scholarly journals Understanding the Hiring Issues of the Craft Workers in the UAE’s Construction Labor Market: Project Managers Perspective

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Mohammed Albattah ◽  
Amna Shibeika ◽  
Muhammad Sami Ur Rehman
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Project Performance ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Project Completion ◽  
Labor Issues

The construction industry in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is faced with negative project performance, including low productivity, higher costs, delays in project completion, and defects during construction. One of the main reasons for these issues is the engagement of unskilled craft workers. Despite these labor issues, demand for construction projects in the UAE has been explosively increasing, in part due to Dubai winning the hosting of Expo 2020, which has given rise to an unprecedented demand for skilled construction craft workers. This study aimed to investigate the views and experiences of construction project managers regarding the reasons and challenges associated with the hiring of skilled craft workers in the construction labor market of the UAE. To fulfill the study purpose, the authors conducted structured open-ended interviews with UAE construction project managers. The results revealed several reasons for hiring craft workers despite a clear lack of qualifications and suggest some potential solutions.

scholarly journals Employment of Unskilled Craft Workers in the UAE Construction Projects: Explicating the Reasons

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10S) ◽  
pp. 410-414
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Project Performance ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Project Delivery ◽  
Undesirable Outputs ◽  
Management Level ◽  
Delivery Performance ◽  
Depth Interview

The United Arab Emirates construction industry is beset with negative project performance outputs, such as defects, low productivity, delay in completion, and higher costs. Most critical among the recorded reasons for having these undesirable outputs is the engagement of unskilled craft workers. However, the demand for construction projects in the UAE is continually increasing, especially after Dubai won hosting of Expo 2020, as this consequently translates to increased demand for skilled construction craft workers, if optimal project delivery performance must be achieved. Therefore, subject matters related to skillfulness and productivity of construction craft workers become research windows for academic scholars and industry investigators in the UAE built environment. The main purpose of this study is to explicate the reasons behind employment of unskilled craft workers in the construction projects from the management level perspective. To meet this purpose, the authors conducted in-depth interview with construction project managers. The results show number of reasons why unskilled craft workers are been hired and the effect of specialized certificates on hiring the craft workers

scholarly journals A BESPOKE APPROACH FOR RELATING MATERIAL WASTE TO COST OVERRUN IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-52
Author(s):  
Ibrahim Saidu ◽  
W Shakantu ◽  
A Adamu ◽  
I Anugwo
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Material ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Cost Overrun ◽  
Project Cost ◽  
Cost Overruns ◽  
Project Completion ◽  
Final Project

The problems of material waste and cost overruns are common in the construction industry. These problems occur at different stages of a construction project, from planning, design to project completion. The argument on how to eliminate cost overrun has been on-going for the past 70 years as on-site wastage of materials leads to increase in the final project cost. This paper examines the relationship between the causes of material waste and those of cost overrun at the pre-contract and post-contract stages of a project. The desktop methodological approach was firstly adopted in comparing the causes of material waste and those of cost overruns from the literature, in order to determine the possible relationship. Subsequently, interviews were purposively conducted with construction professionals within Abuja, Nigeria, in order to verify the literature based information. The result reveals that all the causes of material waste also cause cost overrun at the pre-contract and the post-contract stages of a project. 96.88% and 81.81% of the causes of cost overrun also cause material waste at the pre-contract and post-contract stages respectively. Other causes which are not related are mostly, the micro-economic and macro-economic factors. These results are not different from those of the interviews conducted with professionals and summarised in the tick box. It was also found that to achieve Effective Construction Material Waste Management (ECMWM) for any construction project, material waste must be controlled at its sources and causes, and at different stages of a project. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that effective management of material waste would translate into a reduction in the level of project cost overrun. The study recommends that construction-project managers, as well as the construction practitioners should encourage the management of material-waste causes, as it has the potential to minimise cost overrun for projects. 

