TASKS AND CONTENTS: Assessing the impact of Covid-19 in both negative and positive ways in Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, and Vietnam III.. 8 NVivo result for the Condition of Construc
Problem Statement
The world is now facing the Covid-19 pandemic from all directions and sectors
In 2019, the Coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to officially name it "Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2" (SARS-CoV-2) on February 11, 2020, and declare a global pandemic on March 11, 2020 As of September 1, 2022, Indonesia reported 6,405,044 confirmed cases, Myanmar had 617,998 cases, the Philippines recorded 3,913,536 cases, and Vietnam reported 11,450,998 cases.
Figure 1 1 Covid-19 Confirmed Cases in Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, and
The Covid-19 pandemic has profoundly affected education, health and safety, business, and infrastructure across the globe, posing an existential threat to millions of enterprises and jeopardizing food security, public health, and employment This crisis has prompted governments to introduce new legislation worldwide, with the health and safety sector being the most impacted Additionally, the pandemic's economic repercussions have been more severe than those of the Global Financial Crisis, particularly in developing nations The economic health of a country is often measured by its GDP, which serves as a crucial indicator of national success and allows for comparisons of economic size on an annual basis.
We can see the enormous difference in GDP between Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and the Covid-19 pandemic that went down during the pandemic era
Figure 1 2 Comparison in percent of GDP between the Covid-19 pandemic and GFC
(Source: UNCTAD secretariat calculations, based on official data and estimates generated by United Nations Global Policy Model.)
The construction sector has faced significant challenges due to reduced employment opportunities, impacting not only job availability but also financial stability and project timelines.
The GDP growth for each country had dropped during the Covid-19 pandemic from 5.2% to 4.6% (Figure 1.3)
Figure 1 3 GDP Growth in Southeast Asia
Figure 1 4 IMF projections of real GDP growth rate (2020-2025)
(Source: UNCTAD secretariat calculations, based on IMG, world economic outlook
Construction companies need to prioritize the safety and well-being of their employees to mitigate fear and economic instability The ASEAN economy is more resilient, which has led to a deeper and more enduring economic impact from the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly concerning foreign exchange reserves and macroeconomic conditions.
The Southeast Asia (SEA) region offers numerous job opportunities through infrastructural development, particularly within the construction industry, which also attracts foreign collaboration and investment However, the Covid-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges, including lockdowns that hinder local cooperation and investment, ultimately affecting infrastructural progress A report by GlobalData projected an 8.5 percent contraction in the construction sector in 2020 due to reduced investment in housing and infrastructure The pandemic has led to material and labor shortages, project terminations, and various business challenges in both the short and long term Researchers are actively exploring the multifaceted impacts of Covid-19 on various sectors, including the economy and education, with this study focusing on the construction industry's positive and negative effects and its role in adapting to the new normal.
Research Objectives
-To identify the impact of Covid-19 by the time of before, during, and after the pandemic on a construction project
-To investigate how much the impact of Covid-19 influences the project or companies
-To contribute to the analysis for the practical conditions and suggest the future study regarding Covid-19
Scope of Study
This research will be bounded within the following boundaries to get a complete analysis of the above objectives
1 This study will be considered the impact of Covid-19 in these countries: Myanmar, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia, since the pandemic is still accelerating in Southeast Asia
This study emphasizes the significance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) due to their vital role in job creation, economic development, and resource mobilization The pandemic has severely impacted SMEs, resulting in heightened unemployment rates and broader economic consequences.
3 For the data collection, the stakeholders will involve as owners, consultants, contractors, and engineers.
Contribution to Academic and Practical Field
This study aims to quantitatively and qualitatively analyze the impacts of Covid-19 on the construction industry, highlighting both negative and positive effects Utilizing the Delphi technique allows for anonymous expert responses, minimizing conformity pressure and the influence of dominant individuals, ensuring that no single respondent can sway the group's opinions The analysis begins with correlation and reliability tests to assess relationships and differences among responses, followed by Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to identify specific impacts within the group After completing the quantitative analysis, expert interviews were conducted, and qualitative analysis was performed using NVivo software to create a word cloud, enhancing the precision and accuracy of the identified impacts.
This research investigates the effects of Covid-19 on construction projects and companies, aiming to provide insights into the real-time challenges encountered in the Southeast Asia construction industry, categorized by their specific impacts.
