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Assessing the influence of mentoring functions on job satisfaction and organizational commitment of new construction employees : a literature review

  • Authors: Nkomo, Morena William , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Mentoring , Construction , Graduates
  • Language: English
  • Type: Conference proceedings
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/71946 , uj:18216 , Citation: Nkomo, M.W. & Thwala, W.D. 2015. Assessing the influence of mentoring functions on job satisfaction and organizational commitment of new construction employees : a literature review.
  • Description: Abstract: The business world has long known and relied upon mentoring as a proven technique for developing in house talent. Previous studies proved that the implementation of mentoring programme is beneficial for enhancing employee skills and attitudes. Few researchers are devoted to exploring the impact of mentoring functions on job satisfaction and organizational commitment of new graduates. This paper is aimed at examining the effects of mentoring functions on the job satisfaction and organizational commitment of new construction employees in the influence of mentoring functions in South African construction industry. The study was mainly a literature review, an exploratory study with a special focus on the impact of mentoring functions on job satisfaction and organizational commitment of employees within organizations. The data used in the report was mainly qualitative, based on the historical data. The study indicated that career development and role modelling functions have a positive effect on the job satisfaction and organizational commitment of new employees. However the psychosocial support function was incapable of providing adequate explanation for these work outcomes. The study suggest that graduate managers should improve the career development and role modelling functions of mentoring in order to enhance the job satisfaction, organizational commitment of new employees. The early success of the initiatives described provide useful lessons for the construction industry and executives who recognize that mentoring functions on job satisfaction and organizational commitment are critical for sustaining future organizational performance.
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Conceptualizing growth of small and medium-size construction firms in Ghana

  • Authors: Arthur-Aidoo, Martin Bernard , Aigbavboa, Clinton O. , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Conceptualize , Construction , Firms
  • Language: English
  • Type: Conference proceedings
  • Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/372977 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/213900 , uj:21210 , Citation: Arthur-Aidoo, M., Aigbavboa, C & Thwala, W.D. Conceptualizing growth of small and medium-size construction firms in Ghana.
  • Description: Abstract: The growth of small and medium-sized construction firms (SMEs) undoubtedly remains an important consideration within socio-economic activities in the Ghanaian economy. Literature has established both tangible and intangible benefits that emanate from the activities of construction SMEs within the sector. Further, literature has also not reached consensus on a unified definition of what firm's growth constitute. Firm's growth is rather considered from the perspective of both internal and external determinants which makes comprehending growth vague. This study, however, conceptualized the growth of Construction SMEs with details of firm's growth indicators. In order to establish the aim of the study, semi-structured interviews supplemented by a review of existing literature on firm's growth was adopted to drive similar and new constructs that have informed this study. The study provides a significant conclusion to the study which includes the main determinates of firm's growth such as the entrepreneurial feature of the firm characteristics and the business environment of the firm. Also captured in the conclusion are necessary growth barriers that must be controlled if growth within the construction SMEs in Ghana is to be achieved.
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Confirmatory factor analysis of contractors’ safety policy

Engineering education and marketing of engineering business enterprise : the case of construction education

  • Authors: Yankah, J.E. , Aigbavboa, C. O. , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Construction , Engineering education , Marketing
  • Language: English
  • Type: Conference proceedings
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/213249 , uj:21124 , Citation: Yankah, J.E., Aigbavboa, C.O & Thwala, W.I. 2016. Engineering education and marketing of engineering business enterprise : the case of construction education.
  • Description: Abstract: The remarkably challenging features of the construction industry in the 21" century are globalization, the restructuring of the world economy, changes experienced in project financing and delivery systems, the pervasive utilization of information and communication technologies (ICT, and the increasing intensity of competition which threatens the growth, survival and profitability of engineering businesses with construction being the most affected. Marketing as a management function, which has been identified as imperative for businesses facing such challenges has not been welcomed by the construction industry. Marketing in consternation is marked by misconceptions, misperceptions, lack of understanding among others which are traceable to education and training of construction management team members. This paper examines the aspects of construction education that impacts negatively on marketing performance of construction businesses, namely content and structure of curriculum for construction education, availability of construction marketing research reports and teacher qualification for teaching marketing to construction students. Finding reveal that the content of construction marketing syllabus is outdated and fall short of elements necessary for effective teaching the state of the art marketing in construction. Paucity of construction marketing research and lack of general helpful literature remains a challenge. Qualification of teachers appears to be a big challenge. Urgent need exist for revision of existing syllabus, efforts at addressing research towards addressing existing challenges with marketing in construction and guidelines for preparing teachers for teaching marketing to construction students. Construction education consultants, curriculum developers, construction education and training institutions and similar professional organization will find this useful.
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Human factor related challenges of marketing construction business enterprise

