An Empirical Study of Schedule Delay Causes Based on Taiwan's Litigation Cases

Many uncertainties can cause construction projects to be delayed, resulting in conflicts between the two parties to a construction contract. Using case study and content analysis methodologies, this study analyzed 79 litigation cases in Taiwan to identify the main causes of schedule delays in construction projects, which are “change orders,” “changed scope of the work,” “delayed site handover,” and “weather.” In this study, these causes are organized into a causation model to provide a reference for preventing schedule delay. The employed approach can be implemented for assessments of other regions, as schedule delays are common features in most construction projects.     

浅析EPC总承包项目施工风险管理

EPC总承包项目在施工过程中存在较多的不确定因素和风险,势必影响其进度、质量、安全和成本目标的实现。同时,EPC总承包项目的特殊性,也要求管理者必须运用科学手段对施工风险进行有效识别,并采取有效的工程措施防范和规避风险因素。     

Addressing Risks in Green Retrofit Projects: The Case of Singapore

The objectives of this study are to identify the risks in green retrofit projects in Singapore; analyze their risk criticalities; compare the risk criticalities between conventional and green retrofit projects; and provide mitigation measures for the critical risks. Twenty risks and 37 mitigation measures were identified from a literature review. A questionnaire survey was performed with 30 professionals experienced in green retrofits, and five post‐survey interviews were conducted. The results indicated “post‐retrofit tenants’ cooperation risk” was the top risk, and that 19 risks were more critical in green retrofits than in conventional retrofits. Additionally, 28 mitigation measures obtained significant agreement.     

Identifying Success Factors in Construction Projects: A Case Study

Defining “project success” has been of interest for many years, and recent developments combine multiple measurable and psychosocial factors that add to this definition. There has also been research into success factors, but little research into the causal chains through which success emerges. Following the multi‐dimensionality of “success,” this article shows how success factors combine in complex interactions; it describes factors contributing to project performance by a company working on two major construction programs and shows how to map and analyze paths from root causes to success criteria. The study also identifies some specific factors—some generic, some context‐dependent—none of these is uncommon but here they come together synergistically.     

Synchronization of Innovation and Vehicle Projects: Proposal of a Management Tool at Renault SAS

The success of a vehicle on the market depends on its price, reliability, and attractiveness; for the latter, innovations are the key elements in the differentiation from competitors. Managing the processes of selecting and integrating innovation projects into vehicle projects is therefore crucial. This article presents a management tool that aims at managing the interplay between innovation projects and vehicle projects. The objectives are to increase and optimize the amount and value of innovation projects integrated into vehicle projects. The tool, called “Profilor,” is based on the concept of intrusiveness, which is presented from a theoretical and empirical point of view.     

Iterative Project Processes Within Temporary Multi‐Organizations in Construction: The Self‐, Eco‐, Re‐Organizing Projects

Theory‐based studies claim that informal processes interfere with the formal mechanisms and structures of projects in the construction sector. These processes structure and transform multi‐organizations. This four‐year case study reveals empirical evidence about how processes effectively evolve over time and affect formal mechanisms and structures. The results show: (1) the significant differences between what is planned and what actually unfolds in project processes; (2) how iterative processes overshadow linear ones; (3) how informality and “iterativity” eventually end up as self‐, eco‐, and re‐organizing projects and organizations, confirming that projects (re)create the very processes and structures that initiate them.     

Identifying and Acting on Early Warning Signs in Complex Projects

We consider identification of early warning signs (EWS) in projects. Project professionals are not good at detecting or acting on EWS. Barriers that lead to this are identified. The nature of EWS and their detection change with the evolving situation. Project assessments, typically part of gateways, are useful in identifying EWS connected to the formalities of the project. As complexity increases, assessments have more limited use, and the project is increasingly dependent on detecting EWS by informal “gut feeling.” Thus, knowledge, experience, and communication skills are increasingly important in complex situations. We conclude with a list of early warning signs.     

Critical Management Measures Contributing to Construction Waste Management: Evidence From Construction Projects in China

To alleviate the generation of grave construction waste, it is imperative for China to minimize its construction waste; however, critical measures that are effective in managing construction waste have yet to be fully explored and understood. Through a literature review, semistructured interviews, questionnaire, and statistical analysis, this study investigates critical measures for the effective management of construction waste in China. The study identifies 16 critical management measures and further categorizes them into five components, including “ameliorate major stakeholders' awareness and behavior,” “improve regulatory environment,” “enhance onsite construction waste management,” “promote construction material use efficiency,” and “measures related to design‐out waste and recycling.”     

