Evacuation drill: A test of emergency preparedness
- Authors: Ogbeifun, E. , Mbohwa, Charles , Pretorius, J. H.
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Building , Evacuation drill , Higher education institution
- Language: English
- Type: Conference proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/92158 , uj:20196 , Citation: Ogbeifun, E., Mbohwa, C. & Pretorius, J. H. 2016. Evacuation drill: A test of emergency preparedness.
- Description: Abstract: Considerable research efforts abound on safety issues during construction phase of built facilities, but very low attention is paid to safety during operation phase; instead security occupies top priority. Responding to factors such as technological and increase in student’s population, many higher institutions globally are expanding their built facilities in terms of quantity, size and sophistication. There are many situations that infringe on the safety of the end-users; they include fire, natural and man-made disasters. The simplest approach to test the emergency preparedness of the end-user of the facilities as well as the adequacies of critical components of the built facilities is to simulate emergency through evacuation drill. Conducting evacuation drill in Higher Education institution is complex due to the composition of its constituency, multiple activities, time constraints and the human dynamics: some view evacuation drill as a wasteful exercise. The case study method of qualitative research is adopted; the data are collected through semi-structured questionnaire complemented with interview, observation and participation. The findings include evidence of the display of safety awareness documents, sensitization lectures and running mini evacuation drills in the different segment of the institution. Although the response rate to evacuation drill is low at the moment, with more commitments and advocacy it is possible to progress towards benchmarking the exercise with regulatory standards.
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Managing end-users’ satisfaction during capital developments by adopting value engineering as project management tool
- Authors: Ogbeifun, E. , Pretorius, J. H. , Mbohwa, Charles
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Customers’ satisfaction , Value engineering. , Project management
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:4851 , ISBN 978-0-9566060-6-8 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/12518
- Description: The burden of translating the end-users’ project briefs into the development of functional support facilities that enhance the performance of the core functions of the organisation require the use of dynamic modern project management methods. In the course of developing capital assets, it is inevitable that original designs are modified, some sections redesigned while some facilities or components are out-rightly removed due to budgetary, time or other constraints. It is imperative, therefore, to incorporate the end-users into the development process, so that managing changes, trade-offs, commissioning and project close-outs will be smooth and enhance the achievement of customers’ satisfaction. Customers’ satisfaction, in the context of this paper, is viewed in the light of how effective and functional the completed facilities enhance the performance of the core functions of the organisation. The case study method of qualitative research was used in this research. The research data were collected through semi-structured questionnaire complemented with interviews. The thematic method was used to analyse the interview data. The client and end-users provided information on the level of their satisfaction with the performance of the capital development unit as well as identified some areas of concern that require improvement. Recommendations made include the use of Value Engineering as a project management tool; considered suitable for the management of design or scope changes and ‘trade-offs’, in order to improve on the level of customers’ satisfaction.
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Developing KPI for organizations with similar objective
- Authors: Ogbeifun, E. , Mbohwa, Charles , Pretorius, J. H.
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Benchmark , Delphi technique , Facilities Management
- Language: English
- Type: Conference preceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/93030 , uj:20299 , Citation:Ogbeifun, E. Mbohwa, C. $ Pretorius, J. H. Developing KPI for organizations with similar objective.
- Description: Abstract:It is a difficult task to attempt developing generic Key Performance Indicators for all the functions of Facilities Management services in all organization it serves. Nevertheless, the exercise is possible for organizations with similar objectives. For example, the objectives of Higher Education institutions revolve around teaching, learning and research that require functional infrastructure, technology and services. The client, end-users and service providers in these organizations can develop acceptable indicators for their operation of the support facilities and that will facilitate the creation of an effective benchmark. The modified classic Delphi technique was used in achieving the consensus of opinion from the participants. The findings revealed that there were convergence of opinion on the essential indicators that can enhance the provision, operation and management of the required support facilities for the effective performance of the core functions of Higher Education institutions. It was recommended that the research should be extended to cover all Higher Education institutions within and across regions for more comprehensive information
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The Delphi technique: A credible research methodology
- Authors: Ogbeifun, E. , Agwa-Ejon, J. , Mbohwa, Charles , Pretorius, J. H.
