Assessment of critical factors influencing the performance of labour in Sri Lankan construction industry

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

doi:10.1080/15623599.2020.1854042

Cited by 38 publications

(178 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Manoharan et al (2020) have accentuated these POs as the common supervision practices in various types of construction projects, namely building, road, highway, bridges, water supply, irrigation and dredging work. Further, Manoharan et al (2020) have also produced a comprehensive mapping of these POs against the critical factors influencing labour performance highlighted in most recent studies. The current study is an extended version of the previous study conducted by Manoharan et al (2020).…”

Section: Expected Outcomes In New Construction Supervisory Training P...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Manoharan

Dissanayake

Pathirana

et al. 2021

BEPAM

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PurposeThis study aims to develop a curriculum guide model to upgrade the construction supervision practices, considering evolving challenges and thereby the next normal of the industry.Design/methodology/approachBoth qualitative and quantitative research designs were adopted to identify productivity-related challenges that can be addressed through effective supervision in construction. Meetings, discussions, workshops and surveys were conducted among construction experts to systematically develop the competencies of construction supervision. The necessary mapping models were used to identify the level of outcomes for each competency element along with the learning domains and programme outcomes.FindingsA curriculum guide model consisting of 64 competency elements has been introduced with corresponding assessment weightages and mapping outcomes. Using this model, a new training programme has been designed and tested with weightage percentages on learning domains.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the scope of the study is limited to Sri Lanka, the findings can be interpreted for critical learning in other developing countries too.Practical implicationsThe study outcomes are expected to make a high impact on improving the standards of vocational training education in the country, thereby upgrading the current industry practices.Originality/valueThe developed guide model is expected to be a valuable tool for training providers/organisations in upgrading their programmes/practices with the scope of productivity improvement. The obtained mapping outcomes are significant for the evolving next normal situations in teaching, learning and assessment methods with regard to construction supervision practices.

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Section: Expected Outcomes In New Construction Supervisory Training P...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Manoharan

Dissanayake

Pathirana

et al. 2021

BEPAM

Self Cite

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“…This attitude and the educational system do not motivate the construction-related occupants (Akomah, et al, 2020). Skill shortage has a notable influence on the performances in the construction industry as the capacities of trained occupants coming out of training institutions does not meet industry requirements (Manoharan et al, 2020). Because of demographic changes, career expectations of the upcoming generation, the education system of the country, cyclic nature of construction industry resulting variation in demand for skills, rapid changes of technology requiring new skills, the growth of self-employment, the fragmentation of the industry, deteriorating and not updating the in the construction training process, skill drain/emigration, negative social attitude towards the industry, fewer wages, wastage of female skills without contributing to the industry, shifting of the career for another profession due to dissatisfaction, less work experience and inadequate training provided by companies and the inadequate number of trained personnel coming out from training institutions and joining with the labor market, the shortage of numbers of occupants and skill shortage can be captured in the construction industry (Akomah et al, 2020).…”

Section: Issues With Plant and Equipment Operatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of Plant and Equipment Operators in Building Construction Projects in Sri Lanka

Waidyasekara¹,

Ridmika²,

Sandagomika³

et al. 2021

14th International Research Conference - FARU 2021

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The construction industry, which is a labour intensive and skill development of the industry would yield both economic and social returns to the national economy. Among other occupational categories, there is a significant demand for the plant and equipment (P&E) operators in the construction industry. Nevertheless, limited numbers of research are available on the said area. Hence, the aim of this paper is to investigate the status of P&E operators in Sri Lankan building construction projects. Accordingly, this study encompassed a qualitative research approach, and six semi-structured expert interviews were conducted as the data collection tool. The study revealed that mainly two categories of P&E as moveable and immovable and further identified subcategories under each. Based on the results, occupational map was developed for the P&E operators in building construction projects in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, the study revealed that technical and mechanical skills as an essential input for an efficient P& E operator. Moreover, the paper discussed issues with P & E operators. Accordingly, inconsistency, taking long leave, poor health conditions, less experience, and less motivation were identified as prominent issues.

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“…They are considered either skilled or unskilled depending on their skill level (Fernando et al, 2016). The labour skills can be improved through education and training, work methods, health facilities, motivational factors, use of tools and materials, work quality and some other labour related factors (Manoharan et al, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Considering the Sri Lankan perspective, most of the construction experts reveal that the labour skills are not up to the required standards in order to improve the productivity of construction operations (Halwatura, 2015). The skill shortage of labour has been significantly affecting the progress of construction projects (Fernando et al, 2016;Manoharan et al, 2020). This was identified as one of the most significant delay causes in the construction projects in Sri Lanka (Kesavan et al, 2015a(Kesavan et al, , 2015b.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Skills Between Sri Lankan and Foreign Construction Labour

Manoharan¹,

Dissanayake²,

Pathirana³

et al. 2021

Proceedings of the 9th World Construction Symposium 2021 on Reshaping Construction: Strategic, Structural and Cultural Transfor

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Construction significantly influences a country’s economy. The labour efforts are the lifeblood of construction operations. The construction industry has been facing many challenges due to skill shortages in many countries. This study aimed to compare the work-related skills of Sri Lankan labour against foreign labour forces. A qualitative study methodology was adopted through literature reviews and expert interviews to identify the labour skills which influence the productivity of construction operations. The interviews were conducted in two categories. The first category focused on identifying significant labour skills, the second category was conducted to compare the labour skills between Sri Lankan and foreign labour. Chinese, Indian, Bangladeshi, Nepalese, Saudi Arabian, Malaysian and Korean labour forces were considered in the pair-wise comparison process. Statement categories and codes were developed to perform this qualitative comparison. The overall results show the need of developing cognitive and self-management skills of Sri Lankan labourers, where the transferable skills are not much important. The study pointed up the importance of developing technical skills of Sri Lankan labour in concreting, bar bending, plastering, tiling, welding, electrical work and equipment handling, to reach the levels of leading foreign labour forces. Labourers’ commitment, punctuality, participation, self-motivation and problem solving were the significant self-management skills in this regard. Kappa statistics resulted in the inter-rater reliability of these findings at a substantial level. The study outcomes can be helpful for the skills development authorities to take actions for filling the skills gap, and also for some foreign construction sectors in similar scenarios

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Assessment of critical factors influencing the performance of labour in Sri Lankan construction industry

Cited by 38 publications

References 17 publications

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

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

Investigation of Plant and Equipment Operators in Building Construction Projects in Sri Lanka

Comparison of Skills Between Sri Lankan and Foreign Construction Labour

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