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Article
Publication date: 19 September 2022

José Luis Suárez, Louis Gosselin and Nadia Lehoux

Remote and isolated indigenous communities in Nunavik (Canada) currently face a number of housing related challenges. This paper proposes a conceptual framework to identify the…

182

Abstract

Purpose

Remote and isolated indigenous communities in Nunavik (Canada) currently face a number of housing related challenges. This paper proposes a conceptual framework to identify the factors affecting value creation within the supply chain of social housing construction in that region. The term “social” refers to the fact that governments subsidise construction and operation of these buildings intended for low-income households.

Design/methodology/approach

The research used a literature review and information collected from 3 semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders to identify the desired features of improvement or solutions (e.g. prefabrication) with respect to value creation. A SWOT analysis, an influence/dependence map and a causal loop diagram were developed to represent the supply chain.

Findings

Local job creation and the number of buildings to build were identified as the key factors that can roughly represent value creation. Energy resources, construction time, type and amount of labour force, shipping constraints, number of replacement parts and waste disposal were identified as the main factors constraining the range of solutions to implement.

Practical implications

The framework can be used to support the decision-making in supply chain management and the design of solutions for remote areas such as Nunavik.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to analyse value creation in social building construction in remote and isolated communities such as those from Nunavik. Conceptual models achieved within the framework allowed identifying the factors that could roughly represent this value creation, as well as logical relationships that link them with other factors.

Details

Built Environment Project and Asset Management, vol. 13 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2044-124X

Keywords

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Article
Publication date: 13 August 2021

Sebastien Royal, Nadia Lehoux and Pierre Blanchet

Construction defects in residential buildings are causing significant impacts both on consumers and the industry. As a consequence, several countries have established new home…

324

Abstract

Purpose

Construction defects in residential buildings are causing significant impacts both on consumers and the industry. As a consequence, several countries have established new home warranty schemes. However, designing a public policy for domestic building warranties can become a difficult task. In fact, many of these programs in the past have failed, collapsed or gone bankrupt. Therefore, the purpose of the current research is to provide a systematic comparative representation of various active programs internationally.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology relied on a multiple-case study research design. The case selection covered a total of nine jurisdictions with compulsory home warranty programs. Those included Japan, France, United Kingdom, three provinces in Canada (Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta), and three states in Australia (New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland). The study applied a data collection protocol to gather all the evidence in a replicable manner for each individual case. Subsequently, a cross-case analysis was conducted to identify similarities and variations between programs.

Findings

The findings unveiled institutional practices that aimed to resolve, compensate, or rectify defects in residential constructions within these countries. The review mostly suggested that every home warranty program presents certain unique characteristics. At the end, this paper proposed an analytical illustration representing the diversification of components adopted by each jurisdiction.

Originality/value

Nowadays, there is still not a consensus within the academic community on what is an optimal solution when conceiving a new home warranty program. Hence, the current study aims to fill this knowledge gap by presenting the plurality of methods employed by several countries. This paper seeks to help policy makers and industry leaders to improve their home warranty scheme based on awareness derived from observations and analyses of what has been accomplished elsewhere in the world.

Details

International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, vol. 41 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-4708

Keywords

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Article
Publication date: 17 February 2021

Sebastien Royal, Nadia Lehoux and Pierre Blanchet

The housing construction industry is one of the most lucrative sectors for developed countries. However, homebuyers are often vulnerable when left with latent building defects in…

443

Abstract

Purpose

The housing construction industry is one of the most lucrative sectors for developed countries. However, homebuyers are often vulnerable when left with latent building defects in their new-build house. Many nations have thus implemented new home warranty schemes to protect consumers and stimulate residential production. These warranty programs vary excessively from state to state given the distinct nature of environments. Previous studies have attempted to compare one with another but did not apply a consistent comparative method when doing so. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics defining a new home warranty and to develop a standardised comparative framework.

Design/methodology/approach

After evaluating the characteristics outlined in multiple home warranty programs, a qualitative content analysis method was used to establish coding, categories and themes in order to create the framework. The methodology relied mostly on cross-referencing from academic papers, methodical reviews, government documents and professional consultant reports.

Findings

This paper reviewed warranty schemes from six countries: Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, France and Malaysia. The findings suggest that home warranty programs are defined by five main themes: political involvement; homeowner protection; financial sustainability; quality management; and dispute resolution. At the end, the research created a comparative framework of 101 codes that could be used to accurately measure the efficiency of a home warranty scheme.

Originality/value

Gathering all defining characteristics of new housing warranties into a unique comparative framework rectifies a gap in the literature. Such a flexible tool will aid future practitioners in the field to undertake comparative case study analysis through qualitative research methods.

Details

International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, vol. 40 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-4708

Keywords

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Article
Publication date: 12 April 2022

Ahmed Khouja, Nadia Lehoux and Yan Cimon

In highly competitive industries such as the construction sector, companies with limited capabilities struggle to maintain their current standing, let alone acquire more market…

288

Abstract

Purpose

In highly competitive industries such as the construction sector, companies with limited capabilities struggle to maintain their current standing, let alone acquire more market share. Before they are able to address their shortcomings, these companies need to pinpoint where their performance stands when it comes to market demand. Furthermore, competitiveness is strongly linked with companies' ability to win tenders and deliver the associated construction projects. Tenders are, therefore, a mechanism that reflects the strengths and weaknesses of construction firms and can be deemed an indicator of competitiveness. This paper aims to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) increase their presence in the construction sector by suggesting a systematic approach to evaluate their competitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

Participation requirements were extracted from 11 calls for tenders and organized into categories using a qualitative content analysis. These requirements along with winning assets deduced from the literature constitute the basis of the tool. The qualitative evaluation of the difficulty in satisfying requirements or acquiring assets was transformed into unified, quantifiable scores by means of fuzzy numbers.

Findings

A total of 233 requirements were found and classified in 3 main categories. In addition, a list of 54 assets organized into five categories was compiled. The entire methodology led to a five-step assessment tool whose output can be depicted on the proposed competitiveness readiness matrix (CRM).

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the limited number of articles discussing the contractor's side in the tendering process. Furthermore, it combines three theoretical perspectives (i.e. resource-based view, relational view, and industry structure perspective), which are scarcely applied in the construction management field. Consideration of the calls for tenders when developing solutions is also a unique aspect of this research when compared to previous studies.

Practical implications

This tool may help practitioners navigate the rather elusive tendering process by outlining the necessary elements to participate in and win tenders. It may also allow construction firms to better position themselves in the market with respect to customers' requirements and competitors' performances.

Originality/value

This study provides an approach of both self-assessment and market benchmarking. It assists companies in formulating strategies to become more competitive in general and make better bidding decisions. This is especially interesting because of three aspects: the study is based on a fundamental element of the construction competitiveness concept, i.e. calls for tenders; it offers a mechanism to transform systematically qualitative attributes into quantifiable scores; and it provides a practical and reliable display of the assessment results.

Details

Benchmarking: An International Journal, vol. 30 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-5771

Keywords

Available. Content available

Abstract

Details

Built Environment Project and Asset Management, vol. 13 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2044-124X

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