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Delphi technique , Participants
- Language: English
- Type: Conference Proceedings
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/92867 , uj:20279 , Citation: Ogbeifun, E., et al. 2016. The Delphi technique : a credible research methodology. Proceedings of the 2016 International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 8-10, 2016
- Description: Abstract: The Delphi technique, as a research method for achieving consensus of opinion of participants, is sometimes seen as a less reliable research method because the participants do change their opinion from one round of the exercise to the other. Instead of seeing this as weakness, it is actually the strength of the technique. The controlled feedbacks allow participants to view their individual submissions in the light of the whole group. The Delphi technique is about the only research method that allows participants to interact with the opinion of each other, without coercion, adjust ones position where necessary and yet retain anonymity. Thoughtful selection of participants and effective communication throughout the exercise ensures that the outcome of the exercise is truly a consensus opinion of the group that can proffer appropriate solution to the research question. The participants for the Delphi exercise, being reported, were chosen from the strategic and tactical levels of leadership of the client, end-user and the service provider. Though participants changed their opinion from one round to the other; the net result showed a more refined selection of appropriate Key Performance Indicator, without evidence of complicity or coercion.
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Capacity development for landfill infrastructure
- Authors: Ogbeifun, E. , Agwa-Ejon, J. , Mbohwa, Charles
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Waste disposal , Landfill infrastructure
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:4832 , ISBN 978-0-86970-782-1 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/12425
- Description: Landfill, as a Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) disposal infrastructure, has progressed beyond mere dumping site to infrastructure of high economic importance; it is useful for entrepreneurial development, poverty alleviation scheme, energy generation and reduction in the emission of Green House Gas (GHG) and harvesting biogas for other economic use. The life cycle of a typical landfill structure is over thirty years from design to final closure; it has many components that include design, construction, operation, waste collection, transportation, recycling, maintenance and reuse of landfill site after closure. The whole process requires a steady stream of adequately resourced personnel. Therefore, embracing the concept of continuous capacity building will ensure the provision of suitable manpower at the strategic, tactical and operational levels for the effective and beneficial management of the landfill project throughout its life cycle. This research is the product of extensive desktop search and examination of a training programme for personnel at the strategic and tactical level of a pilot landfill project, facilitated by the authors. The result showed that the trained personnel were empowered to train others at the various phase of the landfill project, thus ensuring continuous supply of competent manpower to operate the project profitably.
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Identifying the effects of excessive deflection in reinforced concrete beam
- Authors: Ogbeifun, E. , Pretorius, J. H. , Mbohwa, Charles , Ogbeifun, E
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Reinforced concrete construction , Concrete beams , Floors, Concrete - Design and construction
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:5084 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13655
- Description: In framed reinforced concrete structure, the beams transfers the dead and live loads to the column and then to the foundation. When there are observed structural failure in the systems supported by the beam, especially where the beam has a large unsupported clear span at a lower level, before any further detailed investigations are initiated, the functional state of the beams should be ascertained. The correct diagnosis of the source of problem is essential for the design of effective rehabilitation scheme. Simple visual inspection corroborated with field test for true horizontality of the beam can provide the lead information that will guide the client on the scope of further investigations. The case study method of qualitative research was adopted to address the research questions, while the research data was collected by reviewing previous investigation reports on a three-storey building, physical inspection and conducting simple site experiment to identify the lead information. The research outcome reveals that the multiple cracks observed in the partition walls especially in the second floors were as a result of excessive deflections in the beams supporting the first and second floors. Based on recommendation, subsequent investigation confirmed this lead information and appropriate rehabilitation scheme was adopted.
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