This book takes a pragmatic approach to develop the competitive advantage of indigenous construction firms in the Global South, using Ghana as a case study. It provides readers with two major practical insights. The first focuses on the theoretical underpinning of firms’ competitive advantage and develops a competitive advantage model for indigenous construction firms. This competitive advantage conceptual framework aids in explaining the main and sub-attributes underpinning the competitive advantage of indigenous construction firms as well as providing the basis for assessing a firm’s competitiveness. Secondly, it highlights and addresses theoretical gaps in existing competitive advantage studies deemed essential for indigenous construction firms. Finally, a detailed two-stage Delphi study in the Ghanaian construction industry is presented as a case study.

The book is therefore of interest to researchers in construction management, strategic management, civil engineering, business administration, marketing, entrepreneurial and economic studies. It is an essential manual for owners and managers of construction businesses. It is also useful for government departments and non-governmental agencies seeking innovative ways to develop the capacity of indigenous firms and/or contractors to make them more responsive to competitive bidding scenarios, delivery of projects, and satisfying the needs of the industry’s stakeholders.

This book takes a pragmatic approach to develop the competitive advantage of indigenous construction firms in the Global South, using Ghana as a case study. It provides readers with two major practical insights. The first focuses on the theoretical underpinning of firms’ competitive advantage and develops a competitive advantage model for indigenous construction firms. This competitive advantage conceptual framework aids in explaining the main and sub-attributes underpinning the competitive advantage of indigenous construction firms as well as providing the basis for assessing a firm’s competitiveness. Secondly, it highlights and addresses theoretical gaps in existing competitive advantage studies deemed essential for indigenous construction firms. Finally, a detailed two-stage Delphi study in the Ghanaian construction industry is presented as a case study.

The book is therefore of interest to researchers in construction management, strategic management, civil engineering, business administration, marketing, entrepreneurial and economic studies. It is an essential manual for owners and managers of construction businesses. It is also useful for government departments and non-governmental agencies seeking innovative ways to develop the capacity of indigenous firms and/or contractors to make them more responsive to competitive bidding scenarios, delivery of projects, and satisfying the needs of the industry’s stakeholders.

This book on biomimicry assessment tools studies the concepts of sustainability, sustainable construction practices, and the evaluation categories that constitute a sustainability assessment tool.

By exploring and drawing lessons from biomimicry principles, the book provides a nature-inspired assessment tool to aid and guide the sustainable transformation of the built environment. The book encapsulates the attributes of the conceptualised biomimicry assessment tool, which is aimed at helping practitioners, regulatory bodies, and governmental and non-governmental agencies in greening the built environment. Owing to the dire need for country-specific and tailor-made tools that address developing countries'' needs, this book serves as a practical reference and theoretical springboard for the development of sustainability assessment tools for the built environment. Furthermore, the book serves as a guide in navigating the path towards achieving the greening agendas of the built environment and other sectors and seeks to align the new biomimicry assessment tool with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It is important reading for academics, professionals and advanced students in the built environment, engineering, and sustainable development.

This book on biomimicry assessment tools studies the concepts of sustainability, sustainable construction practices, and the evaluation categories that constitute a sustainability assessment tool.

By exploring and drawing lessons from biomimicry principles, the book provides a nature-inspired assessment tool to aid and guide the sustainable transformation of the built environment. The book encapsulates the attributes of the conceptualised biomimicry assessment tool, which is aimed at helping practitioners, regulatory bodies, and governmental and non-governmental agencies in greening the built environment. Owing to the dire need for country-specific and tailor-made tools that address developing countries'' needs, this book serves as a practical reference and theoretical springboard for the development of sustainability assessment tools for the built environment. Furthermore, the book serves as a guide in navigating the path towards achieving the greening agendas of the built environment and other sectors and seeks to align the new biomimicry assessment tool with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It is important reading for academics, professionals and advanced students in the built environment, engineering, and sustainable development.

A Practical Research Process for Developing a Sustainable Built Environment in Emerging Economies aims to fill the dearth of practical research guidance and reference material with specific focus on the built environment in developing countries. Global policy agendas such as Agenda 2030 (the SDGs) highlight the importance and growth of research and knowledge from emerging nations who are increasingly contributing to research that is critical for development and advancement. The role of built environment practitioners will continue to evolve by building on the sound foundations laid down by the professions and by exploiting to the full the new technologies available to us through conducting innovative research, but more guidance on the research process is necessary to ensure the integrity and quality of the output.

