NUS Department of Building

Associate Professor
Department of Building, SDE1-04-17
School of Design and Environment
National University of Singapore
4 Architecture Drive
Singapore 117566
Tel: (65) 6516-3444
Fax: (65) 6775-5502

Email:

Home Page: http://courses.nus.edu.sg/course/
bdglyy/index.htm

Academic/Professional Qualifications:

BSc (Building) with First Class Honours from the National University of Singapore (NUS) in 1989. Awarded the Sally Meyer Gold Medal and the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers Gold Medal.
MSc (International Construction Management) from Nanyang Technological University in 1992. Awarded Guthrie Gold Medal.
Doctor of Philosophy from the NUS in the area of construction management (1999). Won the runner-up prize for the international PhD student essay competition organized by the UK Building Research and Information journal.
Member of the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers (since 1989), and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (since 1990).

Career History:

Executive Quantity Surveyor (cost engineer), Public Works Department (1987 - 1995). Provided quantity surveying services to a range of projects such as high rise multi-million dollar office complexes, residential complexes, schools, and other institutional buildings.
Lecturer (1995 - 1998); Assistant Professor (1998 - 2004) National University of Singapore

Associate Professor (2004-current) National University of Singapore
Visiting Scholar, University of California, Berkeley (Fall Semester, 2002)

Administrative Leadership:

Vice Dean (Finance and Administration), School of Design and Environment
Member, University Research Committee Expert Panel for Business, Humanities and Social Sciences (2006 – current)
Director of the undergraduate Building programs (1999 – 2002: full time program; 2004 – July 2007: part time programs).
Director of Minor in Project Management (Aug 2006 -July 2007)

Council Member of Quantity Surveying Divisional Council, SISV.
Member of the 7th Ministry of Manpower’s Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (2005).
Member of the Ministry of Manpower's Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Construction Advisory Sub-Committee (2006 - current).
Far East Editor, International Journal of Project Organisation and Management (September 07 – current)
Member of Management Committee, Australasian Journal of Construction Economics and Building (July 07 – current)

Research Interests:

Construction management and construction economics
International construction
Project management in China
Improving project performance (budget/cost; schedule/time; quality; profitability; and client's satisfaction)

Research Projects and Research Grants Received:

Building a World Class Construction Industry: An Examination of the Impact of C21 on Singapore’s Construction Industry (S$19,500, collaborator) - completed in October 2000
Performance Evaluation of Alternative Project Procurement Methods (S$21,650, principal investigator) - completed in July 2002
Enabling Innovation in Construction: The Alignment of Motivation in Construction for Greater Integration (S$86,234, principal investigator) - completed in January 2003
Developing World Class Firms with Strong Export Capability: Learning from Successful USA Design and Construction Firms (S$22,350, principal investigator) - completed in September 2003
Enhancing Safety Culture in Construction: the Impact of Safety Management System on Construction Safety Levels (S$89,075, co-principal investigator) - completed in January 2004
Project Management Practices Adopted by International Consultants and Contractors When Operating in China (S$17,940, principal investigator) - expected to complete in March 2006
Flexibility Management to Counter Corporate Financial Risk of Contractors (S17,000, principal investigator) – in progress.
Strategies for contractors: integrating Porter’s Diamond with Sun Tzu’s Art of War ($34,000; principal investigator) – in progress.

Major Awards:

National University of Singapore’s Teaching Excellence Award, 1999
National University of Singapore's Excellent Teacher, 2001/02; 2002/03; 2003/04; 2005/06; 2006/07
National University of Singapore School of Design and Environment's Teaching Honours List, 2002/2003; 2006/07
National University of Singapore’s Teaching Honour Roll, 2008
National University of Singapore’s Suggestion of the Year Award, December 1996
Financial incentive from teaching a Singapore Studies module SSD2210 (2006; 2008).
Emerald Literati Network 2006 Highly Commended Award for the paper she co-authored: “Improving the Design of Tall Buildings After 9/11” published in Structural Survey, 23(4) in 2005.

Awards for PhD Studies:

Runner-up for Building Research and Information PhD Student Essay Competition, May 1999 (Lorch, R. (1999). Editorial: BRI Student Essay Competition, Building Research and Information, 27(3), 123.)

