Modelling offsite construction to control hazards and direct cost of accidents
- Simukonda, Wakisa Tulombolombo
- Authors: Simukonda, Wakisa Tulombolombo
- Date: 2024-04
- Subjects: Construction industry -- Accidents , Construction industry -- Risk management , Building -- Safety measures
- Language: English
- Type: Doctotal theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/64818 , vital:73923
- Description: The construction industry contributes significantly to the growth of developed and emerging economies. The industry contributes a sizeable proportion of Gross Domestic Product and Gross National Product. However, the poor safety performance of the industry and its consequential socio-economic impact threatens the industry’s significant contributions. It is for this reason that off-site construction has been identified as a sine qua non for addressing poor safety performance. The application of design for manufacture and assembly and lean techniques in the manufacture and assembly processes of off-site construction is suggested to minimise safety hazards in construction. The research was conducted to establish the relevant design for manufacture and assembly and lean techniques for addressing safety hazards in off-site construction and to develop a conceptual model of off-site construction for controlling hazards and direct costs of accidents to protect people and profits in construction. A preliminary conceptual model of off-site construction was initially devised based on a literature review and later refined into a developed conceptual model of off-site construction using findings from the qualitative phase of the study. The confirmation of the relationships and concepts presented in the developed conceptual model of off-site construction was based on the findings from quantitative data. The quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 26. Within SPSS, descriptive and inferential statistics were used to examine the relationships between off-site construction methods and safety issues, while Cronbach’s alpha was used to measure the validity of the findings. Based on the findings of the study, significant safety benefits of off-site construction methods of design for manufacture and assembly and lean techniques were identified. The benefits relate to the elimination of safety hazards including lack of personal protective equipment, work at height, poor work methods, poor house-keeping and lack of training and experience. Furthermore, the research findings indicated that implementing design for manufacture and assembly and lean practices limits direct costs of accidents, including costs expended on wages and medical bills. The positive outcomes of applying design for manufacture and assembly and lean techniques include better project management and working conditions, improved quality, minimised construction waste, and increased productivity. Factors impeding application of design for manufacture and assembly and lean techniques within contracting organisations include lack of stakeholder collaboration, a conservative mind-set towards traditional construction, lack of preferential policies and expensive logistics. These challenges can be addressed by promoting awareness of off-site construction methods, capacity-building, establishing a robust local supply chain and the involvement of government in creating an enabling political and legal environment, among others. Based on the research, an integrated conceptual model of off-site construction was developed for using off-site construction to control hazards and direct costs of accidents to protect people and profits in construction. In essence, the model can be used to identify design for manufacture and assembly and lean practices applicable in off-site construction projects to control potential safety hazards and risks. Identification and application of appropriate design for manufacture and assembly and lean practices, while addressing safety challenges, would result in the elimination of safety hazards and direct costs associated with the occurrence of accidents. Consequently, prevention of accidents would ensure the safety and health of people in construction, while the reduction of direct costs of accidents would improve the profitability margins of contracting organisations. Based on the study, recommendations are made for wider adoption of off-site construction as a modern construction method, and application of design for manufacture and assembly and lean techniques in off-site construction as strategic, industry and national, initiatives for improving safety in the construction industry. , Thesis (DPhil) -- Faculty ofEngineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, School of Built Environment and Civil Engineering, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04
- Authors: Simukonda, Wakisa Tulombolombo
- Date: 2024-04
- Subjects: Construction industry -- Accidents , Construction industry -- Risk management , Building -- Safety measures
- Language: English
- Type: Doctotal theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/64818 , vital:73923
- Description: The construction industry contributes significantly to the growth of developed and emerging economies. The industry contributes a sizeable proportion of Gross Domestic Product and Gross National Product. However, the poor safety performance of the industry and its consequential socio-economic impact threatens the industry’s significant contributions. It is for this reason that off-site construction has been identified as a sine qua non for addressing poor safety performance. The application of design for manufacture and assembly and lean techniques in the manufacture and assembly processes of off-site construction is suggested to minimise safety hazards in construction. The research was conducted to establish the relevant design for manufacture and assembly and lean techniques for addressing safety hazards in off-site construction and to develop a conceptual model of off-site construction for controlling hazards and direct costs of accidents to protect people and profits in construction. A preliminary conceptual model of off-site construction was initially devised based on a literature review and later refined into a developed conceptual model of off-site construction using findings from the qualitative phase of the study. The confirmation of the relationships and concepts presented in the developed conceptual model of off-site construction was based on the findings from quantitative data. The quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 26. Within SPSS, descriptive and inferential statistics were used to examine the relationships between off-site construction methods and safety issues, while Cronbach’s alpha was used to measure the validity of the findings. Based on the findings of the study, significant safety benefits of off-site construction methods of design for manufacture and assembly and lean techniques were identified. The benefits relate to the elimination of safety