影响通信铁塔交付质量的工程采购因素分析

铁塔是通信工程采购中的大型外配套物料。为了分析其对项目整体交付质量的影响,通过对三个非洲国家交钥匙项目中铁塔的设计、投标和采购认证的案例研究显示,铁塔采购质量的端到端全流程覆盖,是确保项目整体交付质量的关键所在。     

论建筑项目中施工延误的类型

文章介绍了建筑项目施工过程中施工延误的类型,为解决施工延误问题提供正确的思路。     

论建筑项目中施工延误的类型

文章介绍了建筑项目施工过程中施工延误的类型,为解决施工延误问题提供正确的思路。     

What You Should Know About Megaprojects and Why: An Overview

This paper takes stock of megaproject management, an emerging and hugely costly field of study, by first answering the question of how large megaprojects are by measuring them in the units of mega, giga, and tera, and concluding with how we are presently entering a new “tera era” of trillion‐dollar projects. Second, total global megaproject spending is assessed, at US$6 to US$9 trillion annually, or 8% of the total global gross domestic product (GDP), which denotes the biggest investment boom in human history. Third, four “sublimes”—political, technological, economic, and aesthetic—are identified and used to explain the increased size and frequency of megaprojects. Fourth, the “iron law of megaprojects” is laid out and documented: Over budget, over time, over and over again. Moreover, the “break–fix model” of megaproject management is introduced as an explanation of the iron law. Fifth, Albert O. Hirschman's theory of the “Hiding Hand” is revisited and critiqued as unfounded and corrupting for megaproject thinking in both the academy and policy. Sixth, it is shown how megaprojects are systematically subject to “survival of the unfittest,” which explains why the worst projects get built rather than the best. Finally, it is argued that the conventional way of managing megaprojects has reached a “tension point,” in which tradition is being challenged and reform is emerging.     

The “management‐per‐result” approach to international development project design

Results‐based management (RBM) has proved to be a valuable tool for international development project management; however, there are some inconsistencies that limit the use of RBM at the design phase to manage for results. This article presents a “management‐per‐result” approach to reinforcing the project design function of RBM and illustrates its application to a real‐life project. Shying away from a technocratic approach, it emphasizes a “quick‐and‐dirty” approach and proposes an updated version of the logical framework to include success criteria and factors and very rough estimates for both project costs and benefits for targeted project results for different types of projects (infrastructure development, “process” type of project, and so forth).     

Exploring early purchasing involvement in discontinuous innovation: A dynamic capability perspective

This paper aims to address the gap concerning our knowledge about early purchasing's involvement (EPI) in new product development (NPD) projects in contexts characterized by discontinuous innovation. We adopt a dynamic capability perspective to explore how existing sourcing and supplier relationship management capabilities are adapted when purchasing agents become involved in discontinuous innovations projects. We use an embedded case-study approach to study four NPD projects in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) company. The case studies are based on interviews with managers and staff from the research and development, purchasing, and marketing departments, as well as suppliers involved in the projects. Our empirical findings capture emerging purchasing practices including a “reversed” sourcing process, purchasing-marketing interaction, and the coordination of “a learning atmosphere” between the R&D department and suppliers through proactive innovation meetings and creativity workshops. We derive propositions to conduct further research into the role of the purchasing department in times of discontinuous innovation. We also provide a framework of sourcing and supplier-relationship practices that firms can use when embarking on discontinuous innovation.     

