Ng, K-W A (2009) Improving main contractors' site coordination in the Hong Kong building projects. PhD thesis, Loughborough University, UK.
Abstract
Construction industry is one of the main pillars of the economy of Hong Kong. Over the years, Hong Kong construction industry has earned a reputation for the rapid construction of quality high-rise first class building. It is a common practice of the main contractors to sublet most of their works to subcontractors in the HK building projects. The percentage gross value of main contract work performed by subcontractors increased from 57 per cent to 67 per cent during 1981 to 2005 according to government statistics for 2006 (Census and Statistics Department, 2007). It is anticipated that more numbers of subcontractors would be involved due to the rapid development of high-rise buildings in the last decade. As a result, the role of the main contractor has been gradually transformed from a constructor to a manager of subcontractors of the projects. The performance of the subcontractors is one of the most important factors governing project performance. In recent years, there are increasing complaints from subcontractors that they cannot performance effectively and efficiently due to poor site coordination by main contractors. An average of 35.10 per cent of productivity wasted due to site coordination problems caused by main contractors was stated by the respondents of a questionnaire survey. The aim of this thesis is to formulate relationships in terms of multiple regression equations to explain how the performance of subcontractors is affected by the critical site coordination problems caused by main contractors, and to develop framework to improve site coordination.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | coordination; government; performance; productivity; contractor; subcontractor; project performance; Hong Kong |
| Index terms: | productivity, complaint, subcontractor, main contractor, project performance, manager, questionnaire, statistics, Hong Kong, multiple-regression, high-rise building, coordination, survey, construction industry |
| Subjects: | construction type, Geography, statistical analysis, data collection methods, management, conflict resolution, industry analysis, mathematical modelling, project management theory and practice, practitioner |
| Topics: | Geographical Context, Roles and Professions, Project Management, Research Practice, Construction Technology, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Stakeholder Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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