scholarly journals Skilled labour supply in the South African construction industry: The nexus between certification, quality of work output and shortages

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abimbola O. Windapo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
South African ◽  
Labour Supply ◽  
Work Output ◽  
The South ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Skilled Labour ◽  
Quality Of Work

Orientation: Construction human resource management.Research purpose: The study examines the skilled labour supply in the South African construction industry and determines whether there is a relationship between trade certification, quality of work output and scarce labour skills.Motivation for the study: The rationale for the investigation is based on the view of scholars that a skilled labour shortage is preponderant in the South African construction industry even though there is a high level of youth unemployment in South Africa and that the perceived skills shortage contributes to a decrease in productivity and product quality.Research design, approach and method: The paper reviews relevant literature and employs a mixed method research approach in collecting empirical data from contracting companies within the Western Cape Province of South Africa that are listed on the Construction Industry Development Board contractor register.Main findings: The study demonstrated that there is no shortage of manpower, but there is a shortage of qualified or skilled tradesmen, such as electricians, plumbers, welders, fitters and carpenters, whose professions are more technical and require formal training and certification. The level of supply of skilled tradesmen is attributed to the lack of high-quality basic education, the state of the economy, compulsory certification of tradesmen and an ageing workforce. It was also found that there is a significant relationship between skilled labour shortages and the requirement that labour be certified and that work output is unsatisfactory when there is no certification requirement.Practical/managerial implications: Based on these findings, the study concludes that skilled labour shortages and poor work output quality continue to be experienced in the South African construction industry when workers are unable to obtain formal certification for informal work experience acquired through years of practice on construction sites.Contribution: It is recommended that the South African government establish proactive strategies in the form of a framework for use in evaluating, certifying and grading the informal expertise acquired by workers through years of practice. This recommendation seeks to ensure that the supply of certified craftsmen capable of undertaking and producing high-quality construction work meets demand.Keywords: Artisans; Education; Experience; Expertise; Practice

Robots in the construction industry

Robotica ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Warszawski
Keyword(s):  
Construction Industry ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Exterior Wall ◽  
Large Structure ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Building Site ◽  
Considerable Potential ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
Building Process

SUMMARYRobots have a considerable potential of application on the building site; they can adapt to varying tasks, move and interact with environment. The building process may be restructured in such way that a majority of tasks would be performed by 4 configurations of robots: an assembling robot for handling of large structure components, a general purpose robot for interior finishing works, an exterior wall, and a floor finishing robot for finishing of large vertical and horizontal surfaces, respectively. A preliminary feasibility study reveals that such robots may be justified economically, especially under conditions which reduce human productivity or require high quality of work.

scholarly journals Clinical practice guideline adaptation methods in resource-constrained settings: four case studies from South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 193-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael McCaul ◽  
Dawn Ernstzen ◽  
Henk Temmingh ◽  
Beverly Draper ◽  
Michelle Galloway ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
South African ◽  
Clinical Practice Guideline ◽  
Practice Guideline ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Prehospital Emergency Care ◽  
The South ◽  
High Quality

Developing a clinical practice guideline (CPG) is expensive and time-consuming and therefore often unrealistic in settings with limited funding or resources. Although CPGs form the cornerstone of providing synthesised, systematic, evidence-based guidance to patients, healthcare practitioners and managers, there is no added benefit in developing new CPGs when there are accessible, good-quality, up-to-date CPGs available that can be adapted to fit local needs. Different approaches to CPG development have been proposed, including adopting, adapting or contextualising existing high-quality CPGs to make recommendations relevant to local contexts. These approaches are attractive where technical and financial resources are limited and high-quality guidance already exists. However, few examples exist to showcase such alternative approaches to CPG development. The South African Guidelines Excellence project held a workshop in 2017 to provide an opportunity for dialogue regarding different approaches to guideline development with key examples and case studies from the South African setting. Four CPGs represented the topics: mental health, health promotion, chronic musculoskeletal pain and prehospital emergency care. Each CPG used a different approach, however, using transparent, reportable methods. They included advisory groups with representation from content experts, CPG users and methodologists. They assessed CPGs and systematic reviews for adopting or adapting. Each team considered local context issues through qualitative research or stakeholder engagement. Lessons learnt include that South Africa needs fit-for-purpose guidelines and that existing appropriate, high-quality guidelines must be taken into account. Approaches for adapting guidelines are not clear globally and there are lessons to be learnt from existing descriptions of approaches from South Africa.

scholarly journals More than 40 years of excellence: the outstanding contribution of the South African Edward A. Ueckermann to acarology

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 1480
Author(s):  
P.D. Theron ◽  
Gilberto Moraes
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
New Genera ◽  
The South ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Scientific Papers ◽  
Professional Capacity ◽  
To Receive

