Performance of MBE/DBE/WBE construction firms in transportation projects

Kim, A and Arditi, D (2010) Performance of MBE/DBE/WBE construction firms in transportation projects. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 136(7), pp. 768-777. ISSN 0733-9364

Abstract

The goal of this research is to conduct a comparative investigation of the performance of minority/disadvantaged/women business enterprise (MBE/DBE/WBE) versus non-MBE/DBE/WBE companies in transportation projects. A performance assessment model was developed in a survey format following review of contemporary performance measurement tools. The survey was administered to prequalified MBE/DBE/WBE and non-MBE/DBE/WBE companies in transportation projects nationwide. The names and addresses of these companies were obtained from U.S. DOT websites. Comparisons between the two groups were made using the Mann-Whitney test. When the test was administered to the entire group regardless of firm size and age, non-MBE/DBE/WBE companies outperformed MBE/DBE/WBE companies. However, MBE/DBE/WBE companies were smaller and had been in business for fewer years than non-MBE/DBE/WBE companies. When MBE/DBE/WBE and non-MBE/DBE/WBE companies of similar size and age were compared, the study revealed that there are no significant differences in performance.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: company performance; dbe; mbe; minority; transportation projects; wbe
Index terms: performance assessment, minority, investigation, women, performance measurement, transportation project, construction firm, survey
Subjects: infrastructure and transport systems, assessment methods, sociology, performance measurement, organization, data collection methods
Topics: Business Strategy, Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Quality Management, Human Resources, Ethics
Descriptive scope: 4 PCEA

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