Theses for Project Management

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Alignment of Team Integration with Successful Digital Transformation in the Higher Education Sector in UAE
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2022-03) ANISSA BETTAYEB
This study looks into the alignment between team integration and successful digital transformation in higher education sectors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Although several researchers have studied various team integration factors, particularly in construction, there is a clear research gap that is filled in this research by studying different types of team integration related to technology and processes and aligning them with successful digital transformation implementations. Furthermore, the education sector is slower to adopt such new technology than other sectors, making such adoption more difficult to achieve unless a clear framework and practices are followed. Following a thorough literature review, this research work identifies the fundamental aspects that determine team integration from several perspectives. Furthermore, the research aims to investigate the relationship between individual and team traits, technological features, process aspects, and team integration, all of which will contribute to a successful digital transformation. Several project environmental variables, such as organizational support, the team's location and presence, work pressure, and task design, influence this relationship. Data was collected using the quantitative technique by delivering an online questionnaire to various employees, including leaders, project managers, team members, academics, and administrative staff working on digital transformation projects in several educational sectors in the United Arab Emirates. Different statistical methods are used to analyze the data, including normality, regression, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Both EFA and CFA contributed to the identification of latent factors and the investigation of variable-to-variable correlations. To determine the hypothesis and moderator effects, the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and structural equation modeling (AMOS) were employed. According to the findings, Team Traits (Team Trust and Cohesion, No Blame Culture, and Team Diversity), Technological Aspects (Digital Skills and Technology Adoption and Exchange), and Process Aspects (resistance, innovation, team spirit, and communication) are important factors influencing digital transformation. Furthermore, the researcher confirmed that project environment factors such as organizational support, team location and presence, work pressure, and task design moderate the relationship between team integration and successful digital transformation. The findings of this study provide a framework made up of essential team integration factors that may be used to improve the implementation of successful digital transformation in the UAE's higher education sector. The new recommended framework offers useful direction to all decision makers and project managers, as it will assist organizations in managing, developing, and maintaining team performance, as well as preventing any human risks or project failure.
Ambidexterity through Project Portfolio Management Resolving paradoxes in organizations
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2017-06) PETRO, YACOUB
This thesis aims to build an understanding of how ambidexterity can be achieved in Project Based Organizations (PBOs). Ambidexterity is the organizational ability to simultaneously explore market and exploit knowledge and resources to improve performance and drive through sustainability. This thesis proposes the use of Project Portfolio Management (PPM) practices to show the path to ambidexterity in dynamic, albeit project-based, environments. This study has significant implications for practitioners and scholars. In that, it proposes taking forward project portfolio management practices to establish a link with ambidexterity. This link can offer new methods for practitioners to enhance the performance of PBOs. Moreover, the theoretical outcome of this study generates the substance of a new paradigm shift in this area. This new shift in paradigm can be used as a foundation by scholars to build on for future studies.
The Analysis of Project Governance and Cultural Intelligence in the Successful Delivery of Complex Construction Projects: The Case of the UAE Construction Sector
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2022-03) ALEID, ALJAZZY BINT MOHAMED
The overarching aim of this research was to examine how project governance and cultural intelligence can influence successful complex construction project delivery. The research proposed a model that comprises project governance and cultural intelligence determinants that can be used to enhance successful complex construction project delivery in the UAE. The key variables of project governance, cultural intelligence and successful complex construction project delivery are significantly explicated in the literature review with the accompanying factors and references for each. To obtain the needed results, the study entailed the use of a quantitative research method. For this study, it was crucial to ensure that only the relevant respondents took part in each stage of the research. A total sample of 404 respondents was used in the study. This number of respondents was considered sufficient in the context of this study and the realisation of the set goals aimed at understanding the complex building construction industry. The study adopted non-probability sampling and snowball sampling strategies. Data analysis comprised descriptive statistics, reliability test, correlation test and regression test. Validity and reliability were attained through the assessment of their plausibility in relation to the existing knowledge on the relationship between the aspects of project governance and cultural intelligence and their effects on successful complex construction project delivery. The verification occurred when the model had been formulated. Workshops and group discussions helped achieve this goal. The research rigour was attained by focusing on verification and validation, which include aspects of methodological coherence and data analysis. As specified below, the novelty of the research can be viewed from two perspectives:  There is a paucity of research studies that examine how project governance and cultural intelligence could influence successful complex construction project delivery, yet the topic is of significance in the construction sector. The research findings of the study are intended to add to the existing body of knowledge in the single area that explicates the relationship between complex area of cultural intelligence, project governance, and complex building construction projects.  The proposed model is intended to provide senior construction project practitioners in the UAE with approaches for managing the rising numbers of multicultural teams based on the aspects of project governance and cultural intelligence. Keywords: Project governance, Cultural intelligence, Complex building projects, Construction sector, United Arab Emirates, Project management.
