Unprepared industry meet pandemic: COVID-19 and the South Africa construction industry

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa ◽  
Douglas Omoregie Aghimien ◽  
Wellington Didibhuku Thwala ◽  
Moleboheng Ntebo Ngozwana
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
South African ◽  
Project Delivery ◽  
The South ◽  
Item Score ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Operations ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to determine the responses of construction organisations to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its associated lockdown and the impact on the South African construction industry (SACI). Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a quantitative survey with responses sought from 825 contracting organisation’s representatives drawn from the database of the construction industry development board. The data gathered were analysed using percentage, mean item score and one-sample t-test. The reliability of the research instrument was also tested using the Cronbach alpha test. Findings Findings revealed that most construction organisations implemented a complete travel ban and halting all business operations on sites and offices in a bid to curb the spread of the virus. Furthermore, whilst most construction organisations envisage significant disruption in their project delivery, the problem of job losses was regarded as a short, medium and long-term impact of the pandemic. Loss of revenue, a decline in the economy and business interruption are also some of the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the SACI. Originality/value The study’s findings give practical insights on the potential impact of the pandemic on the construction industry and the possible approach needed to help cushion the effect on the industry.

CONSTRUCTION STAKEHOLDERS’ PERSPECTIVE ON EXTERNAL RELATED RISK FACTORS INFLUENCING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT PERFORMANCE

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-85
Author(s):  
Abdarahim Salem ◽  
Eric Simpeh ◽  
Julius Fapohunda
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
South African ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Project Performance ◽  
Project Delivery ◽  
Organisational Performance ◽  
The South ◽  
Related Risk ◽  
The Impact

The construction industry is extremely complex, with dynamic project environments creating an atmosphere of high uncertainty and risk. For that reason, risks in construction project have become an inevitable feature and the industry is susceptible to numerous business, socio-political and technical risks that negatively influence project delivery. This study therefore investigates the causes of external risks factors in construction project delivery and the effect on project and organisational performance so that efficient control measures can be designed to minimise its occurrence. A quantitative research design was adopted, and the sample comprised of randomly selected construction professionals in the Western Cape Province. The data was statistically analysed using descriptive and inferential analyses. The salient findings revealed that socio-political-related risk factors were the major causes of risks during construction project delivery, these factors include labour strikes and disputes due to union issues, excessive influence by government on court proceedings regarding construction project disputes, and constraints on the availability and employment of expatriate staff. In addition, the study revealed the impact of external related risks on projects and organisational performance, and it was found that cost overrun was ranked the most significant on project performance and disputes between parties to the contract was ranked the most significant on organisational performance. In the context of the South African construction industry, previous studies tended to focus more on internal risks as opposed to external risks. Therefore, this study makes a contribution to the body of knowledge on the subject within a previously unexplored context. The study provides insights with regard to the sources of external related risks associated with construction project within the context of the South African construction industry.

Clusters of key barriers to life cycle assessment adoption in the South African construction industry: perspectives of stakeholders

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Titus Ebenezer Kwofie ◽  
Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa ◽  
Wellington Didibhuku Thwala
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
South African ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
The South ◽  
Sustainable Practices ◽  
Sustainable Building ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The South African Construction Industry (SACI) in recent times has been characterized by a strong emphasis towards achieving sustainable building practices in infrastructural delivery. However, the lack of progress encountered in making gains in achieving sustainable practices has raised concerns over the effectiveness and understanding of the extent to which life cycle assessment (LCA) techniques may aid in meeting requirements of sustainable construction. Most efforts at LCA have been blighted with numerous barriers that have not been rigorously pursued and aggregated. Ironically, there is a lack of knowledge and understanding of the limitations and barriers to these methodologies, especially in the South African context. The purpose of this study is to delineate the cluster of barriers to the adoption of LCA methodologies in the SACI. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire survey was carried out from a deductive research design elicit primary data based on the experience of purposively sampled stakeholders in LCA in the SACI on the extent they perceived the presence of well-established barriers in LCA adoption culled from the extensive literature review. Findings Through the use of factor analysis, three aggregated clusters of key barriers to LCA adoption in the SACI were identified, which were knowledge and enabling conditions constraints, cost and time constraints and technical constraints. The results confirm that indeed human and technical barriers have been notable in limiting gains in LCA adoption and achieving sustainable practices. Originality/value These findings are, thus, useful in overcoming challenges to LCA methodologies in achieving sustainable building practices in building and infrastructural delivery in SACI.

