scholarly journals Critical skills for infrastructure procurement: insights from developing country contexts

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Ohene Asiedu ◽  
Patrick Manu ◽  
Abdul-Majeed Mahamadu ◽  
Colin Anthony Booth ◽  
Paul Olomolaiye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Country ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Team Building ◽  
Public Infrastructure ◽  
African Region ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Skills ◽  
Sub Saharan

Purpose Effective procurement of infrastructure is partly dependent on infrastructure procurement personnel having the skills that are important for the discharge of their role. Addressing the infrastructure deficits in developing countries, therefore, calls for an understanding of the skills that are important for the discharge of the roles of public personnel that are involved in infrastructure procurement. This study aims to investigate these skills from the perspective of public infrastructure procurement personnel in the sub-Saharan African region. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire survey of procurement personnel yielded 590 useable responses, which were analysed using t-tests and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Findings EFA established eight key components of important infrastructure procurement skills to include skills related to: project success factors; social and environmental sustainability; marketing and e-procurement; project phase management, the application of procurement laws and procedures; soft skills, ICT and communication; and data analysis and team building. Originality/value The findings are crucial in developing infrastructure procurement capacity building programmes that would be appropriate for infrastructure procurement personnel in developing country contexts. Infrastructure procurement personnel ought to engage more in capacity development training that is aligned to enhancing skills within the eight components.

The career advancement of the professional women in the UK construction industry

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nirodha Gayani Fernando ◽  
Dilanthi Amaratunga ◽  
Richard Haigh
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Career Success ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Training And Development ◽  
Professional Women ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Uk

Purpose – This paper aims to explore and investigate the career success of professional women in the UK construction industry. Design/methodology/approach – The aim of the research was set following the literature review and synthesis, after which a multiple case study approach is adopted to conduct exploratory case studies among professional women in the UK construction industry. A mixed method design was used for data collection, whereby qualitative data were collected in the first study and quantitative data were collected in the second study. The researcher adopted this sequence in order to gather qualitative data and analysis of a relatively unexplored area of career success factors of professional women in the UK construction industry. The results from the qualitative method were used, along with a relevant literature review, to develop the focus and questions in the quantitative phase of the study. The individuals in the first stage of data collection were not the same participants as those in the second stage, because the purpose of the quantitative study was to generalise the results to a population. Findings – The results indicated that soft skills are very important for career success, while hard skills are essential thereafter for professional women in the UK construction industry. Accordingly, it is necessary to develop soft skills in order to advance the women's professional careers. Further, the results indicated that age and gender are the least important career success factors for women in construction. The ability to work with people, taking opportunities, confidence, adaptability, communication skills, dedication, competence, focus, supportive line management, integrity, leadership skills, ability to bring teams together, good mix of skills, honesty, networking, intelligence and logically approaching business problems identified as the critical career success factors. Research limitations/implications – The construction industry is limited to organisations that construct buildings and infrastructure, and those involved in property development. These organisations comprise client, contractor and consultancy organisations. Practical implications – The findings of the paper are useful to human resource development managers to understand and improve organisational training and development plans, which help to advance the career of professional women. By doing so, organisations could recruit and retain more professional women in the construction industry. Therefore, recruiting and retaining more professional women in the organisation helps to enhance productivity in the industry and to enhance their health and well being in society at large. Originality/value – The value of this paper is twofold. First, this study contributes to fill the knowledge gap in career success factors of professional women in the UK construction industry. Second, this empirical research will have implications in the identification of different training and development activities to advance the careers of women in the UK construction industry.

Trade liberalization and technology absorption in a less developing country context

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-170
Author(s):  
Alamedin Bannaga
Keyword(s):  
Trade Liberalization ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Panel Regression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Technology Absorption ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The paper aims to investigate the relationship between trade liberalization and technology absorption in a less developing country context. The objective is to empirically test the relationship between these two variables. This analysis was conducted in Sub-Saharan African economies. Design/methodology/approach – A panel regression of 20 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa was estimated based on a model that takes into account both trade policy and non-policy factors affecting technology absorption. Findings – A positive and significant relationship was found between trade liberalization and technology absorption. This relationship is valid across a variety of model specifications, technology absorption proxies and estimation techniques. Moreover, non-policy factors such as geographical spillover play significant role in technology absorption. Originality/value – The paper examines the link between the trade liberalization and the technology absorption in Sub-Saharan Africa. The analysis is empirical in nature and builds on panel estimations. The novelty of the paper comes from the topic investigated and the focus on a region which has not attracted much attention in the literature.

