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  • Article
    Citation - Scopus: 1
    An Activity-Based Lessons Learned Model To Support Scheduling Decisions in Construction
    (Emerald Group Publishing Ltd, 2025) Yilmaz, Anil; Akcay, Emre Caner; Dikmen, Irem; Birgonul, M. Talat
    PurposeThe aim of this study is to develop an activity-based lessons-learned model that allows construction companies to capture, store, classify and reuse activity-related lessons learned (LL) from previous projects, thereby increasing the reliability of time estimates in scheduling.Design/methodology/approachScheduling is a knowledge-intensive process that requires the utilization of data and expert opinion elicitation from various levels of an organization in construction projects. This research consists of five successive steps: performing a needs analysis, proposing an activity-based lessons-learned process model, validating the proposed process model, developing a tool to apply the proposed model in a computer environment and testing the applicability of the tool. To implement the proposed model in practice, a web-based tool, namely the Construction Industry Scheduling with Activity-Based Lessons Learned Tool (ConSALL Tool), was developed. Its functionality was evaluated using black-box testing. The tool was then applied in a real construction project.FindingsResults show that ConSALL has the potential to improve scheduling decisions in construction projects by incorporating data and experience from previous projects. Findings from this research can be used to develop similar models and AI tools to foster activity-based learning in other project-based industries as well as the construction industry.Originality/valueThis paper presents an innovative approach to enhancing construction project scheduling by leveraging LL from past projects. The development and application of the ConSALL Tool demonstrate a practical implementation of the proposed model, providing a framework that can be adapted to other industries to improve project planning and execution.
  • Article
    Design Team Effectiveness and Architects' Personality Types
    (Emerald Group Publishing Ltd, 2025) Alan, Ece; Arditi, David; Gunaydin, Husnu Murat; Akcay, Emre Caner
    PurposeThe personalities of the design team members constitute one of the factors that influence team effectiveness. In this study, 223 members of the "American Institute of Architects" who are employed by the largest architectural design firms in the United States of America were categorized according to their personality types by using "The Enneagram Personality Type Model." Also, the respondents' opinions about eight team effectiveness outcomes were recorded in order to explore the relationship between team members' personality types and team effectiveness outcomes.Design/methodology/approachThe information was collected by a questionnaire where the first part included 144 pairs of statements that were used to identify respondents' personality types. The second part sought designers' opinions about the importance of eight team effectiveness outcomes rated on a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5. The results were assessed by performing the Kruskal-Wallis test first and Dunn's post-hoc test with Bonferroni adjustment subsequently.FindingsThe findings highlight the significance of personality types in effective design teams. While Type 6 (loyalist and skeptic) and Type 3 (achiever and performer) architects prioritize team effectiveness the most, Type 7 architects (enthusiasts and epicureans) assign the lowest importance. However, the presence of Type 1 (reformist and perfectionist) and Type 8 (challenger and protector) architects within the same design team may involve challenges or conflicts.Originality/valueThe primary contribution of this study is that it is the first study in the construction management literature that utilizes The Enneagram of Personality Test to understand the relationship between team members' personality types and team effectiveness outcomes. This study is of direct relevance to practitioners and could be utilized in design team-building activities.
  • Article
    Citation - WoS: 9
    Citation - Scopus: 10
    Real Options Valuation of Photovoltaic Investments: a Case From Turkey
    (Pergamon-elsevier Science Ltd, 2024) Or, Bartu; Bilgin, Gozde; Akcay, Emre Caner; Dikmen, Irem; Birgonul, M. Talat
    Investments in renewable energy resources have become inevitable due to increasing energy demand and energy prices, diminishing non-renewable energy resources, and the outgrowth of carbon footprints. Photovoltaic (PV) systems offer high solar energy potential in sustainable energy production whereas their high initial costs necessitate critical strategic valuation of investments. Valuation with conventional methods has been challenging due to existence of uncertainties such as fluctuating PV panel prices, changing meteorological conditions with certain effects on power generation, and governmental policies on energy market regulations. This study aims to propose a real options approach to valuation of residential rooftop PV system investments considering these uncertainties and demonstrate benefits of this approach with an application on the residential PV investment decisions in Turkey. The proposed method, Real Options Valuation (ROV) with Least-Squares Monte Carlo Simulation (LSMC) considers the deferral option of the investor by utilizing stochastic simulations, the discounted cash flow method, linear regression, and backward dynamic programming and thus evaluates the effects of uncertainties on financial attractiveness of residential PV investments. The case study findings proved that ROV with LSMC having a 7-years deferral option supported the investment decision with realizable cost-effective options while "NPV method" resulted in an infeasible investment. Scenario analysis was also conducted to explore policy options that can be used to promote solar energy investments in Turkey. This study has a potential to have practical contributions for investors as well as implications for policy-makers.
  • Conference Object
    Investigating the Barriers To the Adoption of 3d Printing Technology in the Turkish Construction Industry
    (Springer International Publishing Ag, 2025) Latifiilkhechi, Leva; Aminbakhsh, Saman; Akcay, Emre Caner
    In recent years, 3D printing has emerged as a transformative force in construction technology. This innovative technology has found applications in many construction and bridge-building projects, starting a new era of automation and efficiency. Notably, the impact of 3D printing on the construction industry has been profound, yielding benefits such as reduced labor requirements, minimized material waste, accelerated project timelines, and a significant reduction in hazardous tasks for human workers. In contrast to conventional construction approaches, 3D printing stands out for its environmentally friendly characteristics, challenging traditional notions of geometric complexities and constraints in construction processes. While 3D printing technology undeniably offers a multitude of advantages over traditional methodologies, it is crucial to acknowledge that it also introduces its own set of unique challenges and risks. The main aim of this study is to investigate the barriers that hinder the adoption of 3D printing technology in the Turkish construction industry. Towards this, first, the list of potential barriers was extracted from multiple reputable sources, including Scopus, ScienceDirect and Web of Science databases. Based on this list, an online questionnaire was prepared to assess the impact of 19 potential barriers on the implementation of 3D printing technology in the Turkish construction industry. The findings and research directions articulated in this study create fresh pathways for further inquiry and substantial contributions to the evolving field of 3D printing in the construction industry.