A design thinking-based Framework for effective business excellence outcomes in the public sector
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2021-10) ALMOMANY, GEBREEL AHMAD
Business excellence has a proven history of making real differences in the outcomes of organizations. However, most scholarly published research is limited to the application of excellence models in the private sector, because most excellence models are only adapted to fit the context of the public sector organizations. This study adds value by focusing on investigating the relationship between the independent variable of attitude, knowledge, actions, and excellence and the business excellence implementation outcomes. Furthermore, it examines if this relationship is moderated by design thinking and its determinants of empathise, define, ideate, and prototype. This research used a questionnaire survey from the population of leaders and senior level managers listed at Dubai local Government Departments. A sample of 141 senior managers were selected through convenience sampling who completed the survey. Positive relationships were found between knowledge, actions, attitude and excellence with business excellence implementation outcomes. The impact of attitude and knowledge on excellence implementation outcomes is found to be moderated positively by design thinking and its determinants. However, actions were not moderated by design thinking and its determinants for their relationship with business excellence outcomes. This anomalous moderating influence of design thinking determinants is explained by the changes in work environment and organisational priorities during the persisting COVID-19 pandemic. Based on these results, a design thinking-based framework for business excellence implementation in the public sector is recommended by the researcher, which suggests that managers should promote factors and criteria of excellence that are suited to their organizational context. This is in addition to empirical and academic recommendations.
Determinants of Employee Resistance to Change for Optimised Organisational Performance in the UAE
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2017-02) ALHUMAIRI, ALI
Employee resistance is one of the most important problems in organization restructuring management. It has a huge impact on how any proposed change initiative in the organization will succeed. Employee’s cooperation with any change initiative is essential for such initiative to be successful. Problem of employee resistance can be very difficult and complex to study and analyze due to several factors and elements affecting the severity of the problem. These factors can expand over a space with large number of dimensions where some dimensions are work-related. This research limits its investigation on factors of employee’s resistance which emerges in work environment because they can be manipulated by management in ways that reduce their negative impact. Experimentation of this research was conducted in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai Municipalities in United Arab Emirates where 192 subjects was involved. Analysis of acquired experimentation data was performed based on advanced numerical tools such as Factor Analysis, Correlation Analysis and Regression Analysis. Supportive Work Environment Variables found to have a positive influence on Resistance to Change. The research found The Influence of Employee Commitment on Resistance to Change is mainly based on Employee Satisfaction and Employee Loyalty. Only Employee Participation cluster found to have a positive influence on Resistance to Change. Further the study found Internal Training cluster have an influence on Resistance to Change. The main contribution of this research in literature is providing a highly-needed investigation on elements affecting employee attitude toward change initiatives. Based on this investigation, policies and practices can be proposed to reduce negative effects of employee resistance to change initiatives. Therefore, these valuable findings will be cornerstones in any solution proposed to handle such issue.
Determinants of Value Benefits in Adopting an Engineering Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) – ABU DHABI Oil and Gas, UAE
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2022-02) ALZAABI, ABDULLA RASHED
The requirement for modern businesses to develop complex projects has forced businesses to consider opportunities for application of specific contracting models which would guarantee adequate distribution of responsibility in the project team among stakeholders and minimise risks for the project owner. This study aims to analyse the main characteristics of the EPC and EPCM contracting models for the Abu Dhabi oil and gas sector, and determine opportunities and risks related to the application of both contracting models. Specific results had to be associated with the definition of optimal guidelines for application of the EPCM contracting model in the target sphere of practice. The results of the prior literature review demonstrated that, though the EPCM contracting model is generally considered as more effective compared to the EPC approach, practitioners lack reliable recommendations for application of this method in practice. The methodology of the thesis included a quantitative study of a large sample of employees and managers in the target industry to gain understanding of their perception of the EPCM contracting model. The results of the study demonstrate the main features and factors of successful application of the EPCM contracting model in the target industry, together with practical guidelines for future implementation. It was found that the EPCM contracting model could be the optimal approach to large project management if properly arranged. The novelty of this research can be viewed from two perspectives:  One is from a theoretical point of view where the research will challenge existing theories of value and contracting strategies. The research proposes ways in which value and contracting strategies and theories can be enhanced within the context of the oil and gas sector.  Two, from a practical point of view, the research ascertained key practical EPCM determinants which can be used as guidelines for senior project practitioners in delivering large oil and gas programmes and mega projects in Abu Dhabi for better value through using the EPCM model.
