Journal Articles

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/7915

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Author: search.filters.author.Rotimi JOBSubject: search.filters.subject.12 Built Environment and Design

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Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
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    Occupants’ Decision-Making of Their Energy Behaviours in Office Environments: A Case of New Zealand
    (1/02/2023) Weerasinghe AS; Rasheed EO; Rotimi JOB
    Understanding how occupants behave and interact with building systems is vital to energy efficiency in buildings. The building occupants’ behaviours are complex and influenced by diverse factors. A deep understanding of the underlying environmental, contextual, social, and psychological factors is the first step of many in establishing the relationship between the indoor environment and occupants’ behaviours. The current study investigates the influence of occupants’ perceived indoor environmental comfort, the availability of control, and the social-psychological impacts on occupant behaviours in a New Zealand context. The data were collected through online surveys, and 99 office occupants responded. A machine learning technique was applied to identify the critical factors influencing the decision-making of occupant behaviours. Of the occupant behaviours considered in the study, adjusting windows, doors, shades and blinds, and drinking beverages were mostly practised (>70%) while adjusting lighting, personal fans, thermostats/heaters, and computers (40–70%) was moderately practised by occupants. The availability of specific user controls was the main predictor of most occupant behaviours, followed by social-psychological factors such as actual knowledge, perceived knowledge, behavioural interventions, subjective norms, organisational support, personal norms, attitudes, and perceived behavioural control. The indoor environmental parameters such as indoor temperature, indoor air quality, natural light, and inside noise were highlighted as most influential in decision-making for occupant behaviours. Additionally, the demographic factors: gender, work duration, days at work, and permanence/temporariness of workspace, were also impactful. Knowing the complexity of occupants’ decision-making with respect to their behaviours helps building managers use this sensitive information to enhance building energy performance and enable more energy feedback to the occupants to raise their awareness. Such information is helpful for creating an intelligent environmental control system loop with eco-feedback and establishing occupant-centric buildings or features.
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    The common causes of rework in construction contracts: a diagnostic approach
    (Emerald, 2021) Asadi R; Wilkinson S; Rotimi JOB
    Purpose: The high rate of rework that occurs in construction projects has a negative effect on the performance of the construction projects. Although several mechanisms have been implemented to control reworking, a comprehensive list of rework causes is yet to be provided to present the common causes that contribute to rework in construction contracts. This paper aims to investigate the most common rework causes that need to be addressed in construction contracts. Design/methodology/approach: A mixed-method using both the qualitative and quantitative approach is used in this paper. First of all, the study adopted a four-step literature review to introduce the rework research trends and provide statistical reports using descriptive analysis. Next, a comprehensive review has been completed using content analysis to identify the common causes of rework in construction projects. Finally, the common causes in construction contracts are further investigated through a quantitative questionnaire survey to validate the initial results. Findings: The results of the review showed an increasing trend of publications on rework over the last three decades. Most of the studies were conducted in Australia, the UK, Nigeria and Hong Kong. Based on further investigation in the study area of sources of rework, 37 causes of rework causes were identified and classified in five groups. Then, the most significant causes of rework in construction contracts were compiled in the list of 22 items. Research limitations/implications: The paper’s reported result, contributes to the contract management body of knowledge by proposing a list of common rework causes that can be used by practitioners during the contract negotiation to prevent contractual issues. The result of the review can also be used for further investigation of the relationship between rework and contract conditions. Originality/value: The proposed list of common causes of rework in construction contracts allows project parties to improve the terms of the contract in addressing rework, this could result in fewer contractual claims and disputes. The findings of this study will also guide the investigations into the contract conditions, thus the approach used is constructive.