Exploring influential factors leading to the poor performance of public construction project in Ethiopia using structural equation modelling

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benti Gadisa ◽  
Hong Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Project Performance ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Project Design ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Public Construction

PurposeIt is well recognized that the construction industry is characterised by inefficient and ineffective service delivery due to various causative factors. Thus this study aims to examine the influential factors affecting public construction project performance in Ethiopia to improve the industry's service delivery.Design/methodology/approachFrom the extensive literature reviewed, 58 potential factors affecting construction project performance have been compiled. Based on the evidence accumulated, the conceptual model of this paper has been developed. By using survey questionnaires, valuable data were collected from the construction industry professionals in Ethiopia; analysed and interpreted with the use of both SPSS and AMOS software.FindingsIt is concluded that failure factors related to the “performance” of the contractor, the “capability” of the owner, the “project design-procurement process,” and project contract management can significantly contribute to the poor performance of public construction projects in Ethiopia. Ten key factors include inadequate contractor capacity, weak project site management and supervision, weak project management skills and capabilities of the owner, additional work orders, delayed payment, lack of comprehensive project plans between parties and incomplete project design, rising material prices, ineffective project schedules, and cost management, rising market prices and devaluation of the currency.Research limitations/implicationsThe scope of this study confined to public projects in Ethiopia. It suggests that further research needs to consider public and private construction from a comprehensive perspective in the developing countries.Practical implicationsIt provides practitioners with information and guidance on the factors that affect the performance of construction projects.Originality/valueIt provides inclusive evidence related to many factors that affect the performance of public construction projects.

scholarly journals Assessment of Causes and Effects of Variation on Construction Project Performance in South West Nigeria

2020 ◽  
pp. 629-641
Author(s):  
Esan Martins Taiwo ◽  
Folaranmi Kazeem Adekunle ◽  
Hassan H ◽  
Buari T. A
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Project Performance ◽  
Cost Overruns ◽  
South West ◽  
Training Professionals ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Proactive Measures

The construction industry in Nigeria faces many problems, including the delay due to variations in project execution. This delay has been studied as a major setback in the Nigerian construction industry. In Nigeria, the construction industry's performance in terms of time has been observed to be poor. The objective of this study is to examine the variation of the construction project in order to determine the effect on the delivery of the project. The maximum performance of the project would be reached if the work always goes efficiently on time with the budget. The result of the variation is delay, cost overruns, quality defects and other negative impacts. The causes of variation were identified by a questionnaire survey for two higher education institutions. The results of the study identified the five main factors, including change of plan or scope, defective labour, customers' financial problems, unavailability of skills and desired profitability of the entrepreneur. In general, the study shows agreement among clients, consultants and contractors regarding the classification of the 20 factors that cause the variation. The results also reveal that factors related to clients are the main causes of variation, followed by factors related to contractors. An understanding of the causes and effects of the variation would be helpful in training professionals to assess the variation. In addition, the study would also help professionals take proactive measures to reduce the gaps on construction projects.

