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The construction industry worldwide is now facing the Industry Revolution 4.0. As such, the industry is undergoing significant transformation to adapt to the needs and challenges of the revolution. New technologies and digitalization in the construction industry, innovating the whole traditional project cycle and bringing more tech savvy and effective in the project delivery of its life cycle are, among others, issues that need to be addressed. Contributing towards the whole construction business model, there is a need to enhance the existing business models that are available. The objective of this paper is to review the types of business model, the definition, and the challenges faced by SMEs to adopt the business model. As a reference, more attention is given to business model canvas. Challenges faced by SME contractors to implement construction industry 4.0 technologies and enhance their productivity are the expected contributions to the body of knowledge. This paper concludes, many studies highlight on finding new elements to be added into existing business model canvas. At end of the research, it is found that manpower, machinery, material, finance and information technology are the new elements that need to be added in existing business model canvas. Furthermore, this paper will help the scholars and industry players to understand how the Industry Revolution 4.0 significantly affect the construction industry, SME and their business model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Graduate architect plays an important role in contract implementation management when handling building construction projects. Graduate architects had been authorized to manage the projects in construction industry due to limited architects in the country. The capability of graduate architect when manage project is critical in reducing performance barriers encountered. The aim of this paper is to identify critical factors that affect graduate architect's performance during project implementation. Design/methodology/approach: An explorative study was undertaken to provide an insight into actual experiences of graduate architects in contract implementation management. The data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews providing case studies on contract implementation management on housing projects in Malaysia and observation of the actual on-going projects. Findings: The five most crucial factors affected graduate architects' performance related to lack of training in project documentation, failed to obtain professional and peer support in quality and assessment, isolate in role during project coordination, lack of education support in design process and unaware of legal aspects which delayed response to contractor. Research limitations/implications: This research focuses only on seven housing projects and semi-structured interviews with twenty graduate architects who in charge of those projects. As such, the resulting factors that affect graduate architect's performance are limited and are constrained only to the construction industry in Malaysia. Practical implications: This research examined the factors affecting graduate architect's performance which is a timely study, as the increasing number of population and developments will provide ample opportunities for them to perform. Originality/value: The outcome of the study is expected to facilitate graduate architects to devise proactive risk mitigation measures to reduce impact of these factors and improve project delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through administrative research and media records, this paper aims to examine and highlight the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Malaysian workers, property development, construction sites, and the national economy. The development of real estate and the construction industry can significantly impact socio-economic growth and infrastructure development. Adequate building and infrastructure construction can ensure national economic stability, job creation, community cohesion, and higher living standards. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2019, many countries, including Malaysia, have reported an increased number of virus cases. According to the Ministry of Health, 9316 cases and 314 COVID-19 clusters were discovered in Malaysia, with a 38.55–48.06% prevalence for factories, a 12.55–15.29% prevalence for community spreading, an 8.6–11.56% prevalence for construction sites, a 5.53–7.96% prevalence for educational sites, and a 7.01% prevalence for shopping areas. Several governments-imposed lockdowns, movement, and proximity restrictions during the pandemic due to the high infection rates at property development sites. However, due to inactivity in various sectors such as the construction industry, these measures have significantly impacted the national economy. As a result, the pandemic has had an impact on workers, production costs, and project completion timelines, resulting in operational issues and policy concerns. Overall, the records reviewed revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted real estate development, the housing market, and the construction industry. As a result, sustained and targeted policies are required to support Malaysia's construction industry's socio-economic growth and infrastructure development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Falling from heights can be a serious and potentially life-threatening hazard. In Malaysia, falls from heights are one of the leading causes of workplace accidents and fatalities. The Malaysian Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) reported that the year 2021 recorded an alarmingly high number of fatalities, of which the majority of the injuries were due to falls from heights., Objective: The purpose of this study is to understand the relationship between the different variables associated with fatal falls from heights, which will help identify potential areas to work on to prevent these types of injuries., Methods: The study analyzed 3,321 fatal falls from height accidents from 2010 to 2020 DOSH data. Data were cleaned and normalized to extract relevant information for analysis, with agreement on variables and reliability achieved through independent sampling., Results: This study found that general workers were the most vulnerable category to fatal falls, with a 32% yearly average, whereas supervisors were the least vulnerable, with 4%. Roofers recorded a yearly fatal falls average of 15.5%, followed by electricians with 12%. Cramer's V results ranged from negligible, weak, and strong correlations; strong to moderate correlation between the dates of injuries and the factors used in this study, whereas the direct and root causes recorded a weak to negligible correlation with the rest of the variables., Conclusions: This study provided a better understanding of the working conditions of the Malaysian construction industry. By analyzing fall injury patterns and uncovering the factors, direct and root causes relationship with other variables, it was clear how severe the Malaysian workplace conditions were., Practical Applications: This study will help better understand fatal fall injuries in the Malaysian construction industry and help develop prevention measures based on the uncovered patterns and associations., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 National Safety Council and Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

