CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY
3.1
Introduction
Chapter 3 embrace the preview for method of data collection in an orderly
manners in the aspects of how the data were collected, where the data is to be source
and how the design till implementation of the questionnaire. The research
methodology serves to explain and achieve the objectives mentioned in chapter 1.
3.2
Methods of Data Collection
Data collection is considers as the crucial stage in gathering all required
information form the fundamental in achieving main objectives of the study.
Basically, the main or primary data were collected from:
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1) Questionnaires survey – the data collect through questionnaire survey
delegated to contractors, consultants, developer/client that involve in
management of construction project.
2) Interview – interview may be from hand on face-to-face conversation,
telephone conversation interview, and electronic interview session through email and internet service. The interview may cover aspects in extend of the
application of HRM related HR Planning and Development, tools and
technique selection that affect the project team performance.
3) E-mail survey – the questionnaire will also be sending through e-mail to
respective respondents namely contractors, consultants and developer/client.
Secondary data are collected from literatures review on books, journal, articles
and seminar conference, website which emphasize on the HRM in Construction
Project. The secondary data reviewed prepared the platform for the formulation of
questionnaire.
3.3
Primary Data Collection
The primary data in this study were gathered through mailing questionnaires
and e-mail to be answer by personnel in contractors, consultants, developer/client, and
firm function both as developer and contractor that involved managing of construction
project. The questionnaires to examine the aspects identified in the literature and
meant to fulfill the objectives pre-determined.
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During the questionnaire’s preparation stage-questionnaires were designed
and are aimed to enable amore objectives responses rather than superfluous views that
contained no concrete substance or justification. The questionnaire has been designed
in order to obtain a wider range of views towards the study. The questionnaires have
been designed in such a way that simple and straightforward. Respondents only need
to circle or choose his responding answer. In some of the questions, the respondents
have to contribute their views and opinion in writing to fulfill the objectives of the
study.
The questionnaires structure framed based on three types of answering
techniques, namely rating-based, selective based and open-ended format. Ratingbased format, respondents were instructed to rate their opinion for a specific fact by
making a 5-point scale ranging from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree or from
Very uncommon to Very common. Secondly, selective-based questions only required
respondents to tick in the appropriate box or boxes.
The structured questionnaires for this study would cover 3 sections,
1) Section 1: The background of the respondents such numbers of years of
experience, qualification, his/or position in the company. The company profile
where he/she currently employed, such as business activity and nature of the
company.
2) Section 2: The second part comprises the questions that indicating the possible
factors to be consider when performing HR task. In addition to that, it also
included the aspects of tools and techniques utilization of Organizational
Planning (HR Planning) and Team Development (HR Development) in
construction project.
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3) Section 3: Third part would be the question of the desirable outcome or impact
in utilization of the tools and techniques in Project HR Planning and
Development to the project and organizational performance. The possible
selection of causes or limitation that may have to look in Project HR Planning
and development.
In this study, there are 100 questionnaire being distributed to selected
respondents from contractor, consultant, and developer that from Johor and Kuala
Lumpur, with various ages group, level of experience, organizations, working nature
and responsibilities as their involved in managing construction project and understand
the ideas in tackling Project Human Resource issue. There were all together 70
responses and responses rate 70% in feedback. The correspondences of the
questionnaire 20 are achieved through walk in interviews session and 10 through email interaction to respective company Personnel. The remaining 70 questionnaires
are achieved through post- mailing format.
The chosen respondents for the study is involve themselves in the construction
project running and in particular had encounter experience in traditional procurement
method (Design-tenders-buld). In addition to that, the selected organizations are
ranging from medium to large scale organization only. The frameworks of categories
of the respondents are from executive level and managerial level and having
responsibility in running respective construction project representing contractor,
consultant, or developer.
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3.4
Secondary Data Collection
Secondary data are from literature review discussed in Chapter 2. These data
are important to generate and design the questions for the questionnaires of primary
data collection as well as for interviews. All secondary data are obtained from journal
paper, seminar paper of conference, books related to the study as the Construction
industry, Conventional procurement method (Design-bids-build), Interfaces between
personnel HRM, SHM in construction, HR Planning and Development in
Construction, Project Human Resource (Organizational Planning and Team
Development) and etc.
3.5
Analysis Method
The data are pre-processed using the Microsoft Excel for Microsoft
Professional Windows XP and Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) for the
data analysis. The analysis of the data from the receivable feedback from the
questionnaire quantitative stimulation in using Microsoft excel for instance in average
index and relative index calculation and generation of chart and graph.
1.
Average Index Formula:
Average Index = ∑ (a X), X = n/N
a = Constant expressing the weighing given to each response (1 to 5)
X = n/N where,
n = Frequency of the response
N = Total of response,
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Whereby the application of Average index in questionnaire for instance would be:
X1 = frequency of “Strongly Disagree/Very uncommon” response and corresponding
to a1 = 1
X2 = frequency of “Disagree/Uncommon” response and corresponding to а2 = 2
X3 = Frequency of “Less Agree/Less Common” response and corresponding to a3= 3
X4 = Frequency of “Agree/Common” response and corresponding to a4 = 4
X5 = Frequency of “Strongly Agree/Very Common” response and corresponding to
a5
=5
With the rating scale as below:

1 = Strong Disagree/Very uncommon ( 1.00 ≤ Average index <1.50)

2 = Disagree/Uncommon ( 1.50 ≤ Average index <2.50)

3 = Less Agree/Less Common ( 2.50 ≤ Average index <3.50)

4 = Agree/Common ( 3.50 ≤ Average index < 4.50)

5 = Strongly Agree/Very common (4.50≤ Average index ≤ 5.00)
In another hand, the statistical and mathematical method applied using SPSS
11.5 package assist in computing for frequencies, reliability analysis and correlation
analysis. In this analysis, the statistical method via frequencies statistic, crosstabs’
statistic, correlation analysis and reliability analysis are been used. Generally,
frequency statistic analysis is used to show frequency of each variable or item
outlined in the questionnaire form. In the meantime, crosstabs’ statistic method is
used to analyze or gauge the combination of two (2) variables. The application of
reliability analysis will be the measurement of how reliable the research instrument
and finally correlation analysis that recognize the relationship between two or more
variable.
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3.6
Flow Chart of Methodology
Problem Identification
Generate objectives of study and
scope of study
Literature Review
Developing and Distribution of
Questionnaire survey and carry
out interviewing suitable
respondents such as contractor,
consultant, and developer/client.
Collection of Questionnaire,
checking and sorting of data.
Data Analysis
Result and discussion
Conclusions and
Recommendations
Figure 3.1: Flowchart of Research Methodology