Editorial

Abstract

Welcome to the sixth issue of the Journal of Construction Business and Management. This issue will contribute scholarly discussion to the theoretical and methodical challenges impacting construction business management research and practice. The focus is to enhance the theoretical foundation for potential explanations to the various issues affecting construction operations towards assisting in the achievement of characteristics required for efficient construction organisations, projects, developments and resource use. The topics covered in this issue are related to corporate organisational effectiveness, quality management, maintenance performance, growth of the built environment professions, building regulations and contractor's risk attitudes. The issue contains six articles that were written by fifteen scholars based in Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria and South Africa.

The first paper by Ogbu and Olatunde evaluates the measures of corporate Organisational Effectiveness (OE) of Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) contractors. The study found out that the SME contractors’ corporate OE can be measured by using corporate advantage, firm experience, certification and owner background. Also, a significant relationship was found between the OE of the firm and measures of project performance. They posit that better firm experience alone does not necessarily improve a contractor’s project performance. Paper two by Abdullahi, Bustani, Hassan and Rotimi assessed the quality management practices of Nigerian construction firms. Their study revealed that inspections and statistical quality control techniques are the most widely used quality management tools by construction firms in Nigeria. Abdullahi et al. conclude that there is a low uptake of quality management practice principles within construction organisations in Nigeria and proffered solutions to mitigate these challenges. The paper by Ajayi, Koleoso, Ajayi and Faremi evaluates the satisfaction ratings of the maintenance performance of prison facilities in South-Western Nigeria. The study revealed that prison staff were satisfied with the level of cleanliness, quality of water and control of ventilation; and partially satisfied with twenty-nine other criteria that were assessed. Ajayi et al. conclude that there is a need for continuous evaluation of prison facilities to ascertain their condition and performance levels.

The fourth paper by Rwelamila and Manchidi examines the growth of professions as a consequence of the division of expert labour evolving to fill in knowledge gaps created by emergent social forces as other knowledge areas are rendered less relevant. The study shows how professional work negatively impacts on the delivery efficiencies in the project as a temporary organisation. Also, the study explains how boundary margins keep professions relational and how the dynamics of boundary work unfold in a territorial space in a project (meso) environment. The study by Omollo the author of the fifth paper investigates key barriers to the effective regulation of the building construction industry in Kenya. The article reveals that ineffective regulation of the construction industry was prompted by joint activities of building development contractors and the limitation of the National Construction Authority (the regulator). While building development contractors were found to be non-compliant with the building regulations, while the National Construction Authority fail to enforce the rules. Omollo concludes that regular monitoring and enhanced enforcement would promote compliance and sensitisation of contractors with applicable standards. Lastly, the paper by Taofeeq and Adeleke examines the factors affecting contractors’ risk attitudes in the Malaysian construction industry. Taofeeq and Adeleke found that the four leading factors influencing contractors risk attitude in the Malaysian construction industry are project-related, working capital, human-related factors and the external environment. The findings suggest that knowledge of these factors will help contractors’ decision-making processes in project management.

Finally, I wish to acknowledge all authors who submitted papers for consideration, members of the JCBM Editorial Board and panel of reviewers for their support, timeous review and comments that have helped in defining and improving the quality of manuscripts published by the journal. We welcome feedback and suggestions from readers towards improving the quality of the journal and in maintaining the integrity of the findings published.

Abimbola Windapo PhD

Editor-in-chief