Incentive issues in the South African construction industry: Preliminary findings from project stakeholders

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Date
2014
Authors
Ogwueleka, Amaka
Maritz, Tinus
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: Incentives are regarded as motivational tools which can be used to propel construction workforces to achieve project objectives. This article contributes to the existing body of knowledge by evaluating the current practices of incentive mechanisms in the South African construction industry and identifying the challenges confronting the use of incentives. The study adopts both qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection. For the quantitative approach, a total number of 52 project stakeholders practising in Gauteng participated in the survey by completing the structured questionnaire. The questionnaire survey is used to obtain information from respondents, in order to assess their perceptions on the impact of current practices of incentives on work productivity and the construction industry. For the qualitative approach, personal interviews were conducted with selected respondents to clarify their answers. The findings reveal ‘unattainable project goals’, ‘poor communication processes’, and ‘inappropriate contractual arrangement’ as the most significant challenges confronting the use of incentives in the South African construction industry. The findings reported in this article show problems frustrating the absolute absorption of incentives in the industry, and also contribute to redesigning the incentive plan so as to improve project performance.
Afrikaans: Aansporingsmaatreëls word as motiveringswerktuig beskou wat gebruik kan word om die werkerskorps aan te spoor om sodoende prestasiedoelwitte te bereik. Hierdie artikel dra by tot die kennisgebied deur huidige praktyke van aansporingsmeganismes in die Suid-Afrikaanse konstruksiebedryf te evalueer asook die uitdagings wat met die gebruik van aansporingsmaatreëls gepaard gaan. Die studie maak gebruik van beide kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe metodes vir data-insamelingdoeleindes. Vir die kwalitatiewe benadering het ‘n totaal van 52 projekbelanghebbendes, wat in Gauteng praktiseer, aan die opname deelgeneem deur die gestruktureerde vraelys te voltooi. Die vraelysopname is gebruik om inligting van respondente te bekom om sodoende hul waarneming oor die impak van huidige praktyke van aansporingsmaatreëls op produktiwiteit van arbeid en die konstruksiebedryf te toets. Vir die kwalitatiewe benadering is persoonlike onderhoude gevoer met sommige van die respondente om antwoorde te verklaar. Die bevindinge toon “onbereikbare projekdoelwitte”, “swak kommunikasieprosesse” en “nie-toepaslike kontraktuele ooreenkomste” as die belangrikste uitdagings waarmee die aansporingskwessies in die Suid-Afrikaanse konstruksiebedryf te make het. Die bevindinge wat in hierdie artikel uitgelig word, dui op probleme wat ondervind word met die volkome aanvaarding en dwarsboming van aansporingsmaatreëls in die bedryf. Verder dra die artikel ook by tot ‘n nuwe benadering vir die herontwerp van die aansporingsplan om projekprestasie te verbeter.
Description
Keywords
Incentives, Alliance, Contract strategy, Best performance, Construction industry
Citation
Ogwueleka, A., & Maritz, T. (2014). Incentive issues in the South African construction industry: Preliminary findings from project stakeholders. Acta Structilia, 21(1), 1-23.