Success factors for small and medium-sized contractors : a study of mechanical contractors in Vietnam | |
| Author | Dam Thanh Binh |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.CM-09-20 |
| Subject(s) | Contractors--Vietnam Small business--Vietnam Construction contracts--Vietnam |
| Note | 103 p. : ill. |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. CM-09-20 |
| Abstract | Small in scale, high in operation cost, poor in quality of product, lack of marketing skill technical capacity and expertise along with backwardness of machinery are the main reasons leave many small and medium-sized mechanical contractors (SMMCs) out of the subcontracting opportunities in industrial and civil projects in Vietnam. Series of efforts from the Government and other organizations have been made to extricate the difficulties for this type of enterprises. However, once the enterprises, particularly the owners are not aware of improving themselves, consequently support systems become less efficient. Through case studies conducted in three typical mechanical enterprises which were considered as succeed contractors in terms of business performance, stability in supplying guaranteed products/services to customer, fair in resources and capacity, and innovative in management, the researcher had a view from the enterprises' owner perspective on success factors related to managerial and developmental issues for SMMCs in Vietnam. Interviewing managers together with collecting related documents and other additional observations has been implemented in such the three enterprises to explore factors positively influencing their current development and prosperousness. The factors then grouped in similar characteristic categories including OwnerlManager Characteristics, Management policies/approaches, Resources/competitive Advantages, and Customer/partner relationship. Also from these interviews, the typical success factors among collected factors were pointed out in a shorter list after excluded factors which were not directly related to characteristics of construction mechanical enterprises and mechanical industry and current context of construction mechanical industry in Vietnam. Beside success factors investigation, a model for mechanical enterprise development process were also established to reflect positive influences of the success factors toward enterprise's development based on major activities of a mechanical contractor consist of Approaching market/customer, Satisfying customer and Developing and Expanding. The findings in the study showed that, for small and medium-sized mechanical contractors in Vietnam, success factors commonly consist of (l) Owner/ Manager Characteristics: Knowledge and experience in field; Innovative thinking; Economic vision; and Broad Networking (2) Management policies/approaches: Apply QMS strictly; Clear responsibility for each unit/employee; Save administrative and production expense; Offer training to employee; Scientific arrangement of working space; Focus in safety - quality - delivery; Encourage creative to improve productivity and lower production expense; Motivating and retraining workforce; and Subcontracting (3) Resources/competitive advantages: Good location; Competence workforce; Up-to-date equipment/machines; good manufacturing infrastructure; Completed production line to create a finished mechanical product; Work experience of company; Financial supports; and Financial resource is always kept in control and (4) Customer/partner relationship: Maintain good relationship with traditional customer while search for new valuable customers; and Develop in-depth relationships with customers/suppliers |
| Year | 2009 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. CM-09-20 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology (SET) |
| Department | Department of Civil and Infrastucture Engineering (DCIE) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Construction Engineering and Infrastructure Management (CM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Hadikusumo, B.H.W. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Chotchai Charoenngam;Ilkka, Kauranen |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Ilkka, Kauranen |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2009 |