Understanding Knowledge Sharing in the Jordanian Construction Industry

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a model to understand and facilitate more knowledge sharing (KS) among construction companies in Jordan. Sixteen cultural variables that affect KS were identified through self-administered questionnaires. Design/methodology/approach – Factor analysis was used to find possible relationships between the cultural variables for grouping purposes and to eliminate the cultural variables that do not affect KS. The results of factor analysis were further refined using a brainstorming session and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to prioritise the factors obtained through the factor analysis. Findings – Trust, management and communication were identified as the three most important factors, whilst communication was acknowledged as the least important factor. Originality/value – This research uses factor analysis and AHP to study the influence of cultural factors on KS. It develops a hierarchy of factors that affect effective KS within the Jordanian context. The paper investigated KS in-depth and highlighted the components that constitute KS in an organisation. Based on extensive literature review, this study found the relative importance of different factors that affect KS. The emphasis on trust was found to be more critical than the presence of a computer-based system. In addition, this is the first paper of this type to look at KS in the context of the Jordanian construction industry

Artificial neural network analysis of teachers��� performance against thermal comfort

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Emerald in International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation on 17/04/2020, available online at: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-11-2019-0098 The accepted manuscript may differ from the final published version.Purpose: The impact of thermal comfort in educational buildings continues to be of major importance in both the design and construction phases. Given this, it is also equally important to understand and appreciate the impact of design decisions on post-occupancy performance, particularly on staff and students. This study aims to present the effect of IEQ on teachers��� performance. This study would provide thermal environment requirements to BIM-led school refurbishment projects. Design: This paper presents a detailed investigation into the direct impact of thermal parameters (temperature, relative humidity and ventilation rates) on teacher performance. In doing so, the research methodological approach combines explicit mixed-methods using questionnaire surveys and physical measurements of thermal parameters to identify correlation and inference. It was conducted through a single case study using a technical college based in Saudi Arabia. Findings: Findings from this work were used to develop a model using an Artificial Neural Network to establish causal relationships. Research findings indicate an optimal temperature range between 23��C and 25��C, with a 65% relative humidity and 0.4m/s ventilation rate. This ratio delivered optimum results for both comfort and performance

A Study and Estimation a Lost Person Behavior in Crowded Areas Using Accelerometer Data from Smartphones

As smartphones become more popular, applications are being developed with new and innovative ways to solve problems in the day-to-day lives of users. One area of smartphone technology that has been developed in recent years is human activity recognition (HAR). This technology uses various sensors that are built into the smartphone to sense a person\u27s activity in real time. Applications that incorporate HAR can be used to track a person\u27s movements and are very useful in areas such as health care. We use this type of motion sensing technology, specifically, using data collected from the accelerometer sensor. The purpose of this study is to study and estimate the person who may become lost in a crowded area. The application is capable of estimating the movements of people in a crowded area, and whether or not the person is lost in a crowded area based on his/her movements as detected by the smartphone. This will be a great benefit to anyone interested in crowd management strategies. In this paper, we review related literature and research that has given us the basis for our own research. We also detail research on lost person behavior. We looked at the typical movements a person will likely make when he/she is lost and used these movements to indicate lost person behavior. We then evaluate and describe the creation of the application, all of its components, and the testing process

Advancing lean implementation within a construction supply chain

This investigation leads to critical recommendations for advancing the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for lean implementation within a Construction Supply Chain (CSC). The findings suggest that implementing Lean within a CSC requires a similar effort at different levels (Organisational and Process) of Supply Chain. This study presents essential recommendations that would ensure smooth flow of Lean implementation at all levels of a CSC. This paper draws upon relevant literature, sixty-three surveys and interviews with four professionals working on the frontlines and emphasises on the issues that hinder the SMEs engagement and contribution to Lean within Construction Supply Chain. Moreover, this involved respondents from Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 of a CSC that includes clients, executives, consultants, and other managers, who are directly involved in the Lean implementation in construction projects. This paper adds value to the existing knowledge of Lean implementation in a CSC and SMEs. This study is original in terms of establishing the recommendation to lean implementation in a CSC

Challenges to transferring and sharing of tacit knowledge within a construction supply chain

Purpose – This paper investigates the potential challenges that hinder the effective transfer and sharing of Tacit Knowledge (Knowledge Communication) within a construction supply chain (CSC). Design/Methodology/Approach – This study identifies six challenges (through literature review) with fifteen positive correlations between them. Quantitative methodology is employed to validate those challenges and correlations between challenges. Firstly, data is collected through semi-structured e-survey questionnaire. Afterwards, a Frequency and Kruskal-Wallis H test is run for initial validation of identified challenges. A correlation analysis is used to highlight the taxonomic relations between those challenges. Finally, the study establishes the rank order of the first and following challenges. Findings – This study highlights that traditional ways of working with construction organisations are the predominant challenge that hinders effective transferring and sharing of Tacit Knowledge. The cause of challenges is the fragmented nature of CSC. Also, it brings out the correlation between those challenges. The study draws the conclusion and recommendation to implement Knowledge Communication (KC) within a CSC. Originality/Value – The study highlights the challenges that hinder KC in a construction process of a CSC. It establishes that the fragmented nature of the construction sector is not the first challenge that hinders implementation of transferring and sharing of Tacit Knowledge but somewhat traditional organisation structures and working processes. This is the first paper that investigates and tests the challenges in four dimensions and establishes the rank order of challenges with crucial distinction in a KC approach within a CSC. Conclusion – This study identifies the rank order of challenges. It also discusses the implementation of KC within a CSC. It reflects the current understanding of KC in the construction sector and pinpoints the contribution of this study in academia and practice. Keywords - Construction Supply Chains, Knowledge Management, Tacit Knowledge, Transferring and Sharing Tacit Knowledge, Knowledge Communication in Construction Processes, Knowledge Communicatio