Great contribution to acarology has been provided by the South African taxonomist Edward A. Ueckermann, for the knowledge of mites of his country and of several other countries. His major contribution for more than 40 years concerns predaceous and phytophagous mites of many different families. He has conducted collaborative works with researchers from different countries, including Cape Verde, Marion and Reunion Islands, Israel, Kenya, Egypt, Zambia, Zimbabwe, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Brazil, Iran and USA. In addition, he has trained researchers and students of different countries in his specialty. More than 240 new species and 23 new genera were described by him, in more than 212 high quality scientific papers. His contribution has been recently recognized by the South Africa National Research Foundation, entitling him to receive incentive funding. Despite retiring in January 2016, he continues to participate in research activities in full professional capacity, collaborating with researchers from South Africa and elsewhere.

scholarly journals Supply chain bottlenecks in the South African construction industry: Qualitative insights

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Poobalan Pillay ◽  
Chengedzai Mafini
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
South African ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
The South ◽  
Senior Managers ◽  
Economic Implications ◽  
Chain Management

Background: The construction industry in South Africa has a lot of potential but its performance is still restricted by numerous internal and external challenges. Unless these challenges are identified and understood better, further growth of this industry is likely to be hindered, which has negative economic implications for the South African economy.Objectives: This study investigated supply chain bottlenecks faced by the construction industry in South Africa. It also discussed solutions for addressing the identified bottlenecks in order to facilitate the continued development of supply chain management in the construction industry.Method: The study used a qualitative approach in which in-depth interviews were held with purposively selected senior managers drawn from the construction industry in South Africa. Content analysis using ATLAS.ti software was employed to identify the themes from the collected data.Findings: The findings of the study showed that supply chain management in the construction industry in South Africa is constrained by five major bottlenecks: skills and qualifications, procurement practices and systems, supply chain integration, supply chain relationships and the structure of the construction industry. Recommendations for addressing each of these five challenges were put forward.Conclusion: The study concludes that both awareness and application of supply chain management in the construction industry in South Africa remains inhibited, which creates opportunities for further improvements in this area to realise the full potential of the industry.

scholarly journals Factors influencing the quality of low-income housing in Polokwane Municipality South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-52
Author(s):  
Kgashane Stephen Nyakala ◽  
◽  
Sekou Dolly Ramoroka ◽  
Kemlall Ramdass
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Low Income ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Construction Quality ◽  
Housing Projects ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Design Construction ◽  
Low Income Housing

Recent South African and international evidence highlights the broad and lasting impacts of households, particularly those on low income, when unable to afford higher income counterparts to live in apartments, maintained public housing, and other high-quality houses. A broad range of low-income houses recently built in South African local municipalities are reportedly defective, due to poor building and construction quality. This study aims to assess and determine the factors influencing high-quality housing positively impacting on the lives of a significant proportion of low-income housing projects. Reasons for and obstacles to quality design, construction quality and the development of low-income housing projects were identified. To assess the research questions, a quantitative survey (n=103) was carried out, simple random and purposive sampling techniques were used to select contractors who were active in low-income housing projects within the Polokwane Municipality. The quantitative data gathered were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to determine a combination of descriptive and non-parametric statistics of the data computing the frequencies, mean scores and standard deviations. Selected results show that poor-quality and low-income housing projects are perceived to be related to the contractors, builders and construction practitioners not complying with the standards, variously because of insufficient training or accountability to public authorities and end users of low-income houses, i.e., the beneficiaries. The respondents were of the view that house builders and local government authorities could use five factors, namely quality standards, management, involvement of people, process design and process, planning and scheduling to assess non-conformance to quality requirements in low-income housing projects in South Africa. The finding of this study provides a platform for improving the quality of housing design, construction projects, sustainability and an opportunity for local and international design and construction professionals to rethink design in the context of low-income housing projects.

scholarly journals Present challenges and some critical issues for research in industrial/organisational psychology in South Africa

2007 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Rothmann ◽  
FVN Cilliers
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
South African ◽  
South African Context ◽  
Health And Wellness ◽  
The South ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
African Context

The objective of this study was to determine a set of problems and critical issues that researchers in Industrial and Organisational Psychology deem to be important areas for immediate and future enquiry. The changing identity of this field of application is investigated, more relevant paradigms in the study of organisational health and wellness is explored and methods, techniques and interventions suitable to the South African context are suggested. Conclusions are formulated to increase the ability of organisations to work towards economic development, while promoting the wellness and quality of life of employees.

scholarly journals Analysing annual financial statements of public ordinary secondary schools in the Tshwane north district, South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 250-258
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Doussy ◽  
Frank Doussy
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
South African ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
The South ◽  
Positive Role ◽  
Accounting Practice ◽  
South African Schools Act