This book has been structured so that each chapter is largely free-standing, allowing the reader (undergraduate, postgraduate, or practitioner) to reference the material with ease. It aims to provide practical guidance on conducting research and on writing a dissertation or report and begins by considering the general research background in a built environment context. It then covers research ethics, before moving on to discuss the importance of selecting the right research topic and title and writing a clear abstract. The chapters then cover introducing a research project, and the authors include a section on the problem statement, research questions, aims and objectives, research gap(s), and motivations for the study. The book goes on to cover the literature review section, theoretical and conceptual frameworks, the various types of methodological approaches, and when to apply them. The findings section, discussion of the results, and the study’s implications are then discussed, before the final chapters cover the conclusion and recommendations.

The book provides a useful reference for higher education students, graduates, postgraduates, and practitioners engaged in all aspects of construction and built environment research.

A Practical Research Process for Developing a Sustainable Built Environment in Emerging Economies aims to fill the dearth of practical research guidance and reference material with specific focus on the built environment in developing countries. Global policy agendas such as Agenda 2030 (the SDGs) highlight the importance and growth of research and knowledge from emerging nations who are increasingly contributing to research that is critical for development and advancement. The role of built environment practitioners will continue to evolve by building on the sound foundations laid down by the professions and by exploiting to the full the new technologies available to us through conducting innovative research, but more guidance on the research process is necessary to ensure the integrity and quality of the output.

This book has been structured so that each chapter is largely free-standing, allowing the reader (undergraduate, postgraduate, or practitioner) to reference the material with ease. It aims to provide practical guidance on conducting research and on writing a dissertation or report and begins by considering the general research background in a built environment context. It then covers research ethics, before moving on to discuss the importance of selecting the right research topic and title and writing a clear abstract. The chapters then cover introducing a research project, and the authors include a section on the problem statement, research questions, aims and objectives, research gap(s), and motivations for the study. The book goes on to cover the literature review section, theoretical and conceptual frameworks, the various types of methodological approaches, and when to apply them. The findings section, discussion of the results, and the study’s implications are then discussed, before the final chapters cover the conclusion and recommendations.

The book provides a useful reference for higher education students, graduates, postgraduates, and practitioners engaged in all aspects of construction and built environment research.

This book delves into the pivotal issue of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) management in municipal buildings within developing economies, addressing a pressing need in today’s digital age, where individuals spend over 70% of their time indoors. With a strong focus on enhancing environmental quality, this book presents theoretical frameworks and practical recommendations designed explicitly for stakeholders in the higher education sector, encompassing both public and private institutions.

As institutions strive to improve their learning environments, this book aligns with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting the vital connection between effective IAQ management and the health and well-being of the institutional community, including students and staff members. It provides a comprehensive framework that advocates for improved IAQ management and emphasises the importance of quality education and lifelong learning.

Furthermore, this book serves as a valuable resource for green building regulatory bodies, ensuring adherence to best practices in IAQ management within municipal buildings. By providing actionable strategies grounded on recent literature, the book is an essential guide for researchers and policymakers seeking to navigate the theoretical and empirical dimensions of IAQ management. Moreover, this book asserts that enhancing IAQ is necessary not only for regulatory compliance and community well-being but also as a vital investment in the academic and operational success of municipal buildings in developing economies.

This book delves into the pivotal issue of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) management in municipal buildings within developing economies, addressing a pressing need in today’s digital age, where individuals spend over 70% of their time indoors. With a strong focus on enhancing environmental quality, this book presents theoretical frameworks and practical recommendations designed explicitly for stakeholders in the higher education sector, encompassing both public and private institutions.

As institutions strive to improve their learning environments, this book aligns with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting the vital connection between effective IAQ management and the health and well-being of the institutional community, including students and staff members. It provides a comprehensive framework that advocates for improved IAQ management and emphasises the importance of quality education and lifelong learning.

Furthermore, this book serves as a valuable resource for green building regulatory bodies, ensuring adherence to best practices in IAQ management within municipal buildings. By providing actionable strategies grounded on recent literature, the book is an essential guide for researchers and policymakers seeking to navigate the theoretical and empirical dimensions of IAQ management. Moreover, this book asserts that enhancing IAQ is necessary not only for regulatory compliance and community well-being but also as a vital investment in the academic and operational success of municipal buildings in developing economies.