  • Authors: Jonas, Yanka , Aigbavboa, Clinton , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
  • Date: 2016
  • Subjects: Business management , Construction , Human factors , Marketing
  • Language: English
  • Type: Conference proceedings
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/93878 , uj:20404 , Citation: Jonas, Y., Aigbavboa, C. & Thwala, W. 2016. Human factor related challenges of marketing construction business enterprise.
  • Description: Abstract: Marketing is acknowledged as a necessary business management function but its application in construction is intensely hindered by some human factors in the construction industry. The paper is aimed at identifying the specific human factors in the construction industry that hinder marketing adoption and implementation in construction and to initiate further debate on this important but Cinderella subject. It uses literature review as a method to identify, summarize, synthesize and show the gaps in the existing research knowledge on human factors affecting Marketing Performance (MP) of Construction Businesses (CB). Factors such as marketing skills, manpower, attitude towards and conception of marketing hinders greatly on MP of CB. Construction marketing researchers must focus attention on the human factors that affect construction marketing. Educational consultants, curriculum developers and training institutions will find the paper useful in revising existing curriculum to reflect current trends in the management of construction business enterprise.
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Marketing construction business in Ghana : the problems, prospects and strategies

  • Authors: Yankah, J.E. , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku , Aigbavboa, C.O. , Pretorius, J.G.
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Marketing , Construction , Ghana
  • Language: English
  • Type: Conference proceedings
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/80811 , uj:18761 , Citation: Yankah, J.E. et al. 2015. Marketing construction business in Ghana : the problems, prospects and strategies.
  • Description: Abstract: Many construction enterprises still oftenfail to realize that marketing entails more than just playing withfew isolated promotional tools, such as distributing brochures, advertising, promotional videos, which they often employ without following a structured marketing plan formulated in line with the organization's aims and objectives. Such ad hoc approach to marketing in the construction industry has resulted in an uphill struggle with little to no success. This paper identifies the problems that has led to the ad hoc approach to marketing in the construction industry and examines the prospects for improving the situation. It discusses the strategies to be adopted to improve the effectiveness of implementing marketing in the management of construction business. The study adopts descriptive research design and the use of literature review as a method to identify, summarize and synthesize extant literature on construction marketing to show why the need exist for marketing in the management of construction business. The paper finds that gaps exist in existing construction marketing research knowledge in general and Ghana in particular . There is the need for scientific research which focuses on development of frameworks or models to guide the marketing of construction businesses in developing countries. Construction enterprise owners, construction marketing/management researchers, construction education curriculum developers and managers of construction business organizations will find this paper useful. Future research work must focus on developing construction industry specific frameworks or models to guide the marketing of construction businesses.
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Occupational Health and Safety challenges in the Ghanaian construction industry

