RESEARCH METHOD
RESEARCH METHOD
A. Research Objectives and Research Framework
Table 1: Contractor’s Grade
Given the above reviews, it is crucial to gain better understanding in
Grade
Maximum Contract Value
the aspect of enhancing innovation in construction industry through G1 external networking. The fact that there are gaps and concerns in Not exceeding 200,000.00
this particularly context, an empirical study on the subject matter was G2 Not exceeding 500,000.00 proposed. In order to do so, external networking as the indicative
G3 Not exceeding 1 million determinants for innovation was explored and examined. The
G4 Not exceeding 3 million proposed framework (Figure 1) illustrates the logical relationship
between the independent and dependent variables. The dependent G5 Not exceeding 5 million variable - innovation is described by three dimensions – innovative
G6 Not exceeding 10 million design solutions, innovative project practices and advanced
G7 No Limit technology utilization. In this study, external networking is the
independent variable and is represented by two dimensions namely external networking with project players and external networking with
Source: CIDB, 2014
government bodies and academic institutions. The scope of this research is confined to contractors in grade G7, G6
and G5 only as they are involved in projects having a contract value
Innovation
of more than RM3 million. Projects below RM3 million are categorized
External Networking
• With Project Players
• Innovative Design
as small projects and have limited scope and complexity [31] and
• With Government are excluded in this study. This reduces the population list to 9,788
Solutions
contractors. Table 2 below provides the summary of the population Bodies and
• Innovative Project
• Advanced Technology
Institutions
Utilization
Table 2: Population Frame
Organization
Source No. of Registered Organizations
Figure 1: Research Framework
G7 Contractors
CIDB 4,573
G6 Contractors
CIDB 1,398
CIDB 3,817 In Malaysia, organizations that involve in this industry are mainly
B. Sample Data
G5 Contractors
BEM 2,198 contractors and consulting companies. Currently, there are 75,000
Engineering Consultants
BOA 1,609 registered contractors in CIDB and since registration with CIDB is
Architectural Consultants
Quantity Surveyor Consultants
BQSM 339
a compulsory requirement for the contractors to legally practice in
Malaysia, these numbers can be considered valid to represent the 13,934 population of contractors. The registered contractors are categorized
TOTAL
Source: CIDB (2014)
into seven grades which represent the value of construction contracts they are eligible to participate in. The eligibility is based on certain technical and financial criteria set by CIDB (Table 1).
On the other hand, the list of the Board of Engineers of Malaysia
ii. Innovation
(BEM), reported 2,198 registered private engineering consulting companies in Malaysia. These companies are categorized based on
The instrument for measuring innovation in this study combines their engineering disciplines namely civil, mechanical and electrical
dimensions from several studies in the field of innovation specific to the engineering. Board of Architect (BOA) registered 1,609 architectural
construction industry environment. They were adapted from Bossink consulting companies and 339 quantity surveyors consulting
[21], Gadde and Dubois [22], Blayse and Manley [15], Dewick and companies that are currently in the list of the Board of Quantity
Miozzo [33], Peansupap [16], Panuwatwanich et al. [4], and Qi et al. Surveyor (BQSM). The organizations mentioned above will be the
[34]. The instrument mostly adapted the constructs by Panuwatwanich population of this research.
et al. [4] which categorizes them into three dimensions which are (1) Innovative Design Solution, (2) Innovative Project Practice and (3)
A set of questionnaire survey was developed to elicit the responses Advanced Technology Utilization. The dimensions included the whole of the respondents of this research. The data collection was
aspects of construction project implementation that is not only the conducted in the traditional personally administered approach
design aspect. The innovation design solution refers to the degree whereby respondents are given a hard copy form of questionnaire
of the design innovativeness of the construction project. Although and monitored face to face during the survey sessions. Selections
it relates much to the construction design aspects, it is adapted to of respondents among the stratified groups were then based on a
include the involvement of contractors during the implementation simple random sampling method and a total of 378 responses were
stage. The innovative project practice dimension refers to the value- received.
added process, which aims to enhance the project performance. The advanced technology utilization dimension refers to the adoption of advanced technology during the project implementation. Table 3
C. Variables and Measures
summarizes the variables represent every dimensions along with the associated adopted reference.