A curriculum guide model to the next normal in developing construction supervisory training programmes

Manoharan, Kesavan; Dissanayake, Pujitha; Pathirana, Chintha; Deegahawature, Dharsana; Silva, Renuka

doi:10.1108/bepam-02-2021-0038

Cited by 26 publications

(164 citation statements)

References 14 publications

(33 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The problem-based communication approaches were mainly used in the discussion sessions, and the results were validated through these discussion outcomes. The problem-based communication approaches are very useful for understanding the issues, exchanging information, generating ideas and finding solutions (Manoharan et al. , 2021a).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Labour-related factors affecting construction productivity in Sri Lankan building projects: perspectives of engineers and managers

Manoharan

Dissanayake

Pathirana

et al. 2022

FEBE

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

PurposePast studies highlight a wide range of labour-related problems resulting in productivity loss in the construction industry of many developing countries. This study aims to quantify the impacts of labour-related factors on the productivity of construction operations in Sri Lankan building projects based on the viewpoint of engineers and construction managers for upgrading management/organisational policies and practices.Design/methodology/approachQualitative and quantitative approaches were used to identify the critical factors. Further, a series of industry consultative discussions were conducted through problem-based communication approaches to analyse the actions required.FindingsA total of 21 factors were determined as critical, where skills shortage, labourers’ thinking abilities, work experience, knowledge in construction works and discipline were leading in the list. The statistical tests and the experts’ discussion outcomes ensured the validity and reliability of the study findings.Research limitations/implicationsThe study outcomes will contribute to finding out better ways for directing labour in the industry practices and revising organisational policies towards achieving higher productivity levels in construction operations. Though the study findings are limited to the Sri Lankan context, some findings may be tested in other developing countries in similar scenarios.Originality/valueThe study findings show why the identified factors are critical, how those influence construction practices and what actions need to be considered for addressing the industry’s productivity-related challenges. These can play a key role in upgrading the construction management practices and organisational policies to the near-future stages.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Labour-related factors affecting construction productivity in Sri Lankan building projects: perspectives of engineers and managers

Manoharan

Dissanayake

Pathirana

et al. 2022

FEBE

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Though several studies reported the significant factors that affect the labour performance in construction, only a few focused on the track of labour training development towards labour performance improvement (Siregar, 2018;Gao et al, 2019;Ojha et al, 2020;Manoharan et al, 2021b). Ojha et al (2020) have reviewed the training methods and evaluation techniques to measure the effectiveness of construction labourers in health and safety practices.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

A labour performance score and grading system to the next normal practices in construction

Manoharan

Dissanayake

Pathirana

et al. 2022

BEPAM

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

PurposeThe performance-based utilisation of labour resources is a decisive function for developing characteristics of the next normal in the construction industry. Based on the industry's needs, this study aims to develop a framework for the systematic process of labour performance evaluations and labour grading towards achieving higher productivity in construction operations.Design/methodology/approachBoth qualitative and quantitative methods were applied through a comprehensive literature review, surveys and experts' discussions to develop a set of labour training elements of outcomes. Problem-focused and action-oriented communication approaches were used throughout the study to produce detailed steps for the systematic evaluations of labour performance.FindingsThe study has presented a framework consisting of a set of labour training elements of outcomes with the relative weights, as well as the detailed procedures to assess labour competencies towards the calculations of labour performance score values and labour grading.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the scope of the study is limited to the Sri Lankan context, the findings may be tested in other countries for upgrading their performance improvement practices of labour operations.Practical implicationsThe study outcomes will strengthen the construction management practices for the successful implementation of labour training and performance evaluations at construction sites, and also contribute to upgrading the vocational training programmes in the country towards the next sustainable normal.Originality/valueThe developed framework can be a functional tool for the construction industry that provides a mechanism to show the detailed cross-section of each labourer's performance and values, and also displays their roles and responsibilities to accelerate the next normal in the construction industry.

show abstract

“…Studies also spotlight the need for improving training facilities for construction supervisors in many countries [4,5,15,24], including Sri Lanka [25][26]. Supervision practices act as a vital link between the management and labour, and these are significant to improve the performance and productivity of labour operations in construction [15,24,26].…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Incompetent supervisors, supervisor absenteeism and poor resource management skills had been the major problems for the Indonesian contractors [6]. Though no recent studies reported the supervisor absenteeism as a significant factor, their inefficient site management and poor site coordination skills have been the significant factors affecting the progress of construction projects in many countries' recent scenarios [12,[22][23][24]26]. This confirms that the transferable skills of construction supervisors must be further addressed in the construction supervisory training programmes in many countries.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Considering the industry practices in the Nigerian construction sector, Onyekachi [24] has highlighted the need for improving the relationship between labourers and construction supervisors for productivity improvement in construction. Considering the Sri Lankan context, past studies [26,31,41] have also reported poor labour management practices in many construction projects. Though the productivity of construction operations is significantly affected due to poor labour management and supervision practices, most organisations do not take adequate steps to address these issues in the Sri Lankan construction industry [41].…”

Section: 4mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Organisational Factors Affecting the Productivity of Labour in Sri Lankan Building Construction Projects: Perspective of Engineers

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sources highlight the poor organisational practices of the construction industry in many developing countries that result in low productivity levels in labour operations. This study aimed to identify the critical factors related to the management/organisational practices that significantly influence the labour productivity in Sri Lankan building construction projects based on the perspectives of engineers. The study methodology encompassed both qualitative and quantitative approaches through a comprehensive literature review, a questionnaire survey and a series of industry consultative meetings. The study determined 31 critical factors, where salary delays, low salaries for labourers, lack of labour training facilities, poor labour management and lack of labour motivation were found in the top five rankings. Statistical tests ensured the validity and reliability of the results. Overall findings highlight the need for reinforcing the current organisational policies of construction firms related to financial processes, communication approaches, resource management and performance management practices to the new normal situations. The study outcomes may push the industry to reduce the gap between the management policies and labour operations. Though the study findings are limited to the Sri Lankan construction sector, some of them may also be tested in other developing countries in similar scenarios.

show abstract

A curriculum guide model to the next normal in developing construction supervisory training programmes

Cited by 26 publications

References 14 publications

Labour-related factors affecting construction productivity in Sri Lankan building projects: perspectives of engineers and managers

Labour-related factors affecting construction productivity in Sri Lankan building projects: perspectives of engineers and managers

A labour performance score and grading system to the next normal practices in construction

Organisational Factors Affecting the Productivity of Labour in Sri Lankan Building Construction Projects: Perspective of Engineers

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About