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Edwards, D, Parn, E A, Sing, M C and Thwala, W D (2019) Risk of excavators overturning. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 479–98.

Ekanayake, E, Shen, G and Kumaraswamy, M M (2019) Mapping the knowledge domains of value management: a bibliometric approach. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 499–514.

Gan, X, Chang, R, Langston, C and Wen, T (2019) Exploring the interactions among factors impeding the diffusion of prefabricated building technologies. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 535–53.

  • Type: Journal Article
  • Keywords: Innovation; Technology; Construction; Simulation; Approach;
  • ISBN/ISSN: 0969-9988
  • URL: https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-05-2018-0198
  • Abstract:
    The purpose of this paper is to identify the interactions of factors impacting the widespread adoption of prefabricated building technologies and the intervention strategies to facilitate the development of prefabrication based on fuzzy cognitive maps (FCMs). Design/methodology/approach Through in-depth interviews with six stakeholder groups, namely, the government, developers, designers, contractors, manufacturers and researchers, 13 critical factors were identified and used to construct stakeholder-grouped FCMs, which were further aggregated into a collective FCM. The complexity and density of the collective FCM and the centrality of factors in the FCM were examined. Subsequently, a series of “what-if” simulations of the collective FCM were conducted to analyze the effectiveness of different interventions in promoting prefabrication. Findings The results show that three factors including market demand, cost, and policies and regulations have been mentioned by all stakeholder groups. However, these factors were ranked differently by stakeholder groups, implying that different stakeholder groups perceive the barriers to prefabricated building technologies differently. FCM simulations show that strengthening policies and regulations yield the strongest overall effect stimulating prefabrication, alleviating the organizational and environmental barriers more than the technological barriers, while improving the knowledge and expertise alleviate the technological barriers more. These measures need to be accompanied by other approaches, such as reducing cost and improving quality. Research limitations/implications It is a tough task to promote prefabrication as it is affected by numerous barriers with complex interactions, which have been overlooked by previous studies. This study clearly shows which strategy could tackle which barriers to prefabrication through the FCM simulations. This provides valuable references for the enterprises’ decision making and the governments’ policy making to facilitate the diffusion of prefabricated building technologies. Originality/value Few studies aim to analyze the interactions among the barriers to prefabrication, while this study specifically investigates this issue by illustrating the complex interactions using FCMs. Few studies also aim to identify the intervention strategies promoting prefabrication based on a quantitative approach, while this study employs FCM simulations to directly simulate the effectiveness of different strategies to facilitate prefabrication in a quantitative manner.

Hasan, A and Jha, K N (2019) Client and contractor roles in schedule incentive/disincentive projects. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 386–407.

Juan, Y, Lin, I and Tsai, J (2019) A hybrid approach to optimize initial design strategies for pre-sale housing projects. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 515–34.

Newaz, M T, Davis, P R, Jefferies, M and Pillay, M (2019) Validation of an agent-specific safety climate model for construction. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 462–78.

Ning, Y, Feng, M, Feng, J and Liu, X (2019) Understanding clients’ experience of trust and distrust in dwelling fit-out projects. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 444–61.

Wanigarathna, N, Sherratt, F, Price, A and Austin, S (2019) Design re-use: critical application of healthcare building design evidence. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 350–66.

Wu, G, Zhao, X, Zuo, J and Zillante, G (2019) Effects of team diversity on project performance in construction projects. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 408–23.

Zhang, L, Fenn, P and Fu, Y (2019) To insist or to concede? Contractors’ behavioural strategies when handling disputed claims. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 424–43.

Zhang, R, Xing, J, Ye, K, Lu, W and Shan, Y (2019) Synchronicity of global construction cost indexes. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 367–85.

Zhou, Y, Yang, Y and Yang, J (2019) Barriers to BIM implementation strategies in China. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 26(03), 554–74.