culture of construction companies in Lagos state, Nigeria.","PeriodicalId":42309,"journal":{"name":"Organization Technology and Management in Construction","volume":"12 1","pages":"2158 - 2169"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47995521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Erratum to: Review of previous applications of innovative information technologies in construction health and safety","authors":"Matej Mihić, M. Vukomanović, I. Zavrski","doi":"10.2478/otmcj-2020-0010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/otmcj-2020-0010","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":42309,"journal":{"name":"Organization Technology and Management in Construction","volume":"12 1","pages":"2147 - 2147"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43079391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Increased project complexity, project dynamics and changes in clients’ requirements are a few examples that suggest the necessity for flexibility in project management in order to deliver successful projects. Despite the fact that literature suggests adding flexibility to project management, there is no existing framework that provides a practical method for adding flexibility into the practice of project management in the construction industry. Therefore, this research is aimed at proposing a practical framework that helps practitioners in embedding project management flexibility into their project management practice. The research question is as follows: how to embed flexibility in the practice of project management in the early project phases? To answer the research question, four sub-questions have been formulated, which have been separately researched. The main question is answered by proposing a flexibility framework. This framework comprises four stages: understanding the current situation, practitioners’ perspectives on flexible project management, choosing enablers to become flexible and applying selected enablers to improve project performance. The framework is validated using the examples given by practitioners from 24 cases. Considering the movements towards flexibility and adaptability concepts, this research fills the gap in literature by providing a practical framework for project management flexibility. Moreover, it provides a step-by-step guideline for practitioners to embed flexibility in practice.
{"title":"Four stages of making project management flexible: insight, importance, implementation and improvement","authors":"A. J. Sohi, M. Bosch-Rekveldt, M. Hertogh","doi":"10.2478/otmcj-2020-0008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/otmcj-2020-0008","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Increased project complexity, project dynamics and changes in clients’ requirements are a few examples that suggest the necessity for flexibility in project management in order to deliver successful projects. Despite the fact that literature suggests adding flexibility to project management, there is no existing framework that provides a practical method for adding flexibility into the practice of project management in the construction industry. Therefore, this research is aimed at proposing a practical framework that helps practitioners in embedding project management flexibility into their project management practice. The research question is as follows: how to embed flexibility in the practice of project management in the early project phases? To answer the research question, four sub-questions have been formulated, which have been separately researched. The main question is answered by proposing a flexibility framework. This framework comprises four stages: understanding the current situation, practitioners’ perspectives on flexible project management, choosing enablers to become flexible and applying selected enablers to improve project performance. The framework is validated using the examples given by practitioners from 24 cases. Considering the movements towards flexibility and adaptability concepts, this research fills the gap in literature by providing a practical framework for project management flexibility. Moreover, it provides a step-by-step guideline for practitioners to embed flexibility in practice.","PeriodicalId":42309,"journal":{"name":"Organization Technology and Management in Construction","volume":"12 1","pages":"2117 - 2136"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42531179","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ivana Burcar Dunović, Kristijan Robert Prebanić, Pavao Durrigl
Abstract Even though horizontally linear projects have low complexity schedules, they are still not successful in meeting planned time. The deadlines are mostly based on estimations done in front-end project development when limited data are available. Early time estimation models in literature rely on few variables and, almost in all cases, one of them is the estimated cost. Early cost estimations can significantly deviate from actual costs and thus lead to unreliable time estimation. Time estimation models based on neural network and other alternative methods require databases and software, which complicates the process of time estimation. The purpose of this paper is to bridge the gap of scarce time estimation models and unreliable time estimates by developing a new method for time estimation. This research has been done on one large sewer system project. The case study shows how to extract several continuous activities for a pipeline project chosen from a sewer system. Moreover, a new algorithm for the calculation of project duration is devised based on the existing equation related to the linear scheduling method, and this algorithm works with continuous activities. The new method for construction time estimation is based on the extraction of linear continuous activities, usage of the algorithm for identification of minimal buffer between activities, and calculation of the project duration. To verify the algorithm, this method is used on another pipeline project from a sewer system. The limitation is that this method can be used only for base estimation. Further research needs to be done to include uncertainties and risks in the method.
