Kiani, H (1998) A model for measuring effectiveness of building construction organisations: Owner's perspective. PhD thesis, University of Waterloo, USA.
Abstract
This research is an effort to devise a model to measure the effectiveness of construction organisations. A major part of the population's income is closely related to construction activities. Not only does this industry touch the fives of virtually everyone on a daily basis, but it also occupies a fundamental position in the national economy. This large and pervasive industry is regarded as one of the major indicators of the state general economy. Periods of prosperity are usually associated with a large volume of construction activities. Construction organisations live in an ever-changing environment and their survival depends on their ability to adapt to new demands and opportunities. The construction industry often is criticised for failure to apply the common techniques of planning and time studies of the manufacturing industry to their environment. Although these charges are partially true, critics fail to recognise that on-site construction has unique problem and is totally different in many aspects from the manufacturing industry. The construction process is subject to the influence of highly variable and sometimes unpredictable factors. The unwillingness or leisurely approach of the industry towards responding appropriately to customers' demands has created a need to devise a model of measuring effectiveness. This thesis provides a model of measuring effectiveness that can predict the level of effectiveness for the construction organisations. The thesis has utilised the principles of Total Quality Management and the Constituency Model to devise such a model. The proposed model provides the owners of the construction projects a tool to predict the overall quality of their projects. This research, after analysing an abundance of variables, identifies two variables as the most significant ones. Thew two independent variables are related to the capability of the prime contractor being on schedule and the ability to comply with the specifications. The proposed model is validated by using residual. The results have given satisfactory. Since the proposed model is a customer driven model; the independent variables being the level of satisfaction of the external and internal customers, a periodical assessment of customers' satisfaction is necessary in order to keep the model current. In addition, the accuracy level of the devised model can be improved upon by a regular assessment of the changes in the customer needs.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | McKim, R |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | accuracy; construction activities; failure; income; manufacturing; quality management; total quality management; population; construction project; specification; owner |
| Index terms: | construction industry, quality management, survival, income, periodical, national economy, effectiveness, construction activity, independent variable, owner, construction organization, satisfaction, construction project, population, construction process, manufacturing industry, building construction, accuracy, total quality management, specification |
| Subjects: | organization, research dissemination and communication, evaluation methods, economic analysis, project delivery, environmental science, construction operations, performance management, professional development, contractual condition, production management, sociology, building construction, demography, statistical analysis, quality assurance, industry analysis |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Information Management, Research Practice, Project Management, Stakeholder Management, Sustainability, Construction Technology, Urban Studies, Quality Management, Contract Administration, Site Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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