Preconstruction Phase Management Practices Enhancing Labor Productivity in Multistory Building Projects

Implementation of appropriate management practices before commencing construction is vital to enhance construction productivity. This study aims to identify and prioritize preconstruction phase management practices (PCMPs) that can improve labor productivity in multistory building projects. Additionally, the objective of this research is to develop a stochastic model for predicting labor productivity based on the level of implementation of PCMPs. A thorough review of the literature was conducted to identify the practices that can increase construction productivity. Thereafter, questionnaires were distributed to principal contractors, and quantitative data were collected. After analyzing the data, the PCMPs were prioritized and a probability-based labor productivity prediction model was developed. The findings of the study revealed that well-defined scopes of work, short-interval plans, and buildability review are the top three PCMPs that can enhance labor productivity in multistory building projects. Correlation analysis showed that the relationship between labor productivity and PCMPs is statistically significant. The research showed that the relative importance of PCMPs varies based on project type. This study contributes to the body of knowledge by developing a novel tool to assess the levels of implementation of PCMPs and by building an innovative stochastic model for estimating labor productivity. Contractors can implement the practices identified in this research to augment the labor productivity of building projects, and use the model and a scoring tool to predict the labor productivity of multistory building projects.