{"title":"Method for Base Estimation of Construction Time for Linear Projects in Front-end Project Phases","authors":"Ivana Burcar Dunović, Kristijan Robert Prebanić, Pavao Durrigl","doi":"10.2478/otmcj-2018-0026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/otmcj-2018-0026","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Even though horizontally linear projects have low complexity schedules, they are still not successful in meeting planned time. The deadlines are mostly based on estimations done in front-end project development when limited data are available. Early time estimation models in literature rely on few variables and, almost in all cases, one of them is the estimated cost. Early cost estimations can significantly deviate from actual costs and thus lead to unreliable time estimation. Time estimation models based on neural network and other alternative methods require databases and software, which complicates the process of time estimation. The purpose of this paper is to bridge the gap of scarce time estimation models and unreliable time estimates by developing a new method for time estimation. This research has been done on one large sewer system project. The case study shows how to extract several continuous activities for a pipeline project chosen from a sewer system. Moreover, a new algorithm for the calculation of project duration is devised based on the existing equation related to the linear scheduling method, and this algorithm works with continuous activities. The new method for construction time estimation is based on the extraction of linear continuous activities, usage of the algorithm for identification of minimal buffer between activities, and calculation of the project duration. To verify the algorithm, this method is used on another pipeline project from a sewer system. The limitation is that this method can be used only for base estimation. Further research needs to be done to include uncertainties and risks in the method.","PeriodicalId":42309,"journal":{"name":"Organization Technology and Management in Construction","volume":"13 1","pages":"2312 - 2326"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44727943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Atilla Damci, D. Arditi, Gul Polat, Harun Turkoglu
Abstract Motivation is one of the key factors that stimulate individuals to improve their productivity. Therefore, motivation of construction workers has been debated with considerable interest by participants in the construction industry. However, motivating only construction workers, but ignoring the motivation of construction professionals, viz., architects and civil engineers, may not be enough to successfully complete a construction project. Although motivation of construction professionals may also enhance the performance of a construction project, this topic is mostly ignored in the motivation literature. This study attempts to fill this gap by (1) identifying the motivators that are of importance to architects and civil engineers and (2) exploring the statistical difference between architects’ and civil engineers’ motivators. For this purpose, a questionnaire survey was administered to Turkish architects and civil engineers to collect data on their perceptions of the importance of different motivators. The case of Turkey is investigated because several of the larger Turkish contractors undertake construction projects outside their home country. Statistical analysis was performed on the collected data to verify whether there are statistically significant differences in the perception of some motivators by architects and civil engineers. The study demonstrates the existence of a statistically significant difference between architects’ and civil engineers’ motivators. Identifying the architects’ and civil engineers’ motivators may help construction companies in motivating their architects and civil engineers more effectively, thus developing a quality workforce.