Awards for Graduate Studies:

Nanyang Technological University’s Guthrie Gold Medal Award, for being top student for the M Sc (International Construction Management) course, 1992

Awards for Undergraduate Studies:

National University of Singapore’s Sally Meyer’s Gold Medal for being top student in the final year, 1987
Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers’ Gold Medal for being top student in the BSc (Building) course, 1983-1987
Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers’ M.H. Goh Award for being top student in Level 1 of the BSc (Building) course, 1983.
Government of Singapore’s Open Merit Scholarship, 1983-1987

Teaching:

PF2202 Cost Estimating
SSD2210 Managing Singapore’s Built Environment

Service to the community/industry:

Member of the Workplace Health and Safety Council’s Construction and Landscaping Committee (2008 – current).
Council Member of Quantity Surveying Divisional Council, SISV.
Assessor for the RICS for Test of Professional Competence (since 2003)
Member of the Ministry of Manpower’s Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Construction Advisory Sub-Committee (2005 – 2007).

Selected Research Publications:

Ling*, Y Y, G Ofori and S P Low, "Importance of design consultants' soft skills in design-build projects". Engineering, Construction & Architectural Management, Vol.7, No. 4 (2000): 389-398.
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/eb021161
Ling*, Y Y, H Y Kee and K S G Lim, "The reasons why clients prefer to procure more projects based on design-bid-build than design-and-build". Journal of Construction Procurement, 6, No. 2 (2000): 135-146.
http://www.journalofconstructionprocurement.com/abstractdetails.asp?id=72
Ling, Y Y, "A theoretical framework for selection of consultants by design-build contractors". Journal of Construction Procurement, 6, No. 2 (2000): 147-163.
http://www.journalofconstructionprocurement.com/abstractdetails.asp?id=73
Ling*, Y Y and K. C. Leo, "Reusing timber formwork: importance of workmen's efficiency and attitude". Building and Environment, 35, No. 2 (2000): 135-143.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0360-1323(99)00008-6
Ling*, Y Y and Y.W. Tan, "Relevance of the network factor in the selection of consultants". Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice, 127, No. 4 (2001): 190-195.
http://cedb.asce.org/cgi/WWWdisplay.cgi?0105388
Ling*, Y Y and M.P.S. Lim, "Factors that architects consider when recommending consultants to clients". Journal of Construction Research, 2, No. 2 (2001): 181-190.
http://www.hkir.com/hkiob/jcrcontent.php?id=8
Ling*, Y Y and P W L Teo, "A survey of contractors' opinions of waste minimization". Architectural Science Review, 44, No. 3 (2001): 319-323.
Ling*, Y Y and J S H Boo, "Improving the accuracy of approximate estimates of building projects". Building Research and Information, 29, No. 4 (2001): 312-318.
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/routledg/rbri/2001/00000029/00000004/art00008
Lim, E. H. and Y Y Ling*, "Model for predicting clients' contribution to project success". Engineering, Construction & Architectural Management, 9, No. 5/6 (2002): 388-395.
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/eb021233
Dulaimi, M F, Y Y Ling, G Ofori and N De silva, "Enhancing integration and innovation in construction". Building Research and Information, 30, No. 4 (2002): 237-247.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09613210110115207
Ling, Y Y, "Model for predicting performance of architects and engineers". Journal of Construction Engineering and Management-ASCE, 128, No. 5 (2002): 446-455.
http://cedb.asce.org/cgi/WWWdisplay.cgi?0204412
Ling*, Y Y and B.S.Y Lau, "A case study on the management of the development of a large-scale power plant project in East Asia based on design-build arrangement". International Journal of Project Management, 20, No. 6 (2002): 413-423.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0263-7863(01)00036-9
Ling*, Y Y and E.F.K. Leong, "Performance of design-build projects in terms of cost, quality and time: views of clients, architects and contractors in Singapore". The Australian Journal of Construction Economics and Building, 2, No. 1 (2002): 37-46.
Ling*, Y Y and M C H Lim, "Implementation of a waste management plan for construction projects in Singapore". Architectural Science Review, 45, No. 2 (2002): 73-8. http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=Jp3VDjTqDKMFv234QgYt3ZFGSTZHkmKG9bXwD3MQTXpP9WQtpJ4l!592240499?docId=5002492427
Chew, A T W and Y Y Ling*, "Increasing Singapore's construction productivity through construction process re-engineering". Journal of Construction Research, 3, No. 1 (2002): 123-145.
http://www.worldscinet.com/cgi-bin/details.cgi?id=pii:S1609945102000072&type=html