scholarly journals Infrastructure procurement skills gap amongst procurement personnel in Nigeria’s public sector

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-24
Author(s):  
Abdul-Majeed Mahamadu ◽  
Patrick Manu ◽  
Colin Booth ◽  
Paul Olomolaiye ◽  
Akinwale Coker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Team Building ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Public Infrastructure ◽  
Content Type ◽  
State And Local Government ◽  
State And Local

Purpose Procurement of public infrastructure that is fit for purpose partly depends on the competencies of procurement personnel. In many developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria, there is a deficit in the quantity and quality of infrastructure and their procurement is further riddled with deficiencies in the capacity of public procuring entities. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the critical skills development needs of public personnel involved in the procurement of infrastructure in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach Based on a quantitative research strategy, this study sought to address the knowledge gap through a survey of public infrastructure procurement personnel (n = 288) in different tiers of government (i.e. state and local government) and geopolitical contexts (north and south) in Nigeria. Findings Of the 45 procurement skill areas operationalised, there is need for further development in 38 of them including: computing/ICT; problem-solving; communication; decision-making; health and safety management; quality management; relationship management; team building; project monitoring and evaluation; time management and procurement planning. Originality/value A key implication of this study is for policymakers in state and local government to formulate and implement infrastructure procurement capacity development reforms that address the competency gaps of procurement personnel. Such reforms need to take into account the suitable methods for developing procurement competencies. Additionally, the procurement skill areas operationalised in this capacity assessment study could serve as a useful blueprint for studying capacity deficiencies amongst public infrastructure procurement personnel in other developing countries.

Correlates of poverty in Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (12) ◽  
pp. 2033-2051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Adjei Dwumfour ◽  
Elikplimi Komla Agbloyor ◽  
Joshua Yindenaba Abor
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
African Region ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Access To Credit ◽  
The North ◽  
Oil Rents ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how remittances, financial development (FD), and natural resources and their different transmission channels can be used to reduce poverty in Africa. Design/methodology/approach Using the Human Development Index (HDI) as the measure of welfare, the authors specify these relationships using the System GMM estimator approach. Findings The authors hypothesise that for remittance to effectively improve welfare, the recipient of remittances must have access to credit to profitably utilise the monies. Again, the authors assert that FD can be effective in improving welfare when development of the sector actually benefits the poor. The authors provide empirical support for these hypotheses using 54 African countries covering the period 1990-2012. The findings also show that the North African region has been able to utilise its oil rents in particular to improve welfare unlike the Sub-Saharan counterpart. Originality/value This paper is the first to jointly estimate the impact of remittances, FD, and natural resources on welfare using a comprehensive measure of poverty – HDI.

Impact of technology management on corporate sustainability performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 1574-1599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Tasleem ◽  
Nawar Khan ◽  
Asim Nisar
Keyword(s):  
Technology Management ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Mediation Analysis ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainability Performance ◽  
Corporate Sustainability Performance