hazards including lack of personal protective equipment, work at height, poor work methods, poor house-keeping and lack of training and experience. Furthermore, the research findings indicated that implementing design for manufacture and assembly and lean practices limits direct costs of accidents, including costs expended on wages and medical bills. The positive outcomes of applying design for manufacture and assembly and lean techniques include better project management and working conditions, improved quality, minimised construction waste, and increased productivity. Factors impeding application of design for manufacture and assembly and lean techniques within contracting organisations include lack of stakeholder collaboration, a conservative mind-set towards traditional construction, lack of preferential policies and expensive logistics. These challenges can be addressed by promoting awareness of off-site construction methods, capacity-building, establishing a robust local supply chain and the involvement of government in creating an enabling political and legal environment, among others. Based on the research, an integrated conceptual model of off-site construction was developed for using off-site construction to control hazards and direct costs of accidents to protect people and profits in construction. In essence, the model can be used to identify design for manufacture and assembly and lean practices applicable in off-site construction projects to control potential safety hazards and risks. Identification and application of appropriate design for manufacture and assembly and lean practices, while addressing safety challenges, would result in the elimination of safety hazards and direct costs associated with the occurrence of accidents. Consequently, prevention of accidents would ensure the safety and health of people in construction, while the reduction of direct costs of accidents would improve the profitability margins of contracting organisations. Based on the study, recommendations are made for wider adoption of off-site construction as a modern construction method, and application of design for manufacture and assembly and lean techniques in off-site construction as strategic, industry and national, initiatives for improving safety in the construction industry. , Thesis (DPhil) -- Faculty ofEngineering, the Built Environment, and Technology, School of Built Environment and Civil Engineering, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04
Human capital of financial planners and value creation in South African financial planning businesses
- Palframan, Jaqueline birgitta
- Authors: Palframan, Jaqueline birgitta
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Human capital -- South Africa , Corporations--Finance
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58123 , vital:58582
- Description: Improved healthcare enables people to live longer and thus spend more time in retirement than ever before. In addition, South Africans have a low propensity to save and invest, resulting in the danger of them living longer than their finances permit. The financial planning industry is also experiencing the technological automation of many transactional services, which could make the “traditional” role of financial planners redundant. Furthermore, financial planning businesses are prone to failure, especially during the start-up phase. As such, appropriate business management strategies, especially those relating to human capital, are critical to facilitate the effective development of financial planning businesses and which will enable financial planners to better engage with existing and new clients, resulting in creating more value creation for their financial planning businesses and benefitting the South African economy at large. It is a well-known fact that people who engage with a financial planner report better outcomes in terms of financial and general well-being than those who approach financial planning with a “do-it-yourself” mindset, which further emphasises why the longevity of financial planning businesses in South Africa is important. To date, however, limited academic research has been conducted on the influence of financial planners’ human capital on value creation in their financial planning businesses. Furthermore, although research in the financial planning field is growing, previous research has mostly focused on areas pertaining to financial advice, the financial planning process and products used in financial planning, rather than on the creation of profitable businesses or on how to create value within these businesses. Against this background, the primary objective of this study is to investigate the influence of selected Human capitals of financial planners on value creation in South African financial planning businesses. More specifically, the study investigates the influence of the independent variables of Social capital (measured individually in terms of its sub-categories, Relational social capital, Network social capital and Cognitive social capital), Entrepreneurial capital and Psychological capital on the dependent variables (Perceived financial value creation and Perceived non-financial value creation). v Based on the primary objective and research questions of the study, as well as the assumptions of the researcher, this study was positioned in the positivistic research paradigm and a deductive approach to theory development was adopted. The purpose of the study was explanatory, and a mono-method, quantitative methodological approach was selected. A survey strategy using a cross-sectional approach was undertaken and a measuring instrument in the form of an online questionnaire was developed to gather the data required. After undertaking a pilot study, the electronic link to the covering letter and online questionnaire was sent to potential respondents identified through the convenience and snowball sampling techniques. The data collection yielded 360 usable responses from South African financial planners on which to undertake the statistical analysis. Data analysis ensued to investigate the hypothesised relationships between the independent and dependent variables. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed on each of the factors that made up the measurement models. These CFAs were compared to the various goodness-of-fit indices and then validity and reliability assessments of the factors were conducted to confirm the suitability of the measuring instrument. Thereafter, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, average variance extracted (AVE) estimates and squared correlations between the constructs were reported. The hypothesised model was confirmed based on these analyses. Descriptive statistics and correlation results on the dependent and independent variables were then reported. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used as the statistical technique to test the significance of the hypothesised direct and moderating relationships. The results confirmed a direct, significant relationship between all the independent variables, namely, Social capital (measured individually in terms of its sub-categories, Relational social capital, Network social capital and Cognitive social capital), Entrepreneurial capital and Psychological capital, and the dependent variables (Perceived financial value creation and Perceived non-financial value creation). Regarding the hypothesised moderating influence of Social capital on the relationships between the independent variables Entrepreneurial capital and Psychological capital, and the dependent variables, it was found that only Relational social capital and Network social capital moderated the relationship between Psychological capital and Perceived financial value creation. vi This study has contributed to the body of knowledge of financial planning in general, as well as how the human capital of financial planners influences both financial and non-financial value creation in financial planning businesses. Practical recommendations were made that could enhance financial planners’ value creation in financial planning businesses, which, in turn, would influence the sustainability of these important businesses. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: Palframan, Jaqueline birgitta
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Human capital -- South Africa , Corporations--Finance
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/58123 , vital:58582
- Description: Improved healthcare enables people to live longer and thus spend more time in retirement than ever before. In addition, South Africans have a low propensity to save and invest, resulting in the danger of them living longer than their finances permit. The financial planning industry is also experiencing the technological automation of many transactional services, which could make the “traditional” role of financial planners redundant. Furthermore, financial planning businesses are prone to failure, especially during the start-up phase. As such, appropriate business management strategies, especially those relating to human capital, are critical to facilitate the effective development of financial planning businesses and which will enable financial planners to better engage with existing and new clients, resulting in creating more value creation for their financial planning businesses and benefitting the South African economy at large. It is a well-known fact that people who engage with a financial planner report better outcomes in terms of financial and general well-being than those who approach financial planning with a “do-it-yourself” mindset, which further emphasises why the longevity of financial planning businesses in South Africa is important. To date, however, limited academic research has been conducted on the influence of financial planners’ human capital on value creation in their financial planning businesses. Furthermore, although research in the financial planning field is growing, previous research has mostly focused on areas pertaining to financial advice, the financial planning process and products used in financial planning, rather than on the creation of profitable businesses or on how to create value within these businesses. Against this background, the primary objective of this study is to investigate the influence of selected Human capitals of financial planners on value creation in South African financial planning businesses. More specifically, the study investigates the influence of the independent variables of Social capital (measured individually in terms of its sub-categories, Relational social capital, Network social capital and Cognitive social capital), Entrepreneurial capital and Psychological capital on the dependent variables (Perceived financial value creation and Perceived non-financial value creation). v Based on the primary objective and research questions of the study, as well as the assumptions of the researcher, this study was positioned in the positivistic research paradigm and a deductive approach to theory development was adopted. The purpose of the study was explanatory, and a mono-method, quantitative methodological approach was selected. A survey strategy using a cross-sectional approach was undertaken and a measuring instrument in the form of an online questionnaire was developed to gather the data required. After undertaking a pilot study, the electronic link to the covering letter and online questionnaire was sent to potential respondents identified through the convenience and snowball sampling techniques. The data collection yielded 360 usable responses from South African financial planners on which to undertake the statistical analysis. Data analysis ensued to investigate the hypothesised relationships between the independent and dependent variables. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed on each of the factors that made up the measurement models. These CFAs were compared to the various goodness-of-fit indices and then validity and reliability assessments of the factors were conducted to confirm the suitability of the measuring instrument. Thereafter, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, average variance extracted (AVE) estimates and squared correlations between the constructs were reported. The hypothesised model was confirmed based on these analyses. Descriptive statistics and correlation results on the dependent and independent variables were then reported. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used as the statistical technique to test the significance of the hypothesised direct and moderating relationships. The results confirmed a direct, significant relationship between all the independent variables, namely, Social capital (measured individually in terms of its sub-categories, Relational social capital, Network social capital and Cognitive social capital), Entrepreneurial capital and Psychological capital, and the dependent variables (Perceived financial value creation and Perceived non-financial value creation). Regarding the hypothesised moderating influence of Social capital on the relationships between the independent variables Entrepreneurial capital and Psychological capital, and the dependent variables, it was found that only Relational social capital and Network social capital moderated the relationship between Psychological capital and Perceived financial value creation. vi This study has contributed to the body of knowledge of financial planning in general, as well as how the human capital of financial planners influences both financial and non-financial value creation in financial planning businesses. Practical recommendations were made that could enhance financial planners’ value creation in financial planning businesses, which, in turn, would influence the sustainability of these important businesses. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic science, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
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