Zayyana Shehu, Gary D. Holt, Intan R Endut and Akintola Akintoye
Construction projects within Malaysia are plagued by time overruns that can transform what should have been successful projects, into those incurring additional costs…
Abstract
Purpose
Construction projects within Malaysia are plagued by time overruns that can transform what should have been successful projects, into those incurring additional costs, disagreements, litigation and in some cases abandonment. To help better understand this problem, the purpose of this paper is to investigate Malaysian project characteristics in relation to time overruns.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 150 Malaysian quantity-surveying organisations provided data relating to recent projects they have worked on. Project characteristics considered in analysis are new build and refurbishment, public and private sectors, procurement methods used, nature of projects and tendering methods.
Findings
Public sector projects were found more prone to overruns than those in the private sector; refurbishment projects experienced better time performance than new build; construction management demonstrated better time performance than design-build or traditional procurement; and infrastructure projects/negotiated tendering, performed better than selective/open tendering, respectively. The study also developed a linear model to predict project duration, based on contract period.
Research limitations/implications
The study adds a geographically specific detailed analysis to the extant literature of project performance generally and to that of time overruns more specifically.
Practical implications
Findings provide stakeholders with information that may help mitigate the frequency of project delays among construction projects, especially in Malaysia.
Originality/value
The analysis and modelling of time overrun in relation to Malaysian project characteristics in this way is novel.
Details
Keywords
Zayyana Shehu, Intan R. Endut and Akintola Akintoye
The delivery of construction projects in Malaysia is plagued by time overruns, which turns what should have been successful projects into those incurring additional costs, or…
Abstract
Purpose
The delivery of construction projects in Malaysia is plagued by time overruns, which turns what should have been successful projects into those incurring additional costs, or money-losing ventures; as well as leading to various other unexpected negative effects and faute de mieux situations. The purpose of this research is to assess those factors leading to time overrun in Malaysian construction projects. The perceptions of public and private sectors, contractors, clients, and consultants are compared relative to a list of factors derived from the review of extant literature in project delay.
Design/methodology/approach
The research data were collected through an industry-wide questionnaire survey circulated across the Malaysian construction industry. The research develops a list of 84 time overrun factors. Responses were collected from 49 clients, 51 contractors, and 105 consultants, to explore and analyse the major factors that are responsible for causing time overrun based on sectors (public and private), organisations (clients, contractors and consultants) and professional roles.
Findings
Project delays beyond contract dates are predominantly caused by contractors and are usually associated with financial factors. “Cash flow problems faced by the contractors” was found the major factor, which contributed to project delays, whereas “storage on site” was seen as the least significant factor.
Practical implications
It is noteworthy that the findings in this research have a regional focus; it is, therefore, suggested that readers from other sections of the world exercise caution in applying the findings. As it is believed that every construction industry has its nature, culture and regulations, these factors can change as a result of such differences.
Originality/value
This research provides stakeholders with information on factors, which, if properly understood, can make project delays less likely.
Details
Keywords
Rosidah Musa, John Pallister, Matthew Robson and Norzaidi Mohd Daud
The purpose of this study is to develop and formulate marketing strategies by utilizing the importance‐performance analysis (IPA) which is an easy‐to‐use analytical technique that…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to develop and formulate marketing strategies by utilizing the importance‐performance analysis (IPA) which is an easy‐to‐use analytical technique that offers prescriptions for the management of customer satisfaction.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a survey from 400 direct sales channel customers, the findings suggest that the ratings and rankings of attributes were largely determined by the methods utilized to measure the attributes' importance.
Findings
The results of IPA presented by the current investigation reflect that the matrix is sensitive to the importance measure used.
Research limitations/implications
This paper focuses on the Malaysian direct sales industry and concentrates only on application of importance‐performance analysis (IPA) to formulate customer satisfaction strategies.
Practical implications
The results have important implications for future research directions and business strategy practice.
Originality/value
This study is perhaps the first that concentrates on the application of IPA to formulate customer satisfaction strategies in Malaysia.
Details
Keywords
Aidrina binti Mohamed Sofiadin
The purpose of this paper is to present a descriptive literature review and a classification scheme for studies on sustainable development, e-learning and Web 3.0 that contribute…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a descriptive literature review and a classification scheme for studies on sustainable development, e-learning and Web 3.0 that contribute toward sustainable e-learning. The aims are to discover and highlight some ideas on developing a sustainable learning in higher education in Malaysia.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper examines the elements of e-learning, technology, application, sustainable development and teaching and learning principles that contribute toward a sustainable e-learning through a descriptive literature review approach and a classification scheme.
Findings
The findings show that even though sustainable e-learning research is still limited, contributions to sustainable e-learning were recognized and some ideas and perspectives for the development of a sustainable e-learning framework were identified. Furthermore, this paper identified the gaps in the findings; therefore, this paper will try to minimize these gaps through the initial sustainable e-learning framework.
Originality/value
The paper is expected to provide further ideas of developing a sustainable e-learning framework, as well as the importance of a sustainable e-learning to provide quality learning through technology, application, sustainable development and teaching and learning principles perspectives.