Development of a Conceptual Designer’s Knowledge, Skills, and Experience Index for Prevention through Design Practice in Construction
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 148, Issue 2
Abstract
The designer competence is a key dimension in the prevention through design (PtD) practices that has yet to be explicitly highlighted and assessed in regards to its practical implications. Despite the subject of PtD in construction having been progressively studied, the context of the assessment of competence is virtually absent. At present, there is no index system that can represent the designer’s competence in PtD practice. To initiate the development of an index, this study adopted the Delphi method in order to obtain a consensus from 59 experts on the key attributes of the designer’s competence triangle (i.e., knowledge, skills, and experience) for PtD practice. The conceptual designer’s knowledge, skills, and experience index for PtD (KSEI-PtD) practice in construction was then developed based on the hierarchical ranking list of 18 key attributes and their relative weightings. The KSEI-PtD is a linear additive weighting model where its workability was demonstrated by integrating five competency levels and conducting case studies. The present study contributes to the body of knowledge by providing a method for the client, designer, or design organization to perform an initial assessment for designers’ PtD competence in construction. Additionally, the hierarchical ranking list of key attributes (KAs) of the designer competence triangle, its respective corresponding weights, and competency levels should enable key construction stakeholders to effectively prioritize their resources in ascertaining the required duties outlined in PtD-related legislative frameworks. The taxonomy measures and associated levels of the KSEI-PtD will be determined as part of future research, resulting in a fully working model needed to inform PtD competence-related policy and practice.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study (numerical and raw text data generated from Delphi survey) are proprietary or confidential in nature and may only be provided with restrictions [anonymized data and identifiable information (i.e., organization name and interviewee name) will be removed].
Acknowledgments
This study forms part of a research project, which is fully funded by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Malaysia (Ref. No. 03-16/03/DCM/2020/01). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIOSH.
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Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 148 • Issue 2 • February 2022
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© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Mar 4, 2021
Accepted: Oct 18, 2021
Published online: Dec 6, 2021
Published in print: Feb 1, 2022
Discussion open until: May 6, 2022
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