Implementing the International Benchmarking Labour Productivity Theoretical Model: the case of Iranian construction projects. Issue 6 (23rd August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ghoddousi, Parviz; T. Alizadeh, Behzad; Hosseini, M. Reza; Chileshe, Nicholas
• Editors: Gunasekaran, Angappa
• Is Part Of: Benchmarking. Volume 21:Issue 6(2014)
• Publication Date: 2014-08-23
• Subjects: Benchmarking (Management) -- Periodicals; Total quality management -- Periodicals; 658.562
• DOI: 10.1108/BIJ-04-2012-0029
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-5771

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: Building upon the results of a critical review of previous studies, this paper presents a framework to enhance the reliability of Theoretical Model for International Benchmarking of Labour Productivity method for construction projects activities. The next part of the paper presents the results of implementing the proposed framework for construction activities in Iranian construction industry. Design/methodology/approach: This paper draws upon a critical review of the literature to highlight the drawbacks of the previous studies concerning implementing Theoretical Model for International Benchmarking of Labour Productivity within the construction industry. Spotting the shortcomings, authors propose a framework for construction projects, which presents the procedure for deploying Theoretical Model for International Benchmarking of Labour Productivity for construction activities reliably. The final section of the paper demonstrates the empirical implementation of the proposed framework within Iranian construction industry. Findings: The primary contributions of the paper include spotting the drawbacks of previous studies within construction context, the framework that would lead the construction managers towards reliable implementation of benchmarking for construction projects more, and determining the baseline of erecting steel structures in a developing country. Practical implications: A practical implementation of the TMIBLP method was presented to address the lack of research in Iran and to show the feasibility of using the framework developed. We investigated the daily labour productivity for activity of structural steel erection for six projects in Tehran in order to determine the values of the baseline productivity for each project. Accordingly, the disruption index (DI), performance ratio (PR) and project management index (PMI) as the project benchmarks were calculated for all six projects. Originality/value: Underlining the necessity of implementing methods such as Theoretical Model for International Benchmarking of Labour Productivity, this study outlines the outcomes of the first study on benchmarking of construction activities deploying the framework proposed by the authors and using the data on erecting steel structures from six construction projects in Iran. The discussions provide guidelines for construction project managers regarding benchmarking labour productivity.