Faculty Publications
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Item Dynamics of construction industry development(Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd., 2022) Kumaraswamy, M.; Mahesh, G.Construction industry performance levels have not risen in line with expectations of many recent reform initiatives worldwide. Institutional inertia and difficulties in shifting adversarial industry culture to collaborative teamworking have been identified as principal root causes of such shortfalls. This chapter probes such 'decelerators' of expected industry improvements in the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong and lessons learned from Australia, the Netherlands, India and Sri Lanka too. This chapter also unearths another fundamental root cause, from a construction economics perspective focusing on national development, which itself needs a reliable and efficient construction industry. For example, lack of work continuity disrupts the development of high-performing construction organisations, personnel and technologies. Therefore, policy-makers are invited to view the construction industry-national economy nexus through a dual macro-micro construction economics 'bifocal lens'. This could, for example, justify providing more alternative work opportunities in public infrastructure augmentation and rehabilitation during troughs in demand for construction. © George Ofori 2022.Item Demystifying the Recent Trends and Advances in Safety Culture Research: A Systematic Review(Springer Singapore, 2022) Deepak, D.; Mahesh, G.In the recent times, there has been a growing concern to improve safety management practices in the construction sector. In this regard, there is a need to improve “safety culture” as it plays a significant role in improving workplace safety conditions and is viewed as a comprehensive construct having possibilities of interventions at all levels of construction projects. However, the growing body of knowledge on safety culture research makes it difficult to have a systematic and comprehensive view of the subject. Towards addressing this issue, there is a need to systematize this body of knowledge with a comprehensive systematic literature review. The review is based on three-step methodology. First step aims at gathering suitable articles related to safety culture in construction sector. The second step presents the results of descriptive analysis on recent trends in safety culture research. Last step focuses on a detailed systematic review pertaining to definition, factors, and assessment tools that influence the level of safety culture practices. Results of this review help to uncover and provide a comprehensive overview of recent trends and advances governing safety culture research, and it can help academicians and practi-tioners identify fundamental influence from these published articles. Implications of the study emphasized that the study outcomes can assist researchers and practitioners to have consensus on industry-specific standards. Furthermore, this systematic liter-ature review has helped to conceptualize safety culture, thereby highlighting the impact of external events and stakeholders interests in construction sector. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023.Item Body of Knowledge in Developing and Implementing Construction Industry Improvement Programs(World Scientific Publishing Co., 2023) Mahesh, G.; Mengistu, D.G.; Kumaraswamy, M.M.Construction project performance is influenced by industry-wide issues, such as the business environment, sector-specific drivers and challenges, and country-specific issues. Imperatives for addressing such industrylevel issues have led to industry improvement programs formulated and implemented by high-powered government-industry teams across the developed and developing countries. Despite these initiatives, the industry has yet to significantly improve its performance and image. The overarching goal of this chapter is to identify common core components and potentially critical elements of a Body of Knowledge (BoK) in developing and implementing Construction Industry Improvement Programs (CIIPs), with a particular focus on applying it to developing countries. In developing the BoK, CIIPs in Hong Kong, Singapore, the UK, and a few other countries are reviewed to identify important BoK themes. Lessons learnt and challenges unveiled from implementation and status reviews in the above jurisdictions are also discussed. The findings are compared with specific improvement programs and requirements of developing countries, with examples from India, Ethiopia, and Sri Lanka, so as to initiate development of the targeted BoK, that could hereafter help improve the planning and implementation of construction industry reform programs in developing countries in particular. The identified knowledge areas of CIIPs are: (i) Manpower Development, (ii) Enhancing Capacity, (iii) Institution Building, (iv) Improving Practices, and (v) Planning for Smoother Demand. The status of these knowledge areas and/or their components determines project performance. For example, the availability and competence of manpower in the industry affects productivity and hence the schedule performance of projects. Similarly, the capacity of construction firms affects most of the project performance parameters, such as the schedule, cost, and quality. While the specifics of these issues are addressed in other book chapters, it is clear that enabling optimal project performance and boosting project management maturity at the industry/national level calls for holistic industry improvements and overall, rather than piecemeal, developments. © 2023 by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.Item Enhancing Knowledge Management in the Construction Industry: Exploring the Impact of Semantic Web Technologies(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2025) Kone, V.; Mahesh, G.; Ingle, P.V.This research paper investigates the practical applications of Semantic Web technologies within the construction industry, specifically focusing on their role in knowledge management. The methodology employed for this research entails a systematic literature review, wherein relevant studies pertaining to Semantic Web technologies in the construction industry are gathered and meticulously analyzed. The study’s findings provide valuable insights into the benefits, challenges, and opportunities associated with the implementation of Semantic Web technologies for knowledge management purposes. The research reveals that Semantic Web technologies play a vital role in facilitating enhanced knowledge discovery, integration, and retrieval within construction projects. By establishing interoperability and integrating diverse data sources, these technologies effectively break down data silos and enable a comprehensive view of project information. Moreover, the study demonstrates that Semantic Web technologies support efficient collaboration, improve decision-making processes, and enable advanced analytics and predictive capabilities within construction projects. The significance of this research paper lies in its contribution to the understanding of Semantic Web technologies and their potential to revolutionize knowledge management practices within the construction industry. In conclusion, this research paper highlights the transformative impact of Semantic Web technologies on knowledge management in construction, establishing a robust foundation for future research and practical implementation in this dynamic industry. