UCT Open Access Journals (Univ. of Cape Town)
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Awareness and Usage of Environmental Waste Management Practices (EWMP) of Contractors on construction sites.
Get PDFConstruction wastes pose challenges to contractors and clients of construction projects globally, with significant negative consequences on the environment. This study investigates the environmental waste management practices (EWMPs) of contractors on construction sites. The objectives are to determine the level of awareness and adoption of EWMPs. The population of the study was construction professionals on sites in Lagos State, Nigeria. Random sampling technique was used to select 63 companies out of the 126 construction companies in categories C, D and E of firms registered with Lagos State Public Procurement Agency. The targeted respondents were construction professionals in the selected companies. Questionnaires were used to collect data from respondents. Descriptive statistics tools, including mean, percentage and frequency were used for analysis. The study's findings reveal that contractors are aware of about 28 out of the 47 EWMPs identified from literature. These include good site materials storage, ordering exact amount of materials and checking deliveries properly. It also reveals the strategies that are not used as belonging to material exchange/recyclers' association, polluter pays principle, usage of self-contained mini or mobile concrete crusher. It is concluded that although contractors are aware of 28 EWMPs, 26 EWMPs are used on construction sites which are 60% and 55%, respectively. It implies that awareness determines the usage of the EWMPs. The implication is that if the awareness of EWMPs is increased, the implementation among construction contractors will be improved. It is therefore recommended that professionals should increase their awareness and usage of neglected EWMPs. This can be achieved through construction firms, governments and institutions sponsoring training of professionals on EWMPs. Additionally, polluter pays principle and recyclers’ association should be enforced in project implementations. This can be achieved through government legislation and government regulatory policies for project procurements.Keywords: Awareness; Best practices; Construction sites; Nigeria; Waste management.
 
A Baseline Assessment of Gender Distribution of Government Land Allocation and Private Titled Lands in Akure, Nigeria
Get PDFThere is strong evidence that most land transactions in Nigerian urban areas take place in the private or informal land market and remain untitled. Only a small percentage of land transactions take place through government allocation even though it ensures greater tenure security. This study examines gender distribution in the allocation of government lands in Akure, Nigeria and the rate of land title registration in the private land market using secondary data of land allocation and Certificate of Occupancy for a period of 10 years (2009-2018) from the Lands Department of the Ministry of Works, Land and Housing, Akure. Close-ended questionnaires were administered to the officials in charge of the records and the Director of the Department was interviewed. Primary data were analysed using weighted mean scores, while secondary data were analysed using ratio and difference measures, trend analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Findings show that the number of registered land titles in private land was lower than the number of government land allocations even though more transactions took place in the private land market. The time taken to process land title registration and lack of awareness were ranked highest among factors affecting land title registration. Although there were no gender specific requirements in the process of land allocation and title registration, stereotypes appear to play a role in land distribution decisions and title registration across the study area. A risk ratio of as high as three to one (males to females) in land allocation and 10 to one in land title registration was observed in some years. The paper recommends educating people, especially women, about the importance of land titling and accessing government land, which is far more secure than private land. Recommendations are also made towards a better land registration process in the study area
Development of a Conceptual Framework for Effective Quality Management Practices in Construction Organisations
No full textEffective quality management practices are critical to successful project delivery. However, the quality challenges in developing countries such as Nigeria, which is the focus of this research, have been a concern to construction practitioners and other interested parties such as clients and regulatory bodies. Some scholars suggest that part of these challenges can be attributed to ineffective quality management systems; thus, leading to consequences such as building collapse, poor organisational/industry reputation, poor/lack of traceability, poor documentation process, and lack of planned audit. This research aims to develop a contextual model that is intended to improve the culture of quality that can facilitate effective quality management practices in construction organisations in Nigeria. A mixed (quantitative and qualitative) methodological approach was deployed based on a pragmatic research philosophy paradigm. A questionnaire (quantitative) survey was adopted to gather data and results from the data analysis and reviewed literature were discussed, and the findings supported the development of a conceptual quality management model in construction as the outcome of this research. The designed model comprises eight integrated components. The model is a quality system that construction organisations can use: to identify some typical barriers hindering effective QMSs implementation; to assist them to develop cultural values that can drive effective QMSs implementation; to undertake effective QMSs practices as they relate to construction, and to recognise the potential results and longer-term benefits obtainable from implementing effective QMSs. The model was evaluated and validated by professional construction practitioners and academic experts for its usefulness and applicability. Future study should focus on the practical validation of the model.
