| 1. |
- Adam, Abderisak, 1988, et al.
(författare)
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Using actor-network theory to understand knowledge sharing in an architecture firm
- 2014
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Ingår i: 30th Annual Association of Researchers in Construction Management Conference, ARCOM 2014; Portsmouth; United Kingdom; 1 September 2014 through 3 September 2014. - 9780955239083 ; , s. 1235-1244
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study investigates knowledge sharing in a large Scandinavian architectural firm, ArchFirm. In particular, a knowledge management initiative called the Knowledge Building (KB) is examined. The study is based on a case study consisting of a document review and 12 interviews. Drawing on Actor-Network Theory (ANT) as analytical lense, KB is conceptualized as a heterogenous network consisting of several actants, human and non-human. Key aspects of ANT used when analyzing data is; translation, semiotic rationality, punctualization and black-boxing, focal actants and obligatory passage point (OPP). ANT as theoretical approach created an opportunity to view the intricate nature of knowledge sharing in an architecture firm from a different perspective compared to previous research. This work also opens a window for further research in the area of knowledge sharing as it relates to architectural practice.
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| 2. |
- Adam, Abderisak, 1988, et al.
(författare)
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Aggregation of factors causing cost overruns and time delays in large public construction projects: Trends and implications
- 2017
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Ingår i: Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management. - 1365-232X .- 0969-9988. ; 24:3, s. 393-406
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the impact that cost overruns and time delays exert on large public construction projects to clarify how past and current research regard factors causing cost overruns and time delays in large public construction projects.Design/methodology/approachThis paper, which is based on an analysis of a literature selection consisting of 40 journal articles, investigates and ranks the occurrence of and the explanations for cost overruns and time delays in large public construction projects. The study makes use of a kiviat diagram/radar chart in order to visualize multivariate data.FindingsAggregated rankings of important causes of cost overruns and time delays are reported. These show a strong emphasis on the management aspect as a primary cause of cost overruns and delays. Additionally, there seems to be a trend toward deemphasizing the role of financial considerations in explaining cost overruns and delays. It is argued that there needs to be a more rigorous assessment of the impact that each factor has on cost increases and delays based on factual observed data as opposed to retrospective accounts from questionnaire respondents.Research limitations/implicationsOnly public construction projects have been considered. The results will not be directly applicable to privately funded construction projects and/or projects of a smaller size.Originality/valueThe use of trend data, as illustrated in a kiviat diagram, showing how different ranking factors causing cost overruns and time delays has changed in importance over time.
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| 3. |
- Adam, Abderisak, 1988, et al.
(författare)
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Applying the dynamic capabilities framework in the case of a large public construction client
- 2017
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Ingår i: Construction Management and Economics. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1466-433X .- 0144-6193. ; 35:7, s. 1-12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Public clients in the construction sector face a number of challenges in designing, procuring and managing major construction projects. The client’s role in bringing about project delivery has more recently been emphasized, particularly with respect to developing capabilities that facilitate the coordinating of projects through its different phases. In line with these developments, this paper sets out to examine the management of capabilities in a client organization through the lens of the dynamic capabilities framework. In particular, what is investigated is how the client organization senses, seizes and transforms opportunities. In pursuit of this objective, an exploratory case study approach is adopted which examines one of Sweden’s largest public client organizations. The study explores the concept of dynamic capabilities and its applicability to the public construction context. Although the usefulness of dynamic capabilities as an interpretive framework is recognized, it is suggested that the concept of dynamic capabilities is inadequate for addressing the specific context in which public client organizations operate. Particularly with respect to the project-based characteristic of these organizations and the difficulty in framing what constitutes “competitive advantage” for public organizations.
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| 4. |
- Adam, Abderisak, 1988, et al.
(författare)
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Approaches to Safeguarding Sustainability Requirements in Public Construction Projects – the Client’s Perspective
- 2016
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Ingår i: CIB World Building Congress 2016.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- In recent years, the concept of sustainability has penetrated much of modern political, social and industrial discourse. Its recent popularization, stemming from the Brundtland report of 1987, has led to sustainability becoming a household term in nearly every industry, of which the construction sector is no exception. Considering the importance that sustainability has in the construction industry, and how it is particularly emphasized in construction financed by public funds, questions need to be raised in terms how capable the construction client is in meeting and achieving the sustainability requirements, often set by politics, that exist whilst safeguarding project delivery. The study is based on four interviews targeting public clients in Sweden and it investigates how sustainability requirements are managed in large public construction projects. What is of particular interest is the degree to which public client organizations either develop or procure systems/staff to ensure that the criteria for social, environmental and cultural sustainability are maintained and that the consequences of different approaches are managed. The results support the idea of having a multifaceted approach to sustainable construction, arguing that terms such as social and cultural sustainability may instead be dealt with separately from the more strictly defined sustainability terms of toxicity, waste and energy consumption. There is also a suggestion that once the client organization begins incorporating a sustainability mind-set in all of its affairs, members of that organization may begin working with sustainability on a perfunctory basis without necessarily understanding the underlying reasons for their actions. Finally, the challenge with sustainability is perhaps not so much that there is a lack of capability as much as there is a lack of resources for working with sustainability.
