Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa - Böcker

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 provides a reference point for the development of Building Information Modelling (BIM) maturity in the developing country context. Developing countries have been observed to have low BIM maturity and are struggling to adopt the technology amidst no clearly defined pathways for achieving BIM capability maturity. The research presented in this book provides construction industry stakeholders in developing countries with a framework and nomological map to aid in the advancement of BIM implementation. This work provides a pathway for overcoming the challenges inhibiting BIM maturity in developing countries and ultimately its diffusion in order to harness the benefits. The authors provide critical theoretical insights on BIM maturity in the developing country context, a comparative analysis of BIM maturity in both developing and developed countries, and finally, a conceptualisation of BIM maturity for developing countries. The book is unique as its construct is rooted in the state-of-the-art information management standards in the digitalisation era in the construction industry (ISO 19650). The book delivers a theoretical reference point to the academic and research community and for the industry stakeholder, an essential guide to achieving BIM maturity at macro and micro levels.

This book provides a reference point for the development of Building Information Modelling (BIM) maturity in the developing country context. Developing countries have been observed to have low BIM maturity and are struggling to adopt the technology amidst no clearly defined pathways for achieving BIM capability maturity. The research presented in this book provides construction industry stakeholders in developing countries with a framework and nomological map to aid in the advancement of BIM implementation. This work provides a pathway for overcoming the challenges inhibiting BIM maturity in developing countries and ultimately its diffusion in order to harness the benefits. The authors provide critical theoretical insights on BIM maturity in the developing country context, a comparative analysis of BIM maturity in both developing and developed countries, and finally, a conceptualisation of BIM maturity for developing countries. The book is unique as its construct is rooted in the state-of-the-art information management standards in the digitalisation era in the construction industry (ISO 19650). The book delivers a theoretical reference point to the academic and research community and for the industry stakeholder, an essential guide to achieving BIM maturity at macro and micro levels.

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.

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.

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.

The central aim of this book is to focus on safety incentives in a construction context and conceptualise an adaptive safety incentive framework for construction firms in the global south. This book is a collection of knowledge on safety incentives and their impact on improving workplace safety, motivating workers' safety practices, and improving organisations' performance goals in the construction industry. With primary research conducted in Nigeria, and secondary comparisons with Ghana, South Africa, China, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, the conceptualised framework provides insights into the multifaceted factors influencing safety incentives in the construction sector. By explaining the behavioural approach to creating reward systems that minimise unintended consequences and maximise happiness, health, wealth, and success, this book takes a pragmatic approach to developing safety incentives and provides significant practical insights. This book identifies the gaps in safety incentives studies by critically reviewing related models, theories, and conceptual models to provide significant recommendations that support the implementation of safety incentives in the construction industry in the global south. Guiding readers on templates for developing safety incentives, this book will interest professionals in building construction, project management, quantity surveying, civil engineering, human resource management studies, and occupational safety and health (OSH) and owners of construction organisations, as well as researchers in all these fields.

This book highlights the pivotal role of water infrastructure as the bridge between water availability, supply, and stability, essential for achieving water security. Water Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: Digitalization and Sustainability of Water Infrastructure focus on three strategic areas: digitalization, sustainability, and investment paradigms for water infrastructure. Its goal is to achieve and stabilize water security in Sub-Saharan Africa through transformative infrastructure solutions.This book seeks to address the challenges of water scarcity by advancing water security in Sub-Saharan Africa through sustainable digital water infrastructure. It develops comprehensive frameworks that integrate digitalization and sustainability principles into water infrastructure design and management. Beginning with an exploration of water security dynamics and underpinning theories, the book examines the concept of water infrastructure through case studies. Using the Delphi technique, it proposes a sustainability framework encompassing cleaner production, water efficiency, green infrastructure, and the circular water economy. Additionally, the book explores the integration of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Blockchain, into water infrastructure. These advancements culminate in a synthesized framework for sustainable digitalization, which is analyzed across various investment paradigms, considering urban-rural dynamics.This groundbreaking book is the first to comprehensively integrate digitalization and sustainability into water infrastructure management. It aims to support informed decision-making for achieving water security in Africa. By offering cost-effective solutions for water operations and maintenance, real-time monitoring, and strategies for water efficiency, the book promotes optimal water allocation and improved water quality. Furthermore, it seeks to reshape and repurpose water-related policies, aligning them with digital and sustainability principles to enhance their effectiveness. The book also outlines strategies for attracting critical investments to the water sector, providing a roadmap for sustainable water security in Sub-Saharan Africa.This book is a must-have for policy makers, investors, researchers and practitioners within the water sector for optimal utilization and security of water resources.