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of managing time, cost, quality, and worker safety in construction projects By analyzing the negative impacts experienced during this period, future projects can be better prepared with revised actions and effective backup plans for unforeseen crises Additionally, the pandemic has also led to positive changes that can be leveraged to enhance performance and outcomes in future construction endeavors, ultimately driving improvements in the industry.
Impacts of Covid-19 on the Construction Industry
The Covid-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the global construction sector, which is particularly sensitive to economic fluctuations The outbreaks have disrupted infrastructure development, industrial production, and financial stability, leading to the closure of numerous construction companies and engineering projects worldwide, resulting in potential unemployment Additionally, construction firms face the challenge of adhering to social distancing guidelines to protect their workers These factors have created significant concern and uncertainty within the construction industry.
The financial landscape has significantly affected the construction industry, leading to the suspension, delay, or alteration of numerous projects Ensuring worker safety has emerged as a critical concern, necessitating effective protective measures Creating a safe working environment poses a considerable challenge, particularly when diverse entities of varying sizes collaborate on projects (Penaloza et al., 2020; Woolley et al., 2020; Apurva Pamidimjukkals et al., 2021).
The Covid-19 pandemic significantly disrupted various sectors worldwide, leading to lockdowns and restrictions that delayed projects and impacted finances, human resources, materials, and equipment availability Despite these challenges, stakeholders demonstrated a positive attitude by adapting to modified specifications, reaching mutual agreements on changes, implementing precautionary measures, and transitioning to a digital workplace, ultimately steering their operations back on track amidst the disruptions caused by the pandemic.
General Process of Covid-19 Impacts Procedure
This study will explore the effects of Covid-19 on the construction industry through two key steps: "Identification of Impacts" and "Assessment of Impacts." These steps will involve a comprehensive approach, including literature reviews of academic papers and journals, as well as questionnaire surveys and expert interviews.
2.2.1 Identification of Impacts of Covid-19
The construction industry is one of the most influential sectors affected by Covid-
The Covid-19 pandemic has had both negative and positive impacts on various sectors, particularly the construction industry, which relies heavily on human resources While the overall effects are predominantly negative, advancements in technology have emerged as a positive outcome The health and safety sector plays a crucial role in this context, as ensuring the safety of all personnel on construction projects is paramount Additionally, the fundamental factors of construction—time, cost, and quality—must be meticulously managed to ensure project success Therefore, it is essential to evaluate the impacts of Covid-19 from multiple perspectives.
A multistep research method was employed by M K S Al-Mhdawi et al [1], which included a literature review, semi-structured interviews, and data collection on identified factors The study utilized tests such as Cronbach's Alpha and Mann-Whitney U to analyze the impacts of Covid-19 on both public and private sectors The findings revealed that the pandemic significantly influenced safety management measures, challenges in contract interpretation, construction material costs, and risk management practices.
Mohammad Raoufi and Aminah Robinson Fayek developed a novel methodology to identify the motivational factors affecting construction crew performance Their research presents a comprehensive analysis of these factors, illustrating how to measure improvements in motivation within construction teams.
Mohammad Raoufi et al [8] conducted a survey in North America to assess the impact of Covid-19 on construction organizations Their preliminary findings aim to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, providing valuable insights for both the current situation and the post-pandemic period The results contribute to the development of evidence-based operational strategies that can enhance resilience in the construction industry.
In their research, S S King et al [14] investigated strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of Covid-19, utilizing interview data for analysis The study revealed significant insights into the financial challenges faced by the infrastructure construction industry due to the pandemic, as well as mechanisms to address legal, productivity, and environmental support issues.
This study identifies impacts by reviewing literature from academic sources such as Google Scholar, Research Gate, Science Direct, and Academia The identified impacts are categorized based on their similarities, focusing on negative and positive effects related to occupational health and safety, construction schedules, material costs, and project quality Discussions with professors helped refine these impacts, resulting in the identification of 49 total impacts, comprising 32 negative and 17 positive These impacts are detailed in Table 2.1, with reference numbers provided in the third row for further context.
