Building engineers' training in construction companies in the Castilla-La Mancha autonomous community. Its influence on job satisfaction

Abstract

Purpose: This paper explores training activities for building engineers, working as site managers, carried out by construction companies in the Autonomous Community of Castilla-La Mancha. It also examines the effect of training on job satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative methodology has been applied, by means of 34 semi-structured interviews to 34 building engineers. Atlas-ti software has been used for the analysis of the interview contents. Findings and Originality/value: With the exception of a large company, no planned training has been developed in order to satisfy building engineers` needs. If any, there is initial training for management systems, as well as compulsory training or risk prevention. Additionally, most engineers follow their own training courses, in order to update or increase their knowledge or to improve at work. Several barriers hindering training and its positive effects on participants have been identified. Finally, the effect of training on job satisfaction tends to be positive, with increasing effects when it improves job performance.

Especificación del modelo de habilidades, motivación y oportunidades (AMO) como multiplicativo o aditivo y comprobación de su validez en su aplicación a las prácticas de alta implicación de recursos humanos enfocadas a la mejora continua.

“…Continuous learning activities at work serve as a proxy for ability since we consider that they are adequate predictors in the AMO model context (Hauff et al, 2021;Jiang, Lepak, Han, et al, 2012). In this sense, some studies argue that learning activities can promote job satisfaction if their focus and usefulness meet employee expectations (Fuentes-del-Burgo & Navarro-Astor, 2013) Continuous learning activities at work were measured with three items: learning from coworkers/supervisors, learning-by-doing, and keeping up to date. All items were measured using a 5-point scale (1-never; 2-less than once a month; 3-less than once a week but a least once a month; 4-at least once a week but not every day; 5-every day).…”