Developing a Framework for Implementing Public Private Partnerships in a Research Reactor Project in the United Arab Emirates
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2015-04) Almarri, Khalid
Public private partnerships (PPP) procurement instruments have been very popular tools for developing projects around the world. This is largely due to their success in bringing quality, efficiency, innovation, funds, experience, and most importantly risk sharing to the projects they are involved in. The UAE is currently developing a peaceful nuclear energy program in response to the future demands. Research is required to support nuclear energy generation projects in order to maximize their performance. Research of this type will require a research reactor to be developed, which will also benefit other industries such as transportation, health services, construction, petro chemicals, in addition to technical colleges and R&D facilities. Collaborations between government and private parties through public private partnerships (PPP) can maximize the benefits expected from the adoption of a research reactor project. The aim of this research is to develop a framework for establishing a research reactor (RR) project in the UAE through the utilisation of public private partnerships (PPP). The aim of this study was arrived at in three steps. The first step was thorough literature research of detailed investigative works to identify the best practices in PPP implementation globally and customizing it for the establishment of a generic PPP framework for the UAE. Through the qualitative content analysis approach, assisted by Nvivo software, a five-stage generic framework was produced. Second, a questionnaire was used to draw data for the establishment of the PPP critical success factors for the UAE, in which data was collected from 30 participants from the UAE and 62 participants from the UK. The participants were PPP practitioners or researchers. This enabled the comparative analysis process to add a local dimension to the generic framework. Finally, semi-structured interviews conducted with 10 experts in the field of research reactors, using grounded theory method, established the success factors for research reactors. These factors would be unique in the sense that they complement the implementation of the PPP framework in the research reactor project while staying within the UAE context. The findings of the comparative analysis of the two samples between the UAE and the UK showed a significant similarity in PPP practice trends between the two in the three areas analysed; attractive factors, value for money factors, and the critical success factors. The core phenomenon that impairs the success of research reactors was identified to be underutilization. Causal conditions that stemmed from project initiation work were found to be the main sources of said underutilization. This included the reduction of government intervention to help mitigate the risk of underutilization. The contextual conditions responsible for creating these circumstances were of both local and regional contexts and viability. The practical implications of this research are mainly related to the development of the first PPP framework for the UAE, and more specifically for a research reactor project. The contributions of this research to the body of knowledge are related to the highlighted similarities and differences in the practice between the UAE and the UK, which opened areas for future consideration. In the research reactor field, the identified causal, intervening, and contextual conditions opened new areas for future research.
Developing a Framework for Measuring Organisational Cyber Resilience Against External and Internal Cyber Threats
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2020-07) Alshehhi, Saeed
This dissertation empirically examines the level of resilience and readiness for cyber-risks in public sector organisations within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to provide managers with proactive mechanism to improve the cyber-resilience of their organisations. Moreover, the study aims to synthesize the extant literature and identifies new framework that filling the gaps in the current practices. The importance of this study stemmed from the fact that cyber threats are becoming a significant global concern prompting the importance of developing a reliable resilience mechanism to counter cyber threats and risks in the UAE public sector organisations. Therefore, the study addressed four distinct challenges in order to develop the framework for the UAE; providing tools for the management, accepting the human factors of cyber-security, exploring the correlation between the risks, and examining the moderating effect of organisational resilience on cyber-risk. Using a positivist/realist philosophy and an inductive approach to the data. The quantitative approach was chosen to quantify the attributes of the study variables with a motive to prove the tested hypothesis. A qualitative analysis would not have allowed this unless the same person carried out the later examination. Having a number or percentage gives the manager a clearer picture. This approach has been successfully used in other research into cyber-resilience. The relevant epistemology and ontology for the research are also explained fully in the methodology section. An online questionnaire was used to gather quantitative data from employees in different UAE public sector organisations. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and multiple regression analysis were used to analyse 207 variables. The EFA was used to evaluate the underlying factor structure of a correlation matrix, and to build a theory. This helped to identify the latent factors underlying the manifest variables, and the relationships between latent and manifest variables. After the EFA, a multilinear regression analysis was used to further examine the study hypotheses that emerged from the factor analysis. The findings suggest that all the public sector organisations in the UAE have a satisfactory level of resilience to potential cyber-threats. There was a high level of awareness among UAE public sector employees of cyber-threats and risks, which could contribute to readiness and resilience to cyber-threats or attacks. This suggests that there may be a relationship between the level of employee awareness and readiness to deal with cyber-threats, and the organisations’ overall resilience and readiness. This study contributes to the literature on cyber-resilience best practices. It provides organisations in the UAE public sector with a conceptual model to enable them to evaluate and identify potential weaknesses in their readiness for and resilience to cyber-threats. The feedback from the pilot study suggests that the specialists spoken to believe that this is one of the first empirical studies to establish a relationship between the level of employee awareness and readiness to deal with cyber-threats, and the level of organisational resilience and readiness in UAE public sector organisations.