To improve the performance of the construction industry, innovative methods were introduced to make them better. Industrialised building systems (IBS) and prefabrication construction are the popular methods used and studied. However, these methods are still unable to meet the demands of the stakeholders. Design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA) is a design principle that is seen as capable of improving the situation. The uptake of DfMA in the construction industry needs to be analysed to obtain a better picture of the existing condition of the method and its manner of implementation it going forward, but there are still too few studies performed on this topic. This paper gathers relevant articles from the previous studies on DfMA. With the available data, the main benefits, hindrance factors, and enabling factors for DfMA uptake in the construction industry were identified in this study. The authors also identified the research trend among the research themes and the benefits of building information modelling (BIM) integration with DfMA. By synthesising the information from previous studies, a conceptual framework was developed. Knowledge gaps and future potential research topics are also discussed in this paper, forming a simple research framework for future effort guidance. With a suitable strategy and guidelines, the application of DfMA could improve the performance of the construction industry in Malaysia and other places with similar construction environments and approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Profit maximization is a key priority of construction industry stakeholders but may challenge the stakeholders to look into other aspects. Environmental aspect is one of the sustainability elements that tends to be neglected in the supply chain management. Its impact on project site and living surrounding environment is either taken lightly or ignored by the construction stakeholders. This paper aims to investigate the barriers of the uptake of Green Supply Chain Management during the pre-construction stage of construction project to assist stakeholders with planning in relation to the environmental protection at the earliest stage of a project. Pre-construction is the stage within a project life cycle for decision making on the selection of materials, labours, plants and equipment. Questionnaire survey was distributed to the construction stakeholders, with 44 valid responses returned. The analysis was drawn from the feedback of the architects, contractors, consultants, and engineers. The results revealed that the critical barriers for the GSCM were lack of company’s leadership and support, lack of awareness, and lack of sustainable GSCM practices. This research provides an overview of current GSCM practices in Malaysia and alerts stakeholders to focus on specific organizational strategies in adopting GSCM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaysia has seen the third wave of infection since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic, with approximately 103 construction sites involving over 14,677 workers reported from April 2020 to February 2021. This has led to limited progress in construction projects or a complete halt, resulting in late project delivery. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors influencing the spread of COVID-19 and the strategies taken by the affected construction sites to mitigate the spread of the outbreak. The researchers adopted a case study approach with a multiple-case design and discusses the use of an in-depth interviewing method to collect rich data on the studied phenomenon. Data collected from three construction sites. The sites were mixed development projects in nature and provided in-depth, rigorous, and robust information. Based on the results, two categories of factors influencing the spread of COVID-19 were established. These are primary and secondary factors, such as workers' mobilisation, uncontrolled movement of workers, and the limited practice of social distancing. Furthermore, evidence suggests that the strategies adopted to control the effects of the pandemic were a combination of government enforcement and initiatives taken by construction companies. This paper concludes that an early identification of the causes of the spread will enable appropriate implementation strategies to control the outbreak. This study is an attempt to present the experiences of one developing country as an example of a means of dealing with unexpected pandemics or other intractable diseases that can affect project delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for a paradigm shift to achieve low carbon construction is becoming increasingly apparent. Nonetheless, most existing publications have focused on lowering emissions during the operational phase of buildings, emphasizing the need for improved emissions management during construction. Thus, this study aims to investigate industry behaviours and practices and recommend strategies to improve low carbon in construction. The triangulation of information in this study was supported by observations of eight construction sites, expert interviews and responses from 79 respondents involved in construction projects. The findings suggest that limited investment and budget, resistance to change, lack of knowledge and experience on low-carbon technologies are the key impediments to effective carbon reduction strategies. The main determinants of behavioural change and industrial commitment to low carbon practices are boosting financial and economic value, strengthening institutional capacity development, establishing credible policy, promoting awareness, and expanding resources and skills. The findings of this paper may benefit construction stakeholders in identifying specific hurdles to low-carbon implementation and developing appropriate strategies to promote low-carbon development in Malaysia. This research contributes to the current knowledge about the industry's behaviour and practice in emissions management and the significant challenges and drivers connected with low-carbon growth in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to investigate the level of energy saving behaviour between green and conventional office buildings in Malaysia to determine if people in green buildings perform better energy saving behaviour than people in conventional buildings. The paper specifically focused on use of technology, computer usage and potential energy savings from that use. The paper then examines what strategies are used to encourage