Table 2 1 Identification of Impacts from Literature Review
Identification of Impacts from Literature Review
3 Increase in rental fee of machinery and operators
4 Uncertainty in bank insurance and the policy for loan
5 Late payment to contractors and salary cuts
6 Increase in the tax rate and currency exchange rate
8 Disruption in workload because of sickness
9 Dramatic rising of material and equipment prices
10 Shortage of manpower, material and equipment
11 Delays in the starting dates of the new projects
12 Difficulties in staggering the work hours
13 Delays in approvement of legal applications and documents from government
17 Difficulties in working with foreign partner organization
18 Difficulties in recircuiting foreign workers
20 Uncertainty in quality of local products
21 Difficulties in implementati on and
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 9 compliance of social distancing rules
22 Increasing in claims, disputes and litigation
23 Difficulties in implementati on of new health protocols
25 Increase in worker layoffs and unemployme nt
26 Decrease in work productivity and efficiency
27 Reducing of the number of projects
28 Lack of knowledge about Covid-
29 Restriction in usage of public transports
30 Restriction in the entrance of site for both workers and outside visitors
32 Lack of communicati on between the "work from home" team and "On
33 Always checking the new policy announced by government
35 Restructuring the safety plan including the rules of social distancing
36 Implementati on of advanced technology
37 Flexibility in adjusting the project schedule
40 Hiring the health assistance for protecting and providing
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 6 health issues for on-site workers
41 Recruiting the skilled local workforce
42 Training the local workforce to become skilled worker and to substitute the foreign workers
43 Availability of health protocols for
44 Flexibility in adjusting workload by allowing
45 Providing the online platform like
Team" to get the better communicati on
46 Education for worker about the pandemic
47 Providing health insurance for workers
48 Availability of PPE at the construction site
49 Providing suitable accommodati on for workers
2.2.2 Assessment of the Impacts of Covid-19
This study assesses the effectiveness of Covid-19 impacts on the construction industry, focusing on a quantitative approach for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) SMEs, categorized by employee count into three groups—fewer than 20, 20-50, and 21-200—play a crucial role in Southeast Asia's economy, representing 89% to 99% of total establishments and 52% to 97% of total employment Their contributions include income growth, employment opportunities, and empowerment of women and youth, particularly in non-urban areas like Pyin Oo Lwin Township in Myanmar and Tanjung Pinang Township in Indonesia The Delphi technique is employed to forecast impacts and prioritize responses amid limited information, utilizing a survey questionnaire to gather data from construction industry respondents Responses are analyzed using SPSS software, followed by short interviews in a second round, allowing experts to provide feedback on various statements through multiple discussion rounds, enhancing the analysis with both quantitative and qualitative insights.
Interview Questions and Answers
The analysis of the first round of questionnaires revealed the positive and negative impacts of Covid-19 across four countries: Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam Based on these findings and a supplementary literature review, interview questions were developed, which are detailed in the appendix.
Figure 2 2 Identification of Impacts for Interview by Literature Review
2.3.2 Qualitative Analysis of Answers from Interview
The qualitative analysis of expert interviews was conducted using NVivo Software, which is designed for handling unstructured and mixed-structured data, including text, video, and images NVivo enhances the accuracy of qualitative studies, significantly saving time and effort in data classification and management, leading to reliable results It assists researchers in coding large volumes of transcripts by identifying common keywords The analysis process involved importing interview data, extracting key terms, and running search queries to display results However, NVivo's high cost poses a challenge for scholars and researchers in developing countries, and its thematic classification based on keywords may lead to debates regarding its effectiveness in identifying common themes.
Research Process
The research process consists of three key steps: first, identifying the impacts of Covid-19 on the construction industry; second, determining which impacts were most significantly influenced by the pandemic; and third, interviewing experts to gather their responses and future recommendations regarding these impacts.
3.1.1 Identification of the impacts of Covid-19 on the construction industry
The initial task of the study involves identifying the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in developing countries A comprehensive literature review, as detailed in chapter 2 (Table 2.1), revealed a total of 49 impacts, categorized into 32 negative impacts and 17 positive impacts.
Questionnaire Development based on discussion with Professors
Descriptive Analysis on Impacts by Covid-19
Exploratory Factor Analysis on Impacts of Covid-19
Execution 2nd Round by doing Interview
Distribution of Key Findings and Future Recommendations
Contribution of Covid-19 Impacts occupational health and safety, project schedule, construction material and machine costs, quality of project performance, and contractual terms
The questionnaire was divided into two parts: the first part focused on respondents' positions, nationalities, and organizational sizes, specifically targeting Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam These countries were selected due to the varying socio-economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated issues like poverty, unemployment, and inequality, particularly in developing nations The author aimed to highlight the significant effects on these countries as they strive to reduce poverty In part 1, organizational size was categorized into three groups: fewer than 20 employees, 21-50 employees, and 51-200 employees Part 2 assessed the impacts of Covid-19 using a 5-point Likert scale, where respondents rated their agreement from "1 = Strongly Disagree" to "5 = Strongly Agree."