Developing a Stochastic Model to Predict Cost Overrun due to the Causes of Projects Delay in Oil Fields Construction Industry
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2020-05) ALKHOORI, KHALID ABDUL MAJEED
The criticality of managing projects delay in oil fields construction projects has been exacerbated by the general complexities associated with the sources of projects delay and how varied the impact may be to various stakeholders such as client/owner, contractor, design/consultant and miscellaneous/external groups within the industry. While most of the previous research investigated the causes of project delay in general construction, very little research exists specifically on oil fields construction projects in terms of budget overrun. The main aim of the research is to establish a model that could be used to map the causes of projects delay to the cost overrun in oil fields construction projects and to investigate the variables that contribute to budget/cost overrun. In addition, the author used regression analysis and Monte Carlo simulation to develop a stochastic model to map the causes of projects delay to cost overrun. The research results revealed that poor contractor works was found to have the most significant positive impact in the delay experienced by the projects considered in this work. However, most of the causes of cost overrun were found to follow the Log logistic distribution – a family of distribution associated with projects where the risk increases at the initial phase of the project and decreases later on. Therefore, to minimize cost overrun, the study suggest that those involved in a project’s value chain must ensure a smooth execution of project in its early stage so as to limit the high risk associated with the project during in its initial phase. The main contribution of this work, is the research framework which can be used by businesses in oil fields construction industry to model their own factors and help in their decision-making, as opposed to using anecdotal evidence. Finally, the author recommended some areas of the current study that can be developed such as mapping the causes of projects delay to other impacts, such as time overrun success criteria and to increase the number of projects delay in the regression model.
Diffusion of ICT Innovations in UAE Public Schools and The Role of Stakeholder Engagement
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2017-03) AL-ALI, WALEED AHMED HASSAN
ICT innovations played a vital role in driving last century developments characterised as the digital revolution introducing unprecedented opportunities across different life sectors. This digital revolution is expected to further evolve to encompass the fourth industrial revolution that was characterized by a fusion of technology. Internationally there is consensus on the need for a paradigm shift in education reforms to meet these future developments where it is fundamentally believed that ICT innovations will play vital role in redefining learning and the overall educational experience. The traditional model of education is losing its former binding character as ICT extended learning opportunities and access to knowledge is not bounded by time, place or pace. The challenge is that introducing ICT innovations into traditional schools requires high investments and considered complex process due to the complexities around changes related to education. To achieve the enhanced educational objectives, the literature emphasised that diffusing ICT into schools shall not be considered an abstract technology deployment rather than an educational change process that shall be effectively planned and managed. This research attempts to fill this gap by focusing on an actual ICT innovation diffusion project that is taking place in UAE public schools. The first objective is to understand the ICT innovations diffusion in education. The second objective is to extract from literature main dimensions to explore the ICT innovations diffusion process and status in UAE public schools. Third objective is to explore the status of the ICT innovations diffusion in UAE public schools. Fourth objective is to explore the process of the ICT innovations diffusion in UAE public schools. The fifth objective is to study the interactions between the stakeholders over the ICT innovation diffusion project lifecycle activities. Finally, the sixth research objective is to develop a framework to support effective diffusion of ICT innovations in UAE public schools that address the changing stakeholder dynamics over project lifecycle. This explorative research adopted qualitative research methods to gain insights into the process and status of ICT diffusion in UAE public schools. A list six constructs composed of 26 dimensions were identified by combining literature from innovation theory, stakeholder theory, technology acceptance and project management. These dimensions were used to develop the research framework and guide the explorative study based on the semi-structured interviews. a total of 55 interviews conducted with stakeholders from different levels, from MoE, local education authority, MBRSLP, schools and suppliers related to this project in UAE. The review examined four years of ICT innovations deployment phases in UAE public schools and the findings were analysed using Dependency Structure Matrix (DSM), heat maps, and Social Network Analysis (SNA) techniques. The research contributed to the body of knowledge by developing and an understanding for the phenomenon of ICT innovation diffusion project in UAE public school. The research provided rich findings extracted through qualitative investigation providing details on the process and status of the ICT in UAE public schools. In addition, the research provided a contribution the theory by developing a holistic approach based on framework composed of 26 dimensions to explore the process and status of ICT innovation diffusion in UAE public schools. Another contribution to theory is the use of DSM, heat maps and SNA techniques for data analysis within project management which support the viability of these new techniques in research. Moreover, the research findings provided contribution to practice specific to the UAE project and some conclusions applicable to similar projects beyond UAE. On the other hand, no research without limitations, this research has some limitations including the geographical limitation in UAE schools as Abu Dhabi schools were not since they are not falling under the federal MoE of UAE, parents and students were excluded from interviews although they are considered a key stakeholder educationally and in the context of ICT in education, and successful ICT diffusion was not linked to academic performance.
