Construction Quality and the Economy: A Study at the Firm Level

Low Sui Pheng · Lau Shing Hou

jan 2019 · Springer

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This book discusses the relationship between construction quality and the state of the Singapore national economy, and describes how construction quality is affected as contracting firms strategically manage issues relating to profitability and survivability during economic boom and bust cycles. Adopting a three-pronged approach to explain the key issues, the book first explains the effect of the state of the Singapore national economy (boom or bust) on the construction quality delivered by contracting firms. Secondly, it explains how contracting firms respond to the performance of the national economy through their dynamic bidding strategies, leading to significant quality trade-offs in some instances, especially when there is imprecise market information. Thirdly, it recommends various strategic measures that key stakeholders and government policy-makers can take to circumvent the quality trade-off in the construction industry when faced with dynamic fluctuations in the performance of the national economy.
Although the book focuses on Singapore, it appeals to a global audience since countries worldwide (and their respective building-related stakeholders) face the same issues in terms of the time–cost–quality trade-off decision-making process involving the entire supply chain.

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Low Sui Pheng is currently a Professor of Building at the School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore, where he previously served as Head and Vice‐Dean. He teaches construction project management and has published, researched and consulted extensively both in Singapore and overseas. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building, he holds a Higher Doctorate D.Sc. (Civil Engineering) degree from the University of Birmingham and a Ph.D. degree from University College London. Lau Shing Hou holds a B.Sc. (Project & Facilities Management) (Highest Distinction) degree from the Department of Building at the National University of Singapore and was a student research assistant at the same department. A Sembcorp Industries Scholar, Dean’s Lister (5 times) and Valedictorian at the 2018 NUS Commencement, he has also won the following awards: Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal, the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers (SISV) Gold Medal, the Sally Meyer Medal, the Singapore Institute of Building (SIBL) Gold Medal, SIBL Book Prize (twice) as well as the Hyundai Engineering & Construction Technology Grand Award (2017).