Impact of COVID-19 on project performance in the UAE construction industry

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Sami Ur Rehman ◽  
Muhammad Tariq Shafiq ◽  
Muneeb Afzal
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Project Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Government Institutions ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the global economy and, thus, the global construction industry. This paper aims to study the impact of COVID-19 on construction project performance in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a qualitative and exploratory approach to investigate the impact of COVID-19 and its policies on project performance in the UAE construction industry in critical areas of the project management body of knowledge (e.g. schedule, cost, resources and contracts). Semi-structured interview questions were asked from ten construction professional to obtain valuable insights into the pandemic’s effects on the UAE construction industry and the effectiveness of policies implemented to rectify the damage and identify the industry’s new normal. Findings The findings indicate that the construction industry faced several challenges such as schedule delays, disrupted cashflows, delayed permits, approvals and inspections, travel restrictions, serious health and safety concerns, material and equipment shortages, among others which hindered the timely delivery of construction projects. It also indicates that efforts made by the government institutions and the construction industry of the UAE such as economic support programs, digitization of processes, fee and fine waivers, health facilities, among other statutory relaxations proved effective in supporting the construction industry against the adverse effects of the pandemic. Research limitations/implications The research findings are limited to the literature review and ten semi-structured interviews seeking an expert’s opinion from industry professionals working in the UAE construction industry. The research team did not get access to project documents, contracts and project progress reports which may be required to validate the interview findings, and to perform an in-depth analysis quantifying the impact of COVID 19 on construction projects performance, which is a limitation of this research. Practical implications The implication is that, owing to the imposed lockdowns and strict precautionary measures to curb the rapid spread of the pandemic, smooth execution of the construction project across the country was affected. The government institutions and stakeholders of the construction projects introduced and implemented various techniques and solutions which effectively handled the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the construction industry of the UAE. Originality/value This study has identified the challenges faced by the construction industry of the UAE in the context of the management of project schedule, project cost, construction contracts, health and safety of construction employees and other related aspects of the construction projects. This study also identified the techniques and solutions adopted by various public and private institutions of the country and their implications on construction projects. Therefore, this study provides guidelines for policymakers and future research studies alike.

scholarly journals Measuring the Influence of Communication Planning Towards Construction Project Performance

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andre Feliks Setiawan ◽  
Seng Hansen ◽  
Antonius Fujiono
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Effective Communication ◽  
Project Performance ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Project Teams ◽  
Communication Process ◽  
Planning Stage ◽  
Questionnaire Surveys ◽  
Communication Planning

Abstract Effective communication is necessary for the success of construction project performance. Due to its nature, effective communication is required to coordinate all parties involved in construction projects such as owners, project managers, engineers, subcontractors, etc. Few previous studies have addressed the issues of construction project communication, particularly in the communication planning stage. This paper aimed to investigate how far the communication planning has been effectively implemented in several construction projects in Jakarta and measure how big the influence to project performance. It adopts a quantitative method by distributing questionnaire surveys to contractors and consultants in Jakarta. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data which presents that communication planning has been implemented by 78.02 % of the responses and significantly impact the project performances. This paper offers useful implications for practitioners on how construction project teams (from contractors and consultants) should carefully manage the communication process particularly during its planning stage.

scholarly journals CONTRACTORS SELECTION CRITERIA FRAMEWORK FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IN KLANG VALLEY

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-34
Author(s):  
Mohd Shahril Zainal Abedin ◽  
Siti Rashidah Mohd Nasir ◽  
Abdullah Basri
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Urban Landscape ◽  
Process Analysis ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Contractor Selection ◽  
Project Completion ◽  
Klang Valley ◽  
Selection For

Malaysia's construction industry is going from strength to strength, with a whole host of newly-announced projects promising to increase activity. Moreover, the construction industry is a very important part of Malaysian economy. The country already has a lot of projects ongoing and under the pipelines, with an ever-changing urban landscape offering plenty of opportunities. The evaluation of project success and the level of success criticality in the development of construction projects in Malaysia are according to the specific requirements and priorities of different project stakeholders and varies from project to project. However, the issues related to maintenance and project functionality are of main concerned to most Government Agencies in Malaysia at the project completion stage apart from client satisfaction on the good services and excellent product deliverables. In the contractor selection stage is commonly used procedure for identifying a pool of competitive, competent and capable contractors from which tenders may be sought. It can aid public and private owners in achieving success by ensuring that only qualified contractor is selected to execute the work. The findings results indicate that several of the criteria highlighted as the most influential criteria of contractor selection for construction project. Another important understanding from the research is that the developing the framework to show the most appropriate ways to select the best contractor for the project. The weightage of each criterion are effective for assessing the technical and commercial tender submission during the tender process. Analysis indicated the top 3 of most influential criteria for contractor selection for construction project in Klang Valley are participation in stakeholders bid process, good tender proposal and method of statement.

