|
Showing 1 - 14 of
14 matches in All Departments
This book provides readers an understanding of the implementation
of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) for international construction
operations. In an extended case study, it primarily focuses on
Chinese construction firms (CCFs) based in Singapore. In this
regard, the book explains the differences and similarities between
Risk Management (RM), Project Risk Management (PRM) and ERM in the
construction industry, and examines their linkages for
international construction operations in a broader context. The
explanation elaborates on how companies may adopt and implement RM,
PRM and ERM as appropriate in their various operations, both in
their home market as well as in overseas host markets. The book
also reviews the whole spectrum of work relating to organizational
behavior (OB) as one of the key underpinnings for companies to
evaluate and implement ERM. It will benefit practitioners from the
industry as well as academics interested in the implementation of
ERM practices in international construction operations.
This book explores China’s global competitiveness in the building
of infrastructures with a particular interest in the resource-rich
African countries. The book begins with a comprehensive literature
review on total quality management (TQM) and national culture,
followed by reviews of the construction industries in China and
Nigeria. This provides better understanding of the linkages between
TQM, based on the International Organization for
Standardization’s ISO 9000 quality management systems (QMS), and
national culture, based on Emeritus Professor Geert Hofstede’s
national cultural dimensions. Premised on the culture-specificity
and bi-directionality relationships between TQM and national
culture, this book investigates the construction industries in
China and Nigeria including their strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, and threats (SWOT) as well as an appraisal of their
historical and emerging relationships. In its conceptual approach,
this book presents different models in the lead up to its primary
theoretical contribution of a quality management assessment model
(QMAM) that was adopted during the study’s field work. The book
also presents relevant lessons relating to cross cultural
management and quality performance not only to the Nigerians but
also other foreign players in Nigeria’s construction industry.
The book presents a mixed research method adopted to assess and
present the Toyota Way practices within construction firms in
general and for firms in China specifically. The results of an
extensive structured questionnaire survey based on the Toyota
Way-styled attributes identified were developed and data collected
from building professionals working in construction firms is
presented. The quantitative data presented in the book explains the
status quo of the Toyota Way-styled practices implemented in the
construction industry, as well as the extent to which these
attributes were perceived for lean construction management. The
book highlights all the actionable attributes derived from the
Toyota Way model appreciated by the building professionals, but
alerts the readers that some attributes felled short of
implementation. Further findings from in-depth interviews and case
studies are also presented in the book to provide to readers an
understanding how these Toyota Way practices can be implemented in
real-life projects. Collectively, all the empirical findings
presented in this book can serve to enhance understanding of Toyota
Way practices in the lean construction management context. The
readers are then guided through to understand the gaps between
actual practice and Toyota Way-styled practices, and the measures
that they may undertake to circumvent the challenges for
implementation. The book also presents to readers the SWOT analysis
that addresses the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
towards the implementation of the Toyota Way in the construction
industry. The book prescribes the Toyota Way model for use in
construction firms to strategically implement lean construction
management. The checklist presented in the book enables readers to
draw lessons that may be used additionally as a holistic assessment
tool for measuring the maturity of firms with respect to their
Toyota Way implementation. Consequent to this, management would
then be in a better position to develop plans for Toyota Way
implementation by focusing on weak areas, strengthening them, and
thus increasing the likelihood of success in the implementation of
the Toyota Way. In a nutshell, this book provides a comprehensive
and valuable resource for firms not only in the construction
industry but also businesses outside of the construction sector to
better understand the Toyota Way and how this understanding can
translate to implementation of lean construction/business
management to enhance profitability and survivability in an
increasingly competitive global market place.
The book presents the development of the Construction Quality
Assessment System (CONQUAS), Singapore's de facto quality
performance measurement system, explains the application of the
Quality Management System (QMS) to manage CONQUAS and identifies 33
critical success factors (CSFs) for achieving high CONQUAS scores.
Through CONQUAS, the reader benefits from understanding how the
Singapore government developed and implemented the first objective
system for measuring what many building professionals have
perceived to be elusive quality standards in the construction
industry. The book presents both the theoretical concepts as well
as the practical aspects to achieving strategic Project Quality
Management that is anchored on the CSFs to building best practices.