"5= Strongly Agree" After that, the questionnaire was conducted in the SME construction industry in four developing countries: Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, and Vietnam
Table 3 1 The Attribution of Sample
Role Owner Main Contractor Sub-Contractor Consultants
Position Director Project Manager Site Supervisor Engineer Others
Size of Organization Fewer than 20
3.1.2 Determining the most influenced impacts by Covid-19
The study analyzed and ranked the responses to the impacts of Covid-19 from four countries, followed by a comparative discussion of these effects among them.
In the second stage, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, a nonparametric statistic, was utilized to assess the strength and direction of the association between two rank-ordered variables Understanding the monotonic function is essential in the context of the Spearman correlation coefficient, which can be illustrated through three key figures.
Figure 3 2 Monotonic Function (Increasing, Decreasing, and Non-monotonic)
The meaning of those three monotonic functions are;
• Monotonically increasing, which means as much as the “x” variable increases, “y” variable increases
• Monotonically decreasing: as much as the “x” variable increases, “y” variable decreases
• Non-monotonic: when “x” variable increases, “y” variable can increase or sometimes decrease
Implementing Spearman’s correlation is essential for assessing the strength and direction of the correlation between variables, particularly in cases of monotonic relationships This method is also applicable when the variables exhibit non-monotonic relationships.
The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test was employed to assess the significance level of survey or experiment results, specifically utilizing One-Way ANOVA to determine if there are statistical differences among the means of three or more independent groups In this context, the null hypothesis is accepted if no differences among group means are found, while the alternative hypothesis is accepted if any group significantly differs from the overall mean, indicating statistical significance The significance level for this study is set at 0.05 (α), implying that there is only a 5% chance of the results occurring if the null hypothesis is true Consequently, if the p-value is less than or equal to the significance level (p < α), the null hypothesis is rejected, indicating a significant difference; otherwise, if the p-value is greater than the significance level (p > α), the null hypothesis cannot be rejected, suggesting no significant difference.
Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) is utilized to explore the relationships among variables and to identify latent variables by examining how the number of variables of interest correlates with various unobservable factors The EFA process typically involves three fundamental stages: first, determining the number of factors; second, selecting an appropriate extraction method; and third, choosing a suitable rotation method.
For EFA analysis, the value of statistic (from 0.5-1) indicates the appropriateness of the factor analysis Below 0.5 indicates the inappropriate factor analysis
The primary objective of utilizing Cronbach's Alpha is to assess the degree of correlation among responses to various items, ensuring that each question is highly correlated with the others High internal consistency indicates that the answers are closely related Cronbach's Alpha serves as a metric for measuring the internal consistency of a scale, providing insights into the reliability and accuracy of a set of items.
Cronbach's alpha does not test whether the individual items are influenced by only one or several latent variables
A high Cronbach's Alpha value does not necessarily indicate that the items are influenced by a single latent variable (Moosbrugger and Kelava, 2012) For Cronbach's Alpha to effectively estimate the reliability of a scale, it is essential that all items assess the same latent variable When this condition is met, Cronbach's Alpha reflects the extent to which these items accurately measure the latent variable.
𝜎 𝑥 2 ) Where; k refers to the number of scale items σ2yi refers to the variance associated with the item i σ2x refers to the variance associated with the observed total scores
Alternatively, Cronbach's Alpha equation can also be described by
Where; N = Number of Items v = Average variance c = Average inter-item covariance between items
The result got from Cronbach's Alpha test can be interpreted according to the following table
The result of Cronbach's Alpha test will come out with two statistics, i Reliability Statistics ii Item-Total Statistics
Cronbach's Alpha is a crucial reliability statistic, with a recommended value greater than 0.7 for optimal results For questionnaires containing fewer than 10 items, a minimum value of 0.5 is acceptable Consequently, any questionnaire results yielding a reliability score below 0.5 are deemed inappropriate and unacceptable.
The interview questions were developed from the initial data on the impacts of Covid-19 and were subsequently distributed to experts with a minimum of five years of experience who were actively working during the pandemic.
Upon receiving the interview responses, the data were analyzed using NVivo software through a word frequency approach, specifically a word cloud The results were presented question by question, with impacts and discussions clarified based on the word cloud findings Detailed information on the qualitative analysis process in NVivo is provided in the appendix.
Responses on the Impacts of Covid-19 on the Construction Industry
A questionnaire was distributed to gather insights on the impacts of Covid-19 among employees of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in four developing countries: Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam Over 100 respondents participated, with representation from each country as follows: 26% from Indonesia, 30% from Myanmar, 18% from the Philippines, and 26% from Vietnam A pie chart illustrating the distribution of respondents across these countries is provided below.
