Developing the Factors for Management Practices for the Deployment of Green Policy in the Malaysian Construction Industry

Abstract

This research paper aims to ascertain the different factors for green policy between the internal and external factors. Although previous studies have tried to address the different factors that affect management practices, however the emphasis has being more on qualitative whereas this study bridges the knowledge gap by providing a valid methodology for assessing the 'management and factors' readiness of the Green policy deployment within the Malaysian construction industry through the general application of management practices and important factors identified. The findings of the paper are based upon a comprehensive literature search and empirical studies conducted with 102 Malaysian Construction Organisations currently utilising various modes of quality systems within their construction projects. Through a survey of data collected, this study empirically refines and validates 6 internal and external factors and 3 management practices deemed necessary for the deployment of Construction Green Policy. The study reports on the operational framework of Management Practices and internal with external factors (MP& IEF) model, which can be used to examine the levels of critical factors relating to the deployment of Green policy. The findings indicate that the MP&IEF model is both reliable and valid. All the Management Practices scored medium levels (means score > 3.00) with the highest being 'Vision’ and ‘Quality and Behaviour’. On the other hand, the most important internal factors for Green policy deployment were found to be 'Environmental/Green Technology’, ‘Training’ and resistance to change. Whilst external factors were found to be ‘Integration with Environmental Management’, ‘New Approaches to Management’ and ‘Shifting Customer Expectation’. The findings suggest that the internal and external factors as the mediator between management practices and green policy observed within the Malaysian construction quality can be transferred within the green policy environment with quality as the leverage for the deployment of green policy. This would contribute to the enhancement of the quality performance within the Malaysian Construction Industry. This paper concludes by presenting a new methodology for assessing the 'management and internal external factors' readiness of Green policy deployment for the Malaysian Construction Organisation. The frameworks presented in form of a hexagonal profile can be used to depict the levels of consideration of the management practices and internal external factors desirable for the Green policy deployment.

Keywords: Malaysian Construction Industry, Sustainability, Quality Systems, Construction Organisations, Green Management/Technology, Total Quality Management (TQM)