energy saving behaviour for building occupants. Design/methodology/approach -- Questionnaires were distributed to occupants in the buildings to evaluate the extent of energy saving behaviour practiced, and identify potential strategies to encourage energy saving behaviour. Findings -- The findings show better energy saving behaviour practice in green buildings and the paper show why this is the case. The recommended strategies to encourage energy saving behaviour are discussed, and include means of raising education awareness on energy efficiency among the occupants. This can be done through distribution of guidelines, posters, pamphlets and e-mails. Occupants can also be given live updates on the energy usage of the building. Briefing on the objectives and goals of the organisation's commitment to energy efficiency can be given to newly employed staff. As seen in this paper, these multiple strategies have shown to be successful in encouraging energy saving behaviours. Originality/value -- To date, energy saving behaviour has been given less focus in improving green building performance. There is limited research that compares energy saving behaviour between green and conventional commercial buildings in Malaysia. The findings provide a better understanding on occupants' behaviour in energy conservation and suggest strategies for future recommendation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Quantity surveying is a profession that blends engineering, construction and economics. To be competent is to have the ability to apply the set of related knowledge, skills and abilities to perform a task effectively. This paper examines the competency requirements for quantity surveyors (QSs) in the face of changing and increasing client needs. Design/methodology/approach: Based on a detailed meta-analysis of the literature, 12 basic/core and 16 evolving competencies are identified. Primary data were gathered through a field survey involving practicing QSs from client, consultant and contractor organisations, and university students undertaking QS programmes in Malaysia. The data obtained were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Findings: The significance of the basic/core and evolving competencies are presented. Overall, the most important contemporary skills are cost planning, valuation of works, measurement/quantification and contract documentation. The evolved roles require expertise in communication and negotiation, ethics and professional conduct and value management. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicates there are misaligned expectations of the proficiency levels needed to provide contemporary and future services between practitioners in client/consultant organisations, contractors and new generation students. Originality/value: The findings provide guidance on the education, training and practice of quantity surveying to deal with emerging challenges in the dynamic built environments in Malaysia and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Value management (VM) should be implemented in construction projects to achieve the best value-for-money for clients, irrespective of project size. However, its regular implementation in Malaysia appears mostly in large projects driven by legislation. Negligence was therefore aroused towards implementing VM for smaller projects and the specific status remains ambiguous to date. This paper aims to investigate the current status of VM implementation in small and medium construction projects in Malaysia with a view to exploring the challenges and measures in improving the status. A total of 162 construction organizations directly involved in small and medium projects were surveyed using a structured questionnaire. The findings revealed that the execution of VM by organizations for smaller construction projects is relatively low and significantly subject to project size regardless of project type. Practitioners' levels of frequency and awareness towards implementing VM in small and medium construction projects remain low and unsatisfactory. Also, VM implementation in smaller projects was found significantly correlated with the experience of organizations and practitioners. Challenges and measures in ameliorating the observed status were explored. The findings contribute to a clear understanding of VM in small and medium construction projects in Malaysia and call for more attention from both academia and industry on VM for smaller sizes of projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The construction industry in Malaysia has been bedevilled by myriads of risk issues that have hampered its smooth operations in recent times. This paper is an empirical assessment that aims to examine the effect of coercive pressure on the relationship between organizational structure and construction risk management among construction industry in Malaysia., Method: Based on the proposed model, a quantitative method was employed to obtain data from G7 construction industry operating within the peninsular Malaysia. Out of the 180 copies of questionnaire, 165 copies were properly filled, returned, and used for the analysis. PLS-SEM was used to analyze the obtained data., Results: The findings of the study affirmed that specialization, centralization, and management of risk by the construction industry had positive correlation., Conclusions: As anticipated, coercive pressure had positive moderating correlation with both formalization and the management of risk by the construction industry. Similarly, it was also found that in the course of carrying out construction activities, coercive pressure made significant interactive influence on formalization, specialization, and centralization. Practical Applications: Coercive pressure reduced the frequency of accidents among workers in the process of carrying out construction works., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

There are many different sets of project success criteria, but none of them will be suitable for all of the different stakeholders involved in the construction industry. In this sense, the developer who finances any construction work has been considered as the main person in any construction project. Different people perceive things differently and therefore, from the developers' perspective, this paper seeks to achieve the followings: (1) review of the current literature on building success criteria and (2) develop an empirical framework for measuring the success of a building project in Malaysia. A total of 120 quantitative responses were distributed to different sizes and types of building project developers. 