A case for target value design towards effective low-cost housing project cost management and performance South-East Zone Nigeria

Going north for sustainability:Leveraging knowledge and innovation for sustainable construction and development, CIB International Conference London.Reports over the past decade, reveal the trend of poor cost performances of many Low-cost Housing (LcH) projects. This have apparently resulted in huge monetary losses to the government as the client, declining housing supply and undermined affordability of many Low and Low-medium incomes particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. In spite of the changes with contemporary trends in Nigeria, it would appear that the techniques employed in the management of the delivery costs of the LcH projects particularly in the South-east zone are yet similar to those used over a century ago. This necessitates urgent and appropriate sustainable intervention strategies adopting cost-effective techniques. Prior studies affirms the implications of modern cost management techniques such as Target Value Design (TVD) in improving delivery cost performances on construction projects. For this reason this paper which forms an integral part of an ongoing doctoral study, aim to identify the efficacy and applicability of TVD in the context of LcH project delivery cost management. A review of relevant and extant literature identifies peculiarities on the concept of TVD and LcH projects. Findings from literature and data collected via questionnaires further identify constraints on current LcH project delivery cost management system and clearly indicates the possible applicability and integration of TVD in the system. These findings provide a platform for the next phase of the research towards developing an improved delivery cost management model for LcH projects. This is expected to engender effective government-led LcH projects delivery particularly in in South-East zone Nigeria

Assessing Customer Service in Airports – Models from the UAE

Customer service at airports has become a key priority for airport operators given the high degree of competitions. This paper uses an airport customer service model to analyze three examples from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Passenger interviews, statistical information, customer feedback and other forms of information have been utilized to learn more about the customer view on the quality of service offered at these three airports. Detailed qualitative analysis of these case studies has highlighted some key issues in the area of customer service and identifies some opportunities for improvement

Characterization of Isolated Bioactive Phytoconstituents from Flacourtia Indica as Potential Phytopharmaceuticals-An in Silico Perspective

The dependence of mankind for therapeutic applications on plants dates back to the start of the human race. Natural remedies from ethnobotanicals are found to be safe and cost effective. Due to the poor pharmacokinetic profiles and toxicity problems many synthetic drugs often fails to enter the market thus, the pharmacologically active compounds from plants continued to provide an important source of novel drug leads. The early inclusion of pharmacokinetics consideration in the drug discovery process using in silico methods is becoming popular due to improved generation of software’s. The problems with conventional method required time-consuming multi-step processes against a battery of in vivo biological screening and high cost thus, In silico prediction of the pharmacokinetic parameters, biological properties and toxicity due to advent of chemo-informatics tools, has reduced the cost dramatically and early application in drug design are realized. The present investigation deals with computational evaluation of six isolated phytocompounds from Flacourtia indica for their pharmacological potential and biological activities. These compounds were evaluated for drug likeness properties, bioactivity score, ADME/T profiles, and health affects by using various bioinformatics tools. The result indicated that all the six compounds analyzed were non mutagens, non-carcinogens and having good drug-likeness properties were seen. The ADMET parameters and probability of health effects were analyzed by admet SAR and ACD/I-Lab online tools respectively and results shows the ADMET and probability of health effects values are also in satisfying ranges. Pharmacological activities of these compounds were predicted individually using PASS server many different pharmacological activities and mechanisms of action shown by these compounds were reported. The results of our analysis clearly depict that all six phytocompounds were having good pharmacokinetic profiles with numerous biological activities. These compounds can be further studied in vitro and in vivo for the discovery of novel preventive and therapeutic drug

Critical factors for transferring and sharing tacit knowledge within lean and agile construction processes

Purpose The purpose of the paper is to investigate the critical success factors (CSFs) associated with the effectiveness of transfer and sharing of tacit knowledge in lean and agile construction processes. Design/methodology/approach The study identifies ten CSFs that initiate the transferring and sharing of tacit knowledge. The CSFs are validated through quantitative study. This study recruited project managers, executives, consultants and other managers that are directly involved in the management of a construction project. It recruits the respondents those have background and experience from disciplines such as lean construction, agile construction, construction supply chain (CSC) and knowledge management in lean, agile and CSC. The data collected through self-administrative questionnaire are categorised as ordinal data to analyse in SPSS with frequency and Kruskal–Wallis H test, Spearman’s correlation analysis and a rank-order analysis is done to establish the level of importance of those factors. Findings Initially, “Trust between construction organisations” is identified as the foremost CSF. Moreover, other CSFs such as motivation, leadership capabilities, business strategies and organisational capabilities follow trust. Originality/value This is the first study that investigates and establishes the CSFs that are essential to initiate transferring and sharing tacit knowledge in a lean and in an agile construction processes

Green construction in India: gaining a deeper understanding

A workshop on green construction was organized in New Delhi in July 2008 by Jamia Millia University, India and University of Salford, U.K., aiming to increase 'green' practices that are environmentally friendly and energy efficient. The workshop included participants from regulatory bodies, public and private construction companies and researchers. The object of the workshop was to provide an opportunity to capture issues, challenges and research issues in green practices throughout the supply chain in the construction sector in India. The methodology constituted a survey that was provided to all participants, where eight questions were composed by the facilitators. The participants were asked about their views on voluntary and compulsory ways of assessment and audit of green implementation in India. The findings of the workshop featured major challenges, drivers, initiatives, and the ways of effective implementation as well as enforcement on the discussed topic