The effect of stakeholder integration on open innovation in construction projects
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2017-04) ALHARMOODI, SHAIMA
This thesis investigates the effect of stakeholder integration on innovation effectiveness in an open innovation context in sustainable construction projects. It delivers an original contribution to knowledge by developing an empirically validated conceptual model that consists of the main factors that have an influence, and are influenced by, stakeholder integration. These factors, namely leadership for innovation and team identity, were identified and synthesized through a comprehensive review of the existing literature. This specific research intent arose from the noticeable lack of empirical studies relating these aspects and the continuous pressure on the construction sector to keep up with the competitiveness in the market as nations have raised their awareness of sustainable development, globally. The multidisciplinary and multi-party nature of construction projects, especially larger projects, necessitates a well-established framework to integrate the complex network of stakeholders for delivering successful innovation in their projects. To facilitate the analysis of the conceptual model, the research adopts a constructivist qualitative approach and analyses data obtained from three case studies through 38 semi-structured interviews. To ensure the validity, triangulation of three methods of data collection was obtained and rich and thick description of the three cases was provided. The validated conceptual model concludes that stakeholder integration in innovation projects is highly induced by leadership and that these two aspects influence the identity of the team and their perception about the innovation, which consequently affect the effectiveness of the innovation. These factors are in turn influenced by the extent of personal interest in the innovation. The findings of this research provide critical understanding of how stakeholder integration can lead to better management of innovation in general and the conceptual framework can assist construction firms and projects with diagnosing the contextual conditions of their innovation practices. It also can guide firms on their innovation strategies and ultimately increase their effectiveness by identifying the factors that enhance leadership for innovation, stakeholder integration, team identity, and consequently achieve an effective innovation.
An Empirical Study on Measuring Operating Efficiency and Revenue of Real Estate Assets in the UAE Using Data Envelopment Analysis
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2019-12) Alafeefi, Abdulrahman
The main focus of this thesis is building assets in the United Arab Emirates as a representative of emerging real estate markets. Research conducted in this thesis tackles the issue of efficiency in building assets. There is an extreme lack of studies investigating the performance of building assets in emerging markets in the Middle East. In the last couple of decades, the United Arab Emirates has witnessed an accelerated growth in all economic aspects. The population exploded from barely 3 million to almost 10 million. This growth of population forced the real estate industry to grow as well. As a result, investment in real estate became one of the main norms. Nevertheless, comparing the performance of real estate building assets is not an easy task due to the lack of necessary studies. This thesis tries to fill this gap by investigating efficiency in real estate. Data envelopment analysis was used as the main methodology in this research. In addition, data collection of 57 building assets was conducted. Results showed that most of the building assets in this investigation can be considered moderate with regard to efficiency in terms of Capital Expenditures metrics. On the other hand, Operational Expenditures metrics experience a wider range of efficiency values, indicating that the building assets require improvement. Finally, this thesis contributed to expanding the definition of real estate performance outside financial performance and investigating the uniqueness of the efficiency of building assets in emerging economies by utilising local data only.
Enablers and Barriers to Knowledge sharing in the UAE infrastructural projects
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2018-03) MOHAMED ALI AHMED, ALDHANHANI
The sharing of knowledge could be a catalyst for achieving organisational goals more quickly, or it could also be a means to a poor ending of a project. Recent researches have recognised the complications of knowledge sharing (KS) practices in projects due to their temporal nature and unaccountability of clients and beneficiaries in regard to projects. This thesis aims to examine how KS is successfully utilised to create successful projects in the infrastructure development sector. The research questions concentrate on addressing the integration of the KS process to improve project success within the infrastructure development sector of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The data was collected using questionnaire survey method to examine the integration of KS in infrastructural projects in the UAE. The literature review is used to extract enablers and barriers of success in KS in UAE infrastructural projects. The extracted enablers are categorised into seven groups (organisational, motivation, processes, technologies, social networking, physical environment, and individual), whereas the barriers are categorised into three groups (individuals, organisational, and technological). The data was collected through a survey from 112 valid respondents. The respondents were drawn from specific organisations within the infrastructural sectors of the UAE. Several statistical methods were used for the data analysis, including descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, ANOVA analysis, correlation, and regression. The research outcomes indicate that three enablers influence the level of KS contributions to project success: the ability of social networks to simplify personal relationships and social interactions to facilitate the project KS process (E24); the characteristics of the physical environments such as the shape of the office spaces or relaxed and quiet environment (E30); and loyalty and hard work to increase project success via KS (E35). The research findings also show that four enablers are important for the benefits of timely KS in infrastructural projects: leadership commitment to support open and honest two-way communication in projects (E5), measurements of knowledge sharing before and after any project activities (E8), implementation of less formal resources such as social media to share embedded project knowledge (E11), and the ability to communicate between project stakeholders