Keywords: ISO 9001; Quality Management Practices; Quality Management System
Editorial
Get PDFWelcome to the eight-issue of the Journal of Construction Business and Management. This edition of the journal presents scholarly discussions on theoretical and empirical challenges confronting best practices and policies in construction businesses and projects. The intention is to understand the practice and theoretical lens used in its explanation or interpretation. This edition of the journal covers the following subjects: subcontracting processes, contingency management, social license, risk measurement, project success, quality process implementation and competitive advantage. The issue contains five articles written by eight scholars based in Ghana, India, Nigeria, and South Africa.
The first paper by Akinwale and Olusanya (2020) examines subcontracting processes' influence on wages and workloads in the construction industry. The study found that subcontracting processes significantly influenced workers’ participation in wage determination and workloads. The findings suggest that working in a subcontracting system alienates subcontracted workers from the determination of wages and workloads and thereby showing the need for adequate protection for these workers. The second paper by Maniar (2020) evaluates the current state, the issues faced in contingency management and its effectiveness in curbing cost overruns. It seems inevitable that contingency management could impact cost overrun problems. Not so reveals the study results, which shows that contingency considerations were only useful in accommodating cost overrun problems in 18% of projects studied. Based on these findings, the study recommends that contingency be estimated based on the scientific approach to addressing project risks instead of the commonly used subjective approach.
Perhaps the most compelling argument is why a construction company must acquire regulatory permits that embrace all stakeholders before a construction project is approved as outlined in Danku (2020). The paper highlights that not all formal processes embrace all stakeholders such as the hosting community who need to consent to a firm’s activities to complete the symbiotic relationship. The study found a limited understanding and restricted application of the concept of social licence – the commitment of residents towards acceptance, approval and support for a project to exist within a community, by construction professionals. The paper recommends industry sensitization and education to harness a company's benefits from acquiring a social licence. The fourth paper by Renault, Agumba and Ansary (2020) examines the influence of risk management on the project success of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Results reveal that risk management significantly influences construction SMEs' project success by delimiting the risk management criteria to be adopted, establishing the level of acceptable risk and risk timeframe relevant to risk effect and risk likelihood. The paper recommends that the management of SMEs and construction industry professionals adopt risk management to manage their project risks to accomplish project objectives effectively.
Although it is generally accepted that construction quality process implementation improves construction project performance, there is limited research into the factors affecting the quality of the road infrastructure projects produced by SMEs. The fifth paper by Nyakala (2020) investigates these factors. The study 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; continuous improvement and communication. The results provide a guideline for the successful construction quality implementation by designers/consultants and managers in the construction SME sector. It helps establish the factors affecting road infrastructure projects' quality and a benchmark for competitive advantage.
Overall, these articles should spark debate and force professionals, researchers and policymakers to think differently about the construction project and business performance while inspiring new practices. I acknowledge 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. Criticisms, feedback and suggestions are welcome from readers on how to improve the quality of the journal.
References:
Akinwale, A. A., & Olusanya, O. A. (2020). Influence of Subcontracting Processes on Wages and Workloads in the Building Construction Industry in Nigeria. Journal of Construction Business and Management, 4(2), 1-10.
Maniar, H. (2020). Contingency Management in Indian Construction Projects. Journal of Construction Business and Management, 4(2), 11-24.
Danku, J. C. (2020). Exploring the Concept of Social Licence in the Construction Industry of a Developing Country. Journal of Construction Business and Management, 4(2), 25-33.
Renault, B. Y., Agumba, J. N., & Ansary, N. (2020). Correlation analysis between risk measurement and project success of small and medium contractors in Gauteng, South Africa. Journal of Construction Business and Management, 4(2), 34-45.