This book takes a pragmatic approach to develop the competitive advantage of indigenous construction firms in the Global South, using Ghana as a case study. It provides readers with two major practical insights. The first focuses on the theoretical underpinning of firms’ competitive advantage and develops a competitive advantage model for indigenous construction firms. This competitive advantage conceptual framework aids in explaining the main and sub-attributes underpinning the competitive advantage of indigenous construction firms as well as providing the basis for assessing a firm’s competitiveness. Secondly, it highlights and addresses theoretical gaps in existing competitive advantage studies deemed essential for indigenous construction firms. Finally, a detailed two-stage Delphi study in the Ghanaian construction industry is presented as a case study.

The book is therefore of interest to researchers in construction management, strategic management, civil engineering, business administration, marketing, entrepreneurial and economic studies. It is an essential manual for owners and managers of construction businesses. It is also useful for government departments and non-governmental agencies seeking innovative ways to develop the capacity of indigenous firms and/or contractors to make them more responsive to competitive bidding scenarios, delivery of projects, and satisfying the needs of the industry’s stakeholders.

This book takes a pragmatic approach to develop the competitive advantage of indigenous construction firms in the Global South, using Ghana as a case study. It provides readers with two major practical insights. The first focuses on the theoretical underpinning of firms’ competitive advantage and develops a competitive advantage model for indigenous construction firms. This competitive advantage conceptual framework aids in explaining the main and sub-attributes underpinning the competitive advantage of indigenous construction firms as well as providing the basis for assessing a firm’s competitiveness. Secondly, it highlights and addresses theoretical gaps in existing competitive advantage studies deemed essential for indigenous construction firms. Finally, a detailed two-stage Delphi study in the Ghanaian construction industry is presented as a case study.

The book is therefore of interest to researchers in construction management, strategic management, civil engineering, business administration, marketing, entrepreneurial and economic studies. It is an essential manual for owners and managers of construction businesses. It is also useful for government departments and non-governmental agencies seeking innovative ways to develop the capacity of indigenous firms and/or contractors to make them more responsive to competitive bidding scenarios, delivery of projects, and satisfying the needs of the industry’s stakeholders.

This book on biomimicry assessment tools studies the concepts of sustainability, sustainable construction practices, and the evaluation categories that constitute a sustainability assessment tool.

By exploring and drawing lessons from biomimicry principles, the book provides a nature-inspired assessment tool to aid and guide the sustainable transformation of the built environment. The book encapsulates the attributes of the conceptualised biomimicry assessment tool, which is aimed at helping practitioners, regulatory bodies, and governmental and non-governmental agencies in greening the built environment. Owing to the dire need for country-specific and tailor-made tools that address developing countries'' needs, this book serves as a practical reference and theoretical springboard for the development of sustainability assessment tools for the built environment. Furthermore, the book serves as a guide in navigating the path towards achieving the greening agendas of the built environment and other sectors and seeks to align the new biomimicry assessment tool with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It is important reading for academics, professionals and advanced students in the built environment, engineering, and sustainable development.

This book on biomimicry assessment tools studies the concepts of sustainability, sustainable construction practices, and the evaluation categories that constitute a sustainability assessment tool.

By exploring and drawing lessons from biomimicry principles, the book provides a nature-inspired assessment tool to aid and guide the sustainable transformation of the built environment. The book encapsulates the attributes of the conceptualised biomimicry assessment tool, which is aimed at helping practitioners, regulatory bodies, and governmental and non-governmental agencies in greening the built environment. Owing to the dire need for country-specific and tailor-made tools that address developing countries'' needs, this book serves as a practical reference and theoretical springboard for the development of sustainability assessment tools for the built environment. Furthermore, the book serves as a guide in navigating the path towards achieving the greening agendas of the built environment and other sectors and seeks to align the new biomimicry assessment tool with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It is important reading for academics, professionals and advanced students in the built environment, engineering, and sustainable development.

A Practical Research Process for Developing a Sustainable Built Environment in Emerging Economies aims to fill the dearth of practical research guidance and reference material with specific focus on the built environment in developing countries. Global policy agendas such as Agenda 2030 (the SDGs) highlight the importance and growth of research and knowledge from emerging nations who are increasingly contributing to research that is critical for development and advancement. The role of built environment practitioners will continue to evolve by building on the sound foundations laid down by the professions and by exploiting to the full the new technologies available to us through conducting innovative research, but more guidance on the research process is necessary to ensure the integrity and quality of the output.

