The future of construction industry in a globalized, borderless, technology-driven decade is based upon a number of drivers. The book is written to provide a platform for analysis of the construction industry on some governance and economic issues deemed important and can affect the way construction industry will develop and grow in a particular country, particularly Malaysia. The reference to Malaysia may be similar to some but not all countries. The topics covered include governance, role of state and international organizations, innovations, markets and privatizations as well as sustainability. The book should be a basis for future works or research in some of the areas discussed and should provide a specific reading for students at postgraduate and undergraduate levels. Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia
In this new era, changes and innovations that happen in the construction industry force the industry players to increasingly seek knowledge to enhance their firm and project competitiveness. Small as well as large industry players has no exceptions from identifying their strategy for business survival and success. To accommodate those needs, this book presents the new management approaches that could be learned and applied in managing firms and projects. The book goes on to explore the strategic management and project management approaches of business and project entities in construction. Knowledge and ideas discussed in this book were contributed by scholars who are closely involved with research in the industry. Having read their ideas, improving performance would be a significant contribution of this book to the existing and future industry players in construction. Being simultaneously dependent upon each other, this book sees the need to incorporate the various approaches in managing projects and businesses in the construction industry. There will be no doubt, by understanding and practising the approaches, the competitiveness of the industry will be improved.
Cities have a metabolism that requires energy, food, materials and water to be supplied and waste products to be removed. If cities are to remain the engines of economic growth they also require an input of knowledge as well as commodities. This fuels innovation and the skills that lead to economic success. With economic success comes the input of people and investment that require new buildings and the conservation of existing buildings. This, in turn, requires an input of both building materials and the knowledge of manufacturing and assembling them efficiently and effectively. This book reviews these aspects of development from an academic point of view and covers a wide area of professional expertise including planning, tourism, architecture, structural engineering, project management, air and water quality, conservation, landscape design, waste management and many other issues that impact on urbanism in Malaysia.
As the construction industry continues to develop within the natural environment, the industry has to take strong measures to ensure that its activities are in harmony with the environment. The challenge for the construction sector is not just to respond to the need for adequate housing and rapid urbanisation, but to do it in a way that is socially and ecologically responsible. This book begins with the current progress of the construction industry in Malaysia before shifting to the fragile relationship between construction and environment. Knowing the rapid development in Malaysia and how construction can affect the environment, this book delves into some evidence of environmental degradation in Malaysia. In the mist of degradation, there is some light shone by the government agencies, state government and some construction players who have initiated several actions to improve present situation. Construction players must be ready to address these concerns, aware of the requirements and comply with it, while the government must be ready to implement and enforce the requirement. An effective planning, implementation and monitoring is vital if the environment is to be part of the culture of the construction industry everywhere.
This book is written in two parts, namely General Issues in Construction Industry and Various Aspects of Research in Construction Industry. It consists of a collection of ten articles related to studies on managing construction in developing countries. The articles were written by several authors who are specialised in the built environment such as construction planning, management and managing quality. All articles attempt to focus on the issues, current developments and analysis that can benefit those who are involved in the built environment. They offer a fresh insight into how the management aspect of construction can and should be enriched, enhanced and ultimately empowered to act as a vital tool in delivering construction projects within their intended objectives. This book aims to act as a gateway for students, academicians and practitioners of the industry to learn about innovative measures and steps currently being undertaken in the developing world with regards to construction management. As an accompanying text to other definitive references in this field, this book aspires to add onto the current body of knowledge with the ultimate aim of inspiring more contemporary and effective management methods to be adopted, adapted and injected within this industry. Keywords: Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penerbit Universiti Sains Malayia, Penerbit USM
There is a dearth of literature on environmental communication within the non-western world. The few existing ones are scattered and not easily available.Thus, there is a dire need to document research and literature in the field. The opportunity arose at the 2009 International Conference on Communication and Environment held in Penang, Malaysia. The international conference with the theme “Transformation for a Sustainable Tomorrow”, organised by the School of Communication, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), attracted scholars, practitioners and activists from around the world to listen and deliberate on various aspects of communication and environment. The post-conference review resulted in the selection of 24 papers to be compiled into this edited volume. The escalating degradation of environment locally and globally was the main concern that prompted discussions on how sustainability can be advocated. The development process in many countries, economic activities and political decisions on issues such as deforestation for timber logging, rapid urbanisation, pertinently points out that environmental degradation and any communication on environmental change has to be grounded and located within the wider context of social, politics and economics of the society. Communication and environmental communication for that matter have also to be understood within these wider contexts. Many would agree that a constant and consistent flow of information communicated through different channels to different stakeholders at the right time and destinations can help raise awareness and consciousness of environmental problems, protection and preservation. This vital information can enable the public and stakeholders to make informed choices, and take actions whenever possible. A lack of communication and information will inordinately exacerbate the situation of environmental degradation. This book thus highlights how the environment is being treated in the media, communicated to the society and impacted nations. The chapters are grouped into the following sections: Theoretical and conceptual issues; Media content and the environment; Politics, communication and the environment; Corporate social and environmental responsibility; and Citizen participation, human rights and the environment. The editors acknowledge the excellent contributions of all the authors and are indebted to the members of the review panel, the external reviewer, USM Publications Committee and staff of Universiti Sains Malaysia Press for their help in ensuring the quality of this volume. Most importantly, we express our gratitude to USM for providing the financial support for the international conference and making it possible to publish this book. The Editors January 2012 Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia
The monograph ‘Sustaining APEX: Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Mission to Transform Higher Education’ seeks to expand on and elaborate themes found in the previous two monographs in our Intellectual Discourse Series. In this monograph, we also take a deeper look at the problems of values and national development as well as issues of legitimacy and the efficacy of change and transformation in conditions of complex globalization. This monograph seeks to engage the difficult issues around science and technology and values, the social legitimacy of reform, and addresses the issues of newness, reputation, ranking and the problems of leadership. In doing this, we hope to tease out more of the implications of USM’s reform agenda and locate discussions of it within a broader discourse of globalization and its vicissitudes. The essential argument made in this monograph is that USM’s transformation agenda is a direct challenge to contemporary neo-liberal project for higher education. USM’s agenda entails a fuller idea and engagement with the educational and ethical mission of the university. Ecological sustainability, scientific and technological advancement as well as the sustainability of Malaysian culture, values, and sense of social justice is central to the mission of USM. Seeking to advance these in the current conditions of globalization and ensuring continued legitimacy for this project within such an environment is the challenge ahead. Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia
Entrepreneurship has a tremendous impact on the economic development of a country, so much that entrepreneurship is seen as a solution for the fast changing economic demands worldwide and has been recognized as a path to sustainable economic development. Despite recognition of entrepreneurship on the road to global economic development, a large body of research on the elements of entrepreneurship education remains unresolved. Are these behaviors inherent to human beings, their genetic code, their psychological traits, or can students, young children, and even adults, be taught how to become an entrepreneur? This book presents several chapters following different approaches to answer these questions. Researchers explore education programs in different countries, they show experiences in entrepreneurship education, explain how to teach entrepreneurial skills, cultural issues, and propose some orientations and reflections on entrepreneurship education.