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025.Item Comparative Study on the Personnel Performance Appraisal Systems Between Construction and Information Technology Industries(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2025) Kowshik, C.N.; Mahesh, G.; Ingle, P.V.; Patil, S.V.; Patil, R.B.Personnel Performance Appraisal (PPA) involves systematically evaluating the employee’s performance in the workplace. The purpose of PPA is to identify an individual’s strengths and weaknesses, which impact the overall performance of the organization. The construction sector is commonly perceived as an unorganized industry. This paper compares the PPA systems of a Construction Organization (CO) and information technology (service-based) organization and explores potential solutions for continuous improvement. The study utilizes case studies and incorporates semi-structured interviews with Information Technology (IT) professionals and construction professionals. Documented reviews and semi-structured interviews are meticulously documented, recorded, and transcribed. The gathered data are recapitulated and depicted based on recurring topics. Given that both construction and IT organizations operate within a project-based culture, the disparities, and similarities between their respective PPA practices are identified. It becomes apparent that employees in the IT organization possess a clear understanding of the PPA process and its relevance, whereas this cognizance appears to be deficient within the CO. Notwithstanding the implementation of PPA in the CO, this comparative analysis indicates that there is potential for enhancement. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025.Item Review of concepts and trends in safety culture research of construction industry(Institute of Medico-Legal Publications, 2019) Deepak, M.D.; Mahesh, G.There is a growing concern among researchers and practitioners on improving occupational health and safety in construction industry. Organizations are encouraged to improve safety culture because it plays a significant role in preventing accidents occurring at workplace. However, a diversity in topics of safety culture studies related to construction industry makes it hard to have a clear and comprehensive overview in this field. In this regard, a comprehensive review of literature is undertaken to provide an overview of trends and issues in safety culture research of construction industry. Further, a systematic literature review of available academic literature on safety culture is conducted focusing on: Defining the concept of safety culture, identifying the factors influencing the level of safety culture and assessment tools to measure the level of safety culture in construction industry. Finally, a theoretical framework is proposed on the basis of conceptualizing the factors that affect safety culture in construction industry. This review helps in formulation and advancement of safety culture research in construction industry. © 2019, Indian Journal of Public Health Research and Development. All rights reserved.Item Building integrated project and asset management teams for sustainable built infrastructure development(Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. Howard House Wagon Lane, Bingley BD16 1WA, 2014) Wong, K.K.W.; Kumaraswamy, M.; Mahesh, G.; Ling, F.Y.Y.Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the relevance of the relationally integrated value networks (RIVANS) concept for integrating project management (PM) and asset management (AM) for total asset management (TAM). The specific objectives are to test the RIVANS for TAM concept postulated by Kumaraswamy (2011) and Kumaraswamy et al. (2012); discover ways to enable PM and AM teams to work in an integrated manner; and recommend strategies and operational measures to promote greater team integration in the industry. Design/methodology/approach – This study is based in Hong Kong with parallel studies in the UK, Singapore and Sri Lanka. Through a comprehensive questionnaire, a case study on an organization engaged in both design and construction and operations and maintenance (O&M) works, interviews and hosting a workshop (all conducted with experienced industry practitioners and experts), a set of recommendations are derived to guide the industry toward greater team integration. Findings – Early involvement of O&M staff is important for better anticipating obstacles and learning from past experiences, but PM and AM teams generally work independently with limited interaction. Priorities of the stakeholders are often different. Knowledge management is increasingly important, but knowledge sharing is not always a priority. The three focus areas in the set of recommendations developed from Hong Kong are: organizational/management structure, procurement strategies and operational mechanisms; fostering culture of team building and providing additional means of communication; and informal communication tools. Originality/value – There has been little research into the communication, interaction and integration between PM and AM priorities and teams. However, increasing industry emphasis on sustainable buildings, end-user satisfaction and designing for maintainability dictates that PM and AM teams must work closer together, hence the imperative for mapping useful directions to be pursued. © 2014, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.Item Developing a clients’ charter and construction project KPIs to direct and drive industry improvements(Emerald Group Publishing Ltd. Howard House Wagon Lane, Bingley BD16 1WA, 2017) Kumaraswamy, M.; Mahesh, G.; Mahalingam, A.; Loganathan, S.; Kalidindi, S.N.Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to present a case, with live examples from a construction industry development initiative in India, for developing a proactive construction clients charter; and a core set of key performance indicators (KPIs), as basic tools for facilitating the expectations of this special issue in “securing clients’ organisational objectives and project aspirations throughout construction project lifecycles” apart from empowering construction industry improvements in general. Design/methodology/approach: Having identified 19 critical issues in the Indian construction industry at two construction clients-academia roundtables, two of the “action teams” formed to address specific issue sets, separately developed a relevant construction clients charter and useful KPIs, respectively, through a combination of literature reviews and brainstorming conference calls, along with iterative drafts of, and feedback on interim outputs. Validation of “working papers” presented at a “Consolidation Roundtable” of construction clients and their consultants, elicited further suggestions for fine tuning of final outputs. Findings: The charter was formulated in structured steps, including identifying “priorities” under four categories: overall, expectations from supply chains, by supply chains and by end users. The six sub-heads of the charter are on procurement, design, innovation and technology, project execution, human resource development and worker welfare, and quality, safety and sustainability. The “suggested KPIs” for building clients in India enable organisations to choose: from three different groups (i.e. design phase, construction phase, or business outcomes), and at three different levels (i.e. project/organisation level, benchmarking club level, or industry level). Originality/value: There is no known overarching Construction Clients’ Charter at present. Some project KPI sets are available elsewhere. However, those developed in India, while focusing on project performance, also connect to organisational performance and business outcomes. Furthermore, KPIs are provided to separately probe client, consultant and contractor performance. Significantly, the charter and KPIs are outcomes from an industry-led self-improvement initiative launched with building construction clients at the forefront, rather than a top-down imposition from government. Furthermore, while prioritising client aspirations, they also address common supply chain and end-user concerns, which may also be interpreted as a longer-term win-win-win client’s aspiration. © 2017, © Emerald Publishing Limited.Item Assigning weights for modified project Quarter Back Rating based construction project performance model(International Journal of Mathematical, Engineering and Management Sciences, 2019) Ingle, P.V.; Mahesh, G.The Indian construction industry is facing challenges due to performance shortfalls. The construction projects are highly complex, distinctive, fragmented and do not have of well-established performance assessment models to evaluate their project success. Assessing overall project success is not possible to measure by single factor. To address this limitation, the Modified Project Quarter Back Rating (PQR) model was developed for the Indian construction industry. Modified PQR model's output is a project score based on performance areas affecting project success and outcome. The model integrates ten performance areas that have identified through literature review. Performance areas included in the model are; (i) Cost (ii) Schedule (iii) Stakeholder satisfaction (iv) Safety (v) Quality (vi) Finance (vii) Environment (viii) Communication and collaboration (ix) Customer relation and (x) Productivity. These performance areas are measured through different performance metrics; i.e. performance metrics scores are aggregated to compute performance area scores. The model gives a single score that will help in comparing overall performance for different projects. This paper attempted to highlight the importance of performance metrics in modified Project Quarter Back Rating (PQR) based construction project performance assessment model for the Indian construction industry. The validity of the model needs assigning appropriate weights to the performance metrics as the weightage determines the relevance. Appropriate weights were determined using two round Delphi survey with 12 experts. Findings reveal that two performance metrics; return business from customer relation and OSHA recordable from safety have high weights. This modified PQR model will help key participants of the industry to compare the performance of various projects and to monitor performance areas that impact project performance rating. © International Journal of Mathematical, Engineering and Management Sciences.Item Spatial Temporal Analysis of Freight Flow through Indian Major Seaport System(Korean Association of Shipping and Logistics, Inc. master@shipping.or.kr, 2019) Sahu, P.K.; Padhi, A.; Patil, G.R.; Mahesh, G.; Sarkar, A.K.This paper analyzed the space time interactions among the freight flows through major Indian ports. Freight flow data at regular intervals in the form of spatial time series were collected for the twelve major ports located along the east and west coast of India. The system of freight flows was modeled through interactions both in time and space dimensions as a multivariate stochastic process. Effect of the neighbor port freight on a subject port was analyzed to understand the degree of dependency among the competing/non-competing ports. Demand elasticity analysis suggested that ports are more sensitive to changes in their own demand over time than the corresponding spatial changes indicating bulk of the demand dependency on hinterland economic activity. Interestingly, only two ports are found to be competing with each other as they share common hinterland. In general, it can be inferred that the inter-port relationship within Indian major port system is complimentary or co-operative. Proposed models can be used for assessing the impact of freight flow changes from one port to the nearest neighboring port. Study findings will help port authorities and policy makers for holistic development of port system by making right investments in required locations to promote balanced development. It has also implications towards formulating policies on port development considering Government of India's preferred mode of choice for infrastructure development is PPP, and policy formulation for this mode of development is required to address competition concerns considering the high sunk cost associated with ports development. © 2019 The Authors