To realistically reflect the practical aspects and challenging
issues faced by stakeholders in the construction industry,
questionnaire surveys were conducted with building professionals to
distinguish the importance level and extent of adoption of the 33
CSFs (identified from a comprehensive review of the extant
literature) in influencing and affecting the achievement of high
CONQUAS scores. These were further anchored by in-depth interviews
with quality experts in the Singapore construction industry to
provide a better understanding of issues relating to strategic
Project Quality Management. Collectively, the empirical findings
collated from the building professionals suggest that while the
CSFs identified are known tenets of quality, these were still not
being followed in their totality. A further case study was
conducted through a formal set of in-depth interviews with the
quality assurance team of a construction company who has direct
involvement before, during and after their tremendous improvements
in the CONQUAS scores attained. The strength of this book therefore
represents a true account and reflections of real-life practices
and experiences in the construction industry for contractors,
quality managers and policy-makers to learn from. Although the
context of this book relates to the Singapore experience, the
lessons and recommendations are equally relevant and applicable to
the global construction industry in both the developing and
developed countries whose stakeholders (in both the public and
private sectors) wish to understand how CONQUAS works, and how the
CSFs identified can likewise be implemented for strategic Project
Quality Management to building best practices. The book is
therefore of interests to researchers, academia and practitioners
in the construction industry as well as in other sectors of the
economy (in Singapore and other countries) where learning points
may be used for enhancing project quality management for buildings.
This book focuses on the implementation of Quality Function
Deployment (QFD) in the construction industry as a tool to help
building designers arrive at optimal decisions for external
envelope systems with sustainable and buildable design goals. In
particular, the book integrates special features into the
conventional QFD tool to enhance its performance. These features
include a fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making method, fuzzy
consensus scheme, and Knowledge Management System (KMS). This
integration results in a more robust decision support tool, known
as the Knowledge-based Decision Support System QFD (KBDSS-QFD)
tool. As an example, the KBDSS-QFD tool is used for the assessment
of building envelope materials and designs for high-rise
residential buildings in Singapore in the early design stage. The
book provides the reader with a conceptual framework for
understanding the development of the KBDSS-QFD tool. The framework
is presented in a generalized form in order to benefit building
professionals, decision makers, analysts, academics and
researchers, who can use the findings as guiding principles to
achieve optimal solutions and boost efficiency.
This book explains how in moving towards Cleaner Production, the
Lean Production Philosophy can be applied to reduce carbon
emissions in prefabrication - one major source of the Greenhouse
Gas (GHG) emissions which contribute to global climate change. This
book examines theories and principles in the Lean Production
Philosophy to develop situation-based carbon reduction strategies
for precast concrete manufacturers and contractors in terms of Site
layout, Supply Chain, Production, Stocks and Installation
Management. It presents the empirical findings of surveys and case
studies with managers and professionals working for precasters and
contractors in Singapore, findings which provide good practical
guidance for precast concrete manufacturers and contractors to
achieve low carbon emissions and to perform better in many
sustainability-based rating systems, such as the Singapore Green
Labelling Scheme and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA)
Green Mark Scheme.
This book focuses on the implementation of Quality Function
Deployment (QFD) in the construction industry as a tool to help
building designers arrive at optimal decisions for external
envelope systems with sustainable and buildable design goals. In
particular, the book integrates special features into the
conventional QFD tool to enhance its performance. These features
include a fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making method, fuzzy
consensus scheme, and Knowledge Management System (KMS). This
integration results in a more robust decision support tool, known
as the Knowledge-based Decision Support System QFD (KBDSS-QFD)
tool. As an example, the KBDSS-QFD tool is used for the assessment
of building envelope materials and designs for high-rise
residential buildings in Singapore in the early design stage. The
book provides the reader with a conceptual framework for
understanding the development of the KBDSS-QFD tool. The framework
is presented in a generalized form in order to benefit building
professionals, decision makers, analysts, academics and
researchers, who can use the findings as guiding principles to
achieve optimal solutions and boost efficiency.
