Xiao, H and Proverbs, D (2002) Construction time performance: An evaluation of contractors from Japan, the UK and the US. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 9(2), pp. 81-89. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
International comparisons of contractor performance allow contractors in different countries to distinguish their own strengths and weaknesses and improve their competitiveness accordingly. Based on a survey of contractors in Japan, the UK and the US, contractor time performance is evaluated and compared. It is found that Japanese contractors achieve shorter construction times and higher levels of time certainty than their UK and US counterparts. Furthermore, anticipated delays are far shorter in Japan and levels of client satisfaction are significantly higher than in the US and UK. The superior performance of Japanese contractors may be attributed to their working practices which were characterized by the use of a larger workforce on site, detailed planning, close working relationships with their subcontractors, and an overriding focus on time certainty.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | analysis of variance; international comparison; time performance |
| Index terms: | international comparison, survey, Japan, time performance, subcontractor, variance, contractor performance, working practice, competitiveness, client satisfaction, construction time |
| Subjects: | measurement and scaling, project controls, market analysis, management, contract management, Geography, data analysis and analytics, client relations, data collection methods, practitioner |
| Topics: | Stakeholder Management, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Time Control, Contract Administration, Organizational Design |
| 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