Welcome to Volume 14 Number 2 (V14N2) from the 2018 editorial office and editorial board! This issue is the second of our quarterly publication of International Journal of Construction Education and Research for 2018. Our editorial office continues to provide the leadership and guidance that is helping the journal thrive and be well positioned to grow internationally, through industry and across the ASC membership.
We are delighted to publish this volume containing an international special issue on Knowledge Management. This issue, edited by special issue editors Professor Mohammad Arif and Dr. Chaminda Pathirage of the School of the Built Environment, University of Salford, investigates the latest understanding on knowledge management in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction sector and in the area of Intra and Inter-organizational knowledge brokering in the construction industry.
This Issue of the Journal
V14N2 contains four articles: two from the perspective of our industry and two from the perspective of our classrooms. We begin this international issue of the journal with the article “Use of Concept Maps to Illustrate Barriers to Construction Industry Inter-Organizational Communication: A Comparative View from Students and Professionals” by Debs et al. and “Measuring the Impact of Using Daily Objectives to Provide
Rapid Feedback in Construction Courses” by Talley et al. from the United States’ classroom perspective. Next, we have a Middle Eastern perspective of mega-project delivery in “Coordination Challenges of Production Planning in the Construction of International Mega-Projects in The Middle East” by El-Sabek et al. Finally, we look at talent and effectiveness in Sweis et al.’s “The relationship between project team members’ effectiveness and acknowledgment of talent: Team members’ perspective.” Each paper is discussed in more detail in the following section.
Paper one by Debs et al. studies information exchanges between construction industry stakeholders as a way of understanding potential barriers. The authors use concept maps to engage students and illustrate barriers to information flow. Findings include a better understanding of the holistic communication process and the authors suggest guidelines for the use of concept maps as an educational activity to engage students and enhance their knowledge.
In the second paper Talley et al. discuss measuring the impact of a rapid feedback system for five separate construction science courses which cover a breadth of construction topics including: Structural Analysis, Construction Estimating, Construction Project Management, Understanding the Concrete Construction System, and Industrial Management and Scheduling. Findings indicate that students overwhelmingly believe that the rapid feedback system is useful.
Paper three by El-Sabek et al. explores common production planning and control systems that address coordination challenges for international mega-projects. Interview findings include reported changes to schedule, budget, scope, as well as an inadequate quality of design as the most challenging factors affecting the coordination and delivery of these projects.
Sweis et al. investigate the relationship between team member’s talents and his/her effectiveness in construction projects. Talent is measured in terms of ability, aspiration, and engagement dimensions while effectiveness depends on dimensions of satisfaction and communication. Findings showed a statistically significant relationship between talent and effectiveness in performing day-to-day tasks and the authors provide a talent acknowledgement road map for organizations.
Beyond this Issue of the Journal
Please continue to support our journal in 2018 by reading the incredible work of our authors and reviewers. Also, we have a constant call for new special issues and special issue in book (SPIB) ideas, so please contact us if you have interest.
As you can see, we continue to expand our influence internationally. In addition, our creative efforts continue to generate topics that drive our industry, serve ASC members and maintain the asset that you have grown to expect, the International Journal of Construction Education and Research.
International Journal of Construction Education and Research is proud to partner with Procore, who sponsors our electronic subscription for ASC Institutional Members in part