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| 5. |
- Adam, Abderisak, 1988, et al.
(författare)
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Developing Capabilities for Public Construction Clients
- 2014
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the 19th International Symposium on the Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate, 7-9 Nov 2014, Chongqing.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Clients in the public sector face a large number of challenges in designing, procur-ing and managing major construction projects in a manner that is conducive to the organization’s overall goals. The role of the client in bringing about successful project completion has more recently been emphasized with a growing number of studies focusing on developing dynamic client capabilities that facilitate the han-dling of a project through all of its different phases. Though the capabilities of the client carries immense importance in all con-struction projects, the importance is further exacerbated by the sheer scale of the projects involved in major construction projects, a development which has prompted governmental agencies to inquire into ways to improve processes in the client organization. To address such inquiries, this paper which is based on a literature review, ex-plores the types of dynamic capabilities that emerge with respect to public con-struction clients and in particular, if and how a specific client capability influences a specific project outcome. The mapping of capabilities constitutes a theoretical foundation for a forthcoming empirical study on the same topic.
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| 6. |
- Adam, Abderisak, 1988, et al.
(författare)
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Dynamic capabilities and risk management: Evaluating the CDRM model for clients
- 2019
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Ingår i: Emerald Reach Proceedings Series. - 2516-2853. ; , s. 85-92
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the Company Dynamic Response Map (CDRM) risk management model that uses the dynamic capabilities concept. The study examines risks associated with strategic decision-making in construction projects and evaluates proposed methods that connect the dynamic capabilities of project-based organisations with risk management. Design/Methodology/Approach - This preliminary study examines risks associated with strategic decision-making in construction projects and evaluates a proposed model that connects the dynamic capabilities of project-based organisations with risk management. Specifically, the CDRM model is evaluated, a risk management model developed by Arena et al. (2013) to better respond to risks and opportunities based on the concept of dynamic capabilities. Findings - We argue that although the CDRM presents a promising development in that it uses dynamic capabilities prospectively in a risk management model to produce tangible results, there are, nonetheless, impediments to the CDRM being used by construction clients. The primary impediment relates to the issue of categorisation, the difficulty in assigning a specific identified risk to a particular category of dynamic capabilities. Research Limitations/Implications - A conceptual argument is made and not an empirical one. Practical Implications - The CDRM model was developed to be used in practice and this paper evaluates that model. Originality/Value - Contributes to both the dynamic capabilities literature as well as risk management literature. The paper ends with a discussion on the possible merits of the CDRM, and an evaluation on potential impediments to its use by construction clients.
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| 7. |
- Adam, Abderisak, 1988
(författare)
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Exploring construction challenges of the public client: a dynamic capabilities approach
- 2019
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Construction clients in the public sector face a large number of challenges in designing, procuring and managing construction projects in a manner that is conducive to the organization’s overall goals. In particular, clients have faced challenges in delivering projects that satisfied the projects’ goals with respect to cost and time overruns. The role of the client in managing these challenges has more recently been emphasized, with a growing number of studies and governmental reports calling for the development of the client’s capabilities with respect to delivering projects. This thesis examines the capabilities of the construction client with respect to the dynamic capabilities concept. The two research questions that guided this research are, RQ1: What are the underlying mechanisms of dynamic capabilities? and RQ2: How can dynamic capabilities be understood and used by public clients to address construction-specific challenges? The viability of the dynamic capabilities approach is also discussed, particularly with respect to construction-related challenges faced by the client, focusing on the aforementioned cost and time overruns. The main beneficiaries of this thesis, to which the contributions of the thesis are most relevant, are construction client organizations that operate in the public sphere. Most notably, the type of clients that are targeted are those that undertake the commissioning and managing of construction projects that require organizations that possess the capabilities needed to deliver cost and time efficient projects. Objectives crucial to all projects but especially to publicly funded and publicly scrutinized projects. The secondary beneficiaries of this thesis are researchers who study and develop the dynamic capabilities concept, a concept which has constituted the theoretical frame of reference that has been used in this thesis. The thesis is based primarily on a case study of a large public construction client located in Sweden (PubClient) and a study of an association made up of 16 client organizations/divisions from the Swedish counties. Findings are presented in four appended papers. The thesis concludes with a discussion on the viability of using a dynamic capabilities framework in the specific cases described in this thesis and what implications this have for practice and further research. It is argued that the concept of dynamic capabilities needs to be contextualized to capture the specific environment in which public client organizations operate. Suggestions for alternative approaches to understanding the management and development of capabilities are then discussed. Findings indicate the need for a segmented approach for understanding how dynamic capabilities are managed in client organizations, based not only on the level of stability in the environment but also taking into account the resources that are utilized. The thesis explores alternative frameworks of dynamic capabilities, beginning with the general framework proposed by Teece et al. (1997) which examined the activities of dynamic capabilities, and Zollo and Winter (2002) that examined the learning mechanisms of dynamic capabilities. Additionally, more recent frameworks of dynamic capabilities that are tailored to the context of the construction client are explored, particularly, Davies and Brady (2016) who introduced the concept of ‘project capabilities’ to conceptualize dynamic capabilities in a project-based context. It is further argued that there is a need for a more granular research approach for studying the development of dynamic capabilities in a case-based setting. This would imply an approach that more specifically links the development of dynamic capabilities with the precise antecedent actions that preceded them, or, put more straightforward, which action in an organization develop which specific dynamic capability.
