UCT Open Access Journals (Univ. of Cape Town)
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Construction quality process implementation as a source of competitive advantage in small and medium-sized construction projects
Get PDFIt is generally accepted that construction quality process implementation improves construction project performance through the systematic application of quality practices. It is equally established that current quality management systems, particularly compliance management, are essential for Small and medium-enterprises (SMEs) seeking effective completion of road-building infrastructure. Despite the opportunities offered by these quality practices, there are potential pitfalls. As low-cost economies proliferate, South African construction SMEs are under increasing pressure to be more flexible and innovative. The study examines the factors affecting the quality of work produced by construction SMEs through a regulatory road building procedure, namely design, construction, and execution. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 165 SME contractors, designers, and their experience was recorded of construction quality standards and performance improvement on completed work in the public sector in South Africa. A combination of descriptive and inferential statistics was used to analyse the data. The empirical findings established that five construction quality process factors affect the quality of road infrastructure projects undertaken by construction SMEs. These factors comprise construction process and design; construction quality management at the site level; the development and implementation of quality procedures and requirements; quality benchmarking issues; continuous improvement and communication. This study is of value to designers/consultants and managers in the construction SME sector as it helps to establish the factors affecting the quality of road infrastructure projects. Managers in analogous environments may also use the results of this study as a benchmark for competitive advantage. The results also provide a guideline for the successful construction quality implementation in small and medium-sized construction projects.
Keywords: Construction quality; Continuous improvement; Design; Performance; Quality management
Editorial
Get PDFWelcome to the ninth issue of the Journal of Construction Business and Management. Globally, poor project performance has become an area of concern to researchers, construction practitioners and policymakers. The lack of understanding of the factors causing poor project performance is responsible for developing appropriate management strategies to address the problem. Achieving the successful completion of construction projects remain a pressing goal. Several approaches have emerged proposed to construct quicker, greener, sustainable, affordable buildings and infrastructure with better quality and low environmental impact. However, the problem of poor project performance persists.
This journal edition presents scholarly discussions on theoretical and empirical challenges confronting practitioners and enterprises in the construction industry. The intention is to understand the practice and theoretical lens used in its explanation or interpretation. This journal edition covers the following subjects: quality management practices, environmental waste management practices, unethical practices, positive organisational behaviour, occupational eustress, theft and vandalism. The issue contains five articles written by twelve scholars based in Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
The first article by Odiba, Demain and Ruikar (2021) develops a contextual model for improving the culture of quality that can facilitate effective quality management practices in construction organisations. The designed model is a quality system that construction organisations can use in identifying some typical barriers hindering effective Quality Management System (QMS) implementation; assisting in the development of cultural values that can drive effective QMS implementation; undertaking effective QMS practices as they relate to construction and recognising the potential results and longer-term benefits obtainable from implementing effective QMS. The second article by Oladiran, Bayewun and Aderogba (2021) investigates the environmental waste management practices (EWMPs) of contractors on construction sites. Construction wastes pose challenges to contractors and clients on construction projects globally, with significant consequences on the environment. Contractors were aware of material storage strategies, ordering the exact amount of materials and checking deliveries properly. Based on these findings, the study recommends that construction firms, governments, and institutions involved in regulating the sector should sponsor the training of professionals on the various EWMPs towards improving their awareness.
The causes of quackery in quantity surveying practice are examined in the paper by Dada and Bamigboye (2021). The article highlights that the reasons for quackery in quantity surveying practice are multidimensional and can be narrowed down to unethical practices, client engagement, job security, regulatory and issues related to corruption. The fourth paper by Ogwueleka and Ikediashi (2021) assesses the effects of positive organisational behaviour (POB) constructs on eustress amongst construction employees based on the rationale that organisational behaviour has been characterised by negativity than positively. The study focuses on identifying the areas that can propel positive mental health among construction employees to improve their performances and increase work productivity. Five constructs of POB models and five parameters of eustress that have a significant influence on eustress were identified and outlined in the paper.
The phenomenon of theft and vandalism on construction job sites in Sub-Saharan Africa has not been fully explored to guarantee the implementation of evidence-based security management practices to minimise losses and improve projects' profitability margins. The fifth paper by Simukonda and Kamwela (2021) investigated the management of theft and vandalism by large contractors to identify implementation issues that need improvement. The study found that the key security management practices used on construction sites include inventorying construction materials, tools and equipment, termination of employment for offenders, and reporting theft and vandalism to enforcement agencies.