The impact of knowledge and motivation management on creativity

2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 732-752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucía Muñoz-Pascual ◽  
Jesús Galende
Keyword(s):  
Employee Behavior ◽  
Employee Creativity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Joint Influence ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the influence that two variables related to human resources (HR) have on employee creativity – namely, knowledge management (KM) and motivation management (MM). Design/methodology/approach The linear regression analyses are based on a sample of 306 employees from 11 Spanish companies belonging to three innovative clusters. In addition, “creativity” is considered an antecedent of technological innovation. Findings KM and intrinsic MM are shown to inform creativity, whereas extrinsic MM has no such effect. Practical implications Although this study is based on cross-sectional data, the findings might induce researchers to investigate the effects of other HR variables, such as the types of relations between employees and their long-term impact on creativity. Management should encourage KM and intrinsic MM across employees, as the results indicate that tacit KM, explicit KM and intrinsic MM encourage a positive attitude toward creativity among employees. Originality/value The main contribution is new empirical evidence on the joint influence of aptitudes (KM) and attitudes (MM) on employee creativity. In addition, the study includes a key measure of employee creativity. The evidence reveals the types of KM and MM that encourage or inhibit creative employee behavior. The results show that once employees have reached a medium-high level of extrinsic MM, creativity will be affected solely by intrinsic MM.

Black South African women in construction: cues for success

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 144-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane English ◽  
Paula Hay
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
South African ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Barriers To Entry ◽  
Family Responsibilities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – This paper aims to describe the findings of interviews based on a questionnaire and a focus group discussion (conducted in 2011) with three Black women employees who were part of a 2006 study, which canvassed 176 employees and employers, in which carpentry was found to be considered the most accessible and appropriate skills area for women, and chronicles their development and assessment of current employment for women in construction. Design/methodology/approach – The focus group was made up of the women from the 2006 study still in the same employment or better positions in the same company Neil Muller Construction (NMC) after five years. Women from NMC, in particular, were selected because the company has been considered a best practice example and therefore would provide an interesting context in terms of the issues around retention of women and potentially a model for the industry. Foci are female representation, barriers, conditions, skills acquisition and employers’ attitudes to family responsibilities. In particular, measures to support women and the impact of role models and mentoring programmes are discussed. Findings – The results of the 2011 focus group study show that positive measures for women to work in construction are developing, both through legislation (e.g. the Construction Charter) and company efforts such as those of NMC. Both the 2006 and 2011 studies highlighted that female attributes such as being peacekeepers on site were considered favourable, indicating a positive shift in attitude regarding women working in construction. Research limitations/implications – There has been and remains a paucity of research into and literature on the topic of women in the construction industry, particularly working at the skills level. Practical implications – The paper has practical implications for employers wanting to increase employment and retention of women on site by providing a best practice example. Social implications – Increased employment of women is a statuary requirement of South African employment law. Women are, on average, the lowest wage earners. Originality/value – The paper reviews challenges for women in construction and ways these can be circumvented through interaction between industry and companies. The challenges are entry and retention because of the practices and attitudes typical in a male-dominated work environment. As a follow-up to previous research of 2006 into barriers to entry for women, this paper adds value by considering retention and a best practice example. As women’s lack of knowledge of the sector is also a barrier, this paper contributes to building knowledge. Further research should determine developing trends in terms of women’s representation in the construction industry.