Ling*, Y Y, M F Dulaimi, M Kumaraswamy and A Bajracharya, "A case study of the management of innovation implementation within a construction project organisation." International Journal of Construction Management, 3, No. 2 (2003): 79-91.
Liu, M. and Y Y Ling*, "Using fuzzy neural network approach to estimate contractors' markup". Building and Environment, 38, No. 11 (2003): 1303-1308.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0360-1323(03)00135-5
Chia, S Y and Y Y Ling*, "Implementation of enterprise resource planning in firms operating in the construction industry". Architectural Science Review, 46, No. 3 (2003): 323-331.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb017/is_/ai_n29027397
Ling, Y Y, "Managing the implementation of construction innovations". Construction Management and Economics, 21, No. 6 (2003): 635-649.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0144619032000123725
Dulaimi, M.F., Y Y Ling* and A. Bajracharya, "Organizational motivation and inter-organizational interaction in construction innovation in Singapore". Construction Management and Economics, 21, No. 3 (2003): 307-318.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0144619032000056144
Ling, Y Y, "A conceptual model for selection of architects by project managers in Singapore". International Journal of Project Management, 21, No. 2 (2003): 135-144.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0263-7863(02)00014-5
Ling*, Y Y and Y P Poh, "Encouraging more female quantity surveying graduates to enter the construction industry in Singapore". Women in Management Review, 19, No. 8 (2004): 431-436.
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/viewContentItem.do?contentType=Article&hdAction=lnkhtml&contentId=1412321
Ling*, Y Y and M. Liu, "Using neural network to predict performance of design-build projects in Singapore". Building and Environment, 39, No. 10 (2004): 1263-1274.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2004.02.008
De silva, N, M F Dulaimi, Y Y Ling and G Ofori, "Improving the maintainability of buildings in Singapore". Building and Environment, 39, No. 10 (2004): 1243-1251.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2004.02.011
Ofori, G, Y Y Ling and M F Dulaimi, "Improving Performance of Construction Industry in Singapore: Motivators, Enablers and Lessons for Developing Countries". Journal of Construction Research, 5, No. 2 (2004): 267-289.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/S1609945104000188
Ling, Y Y, "How project managers can better control the performance of design-build projects". International Journal of Project Management, 22, No. 6 (2004): 477-488.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2003.09.003
Ling*, Y Y and S H Kerh, "Comparing the performance of design-build and design-bid-build building projects in Singapore". Architectural Science Review, 47, No. 2 (2004): 163-175.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb017/is_2_47/ai_n29098561
Dulaimi, M F, Y Y Ling and G Ofori, "Engines for change in Singapore's construction industry: an industry view of Singapore's Construction 21 Report". Building and Environment, 39, No. 6 (2004): 699-711.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2004.01.011
Ling, Y Y, "Consultancy fees: dichotomy between A/E's need to maximize profit and employers' need to minimize cost". Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice, 130, No. 2 (2004): 120-123.
http://cedb.asce.org/cgi/WWWdisplay.cgi?0406760
Ling, Y Y, "Key determinants of performance of design-bid-build projects in Singapore". Building Research and Information, 32, No. 2 (2004): 128-139.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/096132103200048497
Ling*, Y Y, S L Chan, E. Chong and L.P. Ee, "Predicting performance of design-build and design-bid-build projects". Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 130, No. 1 (2004): 75-83.
http://cedb.asce.org/cgi/WWWdisplay.cgi?0405497
Ling*, Y Y and S. Peh, "Key performance indicators for measuring contractors' performance". Architectural Science Review, 48, No. 4 (2005): 357-366.
http://www.articlearchives.com/company-activities-management/management-theory/2095880-1.html
Jin, X.H. and Y Y Ling*, "Model for fostering trust and building relationships in China's construction industry". Journal of Construction Engineering and Management-ASCE, 131, No. 11 (2005): 1224-1232.
http://cedb.asce.org/cgi/WWWdisplay.cgi?0529044
Ling*, Y Y and M. Liu, "Factors considered by successful and profitable contractors in mark-up size decision in Singapore". Building and Environment, 40, No. 11 (2005): 1557-1565.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2004.12.001