59 complete responses were retrieved. By employing Principal Component Analysis (PCA) through the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) software, the building project success criteria were reduced to five dimensions: Company Success; Profitability Success; Primary Product Success; Secondary Product Success and Branding Success. The implication of this framework is twofold: first it captures the developer's view on success criteria and second, it forms the foundation to measure success, thereby enhancing successful delivery of a project by prioritizing limited resources on the criteria related factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The revolution of Malaysian Construction 4.0 through emerging technologies has brought a paradigm shift that has digitalized the construction sector. There is a need to adopt a computerized protocol to assist in automating the performance of a contract to meet future digital challenges. Therefore, this paper aims to serve as a pioneer study to investigate the implementation of the Malaysian construction industry to adopt smart contracts. This study adopted a qualitative scientific methodology, whereby a systematic review was conducted to gather the benefits and challenges of implementing smart contracts in the construction industry. Further, interview sessions were arranged to collect data from the construction contract management experts. The research findings unveil that due to the self-executing attribute of smart contracts, the implementation of smart contracts could provide a better apportionment of risks in a contract. The study also finds that the challenges in implementing smart contracts are severe. For instance, the smart contract is irreversible and immutable and prone to human error. The study concludes that it is more suitable to apply and implement a smart contract to a short-term contract that is not subjected to variation. Furthermore, a smart contract can enhance the efficiency in managing the contracts, such as reducing time and managing the conflicts and disputes that arise during the contract duration. The developed implementation framework is significant for the construction personnel, especially those dealing with the contract administration. The implementation of smart contracts in construction could boost contract administration and management discipline via investment in this new technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Having a clear project definition is crucial for successful construction projects. It affects design quality, project communication between stakeholders, and final project performance in terms of cost, schedule, and quality. This paper examines the relationship between project definition and final project performance through a structural equation model comprising four latent constructs and six path hypotheses using data from a questionnaire survey of 120 general contractors in the Malaysian construction industry. The results show that in the study population all three items impact the project performance, but the link between design quality and project performance is indirect. Instead, the clarity of project definition affects project performance indirectly through design quality and project communication and design quality affects project performance indirectly through project communication. The primary contribution is to provide quantitative confirmation of the more general statements made in the literature from around the world and therefore adds to and consolidates existing knowledge. Practical implications derived from the finding are also proposed for various project stakeholders. Furthermore, as lack of the clarity of project definition is a very common occurrence in construction projects globally, these findings have important ramifications for all construction projects in expanding and clarifying existing knowledge on what is needed for the successful delivery of construction projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)-related injuries are vexing problems for construction projects in developing countries, mostly due to poor managerial-, governmental-, and technical safety-related issues. Though some studies have been conducted on OHS-associated issues in developing countries, research on this topic remains scarce. A review of the literature shows that presenting a predictive assessment framework through machine learning techniques can add much to the field. As for Malaysia, despite the ongoing growth of the construction sector, there has not been any study focused on OHS assessment of workers involved in construction activities. To fill these gaps, an Ensemble Predictive Safety Risk Assessment Model (EPSRAM) is developed in this paper as an effective tool to assess the OHS risks related to workers on construction sites. The developed EPSRAM is based on the integration of neural networks with fuzzy inference systems. To show the effectiveness of the EPSRAM developed, it is applied to several Malaysian construction case projects. This paper contributes to the field in several ways, through: (1) identifying major potential safety risks, (2) determining crucial factors that affect the safety assessment for construction workers, (3) predicting the magnitude of identified safety risks accurately, and (4) predicting the evaluation strategies applicable to the identified risks. It is demonstrated how EPSRAM can provide safety professionals and inspectors concerned with well-being of workers with valuable information, leading to improving the working environment of construction crew members.

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to identify mechanisms and approaches involved in the local construction industry to enhance environmental concerns and the adoption of capacity development model to manage the environment and up keeping of the quality in Malaysian construction industry. Design/methodology/approach - This paper describes an innovative approach to understanding the role of internal and external influence through LEGO® concept. This approach builds on the theory of change management, in which includes learning about the domain of enabling environment, organisation, individual and knowledge management process. New ideas, practices or technologies occur through integration of efforts particularly from the above mentioned domains. The approach also analyses the challenges faced by construction stakeholders. It draws on findings from different studies including some other countries of sustainability in which the engagement of previous research has been incorporated to further enhance the construction and environmental quality in the Malaysian construction industry. Findings - Environmental sustainable development construction requires a holistic thinking and decision making and more innovative solutions that enhance sustainability and result in mutually benefited outcomes for all stakeholders. A dedicated effort especially government and government link company is in strong demand. A valid reason for capacity development to adevelop in organisations and individuals to perform functions needed to keep green management operating and evolving to meet new challenges. The construction sector will benefit from learning advances in capacity development which are designed to improve and enhance construction and environmental quality governance. The coverage of LEGO® conceptual framework at which capacity development operates was identified