Strategic planning to improve the construction industry in Palestine: Towards BIM and Lean in Palestine. رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

The construction industry in Palestine is experiencing significant changes due to the adoption of advanced technologies such as lean construction and Building Information Modeling (BIM). The purpose of this thesis is to explore the possibility of implementing these innovative methods in the Palestinian construction sector, and to create a strategic conceptual framework for their implementation. The research starts with acknowledging the crucial role of lean construction in eliminating waste, improving value, and meeting customer requirements. Similarly, BIM provides an intelligent, model-based approach to building design and operation. However, implementing these technologies in Palestine faces challenges such as limited capital and skills, and concerns about cost-effectiveness. To address these challenges, 150 questionaries were conducted among construction professionals, government officials, and stakeholders to comprehensively analyze implementation challenges in Palestine, including limited capital, skills, cost concerns, and cultural factors. The analysis informs targeted capacity-building strategies to ensure the workforce is well-equipped to harness the capabilities of Lean and BIM. Statistical analysis using SPSS and smartpls indicates that perceived barriers explain a substantial portion of variances in strategic planning for Lean and BIM integration. Additionally, a significant effect of expected benefits on the desire to implement these technologies is observed, with perceived benefits playing a crucial role. The objectives of this study are to identify barriers and challenges to BIM and Lean implementation, assess industry readiness to implement these technologies, examine the impact of strategic planning on their implementation, and develop a strategic framework linking strategic planning and technology implementation. VI The study conclude that company demographics and readiness are crucial factors to ensure the successful implementation of BIM and Lean methods in the construction industry of Palestine. The research findings suggest that larger companies with more experience in the construction industry are willing to adopt these methods, while smaller companies are more hesitant due to many challenges like resources’ constraints and limited knowledge in the field.