ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most serious global health crises. It has had a massive impact on the global workforce and workplaces, causing enormous changes in the working environment and raising concerns among organizations. Due to the pandemic, the construction industry has faced more challenges in delivering projects on time and within budget. This study aims to determine the relationship between the impacts and response strategies of COVID-19 in Sri Lankan construction projects. A systematic literature review and semi-structured interviews with industry professionals identified twelve COVID-19 impacts and twenty-two response strategies needed to mitigate the impacts. A structured questionnaire survey was then conducted with Sri Lankan construction professionals. The gathered data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). A model and six hypotheses were developed to explain the impact and strategy. The results revealed that it is necessary to focus on the impacts related to the project, develop the necessary strategies from a financial point of view, and supply the necessary materials and equipment. During COVID-19, organizational management and information exchange should be enhanced, along with a project's workforce and its provision. The study findings could aid industry professionals and policymakers in comprehending the pandemic and developing strategies to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on Sri Lankan construction projects.
ABSTRACT
Policymakers are developing response strategies to reduce the impacts of COVID-19. However, developing response strategies without considering their relationships with the impacts of COVID-19 is ineffective. This study aims to model the causal relationships between COVID-19 impacts and response strategies in the construction industry, using Malaysia as a case study. To achieve this, a systematic literature review and semi-structured interviews with forty industry professionals were conducted, yielding 12 impacts and 22 response strategies. The impacts and strategies were inserted into a survey, and 107 valid responses were received. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to group the impacts and strategies. Then, partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to identify the causal relationship between the impacts and strategies. The EFA results indicate that the underlying impacts are project- or material-related, and the underlying strategies are market stability and financial aid, supply chain and project support, and information and legislation. The PLS-SEM results indicate that supply chain and project support are required to address material-related impacts, and market stability and financial aid are required to address project-related impacts. This is the first paper that models the relationships between COVID-19 impacts and response strategies in the construction industry.