I thank all authors who submitted papers for consideration. I also value the contributions and unrelenting efforts of the JCBM editorial board members and panel of reviewers in ensuring that manuscripts are of high quality and keeping the journal on the path to attaining the expected standard and quality. Finally, these articles should help inspire new ethical, waste and security management practices. As ever, if there is something you would like to share with us, compliments, criticisms, feedback and suggestions on how to improve the quality of the journal, don't hesitate to get in touch.
Abimbola Windapo PhD
Editor-in-chie
Improvements in Women’s Access to Rural Farmland: The case of Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Get PDFThe study investigates women's access to rural farmlands in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, in the context of land availability, affordability, tenure security and ease of transaction. A qualitative research design was employed. Purposive and stratified sampling were utilised to obtain data from four key informants and 13 rural women farmers in Ajebandele village of Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Themes emerged from the responses through content analysis. Findings revealed that women's access to land has improved over the past four decades. The study concludes that despite the improvements, gender equality had not been fully achieved as rural women farmers lack tenure security
Vocalizations of European Honey Buzzards (Pernis apivorus) in Southern Africa
Get PDFContrary to some sources, the European Honey Buzzard is not silent in Africa. This study documents 51 records of the species vocalizing on the continent. Vocalizations were given by birds apparently encountered alone (n=30) and when accompanied by another European Honey Buzzard (n=22). Where age was known, 11 calling birds were adults and ten were juveniles. Where details were available, most calls were given by birds in flight (n=30), with 11 from perched birds and two from birds heard calling while both in flight and perched. In most cases the sex of the bird was not recorded (n=42) and young birds (first- and second-years) are difficult to sex with certainty; of the remainder, two were males and nine were females. Most calls were the typical flight call of the species (n=43), with apparent alarm calls (n=7) the next most frequent call type. Most calls were delivered in flight (n=31), 19 by single birds and 12 by two birds together in flight. The calling by two birds was associated with flight displays similar to those described on the breeding grounds and occurred especially in late summer (December onwards; 25/40 records). A relatively high proportion of calls occurred during interactions between two European Honey Buzzards (n=18).
Calling associated with two birds together and accompanied by aerial displays has not been described in Africa before, and is suggestive of either early pairing of the adult birds prior to migration or breeding activity locally in Africa. Vocalizations between young birds though may be more social as opposed to sexual in nature. The large (5X) increase in records of European Honey Buzzards in South Africa in recent years likely increases the chances of conspecific interaction. It also raises the possibility of breeding, especially in more-temperate South Africa.
 
Opportunistic avian nectarivory on flowering Aloe maculata with a review of visiting bird species
Get PDFEight bird species were recorded feeding on Aloe maculata (Soap Aloe) nectar at Biddulphsberg, Senekal, Free State, from 23–26 August 2021. Birds were mist-netted as part of a bird ringing study and aloe pollen was noticed on some birds. The flowering aloes attract mainly Malachite Nectarinia famosa and White-bellied Sunbirds Cinnyris talatala as well as Cape Zosterops virens and Orange River White-eyes Z. pallidus. Of the 108 birds ringed or collected, 34 birds (eight species) had aloe pollen on them. These species, including a first record of Black-chested Prinia Prinia flavicans, and a confirmed record of Streaky-headed Seedeaters Crithagra gularis, represent the first observations of birds probing A. maculata flowers
Editorial
Get PDFWelcome to volume 6, issue 1 of the Journal of African Real Estate Research (JARER). The idea for the special issue; Women in African Real Estate and Urban Development Research to showcase the work of female African authors arose from the editors’ discussion of the lack of female representation on the editorial board and in the journal’s pages at the 2019 AfRES meeting. The International Real Estate Society would recruit women worldwide to participate in the effort. A team of one African and one American female researcher took on the editorial task. A cadre of female researchers from sister societies volunteered to serve as mentors. Others agreed to supplement the JARER editorial board to provide extensive double blind peer reviews.