In the face of rapid urbanization and environmental challenges, the developing world stands at a crossroads. Conventional sustainable design, often modelled on Global North precedents, is proving insufficient to address the deep-seated infrastructural and socio-economic complexities of these unique contexts. This book argues for a radical shift from simply minimizing harm to actively healing and restoring our communities and ecosystems through regenerative architecture.Moving beyond theory, this work provides a critical and practical roadmap for applying regenerative principles specifically in the challenging environments of developing nations. We delve into the core of what makes regeneration different, showcasing how it can produce net-positive energy and water systems, enhance biodiversity, foster social equity, and create economic value where it is needed most.The heart of this book lies in its actionable insights and real-world evidence. Through a series of detailed case studies-from innovative adaptive reuse in Ghana and decentralized renewable systems in Rwanda to community-driven projects in South Africa, we demonstrate viable solutions. These are contrasted with lessons from pioneering examples in Sweden, the UK, and Canada, not as blueprints to copy, but as sources of adaptable strategies.A significant focus is given to a deep-dive case study of Nigeria, offering a nuanced examination of its colonial architectural legacy, current urban pressures, and the emergent regenerative strategies that blend vernacular wisdom with modern innovation.This book is more than a reference; it is a call to action. It provides policymakers with frameworks for supportive regulations, offers practitioners design strategies and performance metrics, and equips students and researchers with a comprehensive conceptual foundation. By championing an approach that is both context-sensitive and aspirational, this book serves as an essential guide for anyone committed to building resilient, vibrant, and equitable urban futures in the developing world and beyond.

Value management has been applied to construction projects throughout the world, but in some regions, it is just gaining popularity. Therefore, it is necessary to create awareness of value management among stakeholders and understand various obstacles to its implementation.Value Management Implementation in Construction addresses various factors that can enhance the application of the discipline as well as its adoption among concerned stakeholders. This book discusses the practice of value management in various developed and developing countries by exposing the techniques and models that can be employed in value management exercises, with a view to achieving sustainable development while delivering projects to the satisfaction of clients.This book provides guidance on value management as a tool for improving the delivery of infrastructural projects for construction professionals, employers of labour, researchers and students alike with evidence from various countries around the world.

Supply chain management in the construction industry has passed through different eras – yet throughout, the construction industry has experienced fragmentation, late project delivery and other Gordian Knots due to its slow adoption of innovative modern technologies and principles in the supply chain processes.Addressing the need to harmonise the construction supply chain and establish the industry as the lynchpin of the economy, Construction Supply Chain Management in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era acts as a roadmap, re-aligning the activities of the construction supply chain stakeholders with the principles and tenets of Industry 4.0.Gathering evidence on both the benefits and disruptive potentials within the current construction supply chain management domain, this collection determines the acceptable practice and standard for regulatory bodies and managers, appealing also to researchers as it expands the frontiers of knowledge in the fourth industrial era.

Professionals in the construction industry must respond quickly to meet the increasing pressures of heightened urban migration, and provide sustainable alternatives to resource scarcity in established cities – Smart Cities offers solutions to the demands of rising urban populations. The smartness of a city stems from the relationship between construction stakeholders and the citizens, with the shared goal to improve all standards and support social, physical, and economic growth. Surplus and reusable are key terminologies when striving towards sustainable development. Smart Cities aims to provide necessary information on the adoption of smart cities concepts towards achieving sustainable development, with a view to ensuring socially cohesive and resilient urban districts for both the current and future generations.

Urban Alchemy delves into the pressing challenges and unique opportunities facing developing countries in their quest for sustainable urban transformation.Readers are introduced to a comprehensive framework designed to guide policymakers, urban planners, and scholars in reimagining the future of cities. The chapters the book further strengthens the importance of academic and policy debate on urban governance and planning in the Sustainable Urban Transformation (SUT) process in developing countries through an extensive review of the literature on initiatives in developed or post-industrialized cities.The book contributes to the body of knowledge by providing an understanding of how governance and planning with other variables can help in achieving the SUT agenda in developing countries. It also opens up further academic discussion and motivates policymakers to develop policies and initiatives aimed at the creation of a better life for its citizens now and for future generations, inspiring a new era of sustainable urban planning.

