Mentorship programmes within the small and medium sized contractor development programme: a case study of the Free State province, South Africa
- Authors: Mofokeng, Godfrey , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Mentors in business , Construction industry , Contractor development programmes
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:4715 , ISSN 2220-6140 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10963
- Description: The South African government has been implementing various small and medium sized contractor development programmes in an effort to redress the legacy created by apartheid government. The programmes fulfil such an objective through awarding construction projects to the historically disadvantaged Black contractors to enable them develop competent skills, build viable construction firms, create jobs and redistribute wealth. A mentorship programme was put in place to assist the contractors with technical, managerial, contractual and business impediments they might be encountered in the project execution and in running the construction business. The main aim of the paper was to conduct an evaluation of the contractor development mentorship programme in South Africa using the Free State Province as a case study. Questionnaires were distributed to 120 small and medium contractors in the Free State Province, and a review of literature was undertaken. Financial factors were found to be amongst the leading causes of contractors’ failures. It was also established that educational qualification and experience in the construction industry have an effect in a contractor’s failure or success. A lot of contractors revealed that they were not exposed to the Contractor Development Programmes like in other provinces hence 74% did not participate in any contractor development programmes and only 26% did participate. The paper concluded with recommendations on how mentorship within the contractor development programme can be improved.
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External influences on students’ choice of clothing in Takoradi Polytechnic
- Authors: Azuah, S. , Aigbovboa, C. O.
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Takoradi Polytechnic , Students - Clothing
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:4996 , ISSN 2220-6140 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13134
- Description: Clothing is an important factor in the interpretation of body image which affects the response behaviour of the beholder. A person’s appearance profoundly affects the way he or she is treated by others at home, social gathering, market, job area, office or school. Selecting clothing requires careful considerations. The purpose of the study was to find out external influences on students’ choice of clothing in Takoradi Polytechnic. The research design was descriptive. Questionnaires and focus group discussion guide were used. Departments of Fashion and Accounting participated with respondents chosen through stratified random sampling. Sample consisted of 207 with a total population of 699 students, 77 males and 130 females. Study revealed students dress casually for lectures instead of formally because casual wear could take any form. Male students’ were normally driven internally indicating individuality while female students were mostly externally directed. Both sexes would least choose clothing for warm relationship. The more individuals they were aware of their inner feelings, the more differentiation they exhibited in their choice of clothing. This is contrary to the general perception that students or the youth choice of clothing is socially driven. However, some external factors were also quite significant in students’ choices and should be given close attention if youth clothing are undesirable. This calls for continues education to streamline vital issues that are of significance to academic institutions and the African society as a whole.
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Motivators of construction workers in the South African construction sites : a case study
- Authors: Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku , Monese, Lydia , Nthabiseng, L.N.
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Construction workers - Job satisfaction , Construction industry - Labor productivity , Employee motivation
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:4668 , ISSN 2220-6140 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10426
- Description: Construction industry involves laborious and hazard work because of its demands it requires energetic and enthusiastic people and this are the attributes that in most cases young people poses. Construction industry stakeholder should shift their attention and prioritize the motivation of its workers since the industry has a way of cubing poverty and uplifting the county’s economy. This study used data from both primary and secondary sources a special focus on leadership and human resource management context. A survey was conducted with managers and employees regarding motivation on construction site were conducted at different parts of Gauteng. Furthermore, employees work because they obtain something that they need from work and that something obtained from work impacts morale, employee motivation, and the quality of life. Workforce motivation affects productivity. Because most of the activities are done under difficult conditions including harsh weather conditions, to make it attractive employees should be motivated to carry out different activities. Motivators should be in place to improve the chances of the industry’s competitiveness both locally and internationally.
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Challenges facing black owned small and medium construction companies : a case study of Nelspruit – Mbombela municipality, South Africa
- Authors: Aigbavboa, Clinton O. , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Construction industry - South Africa - Nelspruit , Small business - South Africa - Nelspruit
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:4999 , ISSN 2220-6140 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13138
- Description: The purpose of the paper is to investigate current challenges and problems facing small and medium size contractors (SME) in Mbombela (Nelspruit) - Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. This study was necessitated because the importance of small and medium sized enterprises in national building and economic development is of paramount importance in the South Africa economic debate. The primary data for the study was collected through a structured questionnaire survey which was distributed to Small and medium contractors within grade 1-4 of the South Africa Construction Industry Development Board. The survey results indicated that external factors such as high competition when tendering for construction jobs within the CIDB category is a major challenge the SME’s face’s in the procurement of work. Also, internal factors such as poor administrative management within the company, lack of skilled professionals and lack of capacity to deliver on certain project were the greatest challenges faced by the construction companies. The scope of this study is only focused on small and medium size contractors in Nelspruit (Mpumalanga province). In addition, the study is not focused on large established contractors in South Africa. The South African construction industry will continue to provide jobs but intervention is needed to develop the SME’s contractors who contribute a greatly to the economy.
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