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Bojic, M, Yik, F and Lee, M (2003) Influence of air-conditioning exhaust on exterior recessed space. Building Research & Information, 31(01), 25–34.
Boudeau, C (2013) Design team meetings and the coordination of expertise: the roof garden of a hospital. Construction Management and Economics, 31(01), 78-89.
Chew, M Y L and Silva, N D (2003) Maintainability problems of wet areas in high-rise residential buildings. Building Research & Information, 31(01), 60–9.
Crawford, R H, Treloar, G J, Iiozor, B D and Love, P E D (2003) Competitive greenhouse emissions analysis of domestic solar hot water systems. Building Research & Information, 31(01), 34–47.
Feriadi, H, Hien, N, Chandra, S and Cheong, K W (2003) Adaptive behaviour and thermal comfort in Singapore's naturally ventilated housing. Building Research & Information, 31(01), 13–23.
Fuller, R J and Luther, M B (2003) Simulation of condensation problems in a roller skating centre. Building Research & Information, 31(01), 48–59.
Håkansson, H and Ingemansson, M (2013) Industrial renewal within the construction network. Construction Management and Economics, 31(01), 40-61.
Kim, J-L (2013) Genetic algorithm stopping criteria for optimization of construction resource scheduling problems. Construction Management and Economics, 31(01), 3-19.
Koskela, L (2003) Is structural change the primary solution to the problems of construction?. Building Research & Information, 31(01), 85–96.
- Type: Journal Article
- Keywords: construction; construction performance; production theory; re-engineering construction; structural change
- ISBN/ISSN: 0961-3218
- URL: http://journalsonline.tandf.co.uk/link.asp?id=jmx490fbdpuknwfj
- Abstract:
What is the cause for the well-known problems of construction? What should be done to achieve a solution to these problems? A number of renewal initiatives, such as industrialization, open building, design/build, partnering, re-engineering and others, have been put forward. A common feature of such initiatives is that they imply structural changes to the organziational pattern and/or to the flows of information and materials. The aim here is to discuss critically the idea of the primacy of the structural solution for the problems of construciton. To create a basis for such discussion, the theoretical field related to construction is outlined. Three major theoretical areas are recognised: theory of production, theory of management and conceptulization of the peculiarities of construction. For the theory of production, there are three conceptualizations that should be used simultaneously: transformation, flow and value generation (the TFV framework). For the theory of management, there are three intrinsically different managerial actions: design, operation and improvement of a production system. For the peculiarities, three major factors are perceived: one of a kind nature of projects, site production and temporary organization. Based on this framework, a number of conclusions are drawn. Foremost is that due to its peculiarities, construction is characterised by a high level of variability, and the role of managerial action at the level of operation and improvement is crucial in stemming the penalities and further propogation of variability. Five renewal initiatives are analysed based ona theoretical framework. They all focus primarily on production system change and allhave given modest or dissappointing results. Even if the casual relation cannot be established definitively, there is evidence for the claim that it is the neglect of changes at the level of operation and improvement that has contributed to the relative lack of results. As a conclusion, it is argued that the problems of construction require (besides structural changes in the production system) new initiatives at the level of operation and improveement. Moveover, it is concluded that to support integrative new solutions to the pervasive practical problems of construction, we need to develop further the theoretical foundation, or first principles, of production in general and especially in construction.
Langston, C (2013) The role of coordinate-based decision-making in the evaluation of sustainable built environments. Construction Management and Economics, 31(01), 62-77.
Raisbeck, P and Tang, L C M (2013) Identifying design development factors in Australian PPP projects using an AHP framework. Construction Management and Economics, 31(01), 20-39.
Sunikka, M and Boon, C (2003) Environmental policies and efforts in social housing: the Netherlands. Building Research & Information, 31(01), 1–12.