Ling*, Y Y and L.H. Soh, "Improving the design of tall buildings after 9/11". Structural Survey, 23, No. 4 (2005): 265-281.
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/viewContentItem.do;jsessionid=4123C8B2D63D5F948BBEF5D80D86DE2E?contentType=Article&contentId=1519864
Kumaraswamy, M.M., M.M. Rahman, Y Y Ling and S.T. Phng, "Reconstructing cultures for relational contracting". Journal of Construction Engineering and Management-ASCE, 131, No. 10 (2005): 1065-1075.
http://cedb.asce.org/cgi/WWWdisplay.cgi?0527717
Kumaraswamy, M.M., Y Y Ling, M.M. Rahman and S.T. Phng, "Constructing relationally integrated teams". Journal of Construction Engineering and Management-ASCE, 131, No. 10 (2005): 1076-1086.
http://cedb.asce.org/cgi/WWWdisplay.cgi?0527718
Jin, X.H. and Y Y Ling*, "Constructing a framework for building relationships and trust in project organizations: two case studies of building projects in China". Construction Management and Economics, 23, No. 7 (2005): 685-696. http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/routledg/rcme/2005/00000023/00000007/art00004
Teo*, A L, Y Y Ling and S Y Ong, "Fostering safe work behaviour in workers at construction sites". Engineering, Construction & Architectural Management, 12, No. 4 (2005): 410-422.
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/viewContentItem.do?contentType=Article&contentId=1512954
Ling, Y Y, "Benefits that foreign AEC firms derive when undertaking construction projects in China". Management Decision, 43, No. 4 (2005): 501-515.
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/00251740510593512
Ling*, Y Y, C W Ibbs and J C Cuervo, "Entry and business strategies used by international AEC firms in China". Construction Management and Economics, 23, No. 5 (2005): 509-520.
http://econpapers.repec.org/article/tafconmgt/v_3A23_3Ay_3A2005_3Ai_3A5_3Ap_3A509-520.htm
Ling*, Y Y and C.L.K. Chong, "Design-and-build contractors' service quality in public projects in Singapore". Building and Environment, 40, No. 6 (2005): 815-823.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2004.07.017
Ling*, Y Y and M.M. Kumaraswamy, "The role of trust in team integration: a survey of contractors, consultants and clients in Singapore". Journal of Construction Procurement, 11, No. 1 (Special on Trust in the context of construction) (2005): 55-70.
http://www.journalofconstructionprocurement.com/abstractdetails.asp?id=124
Teo, A L, Y Y Ling and F W A Chong, "Framework for project managers to manage construction safety". International Journal of Project Management, 23, No. 4 (2005): 329-341.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2004.09.001
Ling*, Y Y, C. W. Ibbs and M.M. Kumaraswamy, "Enablers That Help Foreign AEC Firms Win Construction Contracts in China". Journal of Management in Engineering, 21, No. 2 (2005): 63-69.
http://cedb.asce.org/cgi/WWWdisplay.cgi?0511004
Liu, M and Y Y Ling, "Modeling a contractor's markup estimation". Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 131, No. 4 (2005): 391-399.
http://cedb.asce.org/cgi/WWWdisplay.cgi?0510812
Ling, Y Y, "Global factors affecting margin size of construction projects". Journal of Construction Research, 6, No. 1 (2005): 91-106.
http://www.worldscinet.com/jcr/jcr.shtml
Ling, Y Y, "Models for predicting quality of building projects". Engineering, Construction & Architectural Management, 12, No. 1 (2005): 6-20.
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/viewContentItem.do;jsessionid=7A708E57C7E80CE8AA85F538C1E77174?contentType=Article&contentId=1465090
Teo*, A L and Y Y Ling, "Developing a model to measure the effectiveness of safety management systems of construction sites". Building and Environment, 41, No. 11 (2006): 1584-1592.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2005.06.005
Ling, Y Y, "Design-build: how to increase its usage, and its impact on architects and contractors in Singapore". The Australian Journal of Construction Economics and Building, 6, No. 1 (2006): 12-24.
http://www.aiqs.com.au/Publications/AJCB/index.asp#61
Jin, X.H. and Y Y Ling*, "Key relationship-based determinants of project performance in China". Building and Environment, 41, No. 7 (2006): 915-925.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2005.04.007
Ling*, Y Y and Linda Hoi, "Risks faced by Singapore firms when undertaking construction projects in India". International Journal of Project Management, 24, No. 3 (2006): 261-270.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2005.11.003
Ling*, Y Y, C.W. Ibbs and W.Y. Hoo, "Determinants of international architectural, engineering and construction firms’ project success in China". Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 132, No. 2 (2006): 206-214.
http://cedb.asce.org/cgi/WWWdisplay.cgi?0600482