  • Authors: Mustapha, Zakari , Aigbavboa, Clinton , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Construction , Ghana , Performance
  • Language: English
  • Type: Conference proceedings
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/75838 , uj:18726 , Citation: Mustapha, Z., Aigbavboa, C. & Thwala, W.D. 2015. Occupational Health and Safety challenges in the Ghanaian construction industry.
  • Description: Abstract: The prevalence of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) issues in most of the African countries have been attributed to the insufficient attention received from industry and government. The review of literature in the existing body of knowledge becomes paramount on the subject matter. The road map for the identification of occupational health and safety practices in the Ghanaian construction industry was obtained through literature review. Studies relevant to OHS practices were selected out of the numerous studies reviewed, through a rigorous process. The results from the literature study were analysed to obtain specific issues that are relevant to the OHS in the Ghanaian construction industry. Based on the identified practices, needs are clearly defined and strategies are proposed to come out with appropriate solutions for health and safety improvements in the Ghanaian construction industry. Findings from the study show that ignorance and lack of interest in dealing with OHS issues in Ghana is one of the contributing factors to the OHS challenging. It is concluded that proactive measures should be provided at all levels of organisations in the country to deal with OHS issues. There should also be the establishment of OHS culture robust enough to deal with all issues in the country. Serious attention should be given to effective OHS management in order to eliminate accident in the construction industries.
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Organic growth of Small and Medium-Sized firms : perspective of Ghanaian Construction industry

  • Authors: Arthur-Aidoo, B.M. , Aigbavboa, C.O. , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Construction , Growth , Organic
  • Language: English
  • Type: Conference proceedings
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/87788 , uj:19627 , Citation: Arthur-Aidoo, B.M., Aigbavboa, C.O. & Thwala, W.D. 2015. Organic growth of Small and Medium-Sized firms : perspective of Ghanaian Construction industry.
  • Description: Abstract: Growth of firms have widely been acknowledged in literature due to its significance as one of the key indicators of expansion of a firms in terms of market stock, increased in turnover, increased in employment, increased in acquisition of plant and equipment amongst others. Growth is however classified as organic or inorganic. Inorganic growth of firms is the expansion of a firm by integration or merging with another firm to achieve synergy while organic growth ensues when a firm expands as a result of its own internal activities from within. This study explores into organic growth and further highlights on the necessary drivers that will enhance organic growth among Small and Medium-sized Construction firms (SMEs) in Ghana. In order to achieve this purpose, the study adopted the use of extensive literature review supported by electronic questionnaire survey which focused on the owners of the SMEs as well as professionals engaged by the SME’s. In all, the study had responds rate of 80 percent which revealed that construction SME’s attained organic growth when there is proper management structure in place that ensures that all aspect of the corporate goals is accomplished. Further organic growth of SMEs happens when all internal rifts such as communication barriers, bad human relations, dearth motivation issues, remuneration issues, peril-conducive working environment within the firm are resolved to enable employees to work towards growth. The study recommends that owners of small and medium-sized construction firms must endeavour to recruit professionals who will ensure best management practice to encourage organic growth
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Project communication within small and medium-sized construction firms

  • Authors: Aidoo, B.M. , Aigbavboa, C.O. , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Communication , Construction
  • Language: English
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/67499 , uj:17609 , Citation: Aidoo, B.M., Aigbavboa, C.O. & Thwala, W.D. 2015. Project communication within small and medium-sized construction firms.
  • Description: Abstract: Communication is considered as a tool in the heart of management in enhancing project targets and Milestones not only in the construction sector but other sectors as well. The construction industry has however been characterized with its massive investment and associated risks. As a result, when main and sub-activities and tasks to be executed on project sites are not properly communicated among project teams and stakeholders, it will vehemently incur additional cost on the project, cause injury from accidents and may delay the entire project completion schedule amongst others. This exploratory study seek to establish the project communication structure used by construction SMEs and also to develop a pattern within the communication structure of SMEs that will avert uncertainties in a form of barriers to their communication. In order to accomplish the exploratory study, semi-structure interview sessions were conducted among construction professionals and clients via purposive sampling. The targeted population for the study was adequately prepared as a result of the prior notification for the interviews. Findings from the study revealed that most of the construction SMEs do not have established communication structure in their operations. Further, the SMEs only realized the need for a communication pattern when they encounter complex issues such as dispute on a claim with clients and stakeholders. The study recommends that prior to the execution of projects by SMEs, the communication lines must be clearly defined as well as the reporting a system with an in-depth briefing for all team members and stakeholders to be privy.
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