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Awawdeh, S A (2010) The potential of building regulations to improve the energy efficiency of high-rise residential buildings in the Gulf Countries, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Queen's University Belfast.

Brooks, T (2020) Implementation and effectiveness of the ISO 9001 quality management system in the construction sector in the UK and Ireland, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast.

  • Type: Thesis
  • Keywords: audit; case study; effectiveness; grounded theory; interview; Ireland; quality management; questionnaire survey; UK
  • ISBN/ISSN:
  • URL: https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/theses/implementation-and-effectiveness-of-the-iso-9001-quality-management-system-in-the-construction-sector-in-the-uk-and-ireland(b6ecd2a0-df81-4bd0-ba6b-fdf26dfb7d1d).html
  • Abstract:
    The construction industry in the UK and Ireland has long suffered from endemic quality failures. Formal quality management systems have been proposed as a tool to improve construction delivery. The ISO 9001 standard is the result of research and incremental development. If implemented fully it should lead to continual quality improvement. However, it can be inferred from the continuing quality problems in the construction industry that something is wrong with its implementation. In this context, this study aims to investigate the extent of implementation of the ISO 9001 quality management system (QMS) in construction organisations, the effectiveness of implementation, and the mechanisms behind the operation of the system. ISO 9001 implementation in three case study organisations is studied using observation, documents and thirty four interviews which are analysed using an abductive grounded theory approach. Synthesis of the interviews generates causal loop diagrams which represent the response of construction managers to their quality management systems. Based on this output, a questionnaire survey is developed. In all three case study organisations, regulatory decoupling between the operations of the companies and their ISO 9001 systems is taking place. Disconnection of the QMS to quality ‘on the ground’ is evident. This is reflected in the 146 eligible questionnaire survey responses. Deception, backdating signatures and making up paperwork to meet QMS requirements is widespread. Reasons vary between respondents and include time and cost pressure, the administrative burden imposed by QMS paperwork, social contagion of a culture of fudging, the unlikelihood that deception will be detected in an audit and the lack of penalty for deception. The picture of compliance is complex and continually evolving. The study concludes with recommendations for industry to act to minimise regulatory decoupling of ISO 9001 quality management systems, and to reconnect these systems to delivery of quality 'on the ground'.

Burke, R (2014) Risk management in Republic of Ireland PPP toll roads, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Management School, Queen's University Belfast.

Clarke, R N (1988) A managerial approach to forecasting for the construction industry, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Queen's University Belfast.

Cockerill, J E (1993) The construction industry in belfast 1800-1914, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Queen's University Belfast.

Curran, M (2020) External stakeholder management and engagement on urban construction projects in the UK and Ireland, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Built and Natural Environment, Queen's University Belfast.

Flynn, C (2020) Risk transfer in operational public private partnerships in the education sector, Unpublished PhD Thesis, Management School, Queen's University Belfast.

Lisk, D R (2014) Equal opportunities for women in construction trades: Issues of education, training and employment in northern Ireland, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Queen's University Belfast.

Spillane, J P (2013) Challenges and strategies for confined site construction: The case of personnel, plant and material management (PPMM), Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Queen's University Belfast.

Von Meding, J K (2013) NGO competency-based framework for the delivery of post-disaster reconstruction projects, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Queen's University Belfast.

Wang, H (2021) BIM-based knowledge management for the use of construction and facilities management knowledge in construction projects, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , Queen's University Belfast.