Al Mousli, M H and El-Sayegh, S M (2016) Assessment of the design-construction interface problems in the UAE. Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 12(5), pp. 353-366. ISSN 1745-2007
Abstract
Design-construction interface problems impede the successful delivery of construction projects within the specified time, cost and quality. The objective of this paper is to assess the design-construction interface problems in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) construction industry. Twenty-two problems were identified through literature review. A questionnaire survey was then developed and distributed to construction professionals. Thirty-nine responses were collected from consultants, contractors and construction professionals in government authorities. The weighted average of the responses was calculated. The results reveal that the most significant interface problems in the UAE include lack of coordination inside the design firm, lack of specialist construction manager, poorly written contract, lack of project management as individual professional service and time limitation in the design phase. Moreover, the paper analysed the responses according to company role. Most of these problems are caused by the lack of coordination and communication among the main contracting parties. Recommendations are made to enhance the coordination and management of construction projects that lead to reduction in the design-construction interface problems. Design-construction interface problems impede the successful delivery of construction projects within the specified time, cost and quality. The objective of this paper is to assess the design-construction interface problems in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) construction industry. Twenty-two problems were identified through literature review. A questionnaire survey was then developed and distributed to construction professionals. Thirty-nine responses were collected from consultants, contractors and construction professionals in government authorities. The weighted average of the responses was calculated. The results reveal that the most significant interface problems in the UAE include lack of coordination inside the design firm, lack of specialist construction manager, poorly written contract, lack of project management as individual professional service and time limitation in the design phase. Moreover, the paper analysed the responses according to company role. Most of these problems are caused by the lack of coordination and communication among the main contracting parties. Recommendations are made to enhance the coordination and management of construction projects that lead to reduction in the design-construction interface problems.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | UAE; construction management; design management; international construction; design-construction interface problems; heat recovery systems; construction industry |
| Index terms: | construction professional, design management, professional service, construction project, construction manager, design phase, interface problem, questionnaire, international construction, United Arab Emirates, construction industry, project management, coordination, heat recovery system, design-construction interface problem, design firm, literature review, survey, contracting party |
| Subjects: | industry analysis, production management, Geography, professional development, project management theory and practice, design process, management, professional practice, energy systems, data analysis and analytics, practitioner, data collection methods, profession, engineering problems, strategic management, organization, integration |
| Topics: | Quality Management, International Construction, Design Practice, Organizational Design, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Project Management, Engineering Principles, Information Management, Sustainability, Roles and Professions |
| 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