This study evaluated the impact of work process attachment forms and styles on organizational building information modeling (BIM) transformation in the Nigerian construction industry. The study employed Bowlby’s theory of attachment forms and styles to suggest that attachment to established work processes may lead construction professionals to resist BIM transformation, as they have confidence in traditional methods and feel secure in their ability to execute these processes. The hypotheses derived from this statement were evaluated using path-structural equation modeling. Data for hypothesis testing were obtained from 462 construction experts with expertise in BIM implementation, familiarity with discipline-specific information in BIM models, and a minimum work tenure of 2.5 years. The research indicated that construction professionals' opposition to BIM integration in their workplace is attributable to attachments such as cultural (r = −0.15), functional (r = −0.36), and emotional bonds (r = −0.17). The findings show that attachment-driven resistance manifests as interpersonal conflict, workplace anxiety, and disorganization. The study shows that BIM resistance is not just a technical or managerial challenge but also a psychological and social challenge.
The construction industry plays a significant role in shaping the built environment and driving economic development. Notwithstanding, construction activities pose substantial environmental and social threats. The need to minimize the negative impacts of construction while enhancing the benefits is important. Studies into ESG considerations in sustainable project delivery in developing countries, especially Ghana remains limited. A comprehensive literature review conducted identified 20 key ESG considerations in sustainable project delivery. A questionnaire survey instrument was used to gather primary quantitative data from 119 construction professionals with a considerable level of experience in sustainable construction. Data gathered was analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Four major categories: environmental performance, transparency and responsibility, social impact and compliance and engagement were identified as the key ESG considerations required to enhance sustainable construction in Ghana. This research uniquely offers contextualized insights into the distinct ESG priorities indigenous to the Ghanaian construction industry. The findings provide a balanced, holistic perspective incorporating all three pillars of ESG. These novel contributions offer valuable guidance for Ghanaian construction industry stakeholders seeking to effectively mainstream sustainability through operations aligned with the most pertinent local ESG factors.
Construction firms are intensifying effort at strengthening the construction process through the engagement of professionals with sound management and leadership acumen against only technical ability. This study, therefore determines how transactional style of leadership impacts project outcomes (successful delivery or otherwise) in Nigerian construction sector. Though a quantitative survey method, 5-point Likert ordinal-scale cross sectional questionnaires were used to elicit the respondents’ response. Valid feedback from 975 participants out of 1233 administered on project managers, project team members (only construction professionals) and firms’ supervisors with response rate of 79.8% was initially analyzed descriptively, then inferentially using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach. Results show a negative direct effect of passive management by exception of transactional style on deliveries of Nigerian projects. SEM output with squared multiple correlation of 0.219 indicates that passive factors of transactional style accounted for 21.9% of the variance in success indices of projects. This therefore, implies that passive management factors of transactional style reduce project performance by 21.9%. The study establishes that passive factors of transactional style exert direct negative effects on project performance in Nigeria. The survey’s peculiarity enables the project managers to filter through and improve upon the advantageous aspect of transactional leadership already in use towards successful project outcomes. Engaging SEM approach to identify the transactional variables that exert negative effects on project outcomes takes the lead in leadership aspect of management discourse as previous researcher only mentioned the effect on worker’s performance. Therefore, thus enriching literature on project management in Nigeria and globally.
This study examines consumer behaviour in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) towards purchasing household items made from recycled plastics, a critical component of environmental sustainability. Using a survey-based methodology combined with structural equation modelling (SEM), the research investigates the effects of perceived risks, anticipated emotions, and perceived economic, environmental, and social benefits on purchase intentions. Key findings reveal a higher purchase propensity among women (75.3%) and young adults aged 18-30 (86.8%), with educated individuals demonstrating stronger preferences for eco-friendly products. The research identifies environmental concern, attitude, perceived behavioural control, anticipated pride, and environmental benefits as the most significant predictors of purchase intentions across genders. A strong positive correlation between environmental concern and economic benefits highlights their interdependence, while moderate correlations with perceived social responsibility suggest additional underlying complexities. Notably, the study is among the first to explore gender-specific consumer behaviour towards recycled plastic products in the UAE, addressing a critical gap in the behavioural literature of developing economies. The findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of sustainable consumer behaviour by integrating constructions from the theory of planned behaviour and social learning theory. Practically, the research provides actionable recommendations for businesses and policymakers, emphasising the importance of gender-sensitive strategies, educational campaigns, and product availability to enhance the adoption of recycled plastic products. These insights align with the UAE's sustainability goals and broader global efforts to reduce plastic waste and promote a circular economy.
Material waste in construction projects remains a significant issue, leading to increased costs, environmental impacts, and inefficiencies. This study addressed this challenge by developing a structured decision-support approach to prioritize actions to mitigate material waste aligned with the unique conditions of each construction site. Causes and mitigation actions were initially identified through a literature review, expert interviews, and a survey analysis. Next, principal component analysis simplified the dataset's complexity by grouping related causes and mitigation actions into distinct categories. These categories served as the structured inputs for the quality function deployment (QFD) model. Mitigation actions were then prioritized using this model, with the results validated by experts to assess the method's appropriateness for material wastage. The study effectively introduced a process to prioritize the mitigation actions, aligning with identified causes and other actions. Additionally, a set of causes and actions was identified in this study. Major causes included fire and explosion incidents, defective materials, and material theft. Key actions were efficient project planning, accurate material management, and the implementation of comprehensive storage and handling procedures. Construction process supervision emerged as the highest priority, while reuse and recycling promotion, although ranked the lowest, remained significant. This study introduced a systematic approach to prioritize actions that address root causes and assess the impact of each action on others, providing practical, cascading solutions to site-specific challenges. In addition, by conducting the research within the context of Vietnam, this study further demonstrated the applicability of this methodological framework in developing economies with similar construction environments.
Women make up less than 15% of the UK construction workforce and continue to face major retention challenges, driven by structural biases that lead to feelings of disrespect, insufficient support, and being undervalued. This study takes a novel approach by applying Actor-Network Theory (ANT) to investigate how digital technologies (as non-human actors) influence the retention of women (as human actors) in the industry- a perspective that has been overlooked in previous research. Utilising data from 23 qualitative interviews with women involved in digitally enabled projects, the research develops a socio-technical framework that connects the functions of digital technology to the concepts of respect, support, and value (RSV). The interviews were analysed thematically using NVivo 13 to identify retention challenges and how women interact with digital technologies. The findings reveal several retention issues, including rigid work practices, a predominantly masculine culture, and occurrences of bullying and harassment. Importantly, the study shows that technologies like Building Information Modelling (BIM), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and online mentoring platforms do more than enhance operational efficiency; they actively reshape workplace dynamics to promote inclusivity and improve women's perceptions of respect, support, and value. By employing ANT, this research underscores the strategic potential of digital technologies in addressing systemic challenges within the construction sector. This is the first study to establish a conceptual link between digitalisation and gender equity, and it offers practical strategies for construction firms to improve retention by focusing on respect, support, and perceived value.
Construction industry stakeholders increasingly rely on social media and information and communication technology tools for communication and business operations. To ensure a smooth construction process and support future needs, such as renovations, it is essential to preserve the information generated throughout a project's life cycle. This study examines the influence of data longevity on data management in the South African construction industry. A quantitative research approach was used, collecting data from construction professionals in Gauteng through an online questionnaire survey. Respondents included quantity surveyors; architects; civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers; and construction and project managers. The findings indicate that key factors influencing data longevity in data management include the use of immutable storage, continuous data protection technologies, durable record-keeping devices, and knowledge of data longevity standards. Moreover, the study emphasises the importance of construction stakeholders developing a thorough understanding of data longevity to ensure effective data management throughout a project's execution. By addressing challenges such as data loss due to obsolescence, cyber threats, and environmental factors, this research contributes to establishing best practices for preserving construction project data, ensuring long-term accessibility and compliance. As the construction industry increasingly relies on digital data, prioritising data longevity is essential for maintaining project integrity, enhancing collaboration, and fostering future innovations. It is recommended that professionals receive training and educate all project members on data longevity principles and their implementation.