in each domain of change management. Research limitations/implications - A limitation of the study was the relatively little literature information provided and thus affects the expounding and reliability of data. For this reason, these findings cannot be generalised to the other countries based on this study alone. The access to information is limited as public and private organisations hesitate to share information on their strategic planning and tactics. Originality/value - Development of capacity development model will contribute to the understanding of environmental sustainability through identifying gaps in the understanding and pursuit of construction and environmental quality in the Malaysian construction industry. This paper suggests the future prospect that integrates several dimensions towards green management practice in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the benefits that client organisations expect from building information modelling (BIM) investment in Malaysia. Furthermore, this paper investigates the outcomes that, from the stakeholders’ point of view, the BIM approach needs to present.Design/methodology/approach To achieve this aim, this research employed a series of structured interviews which were conducted with representatives from client construction organisations in Malaysia. A structured questionnaire, containing 34 items, was used to collect data from respondents.Findings This research’s findings indicated that increased project revenue is one of the most expected benefits of BIM investment. In addition, it has been revealed that the Malaysian construction industry has implemented the BIM approach to project management. Furthermore, the great deal of acceptance among industrial players has been significantly positive, and thereby it can be concluded that the implementation of BIM in Malaysia has lots of potential.Originality/value This paper’s finding offers great knowledge, policy, and academic contribution, acknowledging the development of BIM’s implementation within the Malaysian construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper identifies the functions of facilities management (FM) in value management (VM) studies in Malaysia. Most previous research in this area has discussed the history, evolution, knowledge, challenges, and contributions of FM in both the private and the public sectors, yet it is also essential to explore the benefits of FM involvement and the drawbacks of FM noninvolvement in VM studies during the pre-construction stage in Malaysia. This paper provides an overview the FM manager's roles in a VM workshop based on a review of literature collected and compiled from various publications. The study contributes to current knowledge by addressing the five elements of FM functions and their impacts on VM studies. The findings will enhance project, product, and service value by illustrating the importance of FM functions in a VM study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to clarify Building Information Modelling (BIM) and its implementation in Malaysia. Most developed countries that have implemented BIM in the construction industry have found it effective. This paper reviews existing literature on the implementation of BIM and examines the implementation strategies that have been developed. The review highlights numerous advantages of BIM in construction, which include, among others, reducing cost, time, carbon burden and capital cost. BIM can also help increase broader efficiencies and improve coordination and communication between each party. However, implementing BIM is complicated and requires efforts from both the government and the private sector. While the implementation of BIM may reduce costs in developed countries, it may not do so in developing countries; in Malaysia, for instance, costs act as an initial barrier. Other obstacles to implementing BIM in Malaysia include application system requirements and lack of knowledge and readiness to change. To facilitate its implementation in the construction industry, the Malaysian government needs to hold seminars to promote a better understanding of BIM. They may also introduce a properly structured BIM course by preparing a standard code of practices and guidelines for BIM in the education sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lean thinking has already had a substantial impact on construction industry in Malaysia. At a certain level, the action to change project organization and procurement systems is to remove the traditional culture of fragmented design and construction processes in construction projects. It emphasizes the importance of strategic modeling for the implementation of lean construction. This paper aims to evaluate the strategies for lean planning at 18 selected construction sites in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The method of interview with the project team (consultants, clients, contractors and developers) was utilized to identify the barriers of the implementation of lean construction techniques at the construction sites. Using a structural equation modeling approach, the model fitness of lean construction techniques at the construction sites was developed and evaluated based on the questionnaire data collected for the study. Based on the study outcome, after checking the fitness of the model with regard to the barriers and strategies of lean construction, it was discovered that the proposed model can enhance the effectiveness of implementing lean construction techniques at the construction sites by (1) Developing efficient communication and integration among top managers and project team to adopt lean construction techniques at the construction sites, (2) Setting up concise goals among various construction firms, (3) Creating a leadership style of project managers to adopt lean construction techniques, (4) Encouraging clients and contractors to invest in lean construction techniques for implementation at the construction sites and (5) Convincing the government to provide incentives for lean construction implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology has become more sophisticated to deliver comfort in daily life. A merging with enormous and gigantic building projects could create a greater output. In this paper, the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) implementation will show in a few aspects improvisation for materials management in a construction project. However, in Malaysia construction industry, the implementation of RFID is seen as shallow and stagnant. The benefits of implementing RFID technology in material management have been discussed since the construction players in Malaysia are still mostly unaware of its potential. As a project manager in construction projects, it is vital to evaluate their understanding, as they are the top-level management on the construction project. A holistic questionnaire were used as the tool for gathering the interpretation from construction industry project managers. The findings show that for the