Purpose Corporate sustainability is an evolutionary strategic management concept that has now attained much attention both in literature and practice. In the present globalization and digital age, the competitive strengths of technology management (TM) and TQM practices are widely accepted but to what extent these strategies can interact and impact the sustainability performance is unknown. The purpose of this paper is to portray the significant role of TM and TQM in pursuing corporate sustainability performance (CSP) and to investigate their integrated relationship as a common framework. Design/methodology/approach This is a survey-based empirical research that has been carried out by means of development of a survey questionnaire and its distribution to multifaceted business organizations in a developing country. Random sampling technique was used for the data collection from companies registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). Response from 209 companies was found useful for analysis in the study. After confirming the questionnaire items for reliability and validity (content, criterion-related and construct validity) correlation, regression, factor analysis, path analysis and mediation analysis were performed through SPSS and AMOS to assess the composition and causal association of factors. Findings Statistical results show that TQM does not only significantly impact CSP but also has an impact on each CSP dimension (economical, social and environmental sustainability performance), whereas TM has an insignificant direct effect on CSP and impacts economical sustainability dimension only. From nine hypotheses, two hypotheses are rejected suggesting that TM does not directly impact social and environmental sustainability. However, when mediation analysis was run by taking TQM as a mediator, the total effect of TM on CSP found significant suggesting that TQM significantly impacts the relationship. Research limitations/implications Paucity of response data can be a limitation for such empirical research. Due to practical limitations and risks in the data presentation of mixed cultural dimensions, the data was collected only from in country organizations. Moreover, respondents in the local country do not keenly participate in such surveys because of a gap between the industry and academia. Practical implications The study attempts to examine the practice and performance levels of CSP, TQM and TM among multi industries, thereby, extending a better understanding of the prevailing situation with regards to these concepts in a developing country. Though the results of the study confine local inferences but the findings can be generalized to other part of the world if further research is carried out with more data. Social implications The study outcomes draw the attention of the country’s executive leadership and the industrial boards toward the implementation of the most top-ranked agenda of sustainability performance in connection to quality and TM practices. One of the major findings reveals that local organizations are primarily more focused toward economical sustainability dimension, however, benefits of economical stability can be improvised to attain environmental and social sustainability performances with desired concentration on technology advancement and TQM culture and practice. Originality/value The study is unique in the prescribed scope which has been carried out in a developing country with focus on strategic concepts, and their interacted relationship, of CSP, TQM and TM in form of proposed research framework. This framework can be used or further investigated for validation, by practitioners and managers working to lead sustainability management in respective areas.

Soft skills of construction project management professionals and project success factors

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Zuo ◽  
Xianbo Zhao ◽  
Quan Bui Minh Nguyen ◽  
Tony Ma ◽  
Shang Gao
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Project Success ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Construction Project Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Project Management Professionals ◽  
Management Professionals

Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to identify the soft skills of construction project management; and second, to investigate the influence of these soft skills on project success factors in the Vietnamese construction industry. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire survey was conducted with 108 project management professionals from the Vietnamese construction industry. Partial least square structural equation modelling was employed in data analysis. Findings Four-dimensional structure of project success factors was confirmed in this study. Results also showed that soft skills of project managers significantly contributed to project success factors and hence the project success. Research limitations/implications There may be geographical limitation on the conclusions drawn from the findings. Similarly, the sample size was still small, despite a relatively high response rate. In addition, the majority of the respondents were contractors and clients as other project players were reluctant to respond to the survey. Practical implications This study provides an understanding of the relationship between soft skills and project success factors. Originality/value Although there have been studies focused on soft skills of project management and project success factors, few have attempted to analyse the effects of these soft skills on critical success factors. Thus, this study adds significantly to the existing research on both project management skills and project success factors.

Lean Six Sigma implementation: multiple case studies in a developing country

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 523-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad Reeduan Mustapha ◽  
Fauziah Abu Hasan ◽  
Mohd Shaladdin Muda
Keyword(s):  
Developing Country ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Multiple Case Study ◽  
Internal Resistance ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Management Support ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multiple Case

Purpose This paper aims to report the results of a study on the implementation of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in a developing country. The purpose of this paper is to determine the barriers, critical success factors (CSFs) and implementation strategy of LSS. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative approach was taken, in which a multiple-case study designed to gather data on the LSS implementation process was used. Findings The literature and interviews show that any organization can customize these methodologies according to their needs. This also indicates that there are no stringent rules to follow, and that the process of adoption and implementation is quite flexible. The findings from the multiple-case study identify that the CSFs for implementing LSS are management support and commitment, communication, culture change, education and training and a recognition and reward system. The salient features which serve as barriers are lack of top management commitment, lack of knowledge, lack of training, and internal resistance. Practical implications The findings have implications for consultants and practitioners with regard to the implementation of LSS within organizations and to focus on the selection LSS tools for implementation. Originality/value This paper reports on the implementation of LSS in Malaysia can be valuable to consultants, practitioners and researchers of LSS in developing countries.

scholarly journals School leadership capacity-building: developing country successful case studies

