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Item Open Access Project management processes simplified(Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State, 2007) Basson, GertEnglish: Project management involves the application of a number of knowledge areas and processes to projects, some being applied more and some less rigorously, depending on the characteristics of the project considered. This article motivates the grouping of these processes under three headings, i.e. core, facilitating and continuous processes. It also arranges them in a flow diagram format to summarise the entire field of project management on one page.Item Open Access The management of clients’ strategic objectives using the JBCC principal building agreement: a case study(University of the Free State, 2007) Richards, Peter; Bowen, PaulEnglish: Meeting the strategic objectives of construction clients is paramount in construction procurement for the project to be regarded as successful by the client. It is contended that the choice of contractual arrangement can act as a barrier to achieving these objectives. Through an analysis of the South African JBCC Principal Building Agreement, the authors explore how contractual arrangements can be a limitation to achieving the client’s construction strategic objectives. The research methodology adopted for the research comprises a desktop analysis of the JBCC Principal Building Agreement together with the analysis of a single case study to explore how the JBCC Principal Building Agreement addresses the client’s strategic objectives in theory and in practice. The findings indicate that the Agreement neither makes provision to deal with the client’s strategic objectives nor are they met by its philosophy, structure, or parameters. It is concluded that construction clients who use the Agreementor its equivalent for the benefit of its convenience and familiarity should consider its adequacy to manage strategic objectives within the wider sense of the investment and business case of the construction project.Item Open Access Revitalisation of a historic building through performance evaluative research into workplace environmental conditions(University of the Free State, 2007) Le Roux, Pieter; Esterhuysen, WilandEnglish: Following the centennial celebrations of the University of the Free State in 2004, the need was identified to initiate a program according to which the image and future development of the university as a whole could be assessed. This included optimising the use of existing physical resources and prioritising on proposed new development. As part of this program, the historic Main Building was identified for revitalisation through an adaptive reuse program into office space for the executive management of the university. Completed in July 2005, the refurbished facility now provides an updated approach to the concept of workplace by providing a mix of private and open plan offices. In an attempt to introduce the concept of performance evaluative research in workplace environments to students of architecture at the University of the Free State, the revitalised Main Building workplace environment was regarded as a suitable example. Performance evaluative research in workplace environments is a form of evidence-based research which aims to assess the functionality and serviceability levels of a specific facility on the basis of its ability to support and facilitate diverse work styles, as well as the user-needs and -requirements associated with it. The evaluation process was conducted according to the principles of an Investigative-level Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) study, and aimed to assess the impact of stimuli from the workplace environment on the ability of users to optimally perform and accomplish work-related tasks. The methodology according to which information for this POE study was collected consisted of various surveys. This included an activity survey, an activity duration survey, a communication survey, and a movement survey. The POE study lasted one working day, with the various mapping surveys undertaken simultaneously in 15-minute periods with 5-minute rest and preparation intervals between them. Data collected in this manner thus provides a comprehensive view of all aspects pertaining to work performance and accomplishment in the specific office environment. The survey also included questionnaires distributed to all occupants of the workplace with a return rate of 86%. Conclusions drawn from results of this study have indicated the response of users to the new workplace environment in terms of their perception of the impact of the overall work environment on their ability to concentrate and perform work-related tasks. In this regard problems related to limited or inconvenient access to office resources and problems related to poor thermal comfort (specifically with regards to the penetration of direct sunlight and lack of control over air-conditioning) occurred with a similar frequency (N = 48; f = 0.15). Results of this study will: • serve as feedback for the continued alignment of the University’s physical resources with its dynamic resource management strategy — ; and • contribute to a database on work performance characteristics in South Africa.Item Open Access Beyond Egan’s supply chain management: advancing the role of logistics in the South African construction industry(University of the Free State, 2007) Shakantu, Winston; Tookey, John; Muya, Manya; Bowen, PaulEnglish: The construction industry has globally been identified by investors and portfolio managers as under-performing in terms of return on investment (ROI), while simultaneously exposing the capital investment of investors to the highest levels of risk compared to any significant industry. In some cases, construction firms have received rates of return of as low as 1.5 to 2%. This is typically an unsustainable level of return for investors as they can gain a considerably higher ROI through much less risky financial vehicles such as gilts and bonds. Given such a low rate of return, the construction industry has for a number of years attempted to increase efficiency and reduce costs as a means of winning further business and increasing profitability. One of the methods that have been espoused as offering significant potential benefits for construction has been the industry-wide adoption of the principles of supply chain management (SCM). However, at present the bulk of SCM practice is focussed on high level strategic issues, whilst largely ignoring more operational issues related to logistics. This is a major omission, given the fact that a recent study by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in the UK indicates that as much as 30% of the cost of construction is attributed to transportation of materials. This article examines, through a review of literature, the role of SCM in construction and the contribution an effective logistics system can make to increasing efficiency and reducing construction costs.Item Open Access The management of government immovable assets(University of the Free State, 2007) Buys, Fanie; Mavasa, TamariEnglish: Asset management involves the management of immovable assets throughout its whole life cycle. This article presents the findings of research on the challenges facing National Government on the management of its immovable assets. The research contemplates the management of government immovable assets throughout its whole life cycle, the importance of an asset register as well as an immovable asset management plan. The primary data was collected by means of conducting interviews with government department personnel to reveal the strengths and weaknesses of the current theories and models within the government departments. Secondary data was obtained from the literature reviewed in relevant publications. The main findings were that the National Department of Public Works (NDPW) is currently ineffective in asset life cycle management, there is no clarity on the existence of an immovable asset management plan and that there is an urgent need for competent personnel with adequate skills to verify, capture and correct property data in an effective asset register.Item Open Access The role of the CEO in the performance of construction Information Systems (IS): a pilot study(University of the Free State, 2007) Bester, Andre; Haupt, TheoEnglish: The purpose of the study is to examine the relationship between construction Information Systems (IS) performance and the involvement of the CEO. The information provided in this article is based on a knowledge, attitude and perception (KAP) study that included a literature review and self-administered questionnaires with a small sample of CEOs of construction companies. This study suggests that the performance of information systems in construction firms can be linked to the governance role played by CEOs. Other studies reported in the literature suggest a similar linkage, the reality is that in practice IS in the construction sector is underutilised and performs poorly. Similar sentiments have been expressed in the literature. One of the main reasons for IS poor performance has been found to be the lack of executive support and involvement stemming from resistance from executive management. Further, despite the use of IS in construction companies, very few, if any have a strategic plan in place for IS in their organisations. This article contributes to increased understanding of the importance of information systems in the construction sector, and the relationship between IS performance and CEO commitment and involvement.Item Open Access Clients’ views on quantity surveying competencies(University of the Free State, 2007) Crafford, G. J.; Smallwood, J. J.English: Abstract Traditionally, quantity surveyors have fulfilled the function of financial and contract controller of projects and therefore proficiency in the related competencies is important. However, the quantity surveying profession has endeavoured to broaden the role of Quantity Surveyors to include inter alia, project management, and facilities management in recent years. The article reports on the quantity surveying component of a study relative to the competencies of five built environment practitioners conducted among private and public sector clients. The focus of the study was to determine the importance of competencies, and the extent to which they manifest themselves. Based upon inter alia, principal component analysis, findings include that the top two of five factors, namely ‘Financial planning and control’ and ‘Contract administration’, include the traditional quantity surveying competencies. Recommendations include inter alia, tertiary institutions, the South African Council of Quantity Surveying Profession (SACQSP) and the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) should address the perceived deficiency relative to the competencies identified by the gap analysis, particularly those competencies that achieved evidence scores below that of the overall average evidence score.