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Productivity management in the South African civil construction industry

- Bierman, Marius

  • Authors: Bierman, Marius
  • Date: 2015-06-25
  • Subjects: Construction industry - Labor productivity , Construction industry - South Africa , Project management - South Africa
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:13612 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/13795
  • Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , Labour productivity in South Africa is at its lowest in 46 years, according to Naicker. South Africa, when compared to its competitors in the emerging market, is less efficient and labour productivity is one of the lowest in the developing world; this does not bode well for the economy and the wellbeing of its citizens. ProductivitySA stated that productivity has an impact on several aspects of a country such as the economy and the society in general and is seen as “a critical driver of economic growth, employment, poverty reduction, and competitiveness” The Civil Construction Industry contributes 3.5% to the GDP of South Africa and it is faced with challenges such as an environment that is exceedingly competitive and organizations in the civil industry experience financial difficulties such as low profit margins. Furthermore, the industry is labour intensive and employs a significant number of unskilled and semi-skilled labour from the local community which is located within the vicinity of the project. The aim of this dissertation, therefore, is to identify the factors that have an impact on the productivity of the civil construction industry of South Africa. A secondary aim is to utilize the factors, which have been identified, to create a productivity management framework with a view to improve construction productivity as part of the normal project management system. An industry specific survey was conducted, in the form of a questionnaire, to ascertain the perceptions of industry professionals regarding factors that have an impact on productivity. A literature study was done to create a benchmark which was used to compare the findings of the questionnaire. The top ranked factors were then used as the foundation of the productivity management framework.
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Demographic attributes influence on health and safety practices for small and medium construction enterprises

- Agumba, Justus N., Haupt, Theo C.

A construction health and safety performance improvement model for South African small and medium enterprises

- Agumba, Justus Ngala

  • Authors: Agumba, Justus Ngala
  • Date: 2013-12-09
  • Subjects: Construction industry - Safety regulations - South Africa , Construction industry - South Africa - Safety measures , Construction industry - Personnel management , Construction industry - Labor productivity
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:7810 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8705
  • Description: D.Phil. (Engineering Management) , Considering its share in and impact on national economies, the construction industry receives additional attention in terms of its performance and productivity especially small and medium construction enterprises (SMEs). However, with the extensive amount of workforce it employs, health and safety (H&S) has become important. Since the industry has the reputation of poor H&S performance especially SMEs. It has been accepted that H&S management practices constitute a vehicle to improve H&S performance, which reflects the H&S culture of the organization. However, the challenge is to determine what needs to be measured and practiced by SMEs at project level. The main objective of this thesis was to develop a construction H&S performance improvement model at project level of SMEs. A triangulation approach was used to develop the model using Delphi method and questionnaire survey. The Delphi method straddles between quantitative and qualitative research. Thirty H&S experts were purposively sampled and 20 agreed to participate in the Delphi process. However, 16 H&S experts completed the four iterations. The experts reached consensus on 31 statements or leading indicator metrics categorized in seven H&S elements/constructs. The final refined H&S conceptual model consisted of one independent construct, four intervening constructs and one dependent construct. Furthermore, a quantitative survey with 1,450 conveniently sampled SMEs was conducted. A total of 228 questionnaires were returned of which 216 were deemed usable representing 15.72% response rate. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 using Maximum Likelihood with Promax rotation was used to determine the validity and reliability of the six H&S constructs of the refined conceptual model. The six H&S construct and 40 statements were retained as valid and reliable measures of H&S for SMEs at project level. A further validity and reliability test was conducted using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using Mplus version 6.1, software program. The CFA revealed acceptable model fit of the measurement model after the re-specification of some of the measurement models. Finally the structural model was tested using Mplus version 6.1 to determine the constructs relationship. The findings revealed that the structural model data was acceptable and of the 12 hypotheses tested, six were significant. However, four significant relationships influenced H&S performance. The influential relationships were; upper management commitment and involvement in H&S indirectly influenced H&S performance through project supervision and H&S resources and training. These three proactive H&S elements are posited to be essential to improve H&S performance at project level of SMEs. Furthermore, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) established no statistical significant difference on the respondents’ perception of H&S model elements. However, t–test revealed statistical significant difference on the respondents’ perception on H&S performance, upper management commitment and involvement in H&S and H&S resources and training. The respondents with post-matric qualification strongly agreed that the way they managed H&S at project level had improved their H&S performance. Furthermore, they strongly agreed that upper management are committed and involved in H&S and H&S resources and training were provided. Multiple linear regression analysis was further used to test the influence of demographic variables on the H&S model elements. The selected demographic variables were; experience in the construction industry, education level and the number of employees. The result indicated that the demographic variables were not good predicators of the H&S model elements. Finally, the use of self-reported questionnaire and majority of respondents conducting business in Gauteng province in South Africa were some of the limitations in this study.
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Utilisation of employee assistance programme to reduce absenteeism on construction sites

- Mashinini, Michael Thammie

  • Authors: Mashinini, Michael Thammie
  • Date: 2013-11-25
  • Subjects: Construction industry - Personnel management , Employee assistance programs , Construction workers - Job stress , Construction industry - Labor productivity
  • Type: Thesis
  • Identifier: uj:7799 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8694
  • Description: M.Tech (Construction Management) , Many construction companies are beginning to realize the value of their employees. Employees are to a large extent the engine of the organisation. Todays employees are under a lot of pressure and stress from home and at the construction sites. The construction industry just like any other industry, is faced with the challenges of dealing with personal as well as work related problems. These problems they have effect on job performance. An Employee assistance Programme is a programme that is utilized to resolve personal and work related programme. An EAP can be defined as a programme that is designed to deal with the personal and work related problems of employees and their family member, which may be impacting on productivity and social functioning. EAP has to be based on the special needs and interest of employees, who will be served by such a programme needs for assessment is important to ensure that the EAP closely matches the needs of the employees.
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Motivators of construction workers in the South African construction sites : a case study

- Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku, Monese, Lydia, Nthabiseng, L.N.

  • 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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Motivation as a tool to improve productivity on the construction site

- Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku, Monese, Lydia Nthabiseng

  • Authors: Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku , Monese, Lydia Nthabiseng
  • Date: 2011
  • Subjects: Construction industry - Labor productivity , Construction workers - Job satisfaction , Employee motivation
  • Type: Article
  • Identifier: uj:4692 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10486
  • Description: Purpose of this paper - Is to identify the factors that promote positive motivational behaviour among construction workers as to improve production in the construction site. Furthermore the study will identify consistencies in the behaviour of motivated, satisfied, committed and loyal employees in the construction field since these are important characteristics in the workplace. Methodology/ Scope - The study is mainly a literature review with a special focus on the human resource management and leadership. A survey will be later conducted. Findings - There are definite differences between different cultures as to how people can be motivated; this also must be taken into consideration. Management should play an active and continuous role in managing on site motivational processes; employee’s desired outcomes should be tied to performance; and management should focus on eliminating performance obstacles. Research limitations – The study will mainly be a literature survey of both South African and international experience. Value - Workers are an asset to the business and it is up to the management to value them. It can not be a solution to hire and fire continuously as has been the common practice, recruiting goes with resources and money; and it is through the management that the companies grows, thus
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