construction project, most project managers are aware of the RFID technology but have very less understanding of assimilation into material management. It also revealed that most construction companies were hesitant to use this technology because of high costs and fewer experts to manage the technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The writers formulated a case study of the Kuala Selangor Cable Stayed Bridge to examine the application of the constructability concepts particularly during the conceptual planning and the design phases of the project. This paper presents the advantages of implementing the constructability concepts and the barriers that were encountered when applying these concepts during the planning and design phases of the cable stayed bridge project of Kuala Selangor in Malaysia. The writers concluded that barriers to constructability implementation that are related to the owner were the major impediments in the application of constructability concepts during the early conceptual planning phase. The opinion of the engineer was another factor behind nonapplication of some other concepts. At the same time, many others were implemented due to the awareness and opinion of the engineer and his ability to control their application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1994, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) was gazetted in Malaysia. In tandem with existing safety legislation, OSHA 1994 is designed to reduce industrial accident rates. This paper addresses the subsequent construction safety performance. The construction industry has been plagued by a poor safety record due to a confluence of factors. The paper suggests that the presence of a significant number of foreign workers contribute to high construction casualty figures. The paper highlights the confusing signals sent out to the industry by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) arising from conflicting instructions and initiatives. The paper draws upon some of the data compiled during a national study conducted in 1996–1997 that examined foreign and local site operatives in Malaysia. By referring to developments that have happened since the study the paper is made current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors constraining the on-site construction productivity and measures for its improvement in Malaysian construction industry.Design/methodology/approach Questionnaire survey is administered to 171 respondents, comprising government authorities and construction players. A total of 39 constraints are found to be significant factors in various risk levels.Findings Consequently, improvement measures are recommended addressing those constraints to on-site construction productivity. It is believed that the findings of this study will assist in achieving high level of on-site construction productivity by focusing and acting upon the most risky constraints, where construction players in Malaysia could be guided well in their efforts in a time-, cost- and quality-effective manner.Originality/value It is believed that the findings of this study will assist in achieving high level of on-site construction productivity by focusing and acting upon the most risky constraints, where construction players in Malaysia could be guided well in their efforts in a time-, cost- and quality-effective manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information technology (IT) developments in the construction industry require a proportionate response by construction professionals. Building information modelling (BIM) requires strategic changes to the traditional ways construction is carried out. BIM adoption in Malaysia is growing because of recent efforts to sensitise construction professionals on the need for strategic IT implementation. This paper builds on the theory of business process reengineering and computer integrated construction for a BIM adoption model. Data were collected from 352 construction professionals (architects, quantity surveyors, engineers and contractors). The data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 18 for descriptive modelling and Analysis of Moment of Structures (AMOS) version 18 for structural equation modelling. Descriptive results showed a high prevalence of the need for BIM competent professionals. Multivariate results revealed a high correlation within the measurement model for business process re-engineering and computer integrated construction. The second-order confirmatory model showed that business process reengineering and computer integrated construction had a high impact on strategic IT Implementation. Overall, the model validated the conceptual framework of the impact of strategic IT implementation on the adoption rate of BIM in the perception of construction industry professionals in Malaysia. The result denotes the first part of the full adoption model, which can be compared with the adoption rate in other countries. Subsequent research using a diverse sample selection focuses on the mediating effect of collaboration on BIM adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to establish a link between marketing resources, procurement process coordination (PPC) and firm performance. To allow for greater understanding in the field of supply chain management, the present study looked into the coordination between the construction firms and their main building materials suppliers. Design/methodology/approach – This study employed the quantitative method where stratified random sampling and self-administrated questionnaires were sent to respondents in the construction industry. The research framework was tested using structural equation modelling technique. Findings – The empirical result revealed that marketing resources have positive and significant effects on PPC dimensions. It was also found that PPC (mainly joint operation planning and supplier relationship development dimensions) has significant positive relationship towards firm performance. Research limitations/implications – This study focused solely on the firms in the construction industry and data collection was on a single respondent basis. Practical implications – The findings of this study underlines some implication and suggests that construction industry players adopt and emphasise such orientations in order to enhance their performance – operational and customer performance in particular. Originality/value – This study employed a newly developed framework based on the existing theoretical arguments to empirically examine the link between marketing resources, PPC and firm performance and offers fresh insights on the effects of PPC in linking marketing resources and firm performance. Besides that, since there are very limited studies that have taken the initiative to specifically list down the activities involved in the PPC, mainly in the context of the construction industry, this study offers a significant contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaysia is committed to improve deliverables of construction