建筑工程质量控制探析

建筑工程质量控制是工程项目三大重点控制内容之一,是决定工程建设成败的关键。本文针对当前建筑工程存在的质量问题,分析了影响建筑工程质量的主要因素,并提出了建筑工程质量控制的对策。     

BOT项目提前终止关键影响因素——基于多案例的研究

自从我国基础设施与公用事业领域广泛应用BOT模式以来,因缺乏经验、决策不合理等原因导致项目提前终止的情况频繁发生。本文选取中国13个有代表性的提前终止BOT项目为研究样本,采用多案例研究的方法识别出公众反对、政府部门履约不力、政府征用、项目公司违规/违法行为、政策法规变动、同类项目竞争以及建设工期延误7项导致项目提前终止的关键影响因素,进一步分析关键影响因素的特点和形成原因,并提出应对策略,为政府部门和私人资本成功运作BOT项目提供了借鉴和指导。     

Project System Vulnerability to Political Risks in International Construction Projects: The Case of Chinese Contractors

This study aims to explore the variables affecting the project system vulnerability to political risks in international construction projects. A questionnaire survey was conducted and 138 responses were received from both academia and industry. The exploratory factor analysis was then adopted to uncover the relationships among these variables. The results showed that three exposure factors (i.e., attribute‐based exposure, strategy‐based exposure, and transaction‐based exposure) and three capacity factors (i.e., core competitive capacity, relative bargain capacity, and integrate adaptive capacity) were believed to be the significant underlying factors for the project system vulnerability to political risks. Also, case studies were conducted and the results indicated that the emergent framework was suitable and tractable for application in the future. This study provides a method for measuring the project system vulnerability to political risks; thus, international construction enterprises can decrease their risk exposure and enhance their capacity for dealing with political risks in international construction projects.     

Transition towards and of sustainability—Understanding sustainability as performative

Our purpose is to explore the concept of “sustainability” when understood from a performative perspective, i.e. as a concept that is filled with meaning across time. Drawing on a 10 year-long study of the digital footprint of Stockholm Royal Seaport, claimed to be northern Europe's largest sustainable urban development district, we show that “sustainability” emerged as the project became associated with particular places, projects, histories, and technologies. This means that “sustainability” was local in that it was situated in the particular spatial context of the project; temporal in that it was situated in a particular time; and political in that it expressed particular values and perspectives. The study contributes to explaining why “sustainability” remains—and always will remain—a contested concept, which is why sustainability transitions are complex. Consequently, we suggest that the transition towards sustainability always involves the transition of sustainability, something that needs to be acknowledged in order for a transition to actually become sustainable.     

Sustainable development in small and medium enterprises: The role of entrepreneurial orientation in supply chain management

Organizations are under increased pressure to improve their sustainable performance through the adoption of green supply chain management (GSCM) practices. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have lagged behind larger corporations due to a number of factors. Chief among these factors is the lack of resources and capabilities. In this study, we investigate whether entrepreneurial orientation as a distinctive firm-level resource contributes to the successful implementation of GSCM practices within SMEs. We use primary data obtained from 316 manufacturing SMEs and analyze the data by using a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). Our findings show four equifinal configurations of GSCM practices and the components of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) that lead to high environmental performance. Two practices, “eco-design” and “internal environmental management”, are present in all configurations, with the latter being the single core condition. The components of EO are present in all the configurations. Three distinct configurations lead to the simultaneous achievement of high environmental performance and high economic performance. Some noticeable differences appear in these configurations: “internal environmental management” is no longer a core condition, instead external practices (“green purchasing,” “cooperation with customers including environmental requirements,” and “investment recovery”) and “risk-taking” become core conditions. We exptrapolate our findings into a set of propositions that expand theory on the link between entrepreneurial orientation and sustainable performance. Our study provides insights for managers who seek to infuse entrepreneurial thoughts and actions into their green supply chain initiatives.     

Teacher well-being and innovation with information and communication technologies; proposal for a structural model

The fundamental objective of the study presented in this article is to formulate a theoretical model with an empirical base that identifies the factors associated with the well-being of teachers, when they tackle processes of educational innovation mediated by the use of the information and communication technologies (ICT). Subjective well-being is an area of study of social psychology linked to the studies into “happiness” or “satisfaction with life” and constitutes an increasingly broad theoretical body. A questionnaire was produced, based on the scientific foundations that support the proposed model, and its validity and reliability have been established. The population and sample is made up of 322 teachers from non university centres that carry out innovative experiences with ICT in four Regions of Spain. The results obtained confirm five latent variables that explain the teacher well-being associated with innovation practices in ICT: (1) values/projects, (2) motivation, (3) competences, (4) satisfaction and (5) emotions. An explanatory structural model of teacher well-being is empirically validated. These findings could be of interest in identifying and promoting the relevant keys that help to improve the emotional states of working teachers.