Jayasinghe, R S; Rameezdeen, R and Chileshe, N (2023) Modelling the cause and effect relationship risks in reverse logistics supply chains for demolition waste. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 30(9), pp. 4018-4044. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: The reverse logistics supply chain (RLSC) for demolition waste management (DWM) is a complex process that inherits significant interdependent risks. However, studies on the RLSC have not explicitly identified the risks of its inter-relationships by disentangling their effects on operational performance. Accordingly, this paper aims to identify and assess the inter-dependencies of the risks in the RLSC to improve quality-related operational performance. Design/methodology/approach: A sequential exploratory mixed-method research approach, consisting of qualitative and quantitative methods, was employed. The qualitative approach involved 25 semi-structured interviews, whereas the 18 subsequent structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders in the entire RLSC as part of the quantitative method. These were used to identify the cause and effect relationships of the identified risks. The data were analysed using thematic analysis, and the Bayesian belief network (BBN) technique was used to develop a conceptual risk model. Findings: In total 20 risks in four RLSC sub-processes, namely, dismantling and on-site process, off-site resource recovery process, marketing of secondary products and residue disposal, emerged. Among cause and effect relationships of identified risk factors, inferior quality of secondary products was found to have the strongest relationship with customer satisfaction. Under-pricing of dismantling job, improper landfill operations and inadequacy of landfill levy are independent risks that initiate other risks down the supply chain. The aggregate effects of these risks affect customer dissatisfaction of the end-product, as well as health and safety risks in on-site, off-site and residue disposal. Research limitations/implications: This study only identify the cause and effect relationships of the identified risks within the RLSC for DWM operations. It has not targeted a specific construction material or any secondary production, which could be practiced through a case study in future research. Practical implications: The results encourage the investigation of RLSC process quality by maintaining the relationship between recycler and customer to enable a safe workplace environment. Hence, the role of relevant practitioners and government is inseparable in supporting decision-making. Future research could discuss the impact of those inter-related risks in relation to time- or cost-related operational performance criteria. Originality/value: This study contributes to the field through presenting the first major study on the identification and assessment of the inter-dependencies of the risks in the RLSC in South Australia. The RLSC process mapping had been identified as a tactical and operational management approach. However, the risk management process is a strategic management approach. Therefore, the integration of both process mapping and the risk management approaches in one platform is germane to construction management research.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | cause and effect; construction; quality; resources recovery; reverse logistics supply chains; risks |
| Index terms: | interview, performance criteria, management research, health and safety, resource recovery, bayesian belief network, workplace environment, strategic management, decision-making, methodology, integration, mapping, dismantling, quantitative method, thematic analysis, practitioner, demolition waste, landfill, site process, recovery, platform, case study, pricing, aggregate, qualitative approach, construction material, investigation, risk management, marketing, risk factor, customer satisfaction, reverse logistics, modelling, South Australia |
| Subjects: | environmental hazards, probabilistic model, sociology, decision analysis, organizational analysis, digital design, service delivery, methods and analysis, health safety and environment, research methods, spatial and geospatial analysis, supply chain operations, physical geography and landforms, management, performance measurement, analytical methods, economic analysis, data analysis and analytics, building materials, operations management, practitioner, waste management, materials science, business, research design and methodology, data collection methods, risk assessment |
| Topics: | Organizational Design, Site Management, Digital Applications, Supply Chain Management, Quality Management, Risk Management, Roles and Professions, Stakeholder Management, Sustainability, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Project Management, Geographical Context |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here