industry especially in meeting the sustainable objectives. Lack of systematic tools and poor collaboration between key stakeholders have been identified as the main barriers to meet the objectives. The purpose of this paper is to present an integrated approach that can be able to assist designers, who are at the forefront in decision making, to select the best strategies that have been shown to be effective in promoting sustainability for IBS application. Questionnaire survey and interviews of the local practitioners were conducted to identify critical factors and provide recommendations on how to enhance sustainability by holistically addressing the identified issues during IBS design. SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis framework was used to help decision-makers maximise the opportunities by using available strengths, avoid weaknesses, and diagnose possible threats in the examined issues. From the statistical analysis, eighteen critical factors relevant to IBS sustainability have been ranked. The guidelines were formulated based on the results from interviews to local practitioners and may be used as part of the project briefing documents for IBS designers. Holistic design strategies expand “Triple Bottom Lines” considerations in achieving sustainability. This study fills a current gap by responding to IBS project scenarios in developing countries. It also provides a balanced view for designers to better understand sustainability potential and prioritize attentions to manage sustainability issues in IBS applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine the association between corporate governance mechanism and firm performance measured by return on assets (ROA). The question is whether an effective corporate governance mechanism is able to increase the firm performance of Bursa and Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Klang Valley, Malaysia. The main purpose of this study is the in-depth analysis of the corporate governance mechanism and construction industry Malaysia via Bursa and CIDB. Design/methodology/approach: Following the primary and secondary data comparative approach, data are collected from 46 listed construction companies and 250 CIDB-registered SMEs for the financial year 2015. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation test are reported, and model estimation is performed using logistic regression. Findings: The empirical outcome shows that the corporate governance mechanism is significant in case of the CIDB Malaysia-registered SMEs. While, it has insignificant impact on firm's performance for Bursa Malaysia. Practical implications: This paper offers evidence specifically for Bursa and CIDB Malaysia construction industry. It can also provide guidance to the board of directors for the subscription of shares under the corporate governance measures at Bursa Malaysia. The findings also suggest that CIDB should increase awareness regarding institutional investment to assist the securities market to develop further. Originality/value: This study gives an indication about corporate governance, specifically for the CIDB-registered SMEs and Bursa Malaysia. It also discusses the matter of firm performance under the light of corporate governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literature has shown that the percentage of females working in the construction industry is less compared to the males. For this reason, issues relating to gender in construction industry have attracted the attention of scholars in recent time. This paper aims to identify the factors influencing females' work in the construction companies operating in Kedah State, Malaysia. Using simple random sampling technique, copies of a structured questionnaire were distributed to 30 female construction workers. The collected data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20. It was found that both internal and external factors have significant relationship with females' choice of career in the construction company. The factors identified in this study can be useful to the policy makers regarding employment of females in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology has become increasingly well-known among construction industry players throughout the world. It is known as a process that offers numerous benefits by the implementation in the industry. Almost 50% of practitioners in construction industry is using BIM. Quantity Surveyors (QS) are one of the important main professionals in construction industry who should have an adequate and sufficient BIM knowledge and skills. Equivalent to this, based on the educational perspective it is clear that there is a growing need for universities to provide their graduates with appropriate BIM-related skills. Although the educational frameworks that have been established for academic purposes in Malaysia, still, it is in doubt whether this framework is parallel with industry's demand and also whether the knowledge and skills provided sufficient with industry's requirements. It is crucial to recognize the applicable teaching approach for BIM educations in order to ensure students capable in applying BIM tools and meet the expectation of industry. This paper reviews the BIM teaching approaches and the BIM module applied in QS undergraduate program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology has been well received by the Malaysian construction industry, yet the adoption rate is extremely slow. Many areas of adoption issues and know how regarding BIM were investigated. However, no prior research has considered the perspective from engineering consulting services (ECS) firms. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the overview and adoption of BIM from the perspective of Malaysian ECS firms, with its objectives first, to determine the perceptions, barriers, governmental support and intentions in adopting BIM, and second, to identify the key drivers for adopting BIM within two years. Design/methodology/approach – The primary data were collected from focus group interview and questionnaire survey to achieve the first objective, and subsequently, the second objective was achieved based on Pearson relationship analysis. Findings – The results show that the firms have a concept of BIM that equates to industry authorities’ norms; yet the lack of well-trained personnel, guidance and governmental supports were identified as the main barriers to adoption. Nevertheless, the firms were prepared to adopt BIM where market demands and competitive advantage were the main drivers to adoption within two years. Originality/value – A different perspective has been highlighted in adoption of BIM. It renders a new insight into the effective adoption and use of BIM from the ECS firms’ perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper analyses the barriers to the adoption of the triple-bottom line of sustainability of the construction sector within the developing country of Malaysia. Barriers pertaining to sustainable construction (SC) were identified through a thorough review of the literature on the process of SC, which were then contextually customized via a pilot study and presented in the form of a hypothesized model. Primary data was collected via administration of questionnaire surveys to 122 construction stakeholders in Malaysia. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was utilized to statistically validate the final model of the barriers to SC. This paper fills the gap in the knowledge by focusing on the quantified contribution of the most significant barriers to the adoption of SC principles throughout the process of SC in the context of Malaysia. Findings of this paper uncover the most significant factors constraining the SC in Malaysia related to government, cost, knowledge and information, workforce, and client and market. The findings revealed that clear and effective legislative process is crucial for the enforcement of the integration of SC materials and practices as well as economics incentives which will ultimately lead to effective implementation of SC initiatives; hence, sustainable economic growth and efficient resource (energy, water and material) utilization. It is hoped that the findings provide guidelines for the government authorities so that they invest their efforts and allocate resources in more efficient way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industry 4.0 and control are critical for major construction organisations, and it has piqued the curiosity of academics all over the globe since the inception of mega project management and up until now. The purpose of this paper is to offer a complete review of this field's research. A bibliometric study of time management and control research published in the Scopus database was carried out in order to identify the most significant publications in the area, as well as the nations that contribute the most to these studies and the most frequently used key terms. For mapping and displaying bibliometric networks, the VOS Viewer was employed. The findings reveal an upward trend in the number of publications in this discipline. And that Australia, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia are the top contributors to mega project and industry 4.0 research. Furthermore, Marcher was the most mentioned author, with 61 citations. Also, the findings indicate a variety of levels of keywords, such as the first, which was linked to industry 4.0 in general, the second, which was relevant to the construction industry, and the third, which was related to project sustainability, and we discovered the rank of human male. These findings may aid academics in better understanding the issue of industry 4.0 in mega projects, as well as expand the area of study in related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper highlights the current level of professional ethics standards in the construction industry in a developing economy and how ethics influences the quality of construction projects. Design/methodology/approach: A questionnaire survey and interviews were conducted on a selected sample from the construction industry in Malaysia, which has a fast-developing economy. Findings: The findings amongst others indicate that various forms of unethical conducts that could have a significant impact on the quality of construction were found in the construction industry. The findings also suggest that professional ethics is a pre-requisite to attaining a sustained and acceptable standard of quality in construction. Originality/value: apart from linking professional ethics to the quality of construction, this paper suggests ways to enhance professionalism among construction professionals to improve quality in construction including: imposing heavier penalties on those who are found to act unethically, attending ethics-training programmes and having regular ethics-awareness workshops. The construction industry needs to achieve internationally accepted quality levels to ensure that it is well positioned to support the nation's overall economic growth and to meet various challenges at the national and international levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relatively few tools have explored beyond the boundaries of buildings to consider also the sustainability of a township or its surrounding communities. This paper focuses on introducing the Green Township Index (GTI), developed by a leading Malaysian property development company. GTI is an amalgamation of a few other frameworks, such as the Global Reporting Initiative, Green Building Index, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Green Mark and Crime Prevention through Environmental Design. GTI consists of a total of 86 indicators across three main dimensions: people, planet and prosperity. Based on the percentage scores obtained from the assessment of townships, three award levels are proposed: platinum, gold and silver. GTI was tested across three different townships and the findings from the results are documented through a case study approach. From the feedback obtained through the township managers, this index is a reliable tool for evaluating the sustainability of Malaysian townships. It is also well aligned with the requirements set out by the Construction Industry Development Board. Although the GTI has been developed to evaluate the sustainability of built townships, it can also be used to guide the design and planning stage of a township. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The pre-tender estimation process is still a hazy and inaccurate process, despite it has been practiced over decades, especially in Malaysia. The methods evolved over time largely depend on the amount of information available at the time of estimation. More often than not, the estimate produced during the pre-tender stage is far more than the tender cost of the project and sometimes, it is perilously underestimated and caused major problems to the client in the monetary planning. The purpose of this paper is to determine the most influential factors on the deviation of pre-tender cost estimation in Malaysia by conducting a survey.Design/methodology/approach Fuzzy logic, combined with artificial neural network method (fuzzy neural network) was then used to develop an estimating model to aid the pre-tender estimation process.Findings The results showed that the model is able to shift the cost estimation toward accuracy. This model can be used to improve the pre-tender estimation accuracy, enabling the client to take the necessary early measures in preparing the funding for a building project in Malaysia.Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study on tender price estimation standardization for a construction project in Malaysia. In addition, the authors have used factors from literature for the model, which shows the thoroughness of the developed model. Thus, the findings and the model developed in this study should be able to assist contractors in coming out with a more accurate tender price estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]