The Integration of Newly Graduated Construction Managers into the South African Construction Industry

Abstract

Anecdotal evidence indicates that newly graduated Construction Managers experience difficulty in terms of integrating into the construction industry. Construction Managers (CMs) and Construction Project Managers (CPMs) registered with the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP) were surveyed by means of an online survey to determine the status quo with respect to newly graduated construction managers. In terms of findings, graduates were rated: average to good / good in terms of overall performance, however, marginally so; marginally below average in terms of their performance relative to the functions of management work; highest relative to computer literacy, numeracy, and trust and honesty in terms of attributes / skills during probation; highest relative to computer literacy, numeracy, and written communication after probation; highest relative to construction technology, construction science, and research methodology in terms of knowledge areas, and highest relative to personal integrity in terms of ten core competencies. Conclusions include: graduates are employable; challenges exist in terms of newly graduated Construction Managers, and tertiary built environment education must enhance graduates' attributes, knowledge, skills, core competencies, and emotional intelligence (EI). Recommendations include: tertiary institutions should ensure that graduates are well versed and developed during their four-year study period; emphasis should be placed on developing core competencies and EI; employers should subject graduates to graduate training programmes; the interface between industry and tertiary education should be optimised through forums, and students should undertake construction-related vacation work and generic part-time work.