Figure 4 1Percentage of Respondents by Nationality
All respondents have a minimum of three years of work experience, with many continuing to work through the pandemic Specifically, 13% have less than three years, 27% have between three to five years, 35% possess five to ten years, and 25% have over ten years of experience This diverse range of experience allows respondents to reliably assess the impacts of Covid-19 on the construction industry.
Figure 4 2 Percentage of Respondents by Year of Experience
The respondents in the study include directors, project managers, supervisors, and engineers, as well as owners, main contractors, sub-contractors, and consultants The distribution of respondents by their roles and positions is detailed in Table 4.1, which is presented below.
Table 4 1 Percentage of Respondents by Role & Position
Companies are classified into three categories based on size: those with fewer than 20 employees, those with 21-50 employees, and those with 51-200 employees, with a focus on Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Notably, 17% of these companies employ fewer than 20 individuals, while 35% have between 21 and 50 employees.
Out of 50 employees surveyed, 47% work in companies with 51-200 employees The companies are classified into three categories: public, private, and joint ventures, with responses indicating that 32% are from public companies, 52% from private companies, and 16% from joint ventures The accompanying graphs illustrate this data.
Figure 4 3 Percentage of Respondents by Size of Organizations
Figure 4 4 Percentage of Respondents by Type of Organization
Ranking, Comparison and Analysis of Covid-19 Impacts
4.2.1 Ranking of the Impacts of Covid-19 on Each Country
The respondents unanimously agreed on the impacts of Covid-19, which were subsequently ranked by country A comparative analysis was conducted among Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam to assess the varying levels of influence these impacts had in each nation The findings and discussions regarding these differences are detailed below.
Table 4 2 Top 3 impacts of Covid-19 on the construction industry in Myanmar
1st Flexibility in adjusting workload by allowing "Work from Home" 3.97
Providing the online platform like
"Zoom Meeting" or "Microsoft Team" to get the better communication
3rd Always checking the new policy announced by government 3.61
1st Disruption in workload because of sickness 4.21
2nd Difficulties in staggering the work hours 4.00
Decrease in Revenue and Increase in
Table 4 3 Top 3 impacts of Covid-19 on the construction industry in Vietnam
Country Item Rank Impact Mean
Always checking the new policy announced by government
2nd Availability of PPE at the construction site 4.25
Flexibility in adjusting workload by allowing
Decrease in Revenue and Increase in Additional Expenses
2nd Disruption in material supplies 4.43
3rd Shortage of manpower, material, and equipment 4.25
Table 4 4 Top 3 impacts of Covid-19 on the construction industry in Indonesia
Country Item Rank Impact Mean
Always checking the new policy announced by government
Providing the online platform like "Zoom Meeting" or "Microsoft Team" to get the better communication
2nd Education for workers about the pandemic 3.79
Preparation of Backup Plan for pandemic 3.76
Travel limitations for workers because of lockdown
2nd Disruption in workload because of sickness 3.83
Table 4 5 Top 3 impacts of Covid-19 on the construction industry in Philippines
Country Item Rank Impact Mean
Providing the online platform like "Zoom Meeting" or "Microsoft Team" to get the better communication
Training the local workforce to become skilled workers and substituting the foreign workers
Flexibility in adjusting workload by allowing
3rd Availability of PPE at the construction site 3.70
Restriction in the entrance of site for both workers and outside visitors
2nd Restriction on the usage of public transports 4.35
Late payments to contractors and salary cuts 4.15
4.2.2 Comparison of Impacts between Four Countries
Table 4 6 Comparison of Negative Impacts of Covid-19 on the Construction
Country Negative Impacts of Covid-19 on Construction Project
Travel limitations for workers because of lockdown
Disruption in workload because of sickness
Interruption of Planning and Scheduling
Disruption in workload because of sickness
Difficulties in staggering the work hours
Decrease in Revenue and Increase in Additional Expenses
Interruption of Planning and Scheduling
Delays in approvement of legal applications and documents
Restriction in the entrance of the site for both workers and outside visitors
Restriction on the usage of public transports
Late payments to contractors and salary cuts
Disruption in workload because of sickness
Reducing the number of projects
Decrease in Revenue and Increase in Additional Expenses
Shortage of manpower, material, and equipment
Restriction in the entrance of the site for both workers and outside visitors
Disruption in workload because of sickness
To curb the rapid spread of coronavirus (Covid-19), the World Health Organization (WHO) implemented social distancing measures, leading to lockdowns in severely affected regions In Indonesia, these lockdowns significantly restricted worker travel, resulting in major negative impacts on project timelines and quality Similarly, the Philippines faced restrictions on site access for both workers and visitors, further affecting project completion The inability of skilled workers to travel and the challenges companies faced in sourcing talent led to project suspensions, planning interruptions, delays in legal approvals, and material supply disruptions in developing countries Additionally, Covid-19 infections among workers necessitated quarantines, causing workload disruptions and project delays, particularly in Myanmar In Vietnam, the pandemic resulted in decreased revenue and increased expenses due to currency fluctuations and the need for personal protective equipment (PPE) and advanced technology, alongside issues like cost overruns and delayed payments to contractors.