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    Comparative Life-Cycle Cost (LCC) study of Green and Traditional Industrial Buildings in Sri Lanka
    (Elsevier, 2021) Weerasinghe AS; Ramachandra T; Rotimi JOB
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    Sustaining construction organisations in NZ: A linear regression model approach to analysing determinants of their performance
    (MDPI AG, 2023) Alqudah HE; Poshdar M; Oyewobi LO; Rotimi JOB; Tookey J
    The characteristics, strategies, capabilities, and resources of an organisation contribute to its competitive advantage and superior performance. A model to explain performance differences in the New Zealand context will be developed by examining the relationships between construction organisational performance and these constructs. The information was obtained using a questionnaire survey. A total of 101 organisations participated in the research. For the instrument used to elicit data, the literature was used to identify indicators associated with characteristics of organisational strategies for competition, resources and capabilities, and performance of the organisation. Analyses of descriptive, parametric, and linear regression were conducted to examine the effects of these constructs on organisational performance. The results suggest that organisational characteristics are significantly associated with internal business processes, learning, and the growth perspectives of an organisation’s performance, while competitive strategies, resources, and capability perspectives are significantly related to financial perspectives. As a result, these findings add to the current discourse regarding organisational performance differentials in the construction industry. The study demonstrates that it is critical to take into account the different organisational characteristics that are implemented within organisations and how they influence organisational performance beyond rational processes.
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    Towards sustainable commercial buildings: An analysis of operation and maintenace (O&M) costs in Sri Lanka
    (Emerald Publishing Limited, 14/09/2020) Weerasinghe AS; Ramachandra T; Rotimi JOB
    Purpose Rising energy costs and increasing environmental concerns are catalysts for introducing sustainable design features in buildings. Incorporating sustainable design features in commercial buildings cannot be overstated because it could confer benefits to the investor (owners) and occupants. This study aims to develop a model that could aid in the prediction of operation and maintenance (O&M) costs from the knowledge of building-design variables. There is little evidence that design variables influence the O&M costs of buildings. Therefore, this study investigates the relationship between design variables and O&M costs in commercial buildings with the intent of developing a cost model for estimating O&M costs at the early design phase. Design/methodology/approach The study was approached quantitatively using a survey strategy. Data for the study were obtained from 30 randomly selected commercial buildings in the CBD in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Pareto's 80/20 rule, correlation and regression analysis were performed on the data to prove the statistical relationships between the buildings' O&M costs and their design variables. Findings The study found that 12 significant O&M costs elements contribute to about 82% of total O&M costs. Repairs and decoration had a strong correlation with building shape. Furthermore, the regression analysis found that O&M costs values were primarily dependent on the building size (the gross floor area and height of the buildings). The gross floor area and height handled over 73% of the variance in the O&M costs of commercial buildings in Sri Lanka. Originality/value These findings are a useful insight into the principles for design economies that could contribute to more sustainable commercial buildings.
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    An evaluation of risk factors impacting project budget performance in New Zealand
    (Emerald Publishing Limited, 3/03/2021) Adafin J; Rotimi JOB; Wilkinson S
    Purpose There has been a lack of research, particularly within the New Zealand (NZ) context, focusing on the identification and assessment of risk factors for construction projects, leading to a wide variation between design-phase elemental cost plans (ECPs) and the outturn tender sums (OTS). Still to be investigated is how risks interact to produce such variability. This study aims to determine the risk-influencing factors, identified through risk measurement, during design development. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted literature review and online questionnaire survey. The literature review was used to identify the factors affecting project budgetary performance, which was used to design the questionnaire survey culminating in data analysis. The questionnaire was administered to 64 practising project managers (PMs) in NZ. Their responses were analysed using descriptive statistics, mean ranking analysis, degree-of-risk measure and correlational analysis, to find the top-five risk factors impacting the variability observed, through ranking the mean and degree of risk values that produce such variability. Findings Significant risk factors were identified from the questionnaire survey analysis, such as changes in project owner/stakeholder requirements, experience of project team, site condition information, competency of consultants and information flow and quality. These provided some insights in explaining the variability between the design-phase ECPs and OTS based on risk impacts from PMs’ viewpoints. Research limitations/implications Findings revealed a drift of 23.86% in budgeted costs (inflated risks), which seems significant. Prioritising top risk factors may provide handy information for researchers on the variables that could be relied upon for the development of a forecasting model for application in NZ. Practical implications The study findings have implications for PMs seeking to provide information on mitigation strategies by using risk management approach, considering the influence of development risks on building project delivery and, consequently the project owner’s financial position. To guard against wide variation between design-phase ECPs and OTS, the main contribution of this study is to raise consultants’ awareness of the important risk factors for their planning at the outset, thus assisting PMs in pro-actively managing their clients' budgets. Originality/value This study creates value by synthesising literature on construction project budgeting and highlighting areas for further research. By giving adequate attention to key risks associated with budget overruns in commercial projects, variability between ECPs and OTS, a common phenomenon in NZ, can be controlled to achieve cost savings. Based on this, further study suggests the development of a model that could assist the stakeholders in NZ to more reliably predict OTS from the design-phase ECP and pro-actively avoid unfortunate budget/cost overruns, disputes and even project abandonment.
