The development and assessment of and integrated skills development model for emerging construction contractors

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Date
2007-11
Authors
Lazarus, Spencer James
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: Many strategies for emerging construction contractor development that are based on instruments such as targeted procurement have generally failed to empower emerging contractors because they are implemented without well-defined skills transfer frameworks. Emerging contractors continue to be regarded by construction clients and suppliers as a high commercial risk area and this presents further barriers to meaningful property development. Related to this is the lack of clear policy targets against which to measure the effectiveness of contractor support programmes. Furthermore, the majority of current support initiatives lack an integrated programme strategy. Interventions tend to be characterised by inadequate preparations, poor needs assessments and an inadequate understanding of the development needs of emerging contractors. This is evident by discontinuances, unstructured training approaches, ad-hoc mentorship, inadequate monitoring and evaluation that promote unsustainable skills transfer. The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) has put in place a training and mentoring programme that would result in the development of emerging contractors into sustainable business enterprises. The impact of the programme may be measured to determine the overall effectives of the programme in delivering developed and sustainable contractors to the construction industry. The above mentioned factors identified lead to the following problem that is addressed by the research: The problem statement addressed by the study is how to develop a holistic approach towards integrated skills development for emerging construction contractors, by developing a model that can be managed with quantitative and measurable outcomes.
Afrikaans: Verskeie strategieë ter ontwikkeling van opkomende kontrakteurs, gebaseer op maatstawwe soos byvoorbeeld doelgerigte verkryging, het oor die algemeen nie daarin geslaag om opkomende kontrakteurs behoorlik toe te rus nie, aangesien sodanige maatreëls geïmplementeer is sonder goed gedefinieërde vaardigheidsoordrag raamwerke. Opkomende kontrakteurs word steeds deur kliënte en verskaffers in die konstruksiebedryf beskou as ‘n area van hoë kommersiële risiko en dit op sigself verhinder betekenisvolle eiendomsontwikkeling. Gepaardgaande hiermee is die gebrek aan duidelike beleidsdoelwitte waarteen doeltreffendheid van kontrakteurs- ondersteuningsprogramme gemeet kan word. Daarbenewens toon die meerderheid van ondersteuningsinisiatiewe ‘n gebrek aan geïntegreerde programstrategie. Sodanige inisiatiewe toon verder kenmerkende tekens van ondoeltreffende voorbereiding, ontoereikende behoeftebepalings en gebrek aan begrip vir die ontwikkelingsbehoeftes van opkomende kontrakteurs. Dit blyk duidelik uit die aantal afleggings, ongestruktureerde opleidingsbenadering, ad-hoc mentorskap, asook ontoereikende monitering en evaluering wat tot gebrekkige vaardigheidsbemagtiging aanleiding gee. Die Oos-Kaapse Ontwikkelingskorporasie (OKOK) het ‘n opleidings- en moniteringsprogram daargestel wat sal sorg dat die ontwikkeling van opkomende kontrakteurs tot lewensvatbare besigheidsondernemings sal lei. Die inslag van sodanige programme is meetbaar om die algehele doeltreffendheid van die programme te bepal ten opsigte van die lewering van ontwikkelde en lewensvatbare kontrakteurs in die konstruksiebedryf. Bogenoemde geïdentifiseerde faktore gee aanleiding tot die volgende probleem wat aangespreek word deur die navorsing: Die probleemstelling wat aangespreek word deur die studie, is hoe om ‘n holistiese benadering te ontwikkeling m.b.t. geïntegreerde vaardigheidsontwikkeling vir opkomende konstruksiekontrakteurs, wat sal lei tot ‘n model wat bestuur kan word deur middel van kwantitatief meetbare uitsette.
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Keywords
Contractors -- Training of -- South Africa, Construction industry -- Employees -- South Africa, Project management, Emerging Contractor, Mentorship, Training, Empowerment, Total Quality Management, Thesis (Ph.D. (Quantity Surveying and Construction Management))--University of the Free State, 2007, Integrated, Emerging
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