Nyakala, S. K. (2020). Construction quality process implementation as a source of competitive advantage in small and medium-sized construction projects. Journal of Construction Business and Management, 4(2), 46-54
The birds of Fort Fordyce Reserve, Eastern Cape
Get PDFThe avifauna of this forest reserve has been surveyed, based on observations and mist-netting over a ten-year period. We have recorded 175 species, of which 56 are considered "true" forest birds in this region. These include four summer migrants, and four occasional visitors; the others are likely to be resident. Four species of conservation concern, the Knysna Woodpecker, African Crowned Eagle, Lanner Falcon and Bush Blackcap probably nest within the protected area
Digital health communication in South Africa during COVID-19
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On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a global pandemic as the world experienced
the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to 144 countries (World Health
Organisation, 2020a). The disease resulting from the virus – coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – had
already overloaded the health systems of many nations. In South Africa, which confirmed its first positive
COVID-19 case on 5 March, the pandemic has resulted in extreme measures to prevent its spread, including
a national lockdown and various restrictions on movement. It has also resulted in one of the most widespread
health communication campaigns since the HIV epidemic during the 2000s.
Terms such as “social distancing” and “flattening the curve” have become part of our communal vocabulary
due to the extent of health messaging. The communication on practical preventative solutions, such as hand-
washing and alternative greeting practices (Prem et al., 2020), has also been shared widely in an easy-to-
understand manner. The WHO specifically emphasises the accurate and timely communication of essential
health information as imperative to curbing the spread of the virus, and how important such communication
is to shifting behaviours and perceptions (WHO, 2020b). In addition, accurate and authoritative information,
which inspires trust, is important in combatting the spread of the virus. This has meant innovation in digital
health communication
Collaboration for preliminary design of a mobile health solution for ambulance dispatch in Rwanda
Get PDFPotential of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation for infection prevention and control of SARS-CoV-2 in South Africa
Get PDFThe response to the challenges arising during the COVID-19 pandemic has seen the rapid implementation of innovative technological solutions which have been built on established knowledge and resources. This has been reflected in infection, prevention and control practices (IPC) to minimise the transmission of the disease. In this article, we review ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) as such a technology. We illustrate the way it has traditionally been used in airborne and surface disinfection strategies, and how it has, more recently, been adapted. UVGI has been widely used as an environmental IPC measure against tuberculosis in South Africa, though challenges have been experienced in the implementation of the technology in public healthcare facilities. This has resulted in the development of a knowledge and infrastructure base. We posit that, given the established UVGI resources in South Africa, the technology may be a viable environmental IPC solution for the COVID-19 period and beyond
Exploring the Concept of Social Licence in the Construction Industry of a Developing Country
Get PDFA construction company must acquire regulatory permits and licences before granting project approval. The formal processes do not embrace all the stakeholders. While regulatory permits or licences are granted by government, local and statutory authorities, there is also the need for the hosting or local community to consent to a firm’s activities to complete the symbiotic relationship. This commitment of residents towards acceptance, approval and support for a project to exist within their community is known as a social licence. This paper investigates the application of the concept of social licence in the Ghanaian construction industry. A total of 102 questionnaires were used in the analysis. Findings based on the questionnaire survey of contractors, project managers, quantity surveyors, engineers and architects indicate that social licence is an emerging concept in the Ghanaian construction industry. The result also shows the limited grasp and restricted application of the concept. Only 37% of the professionals with some level of familiarity with the concept admitted to using the term social licence or its concept in the construction industry. There is a need for industry sensitisation and education to harness the benefits a company derives from acquiring a social licence.
Keywords: Community; Construction industry; Construction professionals; Ghana; Social licence
Systematic atlasing in Hessequa – Report on the first cycle of seasonal monitoring: Systematic atlasing in Hessequa
No full textBird atlasing in the Hessequa region of the Western Cape has progressed beyond mapping to monitoring. During a three-year period within 2014/17, the U3A Stilbaai Bird Group upgraded the distribution maps using a strategy which aimed to even out coverage per grid cell, and achieve minimum mapping standards. In the two-year period December 2017 to November 2019, the group implemented a new strategy that would result in each of the 75 pentads in the Hessequa Atlas Area being atlased in each of the four seasons over a two-year period. Using a chessboard pattern to split the 75 pentads into two sets, the first set was atlased in summer and winter in the first year and autumn and spring of the second year. The second set was atlased in autumn and spring of the first year, and summer and winter of the second year. This paper reports the successful completion of the first monitoring cycle