El concepto de Competencia Comunicativa

Objectives

4.6.3.1. The Aim of the Research

This research aims to adapt an application of the ABC system in order to develop the ABCC model for improving the management of project overheads during the construction stage of construction projects (refer to Section 1.3). The important CSFs are incorporated into the CMCPs in order to implement the ABCC model which focuses on substructure activities of construction building projects. The CMCPs’ tools and techniques are examined in order to demonstrate the implementation of the ABCC model on concrete pile foundations of factual construction projects.

The underpinning philosophy of the ABC system is investigated in construction projects to discover the ABC features and it important aspects for maintaining the development of the ABCC model. The ABCC model and the important CSFs are incorporated into the effective tools and techniques of the CMCPs for monitoring the status of project progress and cost performance in order to improve the management of project overheads during the construction stage of construction projects. The aim of the research can be achieved through fulfilling a series of research objectives.

121 4.6.3.2. The First and Second Research Objectives

Project overheads and important CSFs (refer to Section 1.4) are identified and investigated during the literature reviews. The availability of project overheads and prioritisation of important CSFs are examined through empirical studies in real life projects through a questionnaire survey which is administered among professionals at different levels within the construction projects, such as senior management positions, office management staff, and project management teams. Professional positions related to construction projects include: the senior management positions (e.g., directors, operational managers, accounting department managers, project sponsors, management representatives, etc.); the office management staff (e.g., project managers, procurement, cost control, central logistics, etc.); and the project management teams (e.g., site managers, surveyors, engineers, site-area managers, quantity surveyors, site logistics, draftsmen, supervisors, etc.).

The questionnaire survey was administered during field research in Indonesia. Quantitative data was collected through scoring verbal values of Likert scales which ranged from the lowest 1 (not important) to highest 5 (highly important), to address identification and availability of project overheads in construction projects, and to measure the weight of CSF-alternative variables in respect of evaluation criteria for determining ranking orders of priority of importance among the eight groups of important CSFs.

4.6.3.3. The Third Research Objective

An underpinning philosophy of the ABC system (refer to Section 1.4) is investigated during the literature reviews to develop the ABCC model for improving the management of project overheads (refer to Chapter 3). The application of the ABC system in construction projects is justified through empirical studies and expert interviews in order to validate the development and implementation of the ABCC model. According to Oxford dictionary, an expert is

122 defined as ‘a person who is very knowledgeable about and skilful in a particular area’. As stated in RICS (2011), the general criteria for inclusion is that independent experts should have a minimum of ten (10) years of post experience in the primary profession. General criteria of the expert in construction projects may refer to practitioners who have extensive working experience, are currently and directly involved in the management levels of construction projects, and have detailed knowledge and skill in a particular area (Chan et al., 2001). In order to address this objective, the experts being interviewed are similar to professionals described in Section 4.6.3.2, but with more experience in overall jobs or related areas, and higher positions in project management lines.

If necessary, the interviews can be carried out by telephone or through electronic media. In some circumstances, especially when interviewees were geographically distributed, and where the experts or professionals had very tight schedules, the interviews conducted via ‘internet or intranet’ by ‘synchronous or asynchronous’ (real time or offline) of electronic media had significant advantages. In addition, using internet or email reduced associated audio-recording problems; since computers use automatic recording software (refer to qualitative interviews suggested by Saunders et al., 2009: pp.348-351).

Moreover, for this interview which has an initial arrangement and agreement by both parties (interviewer and interviewees) can express two-ways communication through convenient conversations, (rather than formal-structured question and answer), without rushing or interrupting questions for ‘correct words and meanings’. The natural communication is a good thing to do when inquiring original information, unique opinions, and creative ideas (Drever, 2006). Qualitative data for fulfilling the third research objective was collected through semi-structured and face-to-face interviews to address the adaptation and application of the ABC system in construction projects in order to develop the ABCC model.

123 4.6.3.4. The Fourth Research Objective

The ABCC model is developed based on the concepts, definition, philosophy, relevant features, and important aspects of the ABC system in construction projects. The ABCC model would be implemented through the CMCPs’ tools and techniques (refer to Section 3.6). Case studies and direct observations would ensure the project documents being examined would provide a reflection and implication to this research objective, then, the results could be clearly interpreted by the researcher.

Project documentations and direct observations have been conducted and completed through project case studies. Quantitative and qualitative information was gathered for elaborating on the ABCC model and implementing the CMCPs’ tools and techniques in order to examine the management of project overheads on substructure activities of construction building projects during the construction stage.

The development of the ABCC model and implementation of the CMCPs’ tools and techniques are focussed in order to examine substructure elements of construction activities of building projects through project case studies. However, their robust methods, tools and techniques could be replicated for other elements of construction building projects, such as superstructure, architecture, landscape, and other components of facilities and utilities.

4.6.3.5. The Fifth Research Objective

The application of the ABC system and development of the ABCC model would be validated through conducting expert interviews. The selection of experts may refer to the management levels explained in Section 4.6.3.2 and 4.6.3.3 that have greater experience than ten years, and where project professionals are in a more senior position in the related area of construction projects. The expert interviews

124 may follow the semi-structured and face-to-face interview techniques as described in Section 4.6.3.3.

The expert interview outcomes are used to validate the development and implementation of the ABCC model in construction projects related to this research objective. Therefore, the robust method of the ABCC model incorporates the most important CSFs and the CMCPs’ tools and techniques would make a contribution to knowledge and practice, in terms of the academic milieu and project practices, and provide organisational advantages. Data collection and analysis techniques are discussed in the following sections.