The impact of COVID-19 on the construction industry and lessons learned: a case of Sri Lanka

Niroshana, Nayana; Siriwardana, Chandana; Jayasekara, Ravindu

doi:10.1080/15623599.2022.2076016

Cited by 13 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Consequently, this may result in operational accidents and inadequate operational output. Moreover, fear of lockdown measures and problems related to a timely return due to uncertainty and panic of infection has caused a sudden influx of construction workers returning to their home country, resulting in workforce shortages at factories and negatively affecting supply chain productivity (Niroshana et al ., 2022).…”

Section: Hypothesis Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The most recent example shall be the COVID-19 pandemic which can cause the global GDP to drop 2.2–4.8%, equivalent to $4.1 trillion, according to collective reports by WHO and World Bank (Board, 2019; König and Winkler, 2021). During this pandemic, construction sites experienced high infection rates (Stiles et al ., 2021) and labor shortages (Niroshana et al ., 2022), while teleworking negatively impacted the well-being of construction workers (Pirzadeh and Lingard, 2021). Previous research (Popovich et al ., 2021; Yao and Li, 2022) has shown that external risks exacerbate operational risks and disruptions.…”

Section: Hypothesis Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Besides, compared to other industries, this source of capital is riskier due to its unique characteristics, such as production facilities or construction on sites, long-term projects, process complexity, unpredictable environment, intense resources, the multitude of side linkages and structural engines, and so on (Pham et al, 2022b;Rudolf and Spinler, 2018). Furthermore, construction businesses in Vietnam witnessed a sudden return migration of workers back to their hometowns due to fear of quarantines and health issues (Niroshana et al, 2022). In another aspect, construction projects globally have been hampered by the escalating conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the sanctions imposed on Russia (Gallagher, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Supply chain risk assessment in disruptive times: opportunities and challenges

Duong

Hoang

Nguyen

et al. 2023

JEIM

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PurposeProactive risk assessment suggests that risk assessment should emphasize the consequences that it might cause and the opportunities it might create for firms. Hence, this study aims to validate risk impact on supply chain performance in the context of the Vietnamese construction sector. Also, a complex network, in which multiple risk factors mutually affect, impede or promote each other, is developed to assist managers in tackling unpredictable risks proactively. In particular, the authors investigate whether certain risks could be considered either challenges or opportunities for businesses in turbulent times to improve SC performance.Design/methodology/approachThe construction industry is the focal study context as it is one of the most essential industries in charge of providing accommodations, infrastructures and employment for society. 289 valid responses used in this research are from a large-scale survey result, supported by a Japanese government project promoting sustainable socio-economic development in Vietnam.FindingsFrom the study findings, the authors find that external risk brings opportunities for supply chain performance. Meanwhile, demand risk, when it occurs, can reduce the danger level of operational risk, which is an interesting finding of this research. It is evident that when multiple risk factors mutually affect, impede or promote each other, it provides a more meaningful examination of mutually interconnected supply chain risks.Originality/valuePractitioners should perceive risks as an opportunity than a threat. This study contributes to preventing risks and guaranteeing an effective and efficient supply chain by tackling unpredictable risks in a disruptive period. Moreover, data on validating research models collected during the Covid-19 pandemic and Ukraine and Russia conflicts reflect the topicality of this study.

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Section: Hypothesis Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Hypothesis Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Supply chain risk assessment in disruptive times: opportunities and challenges

Duong

Hoang

Nguyen

et al. 2023

JEIM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…It is worth mentioning that all variables that are rated more important by contractors have labour-related impacts. As highlighted by Niroshana et al (2022), managing the workforce is one of the most critical challenges in the COVID-19 era. Given that the contractors have an extensive number of workforces to sort out; it is unsurprising that the aforesaid ramifications, which involved high prohibitive costs, are ranked more significant by the contractor group.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic on construction operations in developing countries: Malaysian experience

Kum,

Yap,

Lew

et al. 2024

FEBE

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PurposeThis study explored the ramifications of COVID-19 on construction operations in Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachFollowing a detailed literature review, 37 ramifications are identified and divided into nine aspects. A self-designed survey is then employed to seek the perceptions of construction practitioners around the Klang Valley region regarding the significance of the ramifications. A total of 203 valid responses are subjected to statistical analyses to prioritise the ramifications.FindingsAll the potential ramifications are perceived to be significant, with the five utmost critical ramifications being rescheduling the project timeline, compliance with government SOP, delay in the handover project, compulsory COVID-19 test for all workers and the extra cost incurred to provide COVID-19 test for workers.Practical implicationsThis study highlights the ramifications of COVID-19 on construction operations and deliberately informs construction organizations regarding the shortcomings of recent construction management. Besides, the insights suggested that industry practitioners devise corresponding strategies for project sustainability in future similar crises.Originality/valueThe findings serve as a valuable reference and are benign to industry professionals and researchers from developing nations, especially nations that share similar characteristics to Malaysia.

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“…While these industrial reports seem to focus on the tourism and hospitality industries, as they are the first ones to go through recovery and the ones most badly hit by the pandemic, such skill and talent shortages are expected to emerge in other trades that face similar situations. Reference [73], for example, conducted a study on the impact of COVID-19 on the lack of skilled construction laborers in Sri Lanka and called for more such studies to examine how governments and professionals should pay attention to the labor market shaped by the impact of COVID-19. While offering public policy suggestions is beyond the scope of the current paper, we attempt to devise a few practical suggestions for business managers to better prepare for the challenges ahead.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Is Next? The Longer-Term Managerial Challenges following COVID-19

Law,

Koh

2023

Sustainability

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Existing research has highlighted the immediate challenges posed by the enforced work-from-home arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the effective transfer and retention of knowledge, especially tacit knowledge, due to the reduced opportunities for face-to-face interactions. This study seeks to delve into the enduring concerns and obstacles faced by business managers as they navigate a return to normalcy in their operations. We conducted a grounded approach study between September and December 2021, involving semi-structured interviews with thirteen managers from eight business firms in Hong Kong who had experience supervising and undergoing work-from-home arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our research uncovered three layers of challenges. The first layer, echoing the existing literature, revolves around the inefficiencies in knowledge sharing stemming from the absence of physical interactions among colleagues. The second layer addresses the difficulties related to the socialization, performance, and retention of newcomers who joined the workforce during the pandemic. The third layer represents a longer-term challenge, encompassing skill and talent shortages attributed to the lack of intergenerational knowledge transfer. While our study acknowledges its limitations regarding representativeness and the absence of extensive quantitative evidence often associated with exploratory research, it nonetheless offers valuable insights for researchers and managers alike. These insights illuminate the imminent challenges that will surface as we navigate the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, this paper holds significance for business sustainability by directing managerial attention towards addressing the issues of skill and talent shortages that may hinder business performance or even its survival in the post-COVID-19 era.

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The impact of COVID-19 on the construction industry and lessons learned: a case of Sri Lanka

Cited by 13 publications

References 44 publications

Supply chain risk assessment in disruptive times: opportunities and challenges

Supply chain risk assessment in disruptive times: opportunities and challenges

Ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic on construction operations in developing countries: Malaysian experience

What Is Next? The Longer-Term Managerial Challenges following COVID-19

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