Analysis of the South African construction industry business environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 393-416
Author(s):  
Luqman Oyekunle Oyewobi ◽  
Abimbola Windapo ◽  
James Olabode Bamidele Rotimi ◽  
Richard Jimoh
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
South African ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
The South ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The study aims to identify and examine the construction organisational environments and its dimensions that have an impact on the performance of contracting companies in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach The study reports the result of quantitative research that obtained data from 72 construction organisations registered with the South African construction industry development board via a questionnaire survey. Descriptive statistics, non-parametric and exploratory principal component analysis were used to summarise forms of correlations among observed variables and to reduce a large number of observed variables to a smaller number of factors that provide an operational definition for the underlying dimension. Findings This study identified six exogenous and three endogenous environmental factors that have a varying degree of impact on construction organisation performance. Four dimensions of the environment were also examined, and environmental complexity has the highest variance explained which implies that the complexity of the construction business environment significantly influences the performance of construction firms. Research limitations/implications This paper studies the environment of the South African construction industry using cross-sectional data in exploratory research. A confirmatory study should be conducted using a longitudinal panel design with a larger sample in similar future research. Practical implications The study offers practical implications to construction organisation owners operating in the South African construction industry to understand the need to acquire market and environmental data and process them in a way that will reduce its uncertainty when making strategic decisions. Originality/value This study contributes to the current discourse on organisations’ business environments to better understand their influences on organisational performance.

scholarly journals Creatively expanding research from work-based learning

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-125
Author(s):  
Deborah Scott
Keyword(s):  
Learning Experience ◽  
Workplace Issues ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Unexpected Outcomes ◽  
Professional Judgement

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the potential of creativity in work-based research and practice to yield deeper understanding of practice situations. Unexpected insights can lead one (or a team) to identify new approaches, tackling workplace issues differently, leading to unexpected outcomes of long-term impact.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws on work conducted for a doctoral thesis, investigating the impact of work-based learning for recent masters graduates of a work-based learning programme. Fiction was incorporated into analysis of the data, creating play scripts to represent key aspects of the researcher's perceptions and interpretations for each participant.FindingsResearch participants experienced personal, professional and organisational impact, although there was considerable variability between individuals. Additionally, societal impact was wished for and/or effected. The approach to representation of analysis, which involved fictionalising participants' experiences, created a strong Thirdspace liminality. This appeared to deepen awareness and understanding.Research limitations/implicationsSuch approaches can transform the researcher's perspective, prompting insights which lead to further adventure and development in work-based research and practice.Practical implicationsManagers and employees taking creative approaches in the workplace can prompt wide-ranging development and, with professional judgement, be constructive.Social implicationsManagers and employees taking creative approaches in the workplace can prompt wide-ranging development and, with professional judgement, be constructive.Originality/valueThe creation of play scripts, representing an interpretation of participants' stories about their work-based learning experience, is an innovative feature of this work.

SAHRIS: South Africa’s integrated, web-based heritage management system

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Smuts ◽  
Nonyameko Mlungwana ◽  
Nicholas Wiltshire
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Heritage Management ◽  
Public Access ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Heritage Sites ◽  
African Heritage ◽  
Heritage Legislation ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce the South African Heritage Resources Information System (SAHRIS), developed by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) in 2011. The paper aims to describe how SAHRIS facilitates online applications for heritage approval and/or permits for developments and research, fulfils SAHRA’s mandate as a repository for a national inventory of heritage sites and objects in the country, and serves as an integrated, responsive tool for reporting heritage crimes and tracking the progress of the resultant cases. The paper also aims to explain, simply, the application processes for each of these functions. Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides an explanation of the design and functions of the system and outlines how each of the content types and applications are created. Findings – The system has improved the process of South African heritage resources management by decreasing the turnaround time for submissions to heritage authorities, raised the standards of good governance and increased public compliance with the heritage legislation. Practical implications – Poor uptake of the system by provincial heritage authorities has limited the impact of the system on heritage management as practiced in South Africa. Social implications – The system, when used effectively provides an efficient service to the public, while promoting good governance, transparency, public access to information and improved compliance with the heritage legislation. Originality/value – Through the creation of a single, unified platform for heritage management processes, geo-referencing of heritage sites and development areas, the provision of a national fossil sensitivity map, and the national heritage inventory, SAHRIS represents a world first in terms of proactive, integrated heritage management tools.

