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Delays represent one of the most critical factors that affect the cost of a construction project. They have to be therefore analysed comprehensively using appropriate techniques. The purpose of this paper is to find out the delay analysis techniques (DATs) that are most commonly used in road projects in Sri Lanka, the extent of their usage, the criteria that can be used in selecting them and the technique that is most appropriate for the selection.

The research methodology adopted included an extensive literature review, expert interviews and a questionnaire survey.

In road projects in Sri Lanka, five types of DATs are mainly used. The “As-planned v. As-built Analysis” technique is the most commonly used technique while “Window Analysis” is the least used technique. Out of the nine criteria identified for selecting a DAT, the most important criterion is the acceptability of the technique to courts and tribunals. “Window Analysis” was found to be the most appropriate DAT that can be used in road construction projects in Sri Lanka.

“Window Analysis” can be recommended as the most appropriate DAT for road projects in Sri Lanka.

Governments of many developing countries that are unable to develop their infrastructure in order to obtain financial resources prefer to establish public–private partnerships (PPPs) for providing the much-required infrastructure. Time is thus opportune for Sri Lanka, which is also a developing country, to make use of PPPs to develop its road network. The purpose of this paper is, therefore, to identify the PPP models that suit road construction in Sri Lanka.

The study used a mixed approach. The characteristics of road construction, procurement selection factors to be considered in road construction, and the different PPP models that can be used for such procurements were identified through a comprehensive literature synthesis. The findings were validated using expert interviews. A questionnaire survey identified the PPP models that suit road construction in Sri Lanka. The most suitable model among them was identified by ranking the PPP models using procurement selection factors.

Build–Own–Operate–Transfer was identified as the PPP model that best suits road construction in Sri Lanka. However, investors may not find it attractive because of its high payback period, a result of the low traffic volume in Sri Lanka. Therefore, a PPP model that involves road construction alone will not be feasible in Sri Lanka. It will have to include the construction of other infrastructure as well.

The study identifies a PPP model that best suits the road construction projects in Sri Lanka.

In the dynamic landscape of industrial enterprises, the integration of advanced technologies has emerged as a crucial factor in enhancing both operational efficiency and sustainability. This paper explores the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain technology on accounting sustainability performance. AI's data processing and predictive capabilities, IoT's real-time monitoring, and blockchain's transparency and security are examined for their roles in transforming traditional accounting practices. The discussion highlights how these technologies collectively improve the acceluracy, efficiency, and reliability of financial and sustainability reporting, driving a culture of transparency and continuous improvement. By aligning financial objectives with sustainable practices, industrial enterprises can achieve long-term stability and contribute to global sustainability efforts. This study underscores the importance of technological adoption in navigating the complexities of modern industrial operations and achieving a balance between financial success and sustainable stewardship.

Tendering is a process undertaken to obtain offers from interested contractors to carry out specific packages of construction work. Presently, most construction stakeholders in developing countries use a paper-based tendering method, which is time-consuming, costly and labour-intensive. It may be argued that considering increased calls towards efficiency improvements in the construction industry, adopting e-tendering can bring about several benefits by allowing electronic exchange of information and avoiding the errors of traditional tendering. However, the question of readiness of construction stakeholders to embrace this change remains. The aim of this study is to investigate the readiness of Sri Lankan construction contractors and consultants (who are the two key parties involved in the tendering process) to adopt e-tendering.

A mixed-methods research approach was used to achieve the aim. Initially, a literature review was used to compare typical conventional and e-tendering processes. Subsequently, a questionnaire survey was conducted to identify the current level of usage of e-tendering and to investigate the readiness levels of consultants and contractors to implement e-tendering. Finally, seven expert interviews were conducted to propose suitable solutions to achieve a successful e-tendering implementation.

The analysed data revealed that both consultants and contractors used electronic media in the tendering process but they were still not ready for complete e-tendering implementation. However, consultants were more hesitant than contractors. The main barrier that limited e-tendering implementation was the lack of legal rules to cover e-tendering.

E-tendering implementation should be initiated from the government sector. Therefore, it is recommended to update the procurement guideline and required legal policies to enrich the current usage level of e-tendering among construction stakeholders.

Almost all projects in the world are delayed, and sometimes even lead to the full bankruptcy of their beneficiaries. These delays can be calculated using techniques, but most importantly, there must be a fair and realistic division of delays between project beneficiaries. The most valid delay calculation techniques belong to the SCL Global Protocol, but they also have significant drawbacks, such as these: (1) They do not have the capability to prevent project delays (Delay Risk Management); (2) The protocol identifies and introduces any delays in activities with a ratio of one to one as a delay (Effective Delay); (3) It also does not offer the capability to share delays between stakeholders, which is a huge weakness. Floating in the base schedule activities is one of the cost control tools of projects, but it can hide project delays. In this paper, the researchers believe that the floating ownership belongs to the project and not belong to the stakeholders. This is the main tool for analyzing and sharing delays in this research.

The research methodology adopted included an extensive literature review, expert interviews, use of questionnaire and designing three innovative linked together models by researchers.

In this research, an integrated technique is introduced which has the following capabilities; delay risk control, result-based delay analysis and stakeholders delay sharing. This technique with an incursive and defensive approach implements claims management principles and calculates, respectively, non-attributable and attributable delays for each beneficiary.

This creativity led to the introduction of the Incursive and Defensive (In-De) technique; in the SCL protocol techniques, none of these capabilities exist.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an integrative picture of the state of the art of the literature on digitalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as an enabler for their internationalisation process and as a comprehensive view of the specific domains impacted by digital technologies as well as their repercussions on the international outreach.

A systematic review which leverages a descriptive analysis of extant literature and an axial coding technique has been conducted to shed light on the current knowledge and to identify primary research areas and future research lines.