Principles of Basic Construction Economics in the 21st Century unravels and takes account of the widening and more sophisticated cost management and control services required by the discerning client in today’s construction industry. The book will effectively meet the needs of practitioners in the built environment discipline by providing the breadth of knowledge needed to make informed judgments on the many diverse matters within this subject and to achieve economical, sustainable construction.The book reflects the essential aspects of construction economics required to meet the changing construction needs in the context of developing countries in the 21st century.It coversthe construction industry and economics and its relationship to the study of building coststhe broad view of approximate estimating and design variablescost planning, control, and analysis of a construction projectthe nature of cost and cost-in-use.In the construction industry, cost indices, property valuation, and the developer’s budget play a significant role achieving smart and sustainable construction in the 21st century. Principles of Basic Construction Economics in the 21st Century is essential reading not only for Quantity Surveying and Construction Economist practitioners and students but for all construction-related professionals such as architects, builders, estate surveyors, engineers, property managers, urban planners, and surveyors. The book also has the potential to support construction management and civil engineering courses that are desperately needed in developing economies.

Historically known for its significant environmental footprint, the construction industry faces increasing pressure to evolve in a landscape where environmental concerns, resource efficiency, and adaptability are paramount.Stealth Construction explores a strategic amalgamation of diverse construction practices and technologies into resilient construction with the aim of improving construction environmental protection, safety, speed (project delivery), economy, and aesthetics.A pivotal publication at the nexus of construction innovation, the book empowers its readers to adapt to the changing landscape and contribute to shaping a more resilient and sustainable built environment.

Provision of infrastructure development continues to be a great concern in emerging economies, particularly in ensuring sustainable growth through business continuity, and human development. The functionality and reliability of existing infrastructure is nowhere close to the aspirations of the global infrastructure initiative, thus affecting the rate at which services can be delivered to the public. Lack of understanding on the requirements of maintenance management has exacerbated the reliability of this infrastructure, particularly public office buildings.The expertly curated chapters provide an unambiguous perspective on the practice requirements of maintenance management for public office buildings. Perspectives shared in the book include but not limited to maintenance principles and practice specifications for public asset management. Facility management is mostly to benefit from the perspectives deliberated in the book. More so, government institutions and regulatory bodies will also benefit from the findings of the book regarding practice requirements of maintenance management for public office buildings. The book further contributes towards expanding the existing body of knowledge in the field of maintenance management for public buildings.

Seven of the seventeen United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) are directly related to sustainable infrastructure development. The majority of sectors, including the road infrastructure sector, are under intense pressure to find financially feasible, socially acceptable, and environmentally conscientious project outcomes or techniques that will result in sustainable road infrastructure development (SRID).Sustainable Road Infrastructure Project Implementation in Developing Countries presents a model for implementing sustainable road infrastructure projects in developing countries. Providing readers with comprehensive theoretical and practical directions on implementing sustainable road infrastructure projects in developing countries successfully, the authors discuss the factors which influence the implementation of sustainable road infrastructure projects, including the drivers, barriers, benefits, and determinants of sustainable road project implementation.The model offers road infrastructure stakeholders with a precise and functional tool that promotes collaboration, common language and comprehension, engagement and interaction among all individuals and institutions involved in SRIP implementation. It is beneficial to both professionals and scholars, in the area of architecture; building technology; civil engineering; sustainable/green construction and other disciplines in the built industry.

Nearly 1.6 billion people worldwide are living in inadequate conditions, according to a recent United Nations report. Local authorities are running out of ways to tackle the increasing challenges of affordable housing. In South Africa, this issue is compounded by historical apartheid and spatial segregation. However, mixed-income housing has proven an effective strategy for alleviating the concentrated poverty that marginalizes certain communities.Functioning as a toolkit for inclusive urban planning, Mixed-Income Housing Development Planning Strategies and Frameworks in the Global South evaluates how this framework meets specific socio-economic goals as opposed taking a broad overview of development. Exploring the relevant policies, planning, and legislation that have guided human settlements in South Africa, the authors consider how best to combat residential segregation, informal settlements, and the exclusive allocation of public housing units to the poorest of the poor. Additional case studies from the USA, Australia, Netherlands, Brazil, Nigeria, Botswana, and Ghana compare emerging building strategies and their benefits, including spatial integration, improved access to social services and other infrastructure, and the promotion of local economic development (LED).Mixed-income housing development has been described as the only way to confront increasing urban poverty and segregation in our built environment. Analysing past projects and focusing on future trends and trajectories, this book acts as both a model for understanding the planning and management of this framework, and a foundation for future research.