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| 8. |
- Adam, Abderisak, 1988, et al.
(författare)
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How task heterogeneity and frequency relates to knowledge codification: Evaluating the Shared Construction Guidelines (SCG) of 24 Swedish Public Client Organizations
- 2017
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Ingår i: 9th Nordic Conference on Construction Economics and Organization. ; , s. 1-9
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Over a sustained period of time, organizational theorists have argued that public sector organizationsare more inefficient than their private counterparts. Recent studies have explained these inefficienciesas the result of having to do with capabilities rather than resources thereby calling for an improvementof the capabilities of public organizations. A key mechanism for achieving such improvements is thearticulation and codification of knowledge. This study examines an attempt at codifying knowledge inthe form of a set of shared construction guidelines (SCG) employed by 24 large public clientorganizations in the Municipality of Gothenburg, Sweden. Specifically, these guidelines are viewedwith respect to the framework of Zollo and Winter (2002) in terms of how organizations with high taskheterogeneity and low task frequency can more effectively develop dynamic capabilities through thedeliberate learning mechanism of knowledge codification. Preliminary results indicate that taskfrequency and organizational size are stronger indicators than heterogeneity in deciding whether apublic client organization utilizes knowledge codification systems such as the SCG.
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| 9. |
- Adam, Abderisak, 1988, et al.
(författare)
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Implications of cost overruns and time delays on major public construction projects
- 2014
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the 19th International Symposium on the Advancement of Construction Management and Real Estate, 7-9 Nov 2014, Chongqing.
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- For decades, the construction industry has been characterized by costs exceeding budgetary limits and completion times reaching further than what was set out ini-tially. This has been particularly noticeable for large public construction projects where cost overruns and time delays have long been regarded a common occur-rence. Due to the magnitude and frequency of these overruns, they have come to pose a significant financial risk to both clients and contractors, in addition to the impact exerted on the sustainability of the project. In dealing with this, researchers, auditors and practitioners have suggested a broad range of solutions, ranging from technical and economical to psychological and political approaches. In doing so, the contractor’s role has been emphasized whereas the role of the client organization has often been overlooked. This paper which is based on a literature review investigates the occurrence of and the expla-nations for cost overruns and time delays in major construction projects from the public client’s perspective. It also explores the implications of cost overruns and time delays; the purpose of which is to offer an extended understanding of the re-lationship between the client’s actions and effects on cost, time and sustainability parameters.
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| 10. |
- Adam, Abderisak, 1988
(författare)
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Managing construction challenges: Viability of a dynamic capabilities approach for the public client
- 2016
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Construction clients in the public sector face a large number of challenges in designing, procuring and managing construction projects in a manner that is conducive to the organization’s overall goals. In particular, clients have faced challenges in delivering projects that satisfied the projects’ goals with respect to cost overruns, delays and sustainable construction. The role of the client in managing these challenges has more recently been emphasized with a growing number of studies and governmental reports calling for the development of the client’s capabilities.This thesis examines the capabilities of the construction client through a dynamic capabilities framework, particularly with respect to the activities of sensing, seizing and transforming. Furthermore, the thesis explores whether the concept of dynamic capabilities is a viable approach for understanding how to manage the clients’ capabilities in a way that ensures that construction-related challenges are addressed. The thesis is based primarily on a case study of a large public construction client located in Sweden.Findings are presented in three appended papers. The thesis concludes with a discussion on the viability of using a dynamic capabilities framework in the specific case described in this thesis. It is argued that the concept of dynamic capabilities is inadequate for capturing the specific context in which public client organizations operate. Suggestions for alternative approaches to understanding the management and development of capabilities are then discussed.
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