The research indicates that digitalisation impacts the internationalisation of SMEs in three specific domains: (1) internationalisation through the adoption of information and communication technologies (ICT) technologies and e-commerce platforms; (2) international expansion through the digitalisation of value chain activities and (3) international outreach through knowledge acquisition on digital platforms.

The value of this study is threefold. First, the authors attempt to systematically review the literature on SMEs digitalisation and internationalisation and provide a holistic perspective on the intertwining of these two research streams. Second, the authors propose a novel conceptualisation on the dimensions of SMEs digitalisation as enablers to internationalisation. Third, the authors put forward promising future lines of research.

1. Digitalisation represents a pivotal strategy that allows companies to build new strategic capabilities and is a propeller for SMEs internationalisation.

2. Through e-commerce, SMEs could compete at the same level of multinational companies but enduring lower costs of expansion.

3. Digital platforms allow SMEs to enhance the learning processes about international markets through an immediate access to relevant information.

4. Digital entrepreneurship has enabled SMEs to develop new configurations of value chain activities, evolving their business model or reaching new markets.

5. SMEs are changing the “business as usual” paradigm offering digital tools to build modular architectures that are scalable and agile in their evolution ability.

Digitalisation represents a pivotal strategy that allows companies to build new strategic capabilities and is a propeller for SMEs internationalisation.

Through e-commerce, SMEs could compete at the same level of multinational companies but enduring lower costs of expansion.

Digital platforms allow SMEs to enhance the learning processes about international markets through an immediate access to relevant information.

Digital entrepreneurship has enabled SMEs to develop new configurations of value chain activities, evolving their business model or reaching new markets.

SMEs are changing the “business as usual” paradigm offering digital tools to build modular architectures that are scalable and agile in their evolution ability.

By providing a practical and theoretical framework on the role of digitalization in business model innovation (BMI) and countermeasures liabilities of foreignness (LoF), we aim to provide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from emerging markets with the means to confront the reality of de-internationalization.

A quantitative design emphasizing mature theory design and collecting survey data from 210 SMEs in an emerging market. The data are analyzed using a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) based on covariance-based SEM (CB-SEM), multiple regression analysis (MRA) and Hayes' process model.

Digitalization was revealed to significantly and indirectly negatively affect SMEs’ de-internationalization via BMI. Besides, the conditional indirect effect of digitalization on de-internationalization through BMI is more robust and exists at the high LoF of SMEs.

We advise SMEs with a distinctive and relatively comprehensive strategy for coping with the pressures of de-internationalization or having their internationalization schedules perpetually altered through the lens of the resource-based view and institution theory.

Delays in utility shifting during road construction have broad ramifications. These delays not only lengthen the project's timeline but also raise expenses and cause problems with resource allocation. Thus, this study investigates the influence of delay in utility shifting for extension of time claims in road construction projects (RCPs) in Sri Lanka.

The study used a quantitative approach with three rounds of Delphi surveys to gather empirical data. Further, the probability impact assessment was used to carefully analyse the data and appraise the information gathered.

The findings initially revealed 33 causes of delays in utility shifting for extension of time claims in RCPs in Sri Lanka. Ultimately, 11 severe causes were identified based on their high probability and impact, concluding with 45 strategies that were assigned to overcoming those most severe causes of delay.

This study will contribute to the industry and theory by providing solutions to handle utility-shifting delays with the linkage of preventing time extension claims for RCPs in Sri Lanka. Further, there is a dearth of literature in the research area, both locally and globally. Thus, the findings of this research will provide a benchmark for further detailed studies in other countries as well.

The purpose of this study is to develop a novel general mathematical model to find the optimal product mix of commercial graphite products, which has a complex production process with alternative sub-processes in the graphite mining production process.

The network optimization was adopted to model the complex graphite mining production process through the optimal allocation of raw graphite, byproducts, and saleable products with comparable sub-processes, which has different processing capacities and costs. The model was tested on a selected graphite manufacturing company, and the optimal graphite product mix was determined through the selection of the optimal production process. In addition, sensitivity and scenario analyses were carried out to accommodate uncertainties and to facilitate further managerial decisions.

The selected graphite mining company mines approximately 400 metric tons of raw graphite per month to produce ten types of graphite products. According to the optimum solution obtained, the company should produce only six graphite products to maximize its total profit. In addition, the study demonstrated how to reveal optimum managerial decisions based on optimum solutions.

This study has made a significant contribution to the graphite manufacturing industry by modeling the complex graphite mining production process with a network optimization technique that has yet to be addressed at this level of detail. The sensitivity and scenario analyses support for further managerial decisions.

Demands for Industrialized Construction (IC) have intensified with growing construction industry imperatives to (A) boost performance; (B) reduce reliance on “in-situ and on-site” operations; and (C) strengthen supply chain resilience (SCR) not just for survival but also to fulfill obligations to clients in the coronavirus disease 2019–induced (COVID-19–induced) “new normal”. In addressing these imperatives, this paper targets more effective leveraging of latent efficiencies of off-site-manufacture, based on findings from a Hong Kong (HK)–based study on assessing and improving SCR in IC in a high-density city.

Starting with the identification of critical supply chain vulnerabilities (CSCVs), this study developed a multilevel–multicriteria mathematical model to evaluate the vulnerability levels of IC supply chains (SCs) in HK based on an in-depth questionnaire survey followed by experts' inputs and analyzing them using fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE).

The overall vulnerability index indicates that IC in HK is substantially vulnerable to disruptions, while production-based vulnerabilities have the highest impact. Top management attention is needed to address these CSCVs in IC in HK.

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first structured evaluation model that measures the vulnerability level of IC, providing useful insights to industry stakeholders for well-informed decision-making in achieving resilient, sustainable and performance-enhanced SCs.