regarding the project through specific channels (E13). In addition, the results support that two enablers were assessed as important for the quality of the timeliness of KS in infrastructural projects, the first of which is a clear policy or strategy for project knowledge sharing (E1), and the second refers to sufficient assets and resources to support project KS processes (E12). The results appear to show that respondents believed that two enablers are relevant to the effectiveness of KS between stakeholders at each stage of the projects lifecycle: sufficient reward systems to share knowledge (E4) and sufficient assets and resources to support project KS processes (E12). In the barriers clusters, the respondents agreed that a lack of trust for others regarding sharing project knowledge (B3) impacts KS contributions to project success. Only one barrier was deemed important for the effectiveness of KS between stakeholders at each stage of a project’s lifecycle: lack of a motivation policy for knowledge sharing (B12). The ANOVA analysis findings offer a variety of interrelationships between the identified enablers and barriers based on respondents’ work sectors. The study’s conclusions support the vision that there is a need for more organisational commitment (E3), further leadership commitment arrangements to support open and honest two-way communication (E5), a wider range of communication channels organisational commitment to support the uses of KS in the project lifecycle (E13). In order to facilitate KS inside of the project, there is a need for sufficient funding, facilities, and technological resources (E28). Furthermore, it is very necessary to take further measures in order to facilitate communication between different stakeholders and to ensure the establishment of a culture of motivated KS in projects. Moreover, it is obligatory to address external or macro-environmental factors (B15) in this regard to support the uses of KS in infrastructural projects in the UAE. This research focuses primarily on KS inside the unique context of project management (PM) in the UAE region, so the results presented herein may not be fully applicable or generalisable to other countries due to existent cultural differences. This research is considered to be one of the earliest studies which addresses the existing knowledge gaps by providing a roadmap to investigate KS practices and tools that can be successfully utilised in PM processes to promote underpinning knowledge within the UAE area. In addition, this study provides industry practitioners with better perceptions and an empirical framework of KS to utilise the lessons that have been learned from the mistakes of previous projects. This research can be further expanded in the future by applying social networking tools to analyse the interaction of knowledge flows among different stakeholders.
Evaluating the role of environmental concern, risk perception and stakeholder salience in driving sustainable water consumption within sustainability project initiatives in the UAE hospitality sector
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2017-12) ElShafei, Rasha Abd El Nafea
The global water scarcity problem and unsustainable water consumption hinders the realisation of sustainability goals, therefore, the aim of this thesis is to empirically examine the influence of individual and stakeholder factors on the success of sustainability project initiatives in relation to sustainable water consumption in the UAE hospitality sector. Within a quantitative research approach, individual determinants of sustainable water consumption were identified. Stakeholder action framework is developed and designed as a questionnaire in an effort to collect and statistically analyse data from managers in UAE hospitality sector. The results indicate that individual determinants were significantly associated with sustainable water consumption strategies and practices. Albeit, the role of stakeholders salience attributes were critically important in this association. A significant positive influence on the association was shaped by power, urgency and legitimacy attributes. Moderation effect was manifested by the urgency and legitimacy attributes. Government and business stakeholders were the most salient stakeholders whereas; customers’ saliency was not detected. This thesis shifts sustainability research focus from individualistic paradigm to stakeholder paradigm. Findings will be cornerstone in achieving sustainability goals as it guides on factors contributing to sustainability project initiatives success. The study is limited to UAE hospitality sector; therefore, generalisation of results to other sectors is challenged.
An Exploratory Study on the Role of Stakeholder Management in the Implementation of Smart Government Projects in the UAE
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2018-10) AL AMERI, TAHER AL BRAIK
The extant literature on stakeholder theory describes it as a vital managerial tool for establishing relationships across various organisational domains and establishing product/or service value. Although there is not an accepted universal definition to explain what constitutes a stakeholder, the foundational concept which is a normative view derived from the social and behavioural sciences, defines stakeholders as “all of those groups and individuals that can affect or are affected by the accomplishment of organisational purpose (Freeman, 1984, p. 46). Undoubtedly, this definition suggests that a clear connection exist and the ‘‘economic value is created by people who voluntarily come together and cooperate to improve everyone’s circumstance’’ (Freeman et al., 2004, p. 364). Using a stakeholder theory framework, this qualitative study investigated the relationship between stakeholder management practices and stakeholder involvement relative to m-government and e-Government smart technologies used in the UAE. Thus, within the organisational context face-to-face interviews were conducted with a sample of 25 diverse stakeholders from three different public-sector organisations. The results of the study presented four themes that underscored the importance of the stakeholder relationship in influencing product/or service value among digital consumers. In addition, the interviews revealed that internal and external stakeholder support is associated with facilitating higher customer usage of mobile and electronic government application technologies. Therefore, the central value of the present research study is that it improves the understanding of how stakeholder management is key to maintaining stakeholder retention and commitment relative to achieving smart government objectives. Given the priority of smart government initiatives in the UAE, stakeholder influence is essential to improving consumer acceptance and satisfaction with new mobile technology applications.
