A Study into the Supervision Styles Used by Building Contractors for Improving Craftsmen Performance in Anambra State, Nigeria

Poor productivity of construction craftsmen is one of the causes of cost and time overruns in construction projects. Successful delivery of construction of projects within the measurable tenets is driven by effective site supervision. Nevertheless, the inability of many supervisors to organize, communicate with workers, and direct activities sufficiently is primarily connected to the quality of the construction. Hence, this study examined how enhanced supervision styles can lead to the improvement of craftsmen performance in Anambra State, Nigeria. Being a survey research, the study employed the use of review of related literature and structured questionnaire. Accordingly, a total one hundred (100) questionnaires administered and seventy-five (75) were retrieved. This corresponds to a response rate of 75%. Data garnered were analysed and presented using relative importance index, mean scores and frequency tables. The study found out that listening to subordinates or supervisees was the most important supervision styles for improved building craftsmen performance in the study area. Therefore, the study concluded by recommending team work and effective communication channels should be adopted for improving building craftsmen performance as regards project delivery.

Skills Improvement Needs of Building Craftsmen in Building Construction Industries for National Security.

This study was designed to determine the Skills Improvement Needs of Building Craftsmen in Building Construction Industries for National Security in Bauchi State, Nigeria. The research adopted a descriptive survey research design. The target population for the study was 61 respondents made up of 34 Building Engineers and 27 Foremen in the Building Construction Industries. A 63 item structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by three experts and Cronbach alpha reliability estimate was used to ascertain the extent of sameness of the items and reliability coefficient of 0.82 was obtained. Data was collected and analysed using statistical package for social science (SPSS Version 22), Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research question, while t-test was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The findings on skills required indicated that all the items are required by the respondents, and the finding on the techniques of improving skills gap indicated that the respondents agreed with all the items. Findings revealed that building craftsmen in building construction industries required all the practical skills need for improvement in their work trade in brick/block work skills, plastering/rendering skills and foundation skills for national security. The study therefore recommended among others, that Building Construction Industries should organize retraining workshop for their Craftsmen on the areas where they require skill improvements.

Sculptural reproduction of architectural ornamentation as a way for conservation of traditional craftsmanship

Traditional craftsmanship as a part of intangible cultural heritage needs to be conserved as defined in the UNESCO 2003 Convention and Living Human Treasures System. In architecture, traditional craftsmanship is embodied on architectural ornaments in historic buildings by local builders; and the conservation of it necessitates its transmission process from generation to generation. In the traditional building production period, the transmission process had been guaranteed by master–apprentice relation, but nowadays, it has been interrupted together with the drastic change in building technology; and the knowledge, skills of building craftsmen and cultural expressions This creates problems both in the conservation of traditional craftsmanship in building activities and in the restoration process of historic buildings. This study aims to develop a specific conservation approach by revitalising the methods of study of building craftsmen through the reproduction process of architectural ornaments in monumental stone buildings by sculptures in the Faculty of Fine Arts in Selcuk University. Keywords: Traditional craftsmanship, architectural ornamentation, reproduction, intangible heritage, conservation.

ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS OF UGANDAN BUILDING FIRMS AS VIEWED BY CRAFTSMEN

Construction industries, especially those in developing countries, face the problems of low productivity. It comes about partly due to organizational ineffectiveness. The major attributes of organizational effectiveness are identified from literature. Means to achieving greater organization effectiveness and higher productivity are identified under the major headings of cohesion and morale of workers, adaptability, information communication, and planning. Using a structured questionnaire survey on building craftsmen in Uganda, results suggest that most workers are not satisfied with the financial reward, level of status is not able to achieve personal goals. Workers are not satisfied with the level of training. The variables are weak points in organizational effectiveness. In addition, workers are not satisfied with the level of participation in decision‐making. There is a need to dwell on these grey areas in order to improve the organizational effectiveness of building firms, especially in developing countries. Santrauka Dauguma statybos rinkų, ypač besivystančių šalių, susiduria su prasto produktyvumo problema. Menkas produktyvumas iš dalies yra veikiamas organizacinio efektyvumo. Organizacinio efektyvumo pagrindiniai rodikliai yra aptarti literatūroje. Būdai didesniam organizaciniam efektyvumui ir produktyvumui pasiekti nustatomi naudojant kohezijos sąvoką ir darbuotojų moralę, gebėjimą prisitaikyti, informacijos pasikeitimą ir planavimą. Meistrų struktūrinės apklausos Ugandoje rezultatai parodė, kad dauguma darbuotojų nėra patenkinti atlygiu už darbą ir negali pasiekti savo asmeninių tikslų, taip pat ir mokymo lygiu. Šie dalykai yra silpnoji organizacijos vieta. Be to, darbuotojų netenkina dalyvavimo spendimų priėmimo lygis. Todėl reikia apsistoti ties šiais klausimais norint gerinti statybos įmonių organizacinį efektyvumą, ypač besivystančių šalių.

FACTORS AFFECTING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF BUILDING CRAFTSMEN ‐ STUDIES OF UGANDA

Poor productivity of construction workers is one of the causes of cost and time overruns in construction projects. The productivity of labour is particularly important especially in developing countries, where most of the building construction work is still on manual basis. This paper reports on a survey made on project managers of building projects in Uganda, where an increase in productivity is being sought. Respondents were required to rate using their experience how 36 factors affect productivity with respect to time, cost and quality. The survey was carried out by a questionnaire and responses received over a period of 3 months. The ten most significant problems affecting labour productivity were identified as incompetent supervisors; lack of skills from the workers; rework; lack of tools/equipment; poor construction methods; poor communication; inaccurate drawings; stoppages because of work being rejected by consultants; political insecurity; tools/equipment breakdown; and harsh weather conditions. Although lack of materials is ranked highest with regard to average rating on loss of time, it was not ranked among the top ten using the importance index that takes into account time, cost as well as work quality. The policy makers and researchers should focus on the identified major factors in order to improve productivity.