The South African construction industry has a bearing on the economic abundance of the country. Consequently, maximum productivity is required; and to achieve this, proper leadership is one of the major factors that are needed. Literature suggests that there is huge leadership challenge among project leaders and professionals. However, little prominence is been given to the leadership competence of construction professionals in South Africa and other developing countries especially in practice. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the predominant leadership styles among construction professionals in the South African construction industry. The primary research data were collected through a structure questionnaire survey conducted on construction professionals in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. The secondary data were collected from literature review. Respondents were selected using heterogeneity and convenience (purposive) sampling techniques. Data from the questionnaire were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 software. Mean values and standard deviation were computed. The rank of the predominant styles among the identified construction professionals was established. Findings from the study revealed that the three leading predominantly used leadership styles among construction professionals are democratic, transformational and transactional leadership styles. In addition, the results revealed the predominant leadership styles used among each construction professionals in the South Africa. The study contributes to the body of knowledge by increasing awareness about the essential of leadership and the proper use of its styles at any given circumstance within the South African construction industry.
The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector like its counterpart utilize information and communication technologies. currently, there a variety of discussions on industry 4.0. This review presented the evolution of information and communication technologies as related to the industry. Technologies, as they evolved from different eras, are discussed in this study. The pre-mechanical era, the mechanical era, electromechanical age, electronic era, and the digital era of technological tools were discussed. The acceptance and diffusion of these engineering innovations were also discussed considering the construction industry. This study concludes by identifying the sustainability concerns of these engineering innovations.
This paper examines the impact of ICT in professional practice in the South African construction industry. This is with the view that ICT utilization in professional practice has the potential to facilitate better decision-making ability and savings in operating costs, amongst others. The data for the study was derived from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data was obtained through the survey method, while the secondary data was obtained from the review of literature. The primary data for the study was collected through a structured questionnaire survey distributed to a sample of 37 professionals in the construction industry. The results revealed that architectural, engineering and quantity surveying functions have been largely computerised. However, data and document management is still done through the traditional way of manual filing. Therefore, because construction industry professionals are a rich source of information about ICT and its improvement within the industry, the study provide valuable insight into the current usage of ICT in construction professional practise firms, which thus reveals the level of ICT adaptation in South African CI. Hence, this thus shows that ICT surveys can be used to determine the number of users of these systems, identify the core impacts ICT has had on day to day activities.
There is increasing evidence of the role firm characteristics plays in recognition of a firm within its niche environment. However, much has not been explored into firm's characteristics to ascertain the full benefits associated with that feature. This study, therefore, explored into firm's characteristics as a determinant of firm's growth. Primary data through the used of the questionnaire assisted in gathering relevant information from 20 sampled small and medium-sized construction firms randomly selected within the Greater region of Accra in Ghana and its sub-metropolis. Data were analysed with the aid of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 24 using exploratory factor analysis technique. Findings from the study revealed significant factors that influence firm's characteristics and further contribute to the entire growth of a firm. This study also established that small and medium-size construction firm's growth is impacted by vigorous characteristic features which encourage and bring about integrated results the firms and the entire industry.
Information technology as a strategy to process, store and transfer information is pivotal for the success delivery of information within different industries, construction in particular. Given the benefits associated with the use information technology this study focuses on the factors that may affect construction firms from being recipients of the benefits of completely adopting information technology systems in South Africa. A quantitative approach was employed to determine factors that require urgent eradication, construction professionals responded to the questionnaire survey that was undertaken. Prior to the survey, data was descriptively analysed using frequencies, percentages, mean item scores and standard deviations. Findings from the study clearly reveal that for construction firms in South Africa to entirely realise the benefits of completely adopting IT systems focus must be shifted away from resisting change, providing inadequate training and employing personnel with no management skills. More so, results show that certainty is required regarding lack of integrity, durability and reliability of the systems, on-going maintenance costs as well as the importance and introduction of client leadership. Above any other barrier, the aspect of costs associated with the complete adoption of IT systems is crucial, while the extent of involvement of key role players needs to be further determined.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.