Fostering sustainable building practices is essential to mitigating the environmental impact of human activity. Education and training play a critical role in this effort. However, developing nations have yet to fully adopt sustainable construction strategies. This study investigates how education and training influence the adaptive capacity of Ghana’s construction sector. A quantitative approach was employed, with data collected from 400 participants. The data were analysed using IBM SPSS (version 26), and structural equation modelling (SEM) was conducted using AMOS (version 24). The analysis revealed two key latent constructs of education and training: adaptive barriers (ADBs) and implementation awareness (IPA). The findings suggest that enhancing education and training is essential to building adaptive capacity within the industry. The study recommends that government agencies and construction stakeholders implement advocacy programmes and workshops to promote sustainable construction practices among contractors and professionals. The novelty of this research lies in its contribution to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 by proposing a structured pathway for integrating sustainability into construction practices. It uniquely highlights the direct impact of targeted education and training initiatives on adaptive capacity in Ghana’s construction industry.
Risk is inherent in property development, yet its management remains a challenge in many emerging economies. This study is aimed at assessing the risk management practices of real estate development companies in Nigeria, providing a comprehensive understanding of how risks are analysed and managed across the country’s six geopolitical zones. This study employed an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design to investigate the risk management practices of real estate development companies in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. While 250 questionnaires were sent to development firms registered with the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria, personal interviews were conducted with 13 purposively selected developers. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analysed using a thematic approach. Out of the 250 questionnaires distributed, 84 were correctly filled out and returned, giving a response rate of 33.6%. Descriptive statistics results showed that out of 31 risk management techniques, brainstorming, checklists, experience/judgement/intuition, risk avoidance, and interviews were the most commonly used techniques adopted by real estate developers in risk management for development projects. Additionally, over half of the development firms have well-formulated strategies for risk management; however, this does not translate into practice. The qualitative findings validated most of the quantitative results. This study inferred that combining qualitative with quantitative methods, especially probabilistic approaches, will create a comprehensive and more balanced risk management approach in real estate development projects. The findings of this study would assist both local and international developers in making informed decisions regarding real estate development investment in Nigeria and other countries that share similar characteristics with Nigeria.
Despite growing global interest in digital innovations for health and safety (H&S) management, the Ghanaian construction industry (GCI) continues to lag in the adoption of such technologies due to persistent barriers and the absence of strategic implementation frameworks. Existing studies have largely focused on individual technologies or general adoption challenges without offering holistic, context-specific strategies tailored to developing countries. This study aimed to identify and evaluate the key barriers and strategies influencing the adoption of H&S technologies in the GCI and to develop a contextualised framework to support their effective implementation. A sequential mixed-methods approach was adopted. First, a scoping review identified relevant barriers and global strategies. A quantitative survey of 123 construction professionals then assessed the significance of selected strategies, followed by three rounds of focus group discussions (FGDs) to validate, categorise, and map strategies to barrier themes. The study identified 16 strategies, with "client involvement", "awareness creation", and "technical know-how" ranked highest. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests confirmed the statistical significance of all strategies, while the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests revealed significant variations in perceptions across professional roles for selected strategies prior to the FGDs. The study offers practical insights for stakeholders in the GCI by linking strategic interventions directly to context-specific challenges, thus supporting the targeted deployment of digital H&S technologies. Theoretically, the study contributes a robust framework grounded in the technology-organisation-environment and diffusion of innovation theories, enhancing the understanding of technology adoption dynamics in developing countries.