This book provides readers an understanding of the implementation
of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) for international construction
operations. In an extended case study, it primarily focuses on
Chinese construction firms (CCFs) based in Singapore. In this
regard, the book explains the differences and similarities between
Risk Management (RM), Project Risk Management (PRM) and ERM in the
construction industry, and examines their linkages for
international construction operations in a broader context. The
explanation elaborates on how companies may adopt and implement RM,
PRM and ERM as appropriate in their various operations, both in
their home market as well as in overseas host markets. The book
also reviews the whole spectrum of work relating to organizational
behavior (OB) as one of the key underpinnings for companies to
evaluate and implement ERM. It will benefit practitioners from the
industry as well as academics interested in the implementation of
ERM practices in international construction operations.
The book explains how Gravitational Distance and the System of
Cities influence transnational construction-related firms when they
venture overseas. The study presented in the book internalizes the
characteristics of home and foreign cities, and of transnational
firms, to develop situational business strategies and organization
designs in terms of Strategy, Structure, Systems, Leadership Style,
Firm's Skills, Staff's characteristics, Shared Values and Supply
Chain. The book presents the findings of surveys and interviews
with managers and professionals in eight different Asian cities
stretching from Singapore to China. The findings are then used to
develop business solutions in the form of a Decision Support System
(DSS) for transnational construction firms, helping them to adopt
an appropriate organization design strategy when they venture into
overseas markets. Issues relating to globalization,
competitiveness, risk management, communications, networks,
government interference, business strategies, organization
structures and systems in the context of international construction
business are discussed together with corresponding recommendations
for implementation. Although construction-related firms were used
as the basis for the field studies, the lessons learned are equally
applicable for organizations in other industries.
The book presents a mixed research method adopted to assess and
present the Toyota Way practices within construction firms in
general and for firms in China specifically. The results of an
extensive structured questionnaire survey based on the Toyota
Way-styled attributes identified were developed and data collected
from building professionals working in construction firms is
presented. The quantitative data presented in the book explains the
status quo of the Toyota Way-styled practices implemented in the
construction industry, as well as the extent to which these
attributes were perceived for lean construction management. The
book highlights all the actionable attributes derived from the
Toyota Way model appreciated by the building professionals, but
alerts the readers that some attributes felled short of
implementation. Further findings from in-depth interviews and case
studies are also presented in the book to provide to readers an
understanding how these Toyota Way practices can be implemented in
real-life projects. Collectively, all the empirical findings
presented in this book can serve to enhance understanding of Toyota
Way practices in the lean construction management context. The
readers are then guided through to understand the gaps between
actual practice and Toyota Way-styled practices, and the measures
that they may undertake to circumvent the challenges for
implementation. The book also presents to readers the SWOT analysis
that addresses the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
towards the implementation of the Toyota Way in the construction
industry. The book prescribes the Toyota Way model for use in
construction firms to strategically implement lean construction
management. The checklist presented in the book enables readers to
draw lessons that may be used additionally as a holistic assessment
tool for measuring the maturity of firms with respect to their
Toyota Way implementation. Consequent to this, management would
then be in a better position to develop plans for Toyota Way
implementation by focusing on weak areas, strengthening them, and
thus increasing the likelihood of success in the implementation of
the Toyota Way. In a nutshell, this book provides a comprehensive
and valuable resource for firms not only in the construction
industry but also businesses outside of the construction sector to
better understand the Toyota Way and how this understanding can
translate to implementation of lean construction/business
management to enhance profitability and survivability in an
increasingly competitive global market place.
The book presents the development of the Construction Quality
Assessment System (CONQUAS), Singapore's de facto quality
performance measurement system, explains the application of the
Quality Management System (QMS) to manage CONQUAS and identifies 33
critical success factors (CSFs) for achieving high CONQUAS scores.
Through CONQUAS, the reader benefits from understanding how the
Singapore government developed and implemented the first objective
system for measuring what many building professionals have
perceived to be elusive quality standards in the construction
industry. The book presents both the theoretical concepts as well
as the practical aspects to achieving strategic Project Quality
Management that is anchored on the CSFs to building best practices.