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 1615-1636
Author(s):  
Susanne Mary Owen ◽  
Toabwa Toaiauea ◽  
Tekonnang Timee ◽  
Tebetaio Harding ◽  
Taaruru Taoaba
Keyword(s):  
Instructional Leadership ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
School Leader ◽  
Implementation Success ◽  
Teacher Capacity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Teacher Capacity Building

PurposeSystems educational reform in developing countries through effective principal capacity- building programs is essential for improving student learning, with the purpose of this paper being to use case studies to identify key success factors in the implementation of an instructional leadership program in the developing country of Kiribati.Design/methodology/approachA case study approach involving mixed methods including semi-structured interviews and document analysis was used within three purposively sampled schools to examine implementation success factors relevant to instructional leadership literatureFindingsThe case studies reveal the overall value of the Kiribati instructional leadership program involving school leader workshops and ongoing coaching support, with instructional leadership reflecting directive and collaborative, as well as transformative theoretical aspects. Key implementation success factors within researched schools were leaders undertaking regular observations in classrooms, systematic tracking of student achievement and nurturing a positive culture for learning, as well as establishment of various collaborative processes involving community and teacher peer learning groups.Research limitations/implicationsThe study provides in-depth information through teacher and school leader interviews and examining relevant school documentation artefacts. A limitation is that the study involved only three schools and was undertaken less than a year into program implementation. Future research involving more schools and several years after implementation would be beneficial to investigate sustainability across the school system and longer-term program impacts.Practical implicationsThe data provides practical tips for school leaders regarding effective teacher capacity-building approaches, as well as providing information for policy makers, especially in developing countries, about effective professional development programs for school leaders and teachers. 10; 10;Originality/valueThe study examines a system-wide workshop series and coaching approach to school leader and teacher capacity-building in a developing country from a theoretical and practical perspective relevant to instructional leadership and also transformational leadership, which is an under-researched area. 10; 10; 10;

scholarly journals The mobile phone in governance for environmental sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simplice Asongu ◽  
Rexon Nting
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Critical Mass ◽  
Political Stability ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Conditional Effects ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Generalised Method Of Moments

PurposeIn this study, we assess how the mobile phone can be leveraged upon to improve the role of governance in environmental sustainability in 44 Sub-Saharan African countries.Design/methodology/approachThe Generalised Method of Moments is used to establish policy thresholds. A threshold is a critical mass or level of mobile phone penetration at which the net effect of governance on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions changes from positive to negative.FindingsMobile phone penetration thresholds associated with negative conditional effects are: 36 (per 100 people) for political stability/no violence; 130 (per 100 people) for regulation quality; 146.66 (per 100 people) for government effectiveness; 65 (per 100 people) for corruption-control and 130 (per 100 people) for the rule of law. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.Originality/valueThe study provides thresholds of mobile phone penetration that are critical in complementing governance dynamics to reduce CO2 emissions.

Critical success factors for the “unbanked” customers in Kenya

2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan Mulengani Katwalo ◽  
Stella Isendi Muhanji
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Critical Success Factors ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
African Region ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Success ◽  
Significant Difference

Purpose – The purpose of this research paper is to define the factors that a bank would require to have in order to succeed in the traditionally unbanked segment of the East African region. The paper specifically looks at approaches used by banks to make banking affordable and accessible to most Kenyans. Most banks are turning their focus to the traditionally unbanked with all of them competing in an ever decreasing market. Design/methodology/approach – The research was carried out by using both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected using a survey questionnaire administered to customers of banks in Kenya whilst secondary data were collected from the banking survey of Kenya reports. Respondents were sampled using convenient sampling method. Findings – The paper found empathy and satisfaction to be the major critical success factors (CSFs) for these banks. This implies that customers who visit these banks are more concerned with the attention they receive when they seek financial services. It was also found that there was significant difference between banks that cater for the traditionally unbanked customers (TUC) and those that do not. Research limitations/implications – Management of banks should put into cognizance aspects of empathy and satisfaction which are the identified CSFs. This will enable them to improve and sustain their competitiveness in the banking sector. Practical implications – The paper puts forward market practices which can inform policies and guide other financial institutions that would want to provide services to the TUC. Originality/value – The paper introduces the concept of service quality for TUC who were left out in the banking sector in Kenya.

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