Challenges of mentoring in South African construction industry
- Authors: Aigbavboa, Clinton , Oke, Ayodeji , Mutshaeni, Madidimalo
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Knowledge , Mentee , Mentor , Mentoring in the professions - South Africa , Construction industry - South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/218345 , uj:21761 , Citation: Aigbavboa, C., Oke, A. & Mutshaeni, M. 2016. Challenges of mentoring in South African construction industry. Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, 8(6):183-187 , ISSN: 2220-6140
- Description: Abstract: One of the major requirements in the development and growth of an industry or organisation is the incubation of new workforce through appropriate recruitment processes, proper training and effective mentoring by experienced members. However, the process is not expected to be smooth owing to individual dispositions and attitudes, organisation interest, and avenues and opportunities for mentoring, amongst others. In this study, various challenges of mentoring encountered by mentees and mentors were examined with a view to promoting effective mentoring among professionals in the construction industry in the quest to improve their productivity and thereby enhance better performance in construction projects. Data on professionals in the built environment were collected through the administration of questionnaires using a convenient sampling technique. Personality issues that are concerned with differences in behaviours and dispositions to matters are the major challenges of mentoring in the construction industry. More so, attitudes of the mentees dictate and affect behaviours of mentors, and vice-versa. In view of this, professionals involved in mentoring should be concerned about their attitudes to each other and personal beliefs should not be a basis for judgment. Mutual respect and concern for growth and development should form the basis of mentoring relationships.
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Awareness of ecological economics as a model for promoting sustainable construction
- Authors: Oke, Ayodeji , Aigbavboa, Clinton , Ndou, Mpho
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Community empowerment , Ecosystem , Sustainable neighbourhood
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/239221 , uj:24571 , Citation: Oke, A., Aigbavboa, C. & Ndou, M. 2017. Awareness of ecological economics as a model for promoting sustainable construction. Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies (ISSN: 2220-6140) Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 152-156, February 2017. , ISSN: 2220-6140
- Description: Abstract: Construction industry is a major consumer of natural resources and this has a significant impact on the environment and socio-economic development of society. The result of this impact includes deforestation; climate change, air, water and land pollution; and the like. Ecological economics (EE) models are tools for assessing and understanding these issues with a view to enhancing green buildings and sustainable construction in general. As part of a continuous study, this research therefore examines the level of awareness of the concept of EE by construction professionals in a quest to adopting the principle of sustainable development. Data were collected through questionnaires administered on relevant and experienced construction professionals such as construction project managers, architects, engineers, quantity surveyors and construction managers. EE as an aid would help in mitigating construction impacts on the environment, thereby enhancing sustainability but it is barely practised in the construction industry. This is as a result of the fact that construction professionals have little or no knowledge of its existence in the local industry. Most professionals with knowledge of the concept in the study area obtained the information on sustainability through the media and short courses .. The basic influencing factors are related to professionals' levels of education, the economic development of the country and knowledge of the environment. Introducing EE through communicating new ideas to stakeholders (through environmental campaigns, conferences, and the like) as well as incentivising ideas for change relating to greener construction will assist in overcoming the barriers to the adoption of EE in the construction industry. Professionals also need to keep abreast of current sustainable practices, their benefits, challenges, barriers as well as the methods of overcoming these barriers in their quest for delivering sustainable projects.
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Evaluating entrepreneurial features of firm’s growth using confirmatory factor analysis
- Authors: Arthur-Aidoo, B.M. , Aigbavboa, C. , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Confirmatory Factor Analysis , Entrepreneurial features
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/239265 , uj:24578 , Citation: Arthur-Aidoo, B.M., Aigbavboa, C. & Thwala, W.D. 2017. Evaluating entrepreneurial features of firm’s growth using confirmatory factor analysis. Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, 9(3),:171-179 , ISSN: 2220-6140
- Description: Abstract: The growth of Small and medium-size firms cannot ensue without the entrepreneurial features and the environment that the firm operates. The entrepreneurial characteristics, therefore, are vital due to the unique individualism of firm owners or sponsors. Construction SME growth-oriented firms are a significant contributor to Ghana's economic gain. Conversely, the concept of growth varies from one entrepreneur to the others depending on the exhibited skills by the entrepreneurs, hence entrepreneurial features. Numerous factors influence the entrepreneurial features as a factor of firm’s growth. Some are of the factors are established and categorised as having strong influence while others are classified weak. This study, therefore, adopted the confirmatory factor analytical technique to justify the factors after exploring. To achieve the goal of the study, respondents such as firm owners, SME managers and construction professionals engaged by SMEs as the population were administered with questionnaires. In all, 315 questionnaires were given out in the form of semi-structured structured, but only 228 were retrieved for analysis representing a responds rate of 72 percent. The study established Cronbach alpha and composite reliability values that predicted the entrepreneurial feature as a subsequent determinant of firm’s growth. Additionally, the hypothesis was supported statistically suggesting that there is a direct relationship between entrepreneurial features and firm growth.
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Incentivized time preferences, level of education in a household and financial literacy : laboratory evidence
- Authors: Mudzingiri, Calvin , Muteba Mwamba, John W. , Keyser, Jacobus Nicolaas
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Time preferences , Financial literacy , Education
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/286281 , uj:30974 , Citation: Mudzingiri, C., Muteba Mwamba, J.W. & Keyser, J.N. 2018. Incentivized time preferences, level of education in a household and financial literacy : laboratory evidence. Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, 10(2):103-119. , ISSN: 2220-6140
- Description: Abstract: This study investigates the impact of financial literacy, level of education in a household and gender differences on time preferences of students at a university in South Africa. The study relies on a convenient sample of (N=85, female=48%) pursuing a financial literacy course. The study uses a questionnaire, a financial literacy test and a simple binary choice experimental game that elicited individual time discount rate to gather data. Ten percent of the participants were paid (in South African rands) for their time preference choices by way of quota random sampling. Female university students’ individual time discount rate was found to be on average higher than that of their male counterparts, indicating that female university students are generally impatient, especially those with low levels of financial literacy. Our results (using a Negative Binomial Regression analysis and Ordinary Least Squares regression analysis) show that time preferences of university students aresignificantly influenced by highest level of education in the household. The OLS regression model shows that financial literacy, measured using financial literacy test, significantly influence time preferences for all subjects. The study concluded that patience levels among male university students increase as financial literacy increases. Gender, income, age and family size significantly influence time preferences of university students. Highest level of education in a household, financial literacy and gender differences have a bearing on individual time preferences.
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