In the context of the world facing serious environmental problems, sustainable development has become an inevitable trend in the construction sector. To achieve sustainability in construction, it is essential to integrate environmentally responsible practices from the early planning stages. However, most current earthwork projects focus on improving productivity while overlooking environmental impacts. Developing methods to assess cost, productivity, and environmental aspects in an integrated way remains a major industry challenge. As part of research efforts to promote sustainability in construction, this study develops a methodology for applying Lean construction principles to simultaneously enhance cost efficiency, improve productivity, and reduce environmental impact in earthwork operations in Vietnam. The EZStrobe simulation tool was employed to model earthwork processes under realistic construction conditions, identify bottlenecks, and test Lean interventions through multiple scenarios. After validating the model, four Lean construction principles-flow production, minimization of non-value-adding activities, pull system implementation, and reduction of transported soil volume-were implemented to optimize earthmoving efficiency. The most effective Lean model resulted in significant improvements in construction performance, increasing productivity by 65.5% and reducing costs by 21.7%. Moreover, this model contributed positively to the environment by reducing fuel consumption by 21% and lowering CO2 emissions by 12.7%. These findings emphasize the practical value of Lean construction in enhancing sustainability in earthwork, especially in developing countries where efficient resource use and environmental protection are essential. The study offers actionable insights for construction managers and policymakers seeking to implement sustainable and efficient earthwork practices in developing countries.
Building information modeling (BIM) is increasingly used in construction projects in developing countries like Vietnam. However, many stakeholders still question its effectiveness and feel unprepared to apply it. This challenge is more evident in prefabricated construction, where design and construction occur simultaneously. BIM offers many benefits in this context, but also brings notable difficulties. This study examined the significant barriers to BIM implementation in prefabricated construction projects. A quantitative approach was used, beginning with a literature review to identify potential barriers, followed by a pilot test with three experts to refine and validate them. Eleven barriers were identified and categorized into human-, technological-, and performance-related groups. A structured quantitative questionnaire was distributed to professionals with experience in BIM-based prefabricated projects. Using a non-probability sampling approach, 151 valid responses were collected from stakeholders with diverse roles and backgrounds. The results indicated that human-related barriers are the most significant. The top five barriers are the lack of high-quality human resources, poor coordination among stakeholders, a long time needed to generate detailed models, weak integration between tools, and resistance to changes in work processes. Stakeholders showed strong agreement in their evaluations, with correlation coefficients above 0.3 at the 0.01 and 0.05 significance levels. Factor analysis and evaluation using exploratory factor analysis and fuzzy synthetic evaluation confirmed a substantial impact of these barriers, with a score of 3.488 out of 5.0 (69.8%). These findings provide a solid foundation for developing policies and strategies to strengthen BIM adoption and improve project performance.
This study evaluated the quality of construction technology data across four categories- intrinsic, contextual, representation, and accessibility-and examined how these factors influence potential data use. The research adopted a qualitative approach, systematically identifying and assessing publicly available data sources on construction technology from government, academia, industry, and society. Government sources include research databases, technical reports, and patents; academic sources comprise Scopus and the local repository Science and Technology Index; and industry sources encompass annual reports and social media. The evaluation revealed that government data demonstrate the highest credibility and the most complete metadata, but were updated infrequently. Despite limited metadata, industry data remain reliable due to consistent annual publication schedules. Academic data show moderate quality, offering substantial datasets but with irregular update frequencies. Most data sources are available in English or Indonesian and are predominantly open access, except for subscription-based academic journals. In summary, the vast majority of construction technology data sources in Indonesia are either unstructured with limited information or semi-structured large databases from credible institutions with unpredictable or irregular updates, presenting challenges for technology landscape mapping. Government and Scopus databases show significant potential but require greater standardisation and, in the case of Scopus, advanced natural language processing-based extraction methods to maximise their utility for construction technology landscape development.
