Parchami Jalal, M and Shoar, S (2019) A hybrid framework to model factors affecting construction labour productivity: Case study of Iran. Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction, 24(3), pp. 630-654. ISSN 1366-4387
Abstract
Purpose: This paper aims to model different causal relations among factors interacting with labour productivity in order to recognize the most important factors influencing and influenced by it. Design/methodology/approach: Top 60 factors affecting labour productivity were determined and grouped into 5 major groups by reviewing previous research and interviewing relevant experts. The interactions of factors were modelled using system dynamics (SD) approach. The resulting causal loop diagrams obtained from SD were then applied for identifying the most crucial factors influencing and influenced by labour productivity through the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method. The impact of factors on each other was finally determined based on the opinions of 63 experts selected from the Iranian construction industry. Findings: The results indicated that factors such as fatigue, lack of labour motivation and lack of skill are the most influencing, and factors such as schedule delay and inflation in the cost of execution are the most influenced by labour productivity. In the end, a set of recommendations to improve construction labour productivity was also presented. Originality/value: The main contribution of the study is proposing a novel method which is capable of providing insights into how causes and effects of construction labour productivity are interrelated. Furthermore, the proposed method makes this study distinct from previous research in the light of prioritizing factors and offering recommendations according to the interrelationships among factors.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction in developing countries; construction productivity; construction/project management; decision theory; decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory model; Iran; labour productivity; risk analysis; risk assessment; system dynamics |
| Index terms: | interaction, construction industry, construction productivity, project management, risk assessment, construction labour, labour productivity, productivity, schedule delay, prioritizing, case study, decision theory, risk analysis, inflation, decision-making, methodology, system dynamics, fatigue, motivation, laboratory, developing country |
| Subjects: | development economics, project management theory and practice, financial risk, management, research methods, industry analysis, behavioral psychology, environmental hazards, project controls, health conditions and diseases, research management, decision analysis, computing systems, data collection methods, economic analysis, psychology, operations management |
| Topics: | Risk Management, Sustainability, Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Cost Management, Research Practice, Project Management, Time Control, Site Management, Digital Applications, International Construction, Human Resources |
| 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