{"title":"Motivation of civil engineers and architects in Turkey","authors":"Atilla Damci, D. Arditi, Gul Polat, Harun Turkoglu","doi":"10.2478/otmcj-2020-0001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/otmcj-2020-0001","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Motivation is one of the key factors that stimulate individuals to improve their productivity. Therefore, motivation of construction workers has been debated with considerable interest by participants in the construction industry. However, motivating only construction workers, but ignoring the motivation of construction professionals, viz., architects and civil engineers, may not be enough to successfully complete a construction project. Although motivation of construction professionals may also enhance the performance of a construction project, this topic is mostly ignored in the motivation literature. This study attempts to fill this gap by (1) identifying the motivators that are of importance to architects and civil engineers and (2) exploring the statistical difference between architects’ and civil engineers’ motivators. For this purpose, a questionnaire survey was administered to Turkish architects and civil engineers to collect data on their perceptions of the importance of different motivators. The case of Turkey is investigated because several of the larger Turkish contractors undertake construction projects outside their home country. Statistical analysis was performed on the collected data to verify whether there are statistically significant differences in the perception of some motivators by architects and civil engineers. The study demonstrates the existence of a statistically significant difference between architects’ and civil engineers’ motivators. Identifying the architects’ and civil engineers’ motivators may help construction companies in motivating their architects and civil engineers more effectively, thus developing a quality workforce.","PeriodicalId":42309,"journal":{"name":"Organization Technology and Management in Construction","volume":"12 1","pages":"2044 - 2052"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49374190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Artificial intelligence (AI) approaches have been developed since the upcoming of Information Technologies beginning in the 1950s. With rising computing power, the discussion of AI usefulness has been refuelled by new powerful algorithms and, in particular, the availability of the internet as a vast resource of unstructured data. This gives hope to construction management in particular, since construction projects are recently becoming larger and more complex, i.e. encompassing more and more participants focusing on diverging interests while the given frames of time and budget are getting tighter. Finally, construction management is used to establish an efficient organisation of all these issues and able to predict the result with a high degree of precision and certainty. This could be accomplished by the human mind when projects were smaller, but with the recent development human mind is clearly pushed to its limits. On this background, the possible support of AI to organisational tasks needs to be investigated on a theoretical level prior to developing tools. This paper is the extended version of the article ‘Artificial Intelligence in Construction Management – a Perspective’, presented at the Creative Construction Conference 2019 where the algorithmic and entropic scope of AI is investigated in the context of construction management. However, efficient organisation is about restructuring systems into a set of well-separated subsystems, where human intelligence is required to bring in mainly two higher principles which AI fails to provide: the ability to prioritise and creativity allowing for new approaches not derived from given data. This paper additionally focuses on the aspect of in-situ coordination. This service is an aspect of organisation which is not separable and can therefore only be treated as self-determined subsystem, located outside of hierarchical control. At this point algorithms of AI need to be investigated not so much as to substitute human mind but to provide significant support.
{"title":"Potentials of artificial intelligence in construction management","authors":"W. Eber","doi":"10.2478/otmcj-2020-0002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/otmcj-2020-0002","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Artificial intelligence (AI) approaches have been developed since the upcoming of Information Technologies beginning in the 1950s. With rising computing power, the discussion of AI usefulness has been refuelled by new powerful algorithms and, in particular, the availability of the internet as a vast resource of unstructured data. This gives hope to construction management in particular, since construction projects are recently becoming larger and more complex, i.e. encompassing more and more participants focusing on diverging interests while the given frames of time and budget are getting tighter. Finally, construction management is used to establish an efficient organisation of all these issues and able to predict the result with a high degree of precision and certainty. This could be accomplished by the human mind when projects were smaller, but with the recent development human mind is clearly pushed to its limits. On this background, the possible support of AI to organisational tasks needs to be investigated on a theoretical level prior to developing tools. This paper is the extended version of the article ‘Artificial Intelligence in Construction Management – a Perspective’, presented at the Creative Construction Conference 2019 where the algorithmic and entropic scope of AI is investigated in the context of construction management. However, efficient organisation is about restructuring systems into a set of well-separated subsystems, where human intelligence is required to bring in mainly two higher principles which AI fails to provide: the ability to prioritise and creativity allowing for new approaches not derived from given data. This paper additionally focuses on the aspect of in-situ coordination. This service is an aspect of organisation which is not separable and can therefore only be treated as self-determined subsystem, located outside of hierarchical control. At this point algorithms of AI need to be investigated not so much as to substitute human mind but to provide significant support.","PeriodicalId":42309,"journal":{"name":"Organization Technology and Management in Construction","volume":"12 1","pages":"2053 - 2063"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2020-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49416979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}