Of the 15 manuscripts with lead female author submitted, seven were eventually accepted and appear in this issue. They represent research from Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and other African countries on property topics ranging across physical construction, urban policy, and legal issues. The scholarship focuses variously on gender-specific and general development concerns
The Management of Theft and Vandalism on Construction Jobsites in the Southern Region of Malawi
Get PDFThe phenomenon of theft and vandalism on construction job sites in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has not been fully explored to guarantee the implementation of evidence-based security management practices (SMPs) to minimise losses and improve projects' profitability margins. This study investigated the management of theft and vandalism by large contractors in the Southern Region of Malawi to identify implementation issues that need improvement. A quantitative approach using an empirical survey-based questionnaire was adopted. 44 SMPs identified from the literature review were tested by data collected from a sample survey of 40 large contractors in the Southern Region of Malawi. The descriptive statistical method of mean score ranking was used to analyse the data through IBM Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Among the five-point Likert scale agreement measurements used, 11 SMPs were found to be "always used", 12 SMPs "often used", 15 SMPs "sometimes used", and six SMPs "rarely used". Overall, the top three highly ranked SMPs (in descending order) were inventorying construction materials, tools and equipment, termination of employment for offenders, and reporting theft and vandalism to enforcement agencies. Contrariwise, the use of closed-circuit television (CCTV), alarm systems and access control systems (ACS) was the least ranked SMPs. The contractors’ management improvements for theft and vandalism would need to focus on implementing proactive anti-theft and anti-vandalism SMPs whose choice should be informed by comprehensive Jobsite security risk assessment. Dissemination of the results may help contractors understand their security management strategies and implement practical solutions for curbing theft and vandalism on job sites to minimise its endemic effect on contractors’ financial performance.
Keywords: Theft and Vandalism; Security management practices; Likert scale; Malawi
In Memoriam: Mary Adebola Ajayi
No full textMary Ajayi received her B. Tech. in 1999, M. Tech in 2004, and PhD in 2014 from the Federal University of Technology Akure in Nigeria. She first worked in the Land Section of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing before joining the Department of Estate Management at FUTA where she rose from Assistant Lecturer to Senior Lecturer and then Associate Professor (Reader). Dr. Ajayi was appointed Acting Head of the Department of Estate Management in August 2019. She obtained her professional qualification from the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers and became an Associate Member. Dr. Ajayi’s research focused on gender, land and housing studies with publications on such topics as changing land use patterns, sustainable housing, property valuation, and women’s access to land, forests and housing. Mary was married with three children. She died on 7 March, 2021 after a brief illness.
At the time of her passing, Dr Ajayi was in the process of finalising her article for this special issue with great commitment under the mentorship of Dr Kimberly Winson-Geideman of the University of Melbourne. We publish her final paper as is in her honour and memory
Diagnosing the Causes of Quackery in Quantity Surveying Practice in Lagos State, Nigeria
Get PDFThe purpose of this paper is to examine the causes of quackery in quantity surveying practice to address the menace for enhanced service delivery. Using survey research design, primary data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaires on quantity surveyors in the 125 registered quantity surveying firms in Lagos State, Nigeria. The respondents were asked to rate the identified 34 causes of quackery in quantity surveying practice on a 5-point Likert scale. The elicited data were analysed using mean score analysis. Factor analysis was, after that, used to explore and detect the underlying relationship among the identified variables and categorise them into key factors. The results of the mean score statistics identified 32 important causes of quackery in quantity surveying practice, with the four most important ones being an unwillingness to seek professional advice and consultation, unwillingness to pay for professional services, lack of effective systems of punishment for quacks and inadequate monitoring by the quantity surveying professional association and regulatory body. It was concluded that the causes of quackery in quantity surveying are multidimensional and can be narrowed down to unethical practices, client engagement, job security, regulatory and corruption-related issues. The identified causes of quackery in quantity surveying practice will be useful in formulating policy and serve as future research agenda towards eradicating the menace and engendering an enhanced service delivery.
Keywords: Causes of quackery; Nigeria; Quackery; Quantity surveying; Service delivery
Vocalizations and song flight of Pink-billed Lark Spizocorys conirostris
Get PDFPink-billed Lark Spizocorys conirostris is an unobtrusive bird with a relatively low reporting rate of ~10% in the second South African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP2). Little is known about the species’ vocalizations and song flight, and published descriptions are vague or confus-ing. Here I provide a detailed description of vocalizations and song flights as recorded between 2012 and 2019 in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Vocalizations were recorded using a digital recorder for calls in flight and occasionally on the ground, or were obtained from a video camera placed near the nest to record vocalizations that would be impossible to record from a distance. Twelve categories of vocalizations were identified, eight of them described here for the first time. The majority of the eight newly described vocalizations were obtained from video footage. A more detailed description of the song flight is also provided and should clarify some of the confusing descriptions provided in the literature. Knowledge of the flight song of Pink-billed Lark is valuable to locate and identify the species and will be an asset for moni-toring programmes and SABAP2