This paper presents the results from an analysis of the annual financial statements of public ordinary secondary schools in the Tshwane North District, South Africa. The analysis was done to assess the quality of these annual financial statements as well as the apparent usefulness thereof for the parents of the learners in the school. These users are probably most concerned with the quality and usefulness of information presented to them for providing the necessary assurance that the funds received by the school are properly accounted for and used to the advantage of their children. The results suggest that assurance in this regard is lacking as audits are not done at all, or are of an extremely poor quality. The quality of the financial statements is also poor, with scant regard for Generally Accepted Accounting Practice or the South African Schools Act. Urgent intervention from the Education Departments is needed to ensure that the South African Schools Act is adhered to and that proper audits are conducted by suitably qualified accountants and auditors. The South African Institute for Chartered Accountants (SAICA) should also play a more positive role in this regard by ensuring that audit practices are enforced and quality annual financial statements are presented.

scholarly journals Assessment of the Financial Reporting Quality of South African and Indian Listed Companies

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Haarburger ◽  
Yaeesh Yasseen ◽  
Irfaan Omarjee ◽  
Zakiyyah Varachia
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Capital Allocation ◽  
The Body ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Qualitative Characteristics

Purpose/objectives: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the quality of financial reporting in South Africa and India. The accounting profession has been placed in the spotlight as a result of the high number of public failures and corporate collapses. The importance of high-quality financial reporting has been demonstrated not only by past corporate failures, but also due to the scarce level of capital that is required to be allocated within capital markets. Design/methodology/approach: The study employed a 21-index scorecard developed by Beest, Braam, and Boelens (2009) to score the application of the qualitative characteristics in the financial statements of 50 entities from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The entities were selected based on the highest market capitalisation entities for the 2017 year-end. Findings: The main finding of this study is that South African companies apply the qualitative characteristics of financial reporting to a higher degree than Indian companies. However, timeliness was a characteristic where India outperformed South Africa. Originality/value: Studies have focused on the type of information presented in annual reports rather than on the quality of information. The need for high quality information is imperative, given the role played in capital allocation particularly in emerging economies. As such, the study contributes to the body of knowledge regarding the quality of financial information with a focus on emerging economies.

scholarly journals Challenges Facing Black Owned Small and Medium Construction Companies: A Case Study of Nelspruit – Mbombela Municipality, South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 771-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aigbavboa C.O.
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
South African ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
The South ◽  
Internal Factors ◽  
Mpumalanga Province ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Survey Results

The purpose of the paper is to investigate current challenges and problems facing small and medium size contractors (SME) in Mbombela (Nelspruit) - Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. This study was necessitated because the importance of small and medium sized enterprises in national building and economic development is of paramount importance in the South Africa economic debate. The primary data for the study was collected through a structured questionnaire survey which was distributed to Small and medium contractors within grade 1-4 of the South Africa Construction Industry Development Board. The survey results indicated that external factors such as high competition when tendering for construction jobs within the CIDB category is a major challenge the SME’s face’s in the procurement of work. Also, internal factors such as poor administrative management within the company, lack of skilled professionals and lack of capacity to deliver on certain project were the greatest challenges faced by the construction companies. The scope of this study is only focused on small and medium size contractors in Nelspruit (Mpumalanga province). In addition, the study is not focused on large established contractors in South Africa. The South African construction industry will continue to provide jobs but intervention is needed to develop the SME’s contractors who contribute a greatly to the economy.

scholarly journals The influence of social media service quality on client loyalty in the South African banking industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bramwell K. Gavaza ◽  
Kim L. Viljoen ◽  
Liezel Cilliers
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
South African ◽  
The Body ◽  
The South ◽  
The Social ◽  
Social Media Service ◽  
The Impact

Orientation: The impact and growth rates of Facebook and other forms of social media have made it imperative for all businesses to ensure they have social media strategies in place.Research purpose: The purpose of this study was to measure the influence of social media service quality on client loyalty in the South African banking industry.Motivation for the study: There are limited studies conducted in developing countries such as South Africa that focused specifically on the social media service quality and client loyalty in the banking industry.Research design, approach and method: The study used a quantitative approach and a descriptive research design to test the proposed hypotheses. An online survey on Facebook was used to collect the data from a sample of 377 respondents who had interacted with the five major banks in South Africa on the said platform. A snowball sampling technique was used to identify the appropriate respondents. The data was analysed with Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to assess the model fit.Main findings: Findings of the research study proved that the social media system’s availability, fulfilment and privacy have a significant influence on the overall service quality of social media, which leads to client loyalty in the South African banking industry.Practical/managerial implications: The study recommended that managers and marketers should constantly evaluate, monitor and improve the overall service quality of social media offered to their clients, as it leads to a corresponding increase in client loyalty in the South African banking industry.Contribution/value-add: The study provided empirical evidence, which contributed to the body of business and marketing knowledge in a South African banking context.

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