A comparison study on environmental policies for expressway construction projects between China and the US: A tiered analysis approach.

The development of expressway construction projects (ECPs) poses overwhelming challenges to the physical environment around the world. The challenges are supposed to be addressed with the enforcement of environmental policies (EPs). In this regard, developed countries have gained rich experience in EP formulation while developing countries are making efforts to improve policy decision-making on environmental sustainability. This study compares ECP-related EPs (EREPs) between China and the US by conducting a historical analysis with materials from 1960 to 2018 and text mining-based evaluation with materials from 2009 to 2019. The comparison results indicate that (1) an EREP framework is composed of two systems, namely outer factors and inner EPs; (2) the upper-level EPs exhibit a periodic and plan-dominating trend in China and an explanatory tendency in the US; (3) Chinese EPs are focused on pollution mitigation, whereas US EPs highlight the impacts on human health; (4) Both attach less importance to environmental protection measures at the project-level EPs. This paper provides a longitudinal comparison and analysis of EREPs in two huge countries, implying that EREPs are a snapshot of national rules and backgrounds. The findings lay a foundation for future research to examine the innovation of environmental policies, especially for those countries with massive expressway construction projects and the related environmental issues.

Modelling the impacts of security on construction delays: A case of Afghanistan.

Construction projects in conflict-affected regions face unique challenges, with security issues often serving as significant impediments to progress. This research investigates the multifaceted relationship between security factors and construction delays in Afghanistan, aiming to fill a critical gap in existing literature by offering a comprehensive analysis of the specific challenges encountered within this context. Employing a quantitative methodology and engaging stakeholders directly involved in construction projects, the study delves into the intricacies of security-related delay factors, identifying key contributors and assessing their impacts on project timelines. Through quantitative data analysis, the research reveals that security-related issues such as the presence of local armed individuals, interference from tribal leaders, and other forms of insecurity pose significant threats to construction projects in Afghanistan. These factors are found to have both high severity and frequency, underscoring their pervasive influence on project outcomes. Furthermore, the study highlights the interconnected nature of delay factors, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to project management that integrates security considerations into broader risk management frameworks. Stakeholder perspectives play a central role in the research, with insights gathered from clients, consultants, contractors, and other key actors providing valuable insights into the diverse range of concerns within the construction industry. Variations in risk perceptions and priorities among different stakeholder groups underscore the importance of tailored interventions that account for the specific needs and challenges faced by each group. Building on these insights, the research offers recommendations for enhancing project resilience and mitigating the impacts of security-related delays in Afghanistan. Recommendations include the development and implementation of robust security protocols, proactive risk management strategies, and improved coordination with local authorities and security forces. Moreover, the study identifies avenues for further research, including comparative analyses across different regions and longitudinal studies tracking project outcomes over time. By deepening our understanding of the impacts of security on construction delays, this research contributes to the development of evidence-based policies and practices aimed at promoting sustainable development in conflict-affected regions and beyond.

Mapping stakeholders' relationships management in fulfilling corporate social responsibility: A study of China's construction industry.

Businesses today face a strong call for implementing corporate social responsibilities (CSR) subject to stakeholders' multiple expectations on the creation of long-term value. However, a vast majority of companies have struggled with the challenge of stakeholder management in CSR fulfillment, giving rise to a waste of enterprise resources. This study aims to map out stakeholders' relationships in CSR fulfillment to underscore stakeholder management. 253 CSR reports published by Chinese listed construction companies from 2010 to 2021 were collected and analyzed to map the stakeholders' relationships. The results show that construction companies usually stress the importance of corporate governance and workers interest, followed by construction quality and environmental preservation in implementing CSR. They adopt three types of stakeholder management approaches: coercive, cooperative, and coordinated approaches. The study presents the latest effort in managing stakeholders' relationships in the domain of CSR research. It favors construction firms to reconsider CSR activities from the stakeholder management perspective.

Factors affecting expert performance in bid evaluation: An integrated approach.

Experts play a crucial role in underpinning decision-making in most management situations. While recent studies have disclosed the impacts of individuals' inherent cognition and the external environment on expert performance, these two-dimensional mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we identified 14 factors that influence expert performance in a bid evaluation and applied cross-impact matrix multiplication to examine the interdependence of the factors. The results indicate that the two dimension-related factors affect each other within a person-environment system, and a poor situation perception gives rise to the deviation of expert performance. Expert performance can be improved if external supervision and expertise are strengthened through deliberate practices. The study proposes a new expert performance research tool, elucidates its mechanism in bid evaluation from a cognitive psychology perspective, and provides guidelines for its improvement in workplace contexts.