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

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Date
2006
Authors
Lazarus, Spencer
Hauptfleisch, Dries
Verster, Basie
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: Many strategies for emerging 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. The sector continues to be regarded by construction clients and suppliers as a high commercial risk and this presents further barriers to meaningful 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, leading to 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. Diè sektor word steeds deur kliënte en verskaffers in die konstruksiebedryf beskou as ’n hoë kommersiële risiko en dit op sigself verhinder betekenisvolle ontwikkeling. Gepaardgaande hiermee is die gebrek aan duidelike beleidsdoelwitte waarteen doeltreffendheid van kontrakteurs-ondersteuningsprogramme gemeet kan word. Daarbenewens toon die meerderheid van ondersteunings-inisiatiewe ’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 moniterings program 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 meet 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 probleem stelling wat aangespreek word deur die studie, is hoe om ’n holistiese benadering te ontwikkeling m.b.t. geïntegreerde vaardigheidsontwikkeling vir opkomende konstruksie kontrakteurs, wat sal lei tot ’n skaalmodel wat bestuur kan word deur middel van kwantitatief meetbare uitsette.
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Keywords
Total quality management, Project management,, Integrated, Emerging contractor, Mentorship, Training, Empowerment
Citation
Lazarus, S., Hauptfleisch, D., & Verster, B. (2006). The development and assessment of an integrated skills development model for emerging construction contractors. Acta Structilia: Journal for the Physical and Development Sciences, 13(2), 145-158.