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Evaluating management commitment to health and safety in small and medium construction enterprises

  • Authors: Agumba, Justus N. , Haupt, Theo.
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Construction industry , Construction health and safety , Small business
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:5308 , ISBN 978-0-620-44689-1 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5297
  • Description: Construction health and safety (H&S) in small and medium construction enterprises (SMEs) has received little attention in South Africa, in terms of either research or support for preventive initiatives. Previous research suggests that this sector has serious problems exacerbated by limited access to human, economic and technological resources. Moreover it is now recognized that methods developed specifically for large firms cannot necessarily be transferred to smaller and medium firms, hence the need to investigate management commitment to H&S among SMEs.
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Theoretical exploration of construction site management practices

  • Authors: Dube, N , Aigbavboa, C , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Construction industry , Construction industry - Swaziland - Management
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:5299 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/15053
  • Description: The construction industry is vital to the existence of other industrial sector and provides the environment under which other sectors operate. It is the largest industry and contributes about 10% of the gross national product (GNP) in industrial-ized countries. It also plays a major role in development and reaching the goals of society. The current study aims to establish the factors required in the manage-ment of good site management on construction sites in Swaziland. The study is conducted with reference to existing theoretical literature, published and un-published research. The study is mainly a literature review/survey on site man-agement practices on construction sites. Findings emanating from the study reveal that realistic studies have identified a number of problems on site management practices such as management and administration problems, technical problems and communication problems. It also indicates that site management involves a mixture of activities which turn basic sources to a finished product. The study presents a strong background on site management practices on construction sites in the Swaziland construction industry.
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An assessment of factors affecting risk management in the South African construction industry

  • Authors: Seku, L. , Aigbavboa, C.O. , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Construction industry , Construction risk management , Construction projects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/73287 , uj:18390 , Citation: Seku, L., Aigbavboa, C.O. & Thwala, W.D. 2015. An assessment of factors affecting risk management in the South African construction industry.
  • Description: Abstract: Purpose The research aims to assess and evaluate the techniques used in managing risks in South African construction projects, the effectiveness of risk management techniques that are currently in use and the factors that influence the use of risk management by contractors in their projects. Methodology The data used in this paper were derived from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data was obtained through the use of a structured questionnaire survey. This was distributed to Contractors operating in Gauteng province. One hundred and eight structured questionnaires were used for the survey. Out of the 108 questionnaires sent out, all were received back representing 100% response rate, these formed the basis of the analysis for the paper. The secondary data for the study was derived from the review of literatures. Findings The empirical studies have identified that risk management in the South Africa construction is mostly influenced and affected by the size of company, education and experience of construction company and managers. The study also revealed that the majority of South African contractors are aware and make use of the structured process of risk management. Value The study contributes to the body of knowledge the use of risk management in the South African construction industry.
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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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Construction health and safety risk management

Effects of construction projects schedule overruns : a case of the Gauteng Province, South Africa

  • Authors: Mukuka, Mulenga , Aigbavboa, Clinton , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
  • Date: 2015
  • Subjects: Construction industry , Construction projects
  • Language: English
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/68913 , uj:17795 , Citation: Mukuka, M., Aigbavboa, C. & Thwala, W. 2015. Effects of construction projects schedule overruns : a case of the Gauteng Province, South Africa
  • Description: Abstract: Construction schedule overruns are not uncommon on construction projects world over and the South African construction industry has not escaped the challenges of failing to deliver projects on time. In order to find mitigation measures of schedule overruns, the first step is to identify the causes of these overruns. This paper assesses the effects of construction projects schedule overruns in the Gauteng – South African construction industry. The data used in this paper were derived from both primary and secondary sources. The secondary data was collected via a detailed review of related literature. The primary data was collected through a well-structured questionnaire which was distributed to construction professionals, who include: Architects, quantity surveyors, civil engineers, construction mangers and project managers. Out of the 200 questionnaires sent out, 146 were received back representing a 73% response rate. Data received from the questionnaires was analysed using descriptive statistics procedures. Findings from the study revealed that extension of time, cost overruns, loss of profit, disputes, poor quality of work due to hurrying the project, creates stress to the client, acceleration losses, bad reputation with contraction team, claims and delay in getting profit by the client were the major effects of construction projects schedule overruns in Gauteng, South Africa. The study contributes to the body of knowledge on the subject of the effects of construction project schedule overruns in Gauteng, South Africa.
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Assessment of mentoring of construction workers in the South African construction industry: a literature review