To realistically reflect the practical aspects and challenging
issues faced by stakeholders in the construction industry,
questionnaire surveys were conducted with building professionals to
distinguish the importance level and extent of adoption of the 33
CSFs (identified from a comprehensive review of the extant
literature) in influencing and affecting the achievement of high
CONQUAS scores. These were further anchored by in-depth interviews
with quality experts in the Singapore construction industry to
provide a better understanding of issues relating to strategic
Project Quality Management. Collectively, the empirical findings
collated from the building professionals suggest that while the
CSFs identified are known tenets of quality, these were still not
being followed in their totality. A further case study was
conducted through a formal set of in-depth interviews with the
quality assurance team of a construction company who has direct
involvement before, during and after their tremendous improvements
in the CONQUAS scores attained. The strength of this book therefore
represents a true account and reflections of real-life practices
and experiences in the construction industry for contractors,
quality managers and policy-makers to learn from. Although the
context of this book relates to the Singapore experience, the
lessons and recommendations are equally relevant and applicable to
the global construction industry in both the developing and
developed countries whose stakeholders (in both the public and
private sectors) wish to understand how CONQUAS works, and how the
CSFs identified can likewise be implemented for strategic Project
Quality Management to building best practices. The book is
therefore of interests to researchers, academia and practitioners
in the construction industry as well as in other sectors of the
economy (in Singapore and other countries) where learning points
may be used for enhancing project quality management for buildings.
This book explains how in moving towards Cleaner Production, the
Lean Production Philosophy can be applied to reduce carbon
emissions in prefabrication - one major source of the Greenhouse
Gas (GHG) emissions which contribute to global climate change. This
book examines theories and principles in the Lean Production
Philosophy to develop situation-based carbon reduction strategies
for precast concrete manufacturers and contractors in terms of Site
layout, Supply Chain, Production, Stocks and Installation
Management. It presents the empirical findings of surveys and case
studies with managers and professionals working for precasters and
contractors in Singapore, findings which provide good practical
guidance for precast concrete manufacturers and contractors to
achieve low carbon emissions and to perform better in many
sustainability-based rating systems, such as the Singapore Green
Labelling Scheme and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA)
Green Mark Scheme.
This book explores China's global competitiveness in the building
of infrastructures with a particular interest in the resource-rich
African countries. The book begins with a comprehensive literature
review on total quality management (TQM) and national culture,
followed by reviews of the construction industries in China and
Nigeria. This provides better understanding of the linkages between
TQM, based on the International Organization for Standardization's
ISO 9000 quality management systems (QMS), and national culture,
based on Emeritus Professor Geert Hofstede's national cultural
dimensions. Premised on the culture-specificity and
bi-directionality relationships between TQM and national culture,
this book investigates the construction industries in China and
Nigeria including their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and
threats (SWOT) as well as an appraisal of their historical and
emerging relationships. In its conceptual approach, this book
presents different models in the lead up to its primary theoretical
contribution of a quality management assessment model (QMAM) that
was adopted during the study's field work. The book also presents
relevant lessons relating to cross cultural management and quality
performance not only to the Nigerians but also other foreign
players in Nigeria's construction industry.
The book explains how Gravitational Distance and the System of
Cities influence transnational construction-related firms when they
venture overseas. The study presented in the book internalizes the
characteristics of home and foreign cities, and of transnational
firms, to develop situational business strategies and organization
designs in terms of Strategy, Structure, Systems, Leadership Style,
Firm's Skills, Staff's characteristics, Shared Values and Supply
Chain. The book presents the findings of surveys and interviews
with managers and professionals in eight different Asian cities
stretching from Singapore to China. The findings are then used to
develop business solutions in the form of a Decision Support System
(DSS) for transnational construction firms, helping them to adopt
an appropriate organization design strategy when they venture into
overseas markets. Issues relating to globalization,
competitiveness, risk management, communications, networks,
government interference, business strategies, organization
structures and systems in the context of international construction
business are discussed together with corresponding recommendations
for implementation. Although construction-related firms were used
as the basis for the field studies, the lessons learned are equally
applicable for organizations in other industries.
|
You may like...
Loot
Nadine Gordimer
Paperback
(2)
R398
R330
Discovery Miles 3 300
|