Exploring Public Sector Resilience to Emerging Events
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2021-05) Nabulsi, Fadi
There are certain challenges that require the public sector to be more resilient in the face of emerging events. These include the fourth industrial revolution, change in economic structures, security challenges, health pandemics, and other social cohesion challenges. This study aims to explore the concept of resilience and to develop a conceptual framework for governments, public sector leaders, various governmental sectors, researchers, and other relevant stakeholders to. To achieve this purpose, the study, through a content analysis of resilience literature, defined key components of resilience in general to come up with relevant themes and concepts of resilience to draw an initial framework. This framework was then used to conduct an exploratory qualitative study via semi-structured interviews to investigate the insights of 37 subject matter experts in the public sector within UAE. As an outcome of the thematic analysis conducted, four resilience concepts, seven principles, and eight attributes of building resilience in the public sector emerged from the data. A conceptual framework incorporating these components was developed including three resilience strategies, namely, absorptive, adaptive, and transformative strategies were identified to face various emergent events. This study showed that resilience in the public sector is not a passive, reactionary attribute of organizations that enable them to survive a disruptive event. Rather, building resilience includes taking proactive steps to collaborate, monitor, anticipate, and possibly predict emergent events. Further studies are required to validate the proposed relationships between the different attributes in the framework and resilience in the public sector by conducting quantitative hypothesis testing or qualitative case-study research.
Exploring the Determinants of IoT Adoption Intention in the Public Sector: An Extended TOE Framework Perspective
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2023-07) NAQI, ABDULLA; Professor Khalid AlMarri
Purpose: This research aims to investigate the determinates of the adoption intention of Internet of Things (IoT) technology in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) public sector, recognizing its significance in modernizing government operations and public services. The study addresses the limited research on IoT adoption in this context by proposing a theoretical model that incorporates technological, environmental, and organizational attributes, while also considering individual innovation traits. The research builds upon the Technological Organizational Environmental (TOE) framework to examine these adoption factors. Design/Methodology/Approach: Employing a positivist approach, this study conducts quantitative analysis through an online survey with 160 respondents. The research explores the relationships between TOE factors, technological factors, organizational factors, environmental factors, individual innovation traits, and IoT adoption intentions within the public sector. Furthermore, it investigates how Individual traits moderate the relationship between TOE factors and IoT adoption intentions. Findings: The study uncovers several significant insights. It identifies positive relationships between TOE factors, technological factors, organizational factors, environmental factors, and IoT adoption intentions within the UAE public sector. Additionally, it highlights that Individual traits exert a positive influence on IoT adoption intentions. Furthermore, the research demonstrates that Individual traits moderate the relationship between TOE factors and IoT adoption intentions, shedding light on the complex interplay of factors in IoT adoption. Practical Implications: This research contributes to existing knowledge by concentrating on organizational-level IoT adoption factors within the UAE public sector, distinct from studies that primarily focus on individual adoption. It also elucidates the unique challenges and opportunities specific to the public sector, setting it apart from industrial sectors. These findings offer valuable insights for technology practitioners in the public sector, aiding them in enhancing IoT adoption strategies. Originality: This study contributes originality by addressing the dearth of research on IoT adoption in the UAE public sector. It proposes a comprehensive theoretical model and employs a TOE framework to examine IoT adoption factors, while also considering individual innovation traits. This unique approach adds to the body of knowledge regarding IoT adoption in organizational contexts. In conclusion, this research enhances our understanding of IoT adoption intention factors within the UAE public sector and provides a practical framework for public sector organizations to optimize their IoT adoption strategies. Future research is encouraged to delve into potential mediators, introduce novel constructs, and apply the model across diverse sectors to further advance our knowledge in this area.
Factors Impacting the Adoption and Implementation of Business Intelligence and Analytics Projects in Organizations
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2016-05) Amer, Noha Tarek
The main aim of this research is to increase the understanding of why some organizations invest in and adopt Business Intelligence and Analytics (BI&A) projects while others do not. BI&A projects are defined in this research as a set of tools responsible for analyzing data. This research is thus interested in understanding the adoption process of BI&A projects. The scope of this research is organizations operating in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Gulf region. Several models have been proposed to explain the adoption process in organizations. The technology adoption process could be summarized into three main phases: preadoption, adoption, and post-adoption. As most organizations undergo their endeavors in the form of a project, it is important to discuss the technology adoption process for a project. Thus, this research proposes three main stages to adopt BI&A projects in organizations: front-end management, project portfolio management, and project success. The literature has also identified different factors that impact each of the stages in this process. Specifically, the Technology-Organization- Environment (TOE) framework will be used to examine the impact of several technological, organizational, and environmental factors on the three project management stages (front-end management, project portfolio management, and project success). Therefore, this research proposes a research model that explains the adoption factors and process of BI&A projects in organizations.The initial validation of the research model is conducted through the synthesis of the main factors that impact the adoption process of BI&A projects in organizations. The resulted research model is then validated through questionnaires and statistical analysis. The results suggest (1) a BI&A project would be likely initiated in the the front-end management phase if: (a) the BI&A project is not complex, (b) the BI&A project is perceived as advantageous, (c) the BI&A project is perceived as compatible with the organization, (d) the organization has top management support, (e) the organization has good strategy and project management practices, (f) the organization has appropriate experience, (g) there is pressure from competition, and (h) there is good vendor support. The results suggest that (2) a BI&A project is likely to be included in the project portfolio and implemented if: (a) the BI&A project is perceived as compatible, (b) the BI&A project is perceived as advantageous, (c) the organization has good top management support, (d) the organization has a supportive culture, (e) the organization has good strategy and project management practices, (f) the organization has enough resources, (g) the organization has appropriate experience, and (h) there is pressure from competition. The results suggest that (3) a BI&A project is likely to be successful if the BI&A project is (a) compatible with the organization, (b) the organization has good top management support, (c) the organization has a supportive culture, (d) the organization has good strategy and project management practices, (e) the organization has enough resources, (f) the organization has appropriate experience, and (g) the organization has qualified infrastructure. This research contributes to the existing body of literature by proposing a BI&A adoption process for projects specifically for organizations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Gulf.
Forecasting Resilience Loss for Flexible Pavement under the Impact of Temperature due to Climate Change
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2019-06) ALARYANI, MOHAMMED MUFTAH
Projects and programmes for maintenance and rehabilitation works are crucial for pavement assets in order to achieve the required levels of safety and operability. It is well documented in the literature that pavement network infrastructures age with time, are underfunded and, more importantly, are designed based on historical conditions. The HDM-4 model, which is extensively used in pavement management systems, does not utilise future climate predictions. Climate change is likely to threaten pavement infrastructures’ resilience through extreme weather events and chronically through gradual degradation. The objectives of the study were fivefold: firstly, to develop a modified HDM-4 model using pavement performance indicators (International Roughness Index and Pavement Condition Index) that assess the impacts of future climate change; secondly, to develop a Markov chain model for projection of pavement deterioration rate under different climate scenarios based on a modified HDM-4 model; thirdly, to establish the generic risk of pavement failure under the impact of climate change and quantify the risk interrelationships based on the received questionnaires using a deterministic risk analysis method; fourthly, to develop a system dynamics model for the projection of pavement deterioration rate for different risk scenarios; and, finally, to measure pavement resilience loss for the pavement network. The models were developed using data provided by the roads department in the Ministry of Public Works of the United Arab Emirates, Al Ain City Municipality, National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology, and questionnaires. A number of different methodologies were used such as linear and non-linear regression, simulation of system dynamics and probabilistic approach using a Markov chain. Both Markov chain and system dynamics models indicated that climate change impact can accelerate the rate of degradation for infrastructure assets. Moreover, the Markov chain model indicated resilience loss for the pavement network in the range of 27.86% to 32.4% for different climate change scenarios (2013, 2020, 2040 and 2060) over a period of 20 years’ prediction. In addition, for the ultimate worse scenario, the resilience loss score was 73.57%. This record showed a value close to the range of resilience loss generated from the system dynamics model (range between 75.67% and 81.0% resilience loss). This research provides an increased understanding of modelling and managing uncertainty in pavement deterioration with respect to climate change impacts. Developing different tools such as a pavement condition index model, modified HDM-4, and probabilistic and system dynamics model will help the road and highway agency in the UAE to efficiently monitor the road pavement assets and establish the necessary maintenance plan for future years, and captures a real system which assists the policy decision makers in their pavement intervention programme.
The Impact of an Occupational Health and Safety Management System on Workers’ Performance in the Abu Dhabi Construction Industry
(The British University in Dubai (BUiD), 2020-06) Alhosani, Awatif
Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHAD) was established as a government center in Abu Dhabi in 2010. The objective of the Center is to manage and ensure the proper implementation of an integrated occupational health and safety management system in the Emirate. Many researchers have highlighted the relationship between applying occupational health and safety management systems and the impact on workers’ performance. However, there is limited research on the impact on workers’ performance of the occupational health and safety management system that is implemented in Abu Dhabi. Hence, this study carries out an evaluation of the impact of OSHAD SF using several performance indicators: commitment, absenteeism, work alienation, and job performance. This study has contributed to the literature in that it evaluating in depth the current OSH situation in construction companies. This evaluation will support the regulatory body by suggesting opportunities of enhancing in the regulations on implementation. This study also contributes to understanding the personal traits of workers’ in construction companies in Abu Dhabi. If owners and supervisors of companies understand these traits, it will be easier for them to deal with workers’ welfare and will enable companies to provide OSH training. This study suggests that further research into safety risks in Abu Dhabi construction industry is required. Increasing the number of studies that investigate the activities in this important sector will provide a larger database and validate further the findings of this study.

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