  • Authors: Nkomo, Morena , Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
  • Date: 2014
  • Subjects: Construction industry , Mentoring in business , Construction workers - Mentoring
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:4922 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13022
  • Description: It is important to critically analyze the concept and to highlight the distinctive elements of youth mentoring, in the construction industry. The aim of this paper is to look at the experiences, challenges and problems contributing to mentoring of young graduate’s construction employees within construction companies. It will indicate whether or not young graduates’ construction workers are they being motored or not, are they involved in any form of mentoring, within their construction companies. This study will examine mentoring of young graduates within organizations, whether they are being mentored or not in the construction industry, as compared to their non-mentored employees; within their companies, it will look at the important characteristics of mentors, potential negative outcomes or problems in mentoring of young graduates and the implications of cultural divide in relation to gender and race, are they being mentored the same or not, this will report more job and career satisfaction, and express lower turnover than their non-mentored counterparts, furthermore it will examine the ways in which mentoring contributes to producing motivated young construction workers within the industry.
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Construction health and safety culture in South African small and medium enterprises

  • Authors: Agumba, Justus N. , Haupt, Theo
  • Date: 2009
  • Subjects: Construction health and safety , Construction industry , Small business
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:5307 , ISSN 978-0-62043702-8 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5293
  • Description: Construction health and safety (H&S) culture in small and medium construction enterprises (SMEs) has received little attention in South Africa, in terms of either research or support for preventive initiatives. Previous research suggests that this sector has serious problems exacerbated by limited access to human, economic and technological resources. Moreover it is now recognized that methods developed specifically for large firms cannot necessarily be transferred to smaller and medium firms, hence the need to investigate the H&S culture in SMEs. This exploratory study is based on descriptive survey using semi-structured and structured questionnaire, and non-probability sampling to give an overview of the characteristics of H&S culture and practices in SMEs firms in the South African construction industry.
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The effects of different cultural backgrounds on teamwork on construction site

Motivators of construction workers in South African sites

Identifying factors of health and safety (H&S) culture for the construction industry

  • Authors: Musonda, Innocent , Haupt, Theo C.
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Health and safety culture model , Construction industry
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:6092 , ISBN 978-0-86970-713-5 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10955
  • Description: Construction H&S performance improvement has in recent years become a priority and thus has gained industry-wide attention (Cheung et al, 2004 and Hamalainen et al, 2009) because of the economic benefits, the need to improve construction industry image, the need for organisations to be socially responsible and the need for an improved general regard and respect for people working in the construction industry. In addition, the legislative pressure coupled with debate concerning the personal responsibility that senior managers should bear for their organisations on H&S failures (Fitzgerald, 2005) has contributed to most organisations to focus on H&S improvement. However improving H&S performance in the construction industry has also proved to be somewhat challenging partly due to the industryʼs complex nature. Despite this complexity of the industry, H&S performance improvement remains a crucial issue and its importance or need has been demonstrated in numerous studies (Smallman and John, 2001; Lee et al, 2006; ILO, 2003; and Hoonakker et al, 2005).
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An exploratory study of the causes of failure in construction small businesses : a case of the Johannesburg construction industry, South Africa

Investigation of factors that influence the selection of procurement systems of the South African construction industry

Skilled labour shortages in construction contractors : a literature review

Collaborative practices in South African construction project delivery

Supply chain constraints in the South African construction industry – perspectives from supply chain practitioners

  • Authors: Pooe, R I D , Pillay, P
  • Date: 2019
  • Subjects: Construction industry , Construction projects , Supply chain
  • Language: English
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/406696 , uj:34203 , Citation: Pooe, R., Pillay, P. 2019 : Supply chain constraints in the South African construction industry – perspectives from supply chain practitioners.
  • Description: Abstract : In the face of slowing economies globally, the construction industry faces many challenges such as socio-economic stress, resource shortages, institutional weaknesses and a general inability to respond to key issues. These have intensified and become more severe in recent years. Empirical research in supply chain management points to barriers that limit construction industries in developing countries such as South Africa. This paper aims to explore supply chain constraints in the South African construction industry. Relevant literature was reviewed and insights from 15 experienced supply chain practitioners were elicited by means of semi-structured interviews. Content analysis was employed using the ATLAS.ti (version 7) software to analyse qualitative data. Six themes emerged from the interviews, which include lack of investment in supply chains, lack of supply chain innovation process constraints, supply chain change management, supply chain collaboration, supply chain leadership, and time management. It is recommended that construction companies adopt supply chain management systems, integrated solutions, and collaborative project management tools and technologies.
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