Collective sensemaking is key to the teams in global construction engineering projects (GCEPs) in order to establish resilience against encountered calamities. Both natural and man-made calamities that occur in these projects influence team performance adversely, and these teams need to develop resilience against them. Therefore, they need to engage in collective sense promptly to know what is going on around the work environment. However, making collective sense is a significant challenge for them because the team members do not have face-to-face interactions in physical proximity due to their virtual team setup. Therefore, knowing how collective sensemaking takes place can facilitate their identification of the best practices for its formation, but the components of collective sensemaking in these projects remain a knowledge gap in the literature. Thus, this paper conceptualizes the model of collective sensemaking with its components by reviewing literature and confirms its model fit through the results of a questionnaire survey among the team members in GCEPs. Both exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis have been applied to confirm this model with its components as the main findings. As a contribution to practice, the teams in GCEPs can use this model to understand what aspects are to be prioritized for the formation of collective sensemaking to become resilient against calamities. These findings can also become an original theoretical contribution to the construction management research domain because future researchers can use the model and associated survey instruments to develop further theories and practices.
This paper aims to investigate the profitability status and cost structure of the construction industry in China, as well as to conduct a case study analysis on the profit gap and differences between industries for cost drivers and strategies for taking returns. Using descriptive statistics, multiple regression, Monte Carlo simulation, and cluster analysis, this study draws from national statistics, industry reports, and company financial statements to determine the influence labor costs, material prices, and taxes have on earnings. The study finds that there is a substantial return distribution across sub-sectors: residential construction shows shorter projects lives and higher returns, while the long-term nature of civil engineering (and associated infrastructure) results in lower profitability despite large capital outlays. The biggest headwinds appear to be material and labor costs, while tax burdens compound the issues. While Monte Carlo simulations quantify the uncertainty of profitability, cluster analysis is used to detect the cost–profit structure and offers insights for developing focused efficiency strategies. In addition to operational effectiveness and resilience, some measures are encouraged like lean construction, digitalization (BIM and AI), and prefabrication, advancing public–private partnerships. They are actionable insights for policymakers and industry leaders to inform evidence-based cost containment, strategic investment, and sustainable growth in construction.
There has been minimal consideration given to the identification of critical risk management performance benchmarks for determining the success of construction projects in Ghana. This study aims at identifying the critical risk management performance metrics for analyzing the accomplishment of Ghanaian construction projects. This was realized by developing a confirmatory factor analysis model based on the responses of professional construction industry stakeholders in Ghana. A positivist philosophy and deductive methodology based on quantitative survey was espoused. A review of literature was conducted in order to find risk management performance indicators that could be used to evaluate the overall performance of construction projects in Ghana. A total of seven grouped critical risk management performance indicators were identified from literature which served as a foundation for generating a survey questionnaire. A questionnaire was designed based on the identified risk management performance indicators and distributed to respondents through emails, Google forms and in person for their responses. Data from the questionnaire responses were analyzed and modeled using descriptive statistics and confirmatory factor analysis model. The study reveals that all the seven identified risk management performance indicators discovered in literature have an effect on how well Ghanaian construction projects perform. Nevertheless, the most critical ones are “stakeholders (clients, consultants, contractors, customers, end-users, investors, etc.) satisfaction (FCRMPI2)”, “completion within budget (cost) and schedule (time) (FCRMPI3)”, “satisfaction of environmental sustainability, quality, scope, and health and safety requirements (FCRMPI6)” and “employees’ job satisfaction (FCRMPI7)”. Only construction industry stakeholders in the public sector were used for the study. The findings were limited to public construction projects in Ghana through quantitative research design and therefore the results could be different for private construction projects using the same or different research design. Contribution to knowledge has been made by identifying the key metrics of performance for risk management that Ghanaian construction projects could use to measure their success. The study's findings would serve as a benchmark for project stakeholders in demonstrating their commitment to achieving performance excellence in construction projects in Ghana.
Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are increasingly used to improve the efficiency of public services such as building permit approvals, zoning management, and infrastructure inspections. However, this rapid integration has raised ethical concerns related to algorithmic bias, transparency, accountability, and data privacy. For example, automated zoning systems may inadvertently prioritize certain areas owing to biased data inputs. This paper presents a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis focused on ethical AI frameworks in municipal and construction-related services, particularly focusing on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where smart city initiatives are rapidly advancing. The review followed preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and drew on 102 peer-reviewed articles from Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and EBSCOhost using keywords such as “AI ethics”, “smart cities”, and “public services”. The analysis highlights recurring ethical gaps in existing global frameworks, including limited adaptability to local cultural and regulatory environments. Drawing from best practices in the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Artificial Intelligence Principles, and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Artificial Intelligence Ethics Guidelines, this study proposed a culturally sensitive governance framework tailored to the UAE context. The framework offers guidance for implementing ethical audits, transparency standards, and citizen feedback mechanisms. The findings provide actionable insights for policymakers—such as the development of regulatory sandboxes—and industry stakeholders deploying AI in construction-related municipal services. This study supported the development of responsible AI practices that align with both global ethical standards and local governance needs, ultimately contributing to more trustworthy smart city services.
Modern construction organizations demand high-performing teams (HPTs) in their projects in order to face increasing performance challenges. On the one hand, they face significant performance challenges due to the competition in the industry in many forms, such as competitive bidding to receive projects. On the other hand, they need to manage the performance challenges posed by the complexities of the uncertain and volatile construction project environment to deliver projects successfully and build up strong organizational profiles to face such issues. At the same time, they must also follow the legislative requirements of their countries, which are focused on the big issues and challenges that exist in the contemporary construction industry. In order to enable HPTs, they need a high-performance work system (HPWS) that can facilitate their projects. However, although literature shows numerous studies on organizational HPWSs that consist of human resource management practices, only limited attention has been given to identifying such a system for the project context. This study aimed to fill this knowledge gap through a quantitative research study. The project high-performance work system (PHPWS) was conceptualized using literature and tested using 221 responses to a questionnaire survey among team members in construction projects. The exploratory factor and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to analyze data to conclude this PHPWS. The findings facilitate the construction organizations to create the PHPWS for enabling HPTs in their projects and constitute a significant original contribution to the theory and practice in the construction management research domain.
Natural hazards significantly threaten the built environment and infrastructure, resulting in a sudden and significant increase in reconstruction demand. Such an unforeseen post-disaster demand surge for reconstruction can inflate costs up to 50%, impeding prompt and efficient reconstruction efforts. The current study aimed to quantify the effect of disasters on construction wages in three Gulf Coast states (Louisiana, Texas, and Florida). To accomplish this, spatial Durbin models were utilized with a difference-indifferences specification to allow for feedback and spillover effects across counties. The results show that the impact of a disaster on construction wages works with a lag. Natural disasters caused a decrease in construction wages in the impacted counties during the disaster quarter, compared to counties that were not affected. However, construction wages increased one quarter later in the disaster-affected counties compared to the non-affected counties. The direct, indirect, and total effects of disasters on the counties' wages indicate significant feedback and spillover effects across counties when a county experiences a disaster. The findings of this study carry significant policy implications for the city's policymakers and decision-makers.
The work teams in global construction engineering projects (GCEPs) tend to face various natural and man-made calamities that can catastrophically influence their performance; thus, enabling team resilience becomes vital. The literature shows noteworthy evidence identifying collective sensemaking as a key enabler to achieving team resilience, but this has still not been empirically confirmed and creates a knowledge gap. The global construction organizations also argue whether these teams actually need collective sensemaking for this purpose since team members will not have face-to-face interactions during times of calamities as they reside in different countries and work via virtual mode. With the results of a questionnaire survey among 52 GCEP teams, this paper concludes the positive and significant relationship between collective sensemaking and team resilience, confirming that the teams need collective sensemaking to become resilient. This finding makes an original contribution to the theory and practice in the GCEP sector and highlights the importance of much-needed attention from these teams to create collective sensemaking to become resilient against calamities. A recommendation is made for revealing practical ways of achieving this in a future study.