Structural equation model of the barriers to preliminary and sustained BIM adoption in a developing country

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluseye Olugboyega ◽  
Abimbola Olukemi Windapo
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
South African ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Implementation Process ◽  
Knowledge Work ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Trial Basis

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the barriers that are constituting significant obstructions to preliminary and sustained BIM adoption in the South African construction industry. Design/methodology/approach Implementation Process Theory was used to develop the theoretical model of barriers to continuous and consistent BIM adoption. This enabled the formulation of two hypotheses, the identification of two sub-constructs (barriers to preliminary BIM adoption and barriers to sustained BIM adoption), and five variables (resources, knowledge, work process, organisational and planning barriers), which were validated using structural equation modelling (SEM). Findings The SEM results show pieces of evidence that validate the hypotheses in the theoretical model. The path analysis confirms that the two sub-constructs and five variables are statistically significant. Research limitations/implications This research extends the postulations on the barriers to BIM adoption by demonstrating that organisational challenges and planning difficulties constitute barriers to sustained BIM adoption in the South African construction industry. Practical implications The findings of this research are useful in understanding the planning scope and organisational requirements towards continuous and consistent BIM adoption in the South African construction industry. Originality/value The difficulties with BIM adoption are the issues with the performance of BIM on projects and are the major reason for the non-consistent adoption of BIM on projects. Having difficulties adopting BIM on projects suggests that BIM adoption is majorly on a preliminary or trial basis in the developing countries. This research tests this theory by proposing two types of BIM adoption and their associated barriers.

Entrepreneurial orientation, market orientation and opportunity exploitation in driving business performance: moderating effect of interfunctional coordination

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rose Boitumelo Mathafena ◽  
Jabulile Msimango-Galawe
Keyword(s):  
Market Orientation ◽  
South African ◽  
Entrepreneurial Orientation ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
The South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Opportunity Exploitation ◽  
Corporate Context ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The study aims to investigate the extent to which interfunctional coordination (IFC) moderates the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO), market orientation (MO) and organisational opportunity exploitation (OE) and business performance (BP); second, to examine the impact of EO, MO and organisational OE on the BP. Design/methodology/approach The study used a cross-sectional design approach, with the research framework tested on a sample of 203 cases of employees mostly at skilled, professional and management levels in Gauteng Province. Data was analysed through correlation, regression and moderation analysis. Findings The results indicated that EO, MO and OE account for BP. Furthermore, IFC significantly moderates only the relationship between MO and BP (financial) and OE and BP (non-financial). While the relationship between EO and BP is not significantly moderated. Practical implications The study highlights that IFC is not yet embedded in organisational practice and culture. Scaling interventions to promote IFC as a performance enabler, particularly in conjunction with the entrepreneurial, market-oriented and OE activities, is essential in the South African corporate entrepreneurial environment. Originality/value Although EO, MO and OE are widely recognised as performance enablers, very little is known about the potential moderating role of IFC towards these identified complementary strategic capabilities within the South African corporate context. The empirical research strengthens awareness about the need and criticality of IFC in improving organisational performance in emerging economies.

Adoption of innovative technologies in the South African construction industry

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liané van Wyk ◽  
Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu ◽  
Akintayo Opawole
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
South African ◽  
The South ◽  
Building Information Modelling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovative Technologies ◽  
3 Dimensional ◽  
Adoption And Implementation ◽  
Building Information ◽  
Dimensional Printing

PurposeThe South African construction industry appears to be lagging behind other industries in the country in terms of implementation and adoption of innovative technologies. Moreover, sufficient empirical data on the adoption of innovative technologies, especially, in developing countries are not readily available. The aim of this study is therefore to assess the adoption and implementation of innovative technologies in the South African construction industry with a view to improving the industry's performance.Design/methodology/approachA survey was undertaken using a questionnaire, administered to construction professionals primarily in project management, quantity surveying and architectural firms.FindingsThe key findings show that there are some innovative technologies such as building information modelling, 3-dimensional mapping, drones, 3-dimensional printing and virtual reality that have been deployed. However, limited adoption of innovative technologies within the industry and low levels of knowledge of its benefits among the respondents were reported. This low implementation of innovative technologies was due to critical barriers such as high cost, limited knowledge, time requirement, fear of change, lack of interest, nature of construction processes and lack of team dynamics. Key drivers of innovation were found to include globalization and competition.Practical implicationsThe current level of implementation of innovative technologies indicated that they are not yet optimized in the South African construction industry and suggests implications for change, adaptation and growth. The study recommends that firms should consider investing in research and development in order to exploit the potential of innovation for organizations and the industry at large.Originality/valueThe drivers and barriers indicated will help to prioritize the direction of adoption and growth which could help to improve the industry.

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