The construction industry is a huge employer all over the world, but due to the project-based nature of construction, opportunities to improve pay, conditions and use of technology are often overlooked. The lack of attention to workforce management issues in the construction industry contributes to its overall poor performance in most countries worldwide. To address this problem, it is necessary to understand the practices that need to be in place for construction organisations to be able to manage their workforce effectively.Construction Workforce Management in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era explores the concept of workforce management in construction and the impact of the pervasive technologies offered by the fourth industrial revolution on the effective management of the construction workforce. Through a critical review of existing related theories and models, gaps in existing workforce management studies are unearthed, and a conceptual model designed to improve the management of workers in the construction industry is proposed.The content here benefits researchers seeking to expand the frontiers of knowledge on workforce management in construction.

Cities in developing countries are faced with housing challenges that differ from country to country. The reasons for and the nature of these challenges differ. For cities in sub-Saharan African countries, many residents live in unplanned settlements. As a result, most residents lack decent housing as well as access to basic services. This is due to, among other factors, ineffective urban planning, weak urban governance, low private sector involvement, and lack of access to affordable housing finance – yet few empirical studies have investigated and developed frameworks aimed at improving urban housing.A Neoliberal Framework for Urban Housing Development in the Global South highlights the factors which predict urban housing development from developing countries’ perspective, providing a guide for countries in the sub-Sahara, where governments have limited financial resources competing among several needs. Anchored on neoliberalism, it argues that urban housing development is an eight-factor construct consisting of legal framework, tenure, stakeholder coordination, stakeholder participation, stakeholder capacity, adaptive housing regulations, housing finance, and governance.The authors outline the role of the state in creating an enabling environment for other stakeholders to participate in the provision of affordable housing for all.

This book describes the development of a system dynamics-based model that can capture the future trajectories of housing energy and carbon emissions. It approaches energy and carbon emissions in the housing sector as a complex socio-technical problem involving the analysis of intrinsic interrelationships among dwellings, occupants and the environment. Based on an examination of the UK housing sector but with relevance worldwide, the book demonstrates how the systems dynamics simulation can be used as a learning laboratory regarding future trends in housing energy and carbon emissions. The authors employ a pragmatic research strategy, involving the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data to develop a model. The book enriches readers’ understanding of the complexity involved in housing energy and carbon emissions from a systems-thinking perspective. As such, it will be of interest to researchers in the fields of architectural engineering, housing studies and climate change, while also appealing to industry practitioners and policymakers specializing in housing energy.

This book explores the management of public facilities and the wider issues around it, with examples from educational, health facilities, and public spaces. Human activities in every economy are require facilities that must be effectively managed for optimal performance.

This book takes readers through the process of integrating the circular economy into the business model of construction organizations. It offers not only theory but also a workable implementation plan. This approach guarantees that readers can implement these insights into their construction operations with confidence. It includes in-depth analyses of the circular economy business model and the peculiarities of the construction sector, providing an approach that considers both the opportunities and challenges faced by this sector. In addition, it shows how the circular economy framework can continue to be relevant and adaptable by addressing the current adoption level of the circular economy in construction and preparing readers for new developments. Lastly, the book demonstrates how circular value propositions can be used to implement the circular economy in the construction sector, thus increasing revenue and profits in construction.

This book describes the development of a system dynamics-based model that can capture the future trajectories of housing energy and carbon emissions. It approaches energy and carbon emissions in the housing sector as a complex socio-technical problem involving the analysis of intrinsic interrelationships among dwellings, occupants and the environment. Based on an examination of the UK housing sector but with relevance worldwide, the book demonstrates how the systems dynamics simulation can be used as a learning laboratory regarding future trends in housing energy and carbon emissions. The authors employ a pragmatic research strategy, involving the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data to develop a model. The book enriches readers’ understanding of the complexity involved in housing energy and carbon emissions from a systems-thinking perspective. As such, it will be of interest to researchers in the fields of architectural engineering, housing studies and climate change, while also appealing to industry practitioners and policymakers specializing in housing energy.