Investigating informality in construction: philosophy, paradigm and practice

Gajendran, Thayaparan; Brewer, Graham; Runeson, Goran; Dainty, Andrew R.J.

doi:10.5130/ajceb.v11i2.2201

Cited by 15 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 46 publications

(27 reference statements)

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“…Such decisions are made on the basis of both rational and boundedly rational criteria (Simon, 1991), which embody formal and informal dimensions (Bresnen and Marshall, 2002). The phenomenon of decision-making in such an environment is best revealed using qualitative post-positivist approaches (Gajendran et al 2011;Barrett and Sutrisna, 2009).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Value through innovation in long‐term service delivery

Brewer

Gajendran

Jefferies

et al. 2013

Built Environment Project and Asset Management

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Purpose -Public-private partnerships (PPPs) and other innovative procurement mechanisms are frequently used to deliver both an asset and a public service over a protracted period. The value streams to the parties involved can be complex, but generally arise from the satisfactory provision of infrastructure that is fit for purpose throughout its life. This research aims to investigate the effectiveness of the facility management (FM) function in delivering long-term value to both the client and consortium. Design/methodology/approach -This paper describes a case study of a PPP in Australia that delivered social infrastructure in multiple locations to a state government. Drawing upon multiple perspectives from within the consortium, it utilises inductive principles to identify the influences on value generation through innovation by the FM function. Findings -The ability of an Australian FM contractor to provide value within a PPP context has been shown to reflect some of the attributes described in literature. However, the extent of innovation, especially in the design and construction phases, has been limited by organisational history and capability, and relational and contextual issues. Originality/value -This research highlights a flaw in the rhetoric relating to PPP delivery, namely the disconnection between the asset delivery and service delivery phases, which stifles the consortium's capacity to innovate and maximise value. It reveals a set of influences that both resonate with the literature and plausibly explain the suboptimal performance of the FM function within an Australian PPP. By using highly iterative analysis leading to within-case generalisability, it provides a robust basis for wider investigation of the problem.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Value through innovation in long‐term service delivery

Brewer

Gajendran

Jefferies

et al. 2013

Built Environment Project and Asset Management

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“…Promoters of interpretivism, on the other hand, view construction management research as a form of social science research and espouse a socially contrived study of construction phenomena (Hartmann et al 2010;Gajendran, 2011). Their stance was thus that to gain rich insight into human behavior, it is necessary to understand the actions of the key professional players in the construction industry.…”

Section: The Philosophical Debate In Construction Management Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards methodological adventure in cost overrun research: linking process and product

Amadi

2021

International Journal of Construction Management

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The continued adoption of singular paradigms in the study of construction phenomena has elicited dialectical debates in scholarly literature. Calls have been made for more adventurous research methods, beyond the positivist versus interpretivist philosophical divide traditionally embraced by the industry. This study analyses the extensive scholarly debates, advancing and advocating philosophical positions to understand construction phenomena, and further narrows down the argument to within the specific domain of cost overrun research. A systematic and chronological literature review of the methodological/ philosophical underpinnings of 41 papers was carried out. The papers were selected by following a staged exclusion criterion. The study outcome reveals that similar dialectical debates and methodological conservatism are still evident, with the predominance of mono-paradigm studies in the bulk of the empirical literature. Most of the empirical literature either provides interpretivist theoretical explanations from qualitative data or positivistically analyses quantitative data to provide technical explanations. To this end, mixed paradigm examples are spotlighted, demonstrating the relevance of linking process and product via methodological adventure in cost overrun research. Transcending the paradigmic divide is necessary to develop a more useful and contextually anchored view of practice, essential to mitigate and provide a holistic understanding of what drives cost overruns in public projects. KEYWORDS Construction management; cost overrun research; mixed methods; mixed paradigmsOur values can have an important impact on the research we decide to pursue and how we pursue it. This may not lead to any form of discord, but it may mean that some observers accuse us of untoward bias (p. 107).Within the domain of cost overrun research, several studies have identified technical, risk, and uncertainty related issues, which are prevalent in all forms of construction works, as the primary front-end factors that account for cost overruns in public projects. Older studies such as Tan and Wakmasha (2010), reiterated that early estimates for public projects were often CONTACT Alolote Ibim Amadi

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“…Another issue to consider has to do with the extent of informality in the industry. "Informality," is about the informal, casual or uno cial activities that occur in business rms, industries, societies and the economy as a whole (Gajendran et al, 2011). Wells (2007), quoting from the CIB task group 29 (later changed to works commission, 107), describes the informal sector of the CI as: "unregulated and unprotected individuals and enterprises engaged in economic activities in construction, including the supply of labour and the production of building materials and components for both the formal construction sector and directly in response to clients' needs".…”

Section: 23mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Framework for Systemic Sustainable Construction Industry Development (SSCID)

Gyadu-Asiedu

Ampadu-Asiamah

Fokuo-Kusi

2020

Preprint

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The quest by most countries to achieve sustainable construction has met with several challenges as evidenced in low goal accomplishment. This is largely due to the fact that the issues have not been addressed within the context of the CI. Using the system thinking philosophy as applied to the construction industry, it should be possible to ensure sustainable development within the entire industry which should then spearhead sustainable construction as part of its sustainable development goals (SDGs). This paper proposes a framework by which a construction industry of a country could be developed sustainably and systemically. The methodology used involved an analytic study of relevant literature, reports and other documents on the implementation and challenges in sustainable development as applied to the construction industry. It identifies the major challenges and barriers militating against the CI development which must be addressed. It also posits that the goals of sustainable CI development should be linked to the SDGs. A framework is designed by which all the development of all the systems or organisations in the CI (all firms: construction, consulting, supplying, etc.) could be achieved taking cognisance of the identifiable components of CI development. This continuous process of ensuring sustainable development of the various organisations which shall be measured, monitored and managed (The 3Ms) will provide the needed environment for sustainable construction industry among other benefits. The framework is expected to operate on a construction industry information modelling (CIIM) principle and in an environment akin to the Building information modelling (BIM).

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Investigating informality in construction: philosophy, paradigm and practice

Cited by 15 publications

References 46 publications

Value through innovation in long‐term service delivery

Value through innovation in long‐term service delivery

Towards methodological adventure in cost overrun research: linking process and product

A Framework for Systemic Sustainable Construction Industry Development (SSCID)

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