Ling*, Y Y, M.M. Rahman and T.L. Ng, "Incorporating contractual incentives to facilitate relational contracting". Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice, 132, No. 1 (2006): 57-66.
http://cedb.asce.org/cgi/WWWdisplay.cgi?0600110
Kumaraswamy, M.M., Y Y Ling*, A.M. Anvuur and M.M. Rahman, "Targeting relationally integrated teams for sustainable PPPs". Engineering, Construction & Architectural Management, 14, No. 6 (2007): 581-596.
http://emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/09699980710829030
Ling*, Y Y, M H Ang and S Y S Lim, "Encounters between foreigners and Chinese: perception and management of cultural differences". Engineering, Construction & Architectural Management, 14, No. 6 (2007): 501-518.
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/09699980710828987
Lim, J.N., G Ofori, Y Y Ling and B H Goh, "Role of national institutions in promoting innovation by contractors in Singapore". Construction Management and Economics, 25, No. 10 (2007): 1021-1039.
http://econpapers.repec.org/article/tafconmgt/v_3A25_3Ay_3A2007_3Ai_3A10_3Ap_3A1021-1039.htm
Ling*, Y Y and S.P. Low, "Legal risks faced by foreign architectural, engineering and construction firms in China". Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice, 133, No. 3 (Global Legal Issues in Engineering and Construction) (2007): 238-245.
http://cedb.asce.org/cgi/WWWdisplay.cgi?0704858
Ling*, Y Y and H.K. Lim, "Foreign firms' financial and economic risk in China". Engineering, Construction & Architectural Management, 14, No. 4 (2007): 346-362.
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/09699980710760667
Kumaraswamy, M.M., Y Y Ling* and C.J. Miller, "Innovative initiatives in construction education and training". Emirates Journal for Engineering Research, 12, No. 1 (2007): 43-56.
http://eclsun.uaeu.ac.ae/ejer/issues/v12/abstract_iss1_12/articles5.htm
Ling*, Y Y, A. Hartmann, M.M. Kumaraswamy and M.F. Dulaimi, "Influences on innovation benefits during implementation: client's perspective". Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 133, No. 4 (2007): 306-315.
http://cedb.asce.org/cgi/WWWdisplay.cgi?0701734
Ling*, Y Y and D.H.Y. Kwok, "Enablers for Singapore contractors to internationalize construction services". Construction Management and Economics, 25, No. 3 (2007): 267-275.
http://econpapers.repec.org/article/tafconmgt/v_3A25_3Ay_3A2007_3Ai_3A3_3Ap_3A267-275.htm
Rahman, M.M., M.M. Kumaraswamy and Y Y Ling*, "Building a relational contracting culture and integrated teams". Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 34, No. 1 (2007): 75-88.
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/nrc/cjce/2007/00000034/00000001/art00010
Ling*, Y Y, S P Low, S.Q. Wang and K E Temitope, "Models for predicting project performance in China using project management practices adopted by foreign AEC firms". Journal of Construction Engineering and Management-ASCE, 134, No. 12 (2008): 983-990.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2008)134:12(983)
Ling*, Y Y, F.T. Edum-Fotwe and M.T.H. Ng, "Designing facilities management needs into warehouse projects". Facilities, 26, No. 11/12 (2008): 470-483.
www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/02632770810895732
Ling*, Y Y and H M Chan, "Internationalizing quantity surveying services". Engineering, Construction & Architectural Management, 15, No. 5 (2008): 440-455.
www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/09699980810902730
Aibinu, A A, G Ofori and Y Y Ling, "Explaining cooperative behavior in building and civil engineering projects' claims process: Interactive Effects of Outcome Favorability and Procedural Fairness". Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 134, No. 9 (2008): 681-691.
http://cedb.asce.org/cgi/WWWdisplay.cgi?0807719
Ling*, Y Y and J H Tiong, "Managing large commercial projects with tight schedule in China: a case study". International Journal of Project Organisation and Management, 1, No. 1 (2008): 86-104.
www.inderscience.com/papers/viewarticle.php?id=2291&layout=abstra
Ling*, Y Y, C.W. Ibbs and E.W. Chew, "Strategies adopted by international architectural, engineering and construction firms in Southeast Asia". Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice, 134, No. 3 (2008): 248-256.
http://cedb.asce.org/cgi/WWWdisplay.cgi?0805446
Ling*, Y Y and H.M. Poh, "Problems encountered by owners of design-build projects in Singapore". International Journal of Project Management, 26, No. 2 (2008): 164-173.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2007.04.001
Ling*, Y Y, S P Low, S.Q. Wang and H.H. Lim, "Key project management practices affecting Singaporean firms' project performance in China". International Journal of Project Management, 27, No. 1 (2009): 59-71.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2007.10.004