This book has been structured so that each chapter is largely free-standing, allowing the reader (undergraduate, postgraduate, or practitioner) to reference the material with ease. It aims to provide practical guidance on conducting research and on writing a dissertation or report and begins by considering the general research background in a built environment context. It then covers research ethics, before moving on to discuss the importance of selecting the right research topic and title and writing a clear abstract. The chapters then cover introducing a research project, and the authors include a section on the problem statement, research questions, aims and objectives, research gap(s), and motivations for the study. The book goes on to cover the literature review section, theoretical and conceptual frameworks, the various types of methodological approaches, and when to apply them. The findings section, discussion of the results, and the study’s implications are then discussed, before the final chapters cover the conclusion and recommendations.

The book provides a useful reference for higher education students, graduates, postgraduates, and practitioners engaged in all aspects of construction and built environment research.

A Practical Research Process for Developing a Sustainable Built Environment in Emerging Economies aims to fill the dearth of practical research guidance and reference material with specific focus on the built environment in developing countries. Global policy agendas such as Agenda 2030 (the SDGs) highlight the importance and growth of research and knowledge from emerging nations who are increasingly contributing to research that is critical for development and advancement. The role of built environment practitioners will continue to evolve by building on the sound foundations laid down by the professions and by exploiting to the full the new technologies available to us through conducting innovative research, but more guidance on the research process is necessary to ensure the integrity and quality of the output.

This book has been structured so that each chapter is largely free-standing, allowing the reader (undergraduate, postgraduate, or practitioner) to reference the material with ease. It aims to provide practical guidance on conducting research and on writing a dissertation or report and begins by considering the general research background in a built environment context. It then covers research ethics, before moving on to discuss the importance of selecting the right research topic and title and writing a clear abstract. The chapters then cover introducing a research project, and the authors include a section on the problem statement, research questions, aims and objectives, research gap(s), and motivations for the study. The book goes on to cover the literature review section, theoretical and conceptual frameworks, the various types of methodological approaches, and when to apply them. The findings section, discussion of the results, and the study’s implications are then discussed, before the final chapters cover the conclusion and recommendations.

The book provides a useful reference for higher education students, graduates, postgraduates, and practitioners engaged in all aspects of construction and built environment research.

This book delves into the pivotal issue of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) management in municipal buildings within developing economies, addressing a pressing need in today’s digital age, where individuals spend over 70% of their time indoors. With a strong focus on enhancing environmental quality, this book presents theoretical frameworks and practical recommendations designed explicitly for stakeholders in the higher education sector, encompassing both public and private institutions.

As institutions strive to improve their learning environments, this book aligns with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting the vital connection between effective IAQ management and the health and well-being of the institutional community, including students and staff members. It provides a comprehensive framework that advocates for improved IAQ management and emphasises the importance of quality education and lifelong learning.

Furthermore, this book serves as a valuable resource for green building regulatory bodies, ensuring adherence to best practices in IAQ management within municipal buildings. By providing actionable strategies grounded on recent literature, the book is an essential guide for researchers and policymakers seeking to navigate the theoretical and empirical dimensions of IAQ management. Moreover, this book asserts that enhancing IAQ is necessary not only for regulatory compliance and community well-being but also as a vital investment in the academic and operational success of municipal buildings in developing economies.

This book delves into the pivotal issue of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) management in municipal buildings within developing economies, addressing a pressing need in today’s digital age, where individuals spend over 70% of their time indoors. With a strong focus on enhancing environmental quality, this book presents theoretical frameworks and practical recommendations designed explicitly for stakeholders in the higher education sector, encompassing both public and private institutions.

As institutions strive to improve their learning environments, this book aligns with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting the vital connection between effective IAQ management and the health and well-being of the institutional community, including students and staff members. It provides a comprehensive framework that advocates for improved IAQ management and emphasises the importance of quality education and lifelong learning.

Furthermore, this book serves as a valuable resource for green building regulatory bodies, ensuring adherence to best practices in IAQ management within municipal buildings. By providing actionable strategies grounded on recent literature, the book is an essential guide for researchers and policymakers seeking to navigate the theoretical and empirical dimensions of IAQ management. Moreover, this book asserts that enhancing IAQ is necessary not only for regulatory compliance and community well-being but also as a vital investment in the academic and operational success of municipal buildings in developing economies.