Table 4 7 Comparison of Positive Impacts of Covid-19 on the Construction
Country Positive Impact of Covid-19 on Construction Project
Always check the new policy announced by the government
Providing the online platform like "Zoom Meeting" or
"Microsoft Team" to get the better communication
Education for a worker about the pandemic
Preparation of a Backup Plan for pandemic
Flexibility in adjusting workload by allowing
Providing the online platform like "Zoom Meeting" or
"Microsoft Team" to get the better communication
Restructuring the safety plan, including the rules of social distancing
Preparation of a Backup Plan for pandemic
Providing the online platform like "Zoom Meeting" or
"Microsoft Team" to get the better communication
Training the local workforce to become skilled workers and substituting the foreign workers
Flexibility in adjusting workload by allowing
Availability of PPE at the construction site
Flexibility in adjusting the project schedule
Always check the new policy announced by the government
Availability of PPE at the construction site
Flexibility in adjusting workload by allowing
Providing the online platform like "Zoom Meeting" or
"Microsoft Team" to get the better communication
Education for workers about the pandemic
The delay in the approval of legal documents by the government has emerged as a significant negative impact, ranking among the top five issues in Indonesia and Vietnam This situation has heightened public awareness regarding the importance of staying informed about new government policies to ensure timely legal approvals and project completions In contrast, a positive impact noted in Myanmar is the flexibility offered by companies through "Work from Home" arrangements, which help adhere to social distancing guidelines amid the Covid-19 pandemic To facilitate effective communication between remote workers and those on-site, construction companies must invest in advanced technologies and online platforms, such as Zoom Meeting and Microsoft Office, as communication is crucial for the successful implementation of projects.
The Spearman’s rho test was employed to determine the presence of a linear relationship between two variables, with the correlation coefficient ranging from -1 to +1 A negative value indicates a negative correlation, while a positive value signifies a positive correlation among participants or items This study evaluated the impacts of Covid-19, both negative and positive, from the perspectives of four countries: Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
Table 4.8 reveals that the correlation coefficients for both negative and positive impacts show a positive correlation; however, the correlation between the groups is not significant, falling within the range of (-1, +1) and approaching zero This indicates a non-monotonic relationship among the four countries, where the value of \(x\) may decrease while \(y\) sometimes increases and sometimes decreases Consequently, with 95% confidence, it can be concluded that there are significant differences in impacts across the four countries, influenced by varying economic conditions, health and safety standards, and other relevant factors.
Table 4 8 Spearman rank correlation test between countries for the negative impacts
Note: Correlation is significant at 0.01 level (2-tailed)
Table 4 9 Spearman rank correlation test between countries for the positive impacts
4.2.4 Cronbach’s Alpha (Reliability) Test of The Covid-19 Impacts
A literature review revealed a total of 32 negative impacts and 17 positive impacts The reliability of these impacts was assessed using the Cronbach’s Alpha method for both the negative and positive categories.
Table 4 10 Reliability Test for Negative Covid-19 Impacts
Table 4 11 Reliability Test for Positive Covid-19 Impacts
Cronbach's Alpha values exceeding 0.7 indicate strong reliability, with a negative impact value of 0.930 and a positive impact value of 0.918 This suggests that the items are well correlated.
After the items were investigated that they correlated well with each other, the null hypothesis test, which is ANOVA (Analysis of Variance), was performed to
The analysis revealed that respondents did not significantly differ in their opinions regarding the negative impacts of Covid-19 on the construction industry, as indicated by the results in Table 4.3, where 16 impacts showed no significant difference (p > 0.05).
The study revealed significant differences (p0.05), nine impacts did demonstrate significant differences (p