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    Towards contracting strategy usage for rework in construction projects: A comprehensive review
    (Taylor & Francis Online, 2021) Asadi R; Wilkinson S; Rotimi JOB
    Rework has been the core of attention for several years in the industry and academia as it affects the performance of projects. However, the trend of rework academic papers indicates an increasing rate in recent years; the overall research lacks a comprehensive review of the implemented theories and proposed models to explore further directions for rework management. Thus, to achieve a better understanding of rework it is necessary to perform an extensive review. This research aims to explore various insights from rework-related articles, discuss major research areas, and identify gaps for future studies looking closely at construction contracts. The selected articles are from three databases: “Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar”. The findings are categorized into six study areas: sources of rework, models and solutions, management and strategies, theories and techniques, rework impacts, and factors affecting rework. The analysis of the employed techniques across these topics showed that System Dynamic Modelling, Action Research, Analytic Hierarchy Process, and Regression have been used more frequently than other methods. The comprehensive review also shed light on the new ways of thinking, analyzing, and controlling the impacts of the rework. This paper proposes the assessment of rework causes in the conditions of contract which provides opportunities for improvement of the construction contracts.
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    Construction project performance: The role of client knowledge and procurement systems
    (Emerald, 2021) Windapo A; Adediran A; Rotimi JOB; Umeokafor N
    Purpose: This study aims to investigate whether clients’ knowledge about construction procurement systems influence project performance objectives and the role of procurement systems on project performance objectives in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach: Using a two-round survey, 90 usable questionnaires from construction professionals in South Africa plus 3 expert clients were collected. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics – means, percentages and the analytical hierarchy process to determine the rank of client project performance criteria, while inferential statistics – Pearson product-moment correlation was used in establishing the relationship between the level of clients’ knowledge and project performance. Findings: It was found that the common procurement systems used are traditional, followed by management-oriented and integrated procurement systems. In addition, it emerged that client’s knowledge of procurement systems shows a positive relationship with the achievement of project performance objectives. Based on these findings, it is concluded that some procurement systems being selected by clients in South Africa are inappropriately selected. This is despite the emergence of more efficient procurement systems. If procurement systems are selected based on the knowledge of the client, it will give better chances of a successful project outcome. Practical implications: The research suggests the need for clients to seek ways to improve their understanding or increase their knowledge of procurement systems in construction. Policymakers’ responsibilities in driving policies that will place responsibilities on clients to seek a reasonable way to improve their knowledge where possible is implied in the study. Originality/value: It contributes to improving project performance by examining whether the level of knowledge possessed by a client influences project performance.
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    Business environment, CRM, and sustainable performance of construction industry in New Zealand: A linear regression model
    (MDPI AG, 2021) Alqudah HE; Poshdar M; Oyewobi L; Rotimi JOB; Tookey J
    Increasing fragmentation of the construction industry makes it riskier and more competitive. Construction management researchers have become intrigued by the factors influencing performance differentials due to such fierce competition. This study examines the relationships between the business environment and customer relationship management and their effect on construction organisations sustainable performance. It develops a model to explain performance differential between construction organisations in New Zealand by using the linear regression technique. A questionnaire was administered to professionals within construction organisations. A total of 101 usable responses were analyzed for descriptive statistics and correlations. Following the balanced scorecard performance metric, the organisations’ sustainable performance was measured using customers, financials, internal processes, and growth and learning metrics. Results indicated that environmental dynamism had a significant regression with internal business processes and perspectives on learning and growth, with 0.259 and 0.607, respectively. CRM was significantly associated with financial (0.327), customer (0.373), and internal business process (0.451) perspectives. This study provides an integrative framework to construction enterprises, and determinants of organisational sustainable performance, which are substantial developments in the current literature on CRM practices. Given the significance of the construction sector to the global economy, ecology, and social well-being, its sustainable performance can lead to a sustainable future for communities.