Browsing by Subject "construction"
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- ItemOpen AccessBuilding Services study guide(2013) Windapo, Abimbola; Windapo, BayonleThe Building Services Study Guide presents and illustrates the installation and construction of different types of building service components such as plumbing, drainage, electrical, heating, air-conditioning, ventillation and fire prevention systems used in residential and simple buildings. The resource material presents a guide to the installation of drainages, cold and hot water distribution systems, electical wiring and components, heating, ventillating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, and fire prevention systems in residential and simple buildings. It introduces the reader to factors that affect the choice of the various building service systems in use, the characteristics of the materials used, and the regulatory requirements that guide the installation of the identified building services systems.
- ItemOpen AccessCauses and effects of delays in road construction projects in South Africa(2022) Vahed, Faheem; Windapo, AbimbolaDelays in road construction projects in South Africa are a common phenomenon. This study aimed at identifying the causes and effects of such delays that are pertinent to South African conditions. The study used a deductive quantitative research approach that used a structured questionnaire developed through a comprehensive literature review on the subject under study and through a pilot evaluation by experts. The structured questionnaire was sent to clients, consultants, contractors, and other external stakeholders involved in SANRAL projects. A total of 64 responses to the questionnaire was received. The data received was analysed using the Relative Importance Index (RII), Kruskal-Wallis Test and Chi-square test. The Cronbach's Alpha was used to measure reliability with the lowest alpha value of 0.827 indicating a high degree of reliability. The RII indicated the top five overall causes of delays in South Africa road construction are: unrest by local communities, stoppages of work by construction mafia/ neighbouring communities/ wards, delays due to regulatory approval processes, poor engagement with local community, and lack of acceptance of project by community. The top five effects of delays that emerged from the survey are: time overruns, cost overruns, disputes and claims between contract parties, stress, and negative social impact/ bad reputation. The study further found that the top five delay minimising measures included: early engagement with the community, improved communication with community, improved management of subcontractors, effective strategic planning by contractor, and timeous payments to contractor and consultant. The Kruskal-Wallis Test revealed that there was no statistically significant difference in the views of all project stakeholders on the five main causes of road construction project delays. There was no statistically significant difference in the views of all project stakeholders on the major effects of road construction project delays. The results of the Kruskal-Wallis test revealed that there is a statistically significant difference in the views of all project stakeholders on the delay minimising measures. The study concludes that project delays occur on road construction projects in South Africa with the major contributor being external-related causes. The study proposed the following recommendations: early involvement of the community in the project through the establishment of community liaison meetings and the establishment of a Public Liaison Committee (PLC), improved management and supervision by the contractor on site, improvement of decision making and approval by client, timeous payment to consultant and contractors by the client, and the contractor should employ improved strategic planning techniques.
- ItemOpen AccessConstruction Technology I: part A & B(2012) Windapo, AbimbolaThe resource material presents an overview of the structure of the construction industry, classification of the building as a system incorporating different parts, preliminary steps to procuring a building project, an overview of regulations used in the construction industry, and initial stages of building construction and site operations. The document is a useful material for teaching and learning the techniques of construction. It enables the teacher to access activities in words and figures essential to the transfer of construction techniques. The pictures and figures presented will also make it easier for a student of construction to understand and apply these techniques.
- ItemOpen AccessIntroduction to project planning(2010) Massyn, MarkThe course is designed to introduce students to the philosophy and benefits of project management within an organization, more specifically the role of planning in project management. These resources can be used for teaching project management or used as study aids to students interested in project management.
- ItemOpen AccessModelling targeted procurement strategies and relationship quality criteria influencing the development of small contractors in South Africa(2018) Adediran, Abdulrauf; Windapo, AbimbolaTargeted Procurement strategies are widely used in government contracts to achieve contractor performance and development objectives in the South African construction industry. However, there have been reports of poor performance and high attrition rate of contractors in contractor development programmes. There is little or no objective empirical evidence informing the implementation of SMC-friendly policies in South Africa. The study fundamentally set out to empirically validate the pre-existing assumption that targeting small and medium-sized contractors, and increasing their participation in government contracts stimulates their growth performance and development. The research further examines whether the quality of relationships in the project supply chain mediates the relationship between targeted procurement strategies used and contractor development. An embedded mixed methods research approach was adopted, that primarily employed quantitative (survey) means of data collection, and supported by secondary qualitative data (focus group interview) which was conducted concurrently. A sample size of 307 contractors registered on Grades 3 to 6 of the Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) Register of Contractors that have executed targeted procurement projects and been part of a cidb-registered contractor development programme within a five-year period (2011 – 2015) constituted the focus of the research. Data collected was subjected to both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. The empirical model developed was validated using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique. Findings from the study reveal that Targeted Procurement strategies influences the quality of relationships in the project supply chain, and is a statistically significant predictor of the growth performance and development of targeted contractors. Moreover, relationship quality emerged to be an important mediator of the relationship between Targeted Procurement strategies and contractor development. These findings demonstrate that Targeted Procurement has the potential to achieve its intended results of improving the performance and development of historically disadvantaged contractors where the quality of relationships in the project supply chain has significant elements of trust, communication, collaboration, joint problem-solving and risk allocation. The study contributes to the existing body of knowledge recognizing the importance of social and relational dimensions of inter-firm relationships within the context of project management and particularly relating to public-sector procurement and small contractor development. The findings imply that the government as a key construction sector client should continue to invest in Targeted Procurement or affirmative action policies that benefit historically disadvantaged SME contractors. The recommendations made calls for the establishment of a framework on Targeted Procurement for ease of application by the government and accountability. This also implies further research into more measurable criteria for the proposed Targeted Procurement framework. The policy implication of the findings from this study is the need for policymakers, state entities, and public-sector client departments to recognise their role in shaping construction supply chains. They should encourage the design and implementation of strategies and policies that enable adequate relationship management to be entrenched in the supply chain, and consider including relationship management as a relevant criterion for participating in public contracts.