Sustainability in Construction Project Delivery: A Study of Experienced Project Managers in Nigeria

2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 44-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarila Zuofa ◽  
Edward Ochieng
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
Project Delivery ◽  
Senior Project ◽  
Sustainability Practices

Accomplishing sustainability-related targets in construction projects is progressively becoming popular. While some stakeholders generally recognize it as important, there are others with differing opinions. This article reports the results of an exploratory study involving interviews with 25 senior project managers from the construction industry who are involved in sustainability in some way. The main findings suggest that holistic sustainability practices and initiatives during the life cycles of projects in the construction industry have not been fully embraced. Although all interviews were carried out in Nigeria, the results may be applicable or interesting to other countries as well.

scholarly journals Construction Project delays in Lusaka, Zambia: Causes and Effects

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 848-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aigbavboa C.O. ◽  
Mukuka M.J. .
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Project Managers ◽  
The Body ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Project Delays

This paper assesses the construction professionals’ perception on the major causes of construction project delays and there consequential effects of on the Lusaka – Zambia, construction industry. This is due to the fact that the Zambia construction industry is a major key sector in the development and economic growth of Zambia. Despite this belief, the industry has not escaped the challenges facing other countries worldwide in terms of construction projects performance with regards to the delivery of projects on time as stipulated in the contracts. Data used in this study were derived from both primary and secondary sources. The secondary data was collected through a detailed review of related literature. The primary data was collected through a structured questionnaire survey, distributed to construction professionals, who include: architects, quantity surveyors, builders, civil engineers, land surveyors and project managers. Out of the 50 questionnaires sent out, 32 were received back representing 64% response rate. The primary data from the questionnaires was analyzed using descriptive statistics procedures. Hence, findings from the study revealed that delay in progress payments, difficulties in financing projects by the contractor, delay in approving major changes in the scope of work amongst others, were the major causes of construction delays. The study also revealed that extension of project time and cost over runs are the two major effects of construction project delays in Lusaka, Zambia. The study contributes to the body of knowledge on the subject of the causes and the effects of delay construction project delays in Lusaka, Zambia.

scholarly journals Assigning Weights for Modified Project Quarter Back Rating Based Construction Project Performance Model

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 895-904
Author(s):  
Prachi Vinod Ingle ◽  
Gangadhar Mahesh
Keyword(s):  
Performance Assessment ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Project Success ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Project Performance ◽  
Performance Model ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Stakeholder Satisfaction

The Indian construction industry is facing challenges due to performance shortfalls. The construction projects are highly complex, distinctive, fragmented and do not have of well-established performance assessment models to evaluate their project success. Assessing overall project success is not possible to measure by single factor. To address this limitation, the Modified Project Quarter Back Rating (PQR) model was developed for the Indian construction industry. Modified PQR model’s output is a project score based on performance areas affecting project success and outcome. The model integrates ten performance areas that have identified through literature review. Performance areas included in the model are; (i) Cost (ii) Schedule (iii) Stakeholder satisfaction (iv) Safety (v) Quality (vi) Finance (vii) Environment (viii) Communication and collaboration (ix) Customer relation and (x) Productivity. These performance areas are measured through different performance metrics; i.e. performance metrics scores are aggregated to compute performance area scores. The model gives a single score that will help in comparing overall performance for different projects. This paper attempted to highlight the importance of performance metrics in modified Project Quarter Back Rating (PQR) based construction project performance assessment model for the Indian construction industry. The validity of the model needs assigning appropriate weights to the performance metrics as the weightage determines the relevance. Appropriate weights were determined using two round Delphi survey with 12 experts. Findings reveal that two performance metrics; return business from customer relation and OSHA recordable from safety have high weights. This modified PQR model will help key participants of the industry to compare the performance of various projects and to monitor performance areas that impact project performance rating.

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