http://hdl.handle.net/10397/12 Search the Channel search http://repository.lib.polyu.edu.hk/jspui/simple-search http://hdl.handle.net/10397/5683 Title: Do construction workers accept automated monitoring? : a study on the acceptance level and its antecedents<br/><br/>Authors: Lee, Lap Piu<br/><br/>Abstract: The use of Automatic Data Collection (ADC) technologies in the construction industry has become uncommon in recent years. One of them is automated construction monitoring, which could collect and visualize site activities effectively, including the behaviors of workers. Although there is an increasing trend to adopt automated monitoring systems in the industry, no or very little research was done to investigate whether construction workers accept automated monitoring. This thesis endeavored to bridge the literature gap between automated construction monitoring and the perceptions of the workers being monitored. A research model was proposed to examine the potential antecedents and moderators that could influence construction workers' intention of the acceptance where the constructs of the model were adopted from previous research about workplace monitoring with appropriate refinements in order to suit construction environments and practices. A face-to-face, one-to-one survey was conducted to collect the data from construction workers. After data analysis, it was found that both antecedents "organizational identification" and "organizational commitment" positively influenced construction workers' intention to accept automated monitoring. Interestingly, a proposed antecedent "attitudes towards the appropriateness of automated monitoring" was found negatively affecting the acceptance intention, which is not coherent with previous studies about workplace monitoring that suggesting the relationship as positive. Moreover, the proposed moderator "belief of monitoring systems for caring purposes" was found insignificant to affect any relationship. Finally explanations for both supported and unsupported antecedents, research limitations, implications for the practice of automated construction monitoring, and future research are discussed.<br/><br/>Description: 137 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.; PolyU Library Call No.: [THS] LG51 .H577P BRE 2012 Lee Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10397/5631 Title: Investigation of barriers to entry into the design-build market in the People’s Republic of China<br/><br/>Authors: Xia, Bo; Chan, Albert P. C.<br/><br/>Abstract: Although the design-build (DB) system has been demonstrated to be an effective delivery method and has gained popularity worldwide, it has not gained the same popularity in the construction market of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The objective of this study was to investigate the barriers to entry in the DB market. A total of 22 entry barriers were first identified through an open-ended questionnaire survey with 15 top construction professionals in the construction market of China. A broad questionnaire survey was further conducted to prioritize these entry barriers. Statistical analysis of responses shows that the most dominant barriers to entry into the DB market are lack of design expertise, lack of interest from owners, lack of suitable organization structure, lack of DB specialists, and lack of credit record system. Analysis of variance indicates that there is no difference of opinions among the respondent groups of academia, government departments, state-owned companies, and private companies, at the 5% significance level, on most of the barriers to entry. Finally, the underlying dimensions of barriers to entry in the DB market were investigated through factor analysis. The results indicate that there are six major underlying dimensions of entry barriers in DB market, including the competence of design-builders, difficulty in project procurement, characteristics of DB projects, lack of support from public sectors, the competence of DB owners, and the immaturity of DB market. These findings are useful for both potential and incumbent design-builders to understand and analyze the DB market in China.<br/><br/>Description: DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000387 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10397/5630 Title: Analysis of selection criteria for design-builders through the analysis of requests for proposal<br/><br/>Authors: Xia, Bo; Chan, Albert P. C.; Zuo, Jian; Molenaar, Keith<br/><br/>Abstract: Selecting an appropriate design-builder is critical to the success of design-build (DB) projects. The objective of this study is to identify selection criteria for design-builders and compare their relative importance by means of a robust content analysis of 94 requests for proposal (RFPs) for public DB projects. These DB projects had an aggregate contract value of over US$3.5 billion and were advertised between 2000 and 2010. This study summarized twenty-six selection criteria and classified them into ten categories, i.e., price, experience, technical approach, management approach, qualification, schedule, past performance, financial capability, responsiveness to the RFP, and legal status, in descending order of their relative importance. The results showed that although price still remains the most important selection category, its relative importance has declined significantly in the last decade. The categories of qualification, experience, and past performance, by contrast, have become more important to DB owners for selecting design-builders. Finally, it is found that the importance weighting of price in large projects is significantly higher than that in small projects. This study provides a useful reference for owners in selecting their preferred design-builders.<br/><br/>Description: DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)ME.1943-5479.0000119 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10397/5629 Title: Determining safety climate factors in the repair, maintenance, minor alteration, and addition sector of Hong Kong<br/><br/>Authors: Hon, Ka Hung; Chan, Albert P. C.; Yam, Chi-ho Michael<br/><br/>Abstract: Accident record of the repair, maintenance, minor alteration, and addition (RMAA) sector has been alarmingly high; however, research in the RMAA sector remains limited. Unsafe behavior is considered one of the key causes of accidents. Thus, the organizational factors that influence individual safety behavior at work continue to be the focus of many studies. The safety climate, which reflects the true priority of safety in an organization, has drawn much attention. Safety climate measurement helps to identify areas for safety improvement. The current study aims to identify safety climate factors in the RMAA sector. A questionnaire survey was conducted in the RMAA sector in Hong Kong. Data were randomly split into the calibration, and the validation samples. RMAA safety climate factors were determined by exploratory factor analysis on the calibration sample. Three safety climate factors of the RMAA works were identified: (F1) management commitment to OHS and employee involvement; (F2) applicability of safety rules and work practices; and (F3) responsibility for health and safety. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was then conducted on the validation sample. The CFA model showed satisfactory goodness-of-fit, reliability, and validity. The suggested RMAA safety climate factors can be utilized by the construction industry practitioners in the developed economies to measure safety climate of their RMAA projects, thereby enhancing safety of RMAA works.<br/><br/>Description: DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000588 Thu, 26 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT