Master of Business Administration in Project Management

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://192.248.9.226/handle/123/32

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item: Thesis-Full-text
An analysis of environmental factors in open office layouts
Geekiyanage, VD; Ekanayaka, LL
‘Cellular office layouts’ and ‘open office layouts’ are the two main office designing techniques available for a Facility Manager. The latter is the widely used technique out of the two due to the reasons such as efficient space utilization, cost effectiveness, easiness in altering the layouts etc.. Although, both the techniques have its advantages and disadvantages, it is observed that lot of grievances exist among the users of “open office layouts”. The employee productivity and Job satisfaction level are found to be inter-related. Hence the factors affecting the job satisfaction level of an employee is vital for organizational management. Satisfaction level about the work place is identified as one of the factors affecting job satisfaction level of an employee. The literature available about working environment and productivity, discusses about the attributes which affect Overall Environmental Satisfaction level (Satisfaction level about ones work place) of an employee occupying a workplace. Out of them, the researcher identified 21 attributes as the base of his study and developed a questionnaire to gather information about the occupant’s Overall Environmental Satisfaction level in relation to the identified attributes. Survey done among the 46 executives in two offices, implies that the 21 attributes identified, have a direct impact upon the Overall Environmental Satisfaction level of an occupant. Hence inclusion of said 21 attributes, into layout designs is very vital in providing an efficient and productive working environment. Further, a detailed analysis about customer requirements and their interdependencies, prior to design a layout, is important, since success of the proposed layout will depend upon inclusion ofthem. User awareness about the functionality and design considerations (or assumptions) ofthe layout is also important in maintaining the office layout as intended. Finally the office layouts are to be checked routinely, for their intended performance levels after handing over.
item: Thesis-Full-text
Barriers on small scale contracors to enter and survive compettitive construction industry in Sri Lanka
Ramawickrama, G; Ekanayaka, LL; Gunawardena, K
Many challenges are facing by business managers when there are projects involved in their business in construction industry. Construction is industry is not an exception when project comes in to their businesses as a part of the business activity. Many barriers are directly resulting to operations related and some are indirect marginal activities of SME level for its survival. While managing a SMEs, most ofthe time, challenges are addressed by the SMEs to ensure the success and survival. Many considerations are included in communication, workforce, safety, time constraints, and nature ofthe project, quality and time management. From a literature review six predominant problems currently facing the construction industry were identified. With the analysis of data and above constrains in the field of construction SMEs survival, it reveals that the clear relationship between employee turnover, application of new technology, government regulations, financing, contractor awareness of environmental issues, project management, knowledge transfer and survival ofSME construction companies. The underlying aim ofranking these problems being towards developing a strategy for improving the performance of the construction sector and improving client satisfaction through the satisfaction of SME operations. Accordingly, research question is formulated to address the issue of “what are the existing situations of competitive construction industry in Sri Lanka and what are the barriers to enter and survive in competitive construction industry in Sri Lanka?” The opinions of Construction Company concerning the severity ofthese problems was obtained through a questionnaire survey. Finings revealsthat, there are direct relationship between employee turnover, application of new technology, government regulations, financing, contractor awareness of environmental issues, project management, knowledge transfer and survival of SME construction companies. This was proved by using the fishbone model. With the findings ofthis research, it is not only applicable to locally, but also to address to mitigate issues related to survival of construction SMEs at global level.
item: Thesis-Full-text
Causes and effects of delay in completion of government funded building construction projects in Sri Lanka : with special reference to the projects based in Western Province
Perera, GHNN; Ekanayaka, LL
The main purpose of this study is to identify the causes of delay in completion of government funded building construction projects in Sri Lanka; with special reference to the projects based in the Western province as well as to highlight its impact on the construction industry and to round up by forwarding recommendations for minimization of such delays. A questionnaire survey was carried out among the engineers representing consultants and contractors engaged in building construction projects of government funded projects in western province of Sri Lanka to identify the delays and their effects. The delay in completion of government funded building construction projects could be due to various reasons and those reasons will change from region to region. For this research, a questionnaire was used with 25 delay causes and the responses were ranked according to relative importance index. At the completion of the research nineteen causes were identified which have more effect on the delay. Those 25 delay causes were grouped in to four called client related delays, consultant related delays, contractor related delays and other delays and were used in finding which party had higher impact on project delay. The ten effects were listed in the questionnaire that can occur as a result of delay in building construction projects and ranked them according to their importance level. Having identified the causes having a high effect for the delays, the areas that are to be improved/concentrated can be identified and that will help overcome the problem for delays. According to the analyzed data, shortage of skill labor is the cause with the most impact and delay in providing necessary drawings and delay in delivery of required material to the site has become the second and third position respectively. Also it was found that delays occurring from the contractor’s side have higher impact on project delay. Increasing in the final cost of the project is the main effect which results from the delay in completion of government funded building construction projects.
item: Thesis-Full-text
Facility management practices in telecom industry towards the job satisfaction of executives
(2014-05-27) Samarasinghe, CM; Ekanayaka, LL
The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between Job Satisfaction and factors influencing on it to executives’ in a Telecommunication organizational sector, and to find the significance of physical space and physical working environment on the job satisfaction This study also focuses on revealing demographic characteristics of the executives that affect executives’ general happiness about the job. Research was conducted through a field survey by a structured questionnaire comprising demographics, five facets such as Leadership, Work Itself, Recognition of work, Physical space and Physical work environment to measure the job satisfaction. Twenty three job attributes were listed to see the importance of them on job satisfaction. A survey was carried out covering a sample of 78 executives of Head Office of the organization. The study generated an 85 percent response rate. Responses from the survey were statistically analyzed with linear regress analysis, Pearson’s correlation coefficient using the 13.0 version of SPSS software. Hypotheses were tested on 0.05 significance level desiring a 95 percent confidence. Results of hypotheses formed a solution to reject all null hypotheses and to accept alternatives. The study revealed that there is a significant correlation between executives’ job satisfaction and selected variables. Researcher concludes the study introducing a new conceptualization of worker behavior based on job satisfaction. Recommendations have been made to enhance the executives’ job satisfaction as well as for future directions on this scope.
item: Thesis-Abstract
Impacts of electricity tariff subsidies to households
Alahakoon, UMC; Ekanayaka, LL
Energy has become the life line of any economy and most vital instrument of socioeconomic development of a country. Eighty percent of the present global primary energy demand is fulfilled by fossil fuels and the fuel reserves are limited. Hence, the energy prices are increasing and are subsidized for Low Income households. Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is the sole author of electricity business in Sri Lanka (SL). Its tariff is also highly subsidized for consumption up to 90 units in Domestic and Religious tariffs through “Increasing Block Price” (IBP) tariff structure. Cost of electricity has drastically increased due to lesser rain and the increase of high cost thermal contribution for power generation in Sri Lanka since 1996 and CEB has been posted to loss maker since 2000. This situation was aggravated by continuing tariff subsidies. Total domestic consumer base at the end of 2010 was around 4 million and analysis of consumption patterns shows that 3.2 million (80%) families out of the total have consumed below 90 kWh per month where highest tariff subsidy is incorporated. Can this entire 3.2 million families in Sri Lanka be really poor? Main objective of this research is to find that the users below 90 kWh are really poor by a field survey of random consumer sample. The other objectives are to study the present domestic tariff structure and its subsidy and to propose recommendations for tariff revisions for economically viable electricity industry. Literature review of published tariffs of regional and global countries revealed that most of their domestic tariffs are IBP and few countries give direct payments also for electricity subsidy. Present CEB tariff has higher overall bills for commercial and high end domestic consumers than regional countries. The bills of Domestic consumers of CEB below 90 kWh are lower than most of the regional countries. Literature on tariff studies revealed that IBP tariff has conservational, re distributional and demand elasticity impacts. The sample field survey of 50 households was carried out in Dehiwala area to ascertain the income and family status of electricity consumers who consume below 90 kWh per month. Survey results revealed that the income of the majority (78%) is above two times of Colombo district poverty level income of Rs. 3469/= per head per month. Only 8% was detected below poverty level (BPL) since they have no regular incomes or jobs. Only one family was found receiving samurdhy benefits. As per the survey results there is no evidence to prove that low unit users are low income families. Also IBP tariff has totally failed to filter the real low income families. Further analysis of the results by tariff block wise revealed that different income families are scattered in all the blocks. More rich and very rich families in 0 to 30 unit block. Hence Real LICs cannot be found even by reducing the subsidy level of tariff below 90 units. Finally it is recommended to eliminate the IBP structure of domestic tariff, and make reasonable cost reflective flat tariff in steps. Subsidy should be limited to real low income households who identified by Island wide survey and paid as direct government subsidy Dehiwala area can be considered only for high population density and congested municipal area. Therefore more surveys should be done in semi urban and rural areas for moderate and generalized solution for the whole country.
item: Thesis-Full-text
Prefabricated building method in Sri Lanka and user attitude
De Silva, CSR; Ekanayaka, LL
During the development of construction industry, people looked forward on building their houses by using less time and cost consuming methods. Prefabricated building methods were introduced as the outcome of this developmental process. In conventional building method, both total fabrication and erection were carried out in the site, which was a highly labour intensive work and also it was difficult to control the wastages and quality. In such rough working environment, labours refused working, where it became very difficult to arrange skill labours to these work sites. High scarcity of resources, daily rising cost of raw materials, controlling of wastage become much more important. Prefabricated building method grab considerable market share in developed countries like United States, Japan, china and United Kingdom. From early 1960s prefabricated housing projects were lunched in Sri Lanka. But this method could not grab significant market share in Housing industry of Sri Lanka. Prefabricated housing projects that previously carried out in various parts of Sri Lanka, selected as the case study and carried out user responsive survey and using personal observation prepare the conclusion and recommendations. Visiting the prefabricated model manufactures and analysis the pros and cons of their models and found out the reasons behind their models, why that those poorly attract the market. After analysis of all the information, found that major reasons for not grabbing considerable market share as that this prefabricated housing method did not considering the local customs and believes, local climatic conditions, lack of space and expandable ability within these housing units and poor marketing of model manufactures. Then considering these conclusion and prepare the recommendation as the guide line on launching of prefabricated housing projects, where these steps will give good opportunity to grab considerable market shear for prefabricated housing in housing industry.

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