Factors Influencing Craftsmen Productivity In Africa

FACTORS INFLUENCING CRAFTSMEN PRODUCTIVITY IN AFRICA

 

CHAPTER ONE

1. 0 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Construction industry is a significant sector in the economic development of any nation; it contributes immensely to gross domestic product (GDP) and employs substantial percentage of her workforce (Yisa, Holt, & Zakeri, 2000). It is therefore important for her workforce to be motivated. In construction industry, productivity is often measured by workers efficiency (Dozzi & Abou Rizk, 1993). It is assumed that other factors of production cannot be easily measured; even if measured it is not a reflection of actual work done. It is in line with this that most researches concentrates on ways of improving productivity or factors that can help in achieving productivity improvement (Herzberg, 1968; Smither, 2000 in Ng et al., 2004; Aiyetan & Olotuah, 2006). The central role played by labour in the attainment of organisational goal call for the need to adequately compensate them based on values added by individual worker.

Productivity decline has been widely reported in construction industry as occurring world over (Yisa et al., 2000; Adnan, 2009; Adjei, 2009; Kaming et al., 1998 in Fagbenle et al., 2013). In Nigeria, productivity decline has been ascribed to be responsible for time and cost overrun of most projects executed and the cause of low GDP recorded in the sector (Koko et al., 2013). To increase labour effectiveness therefore; there are some factors that need to be addressed, such as motivation of the workforce, safety at work, environmental factors and physical limitation (Dozzi & Abou Rizk, 1993).

Shashank et al. (2014) in their study grouped factors that cause variation in labour productivity into eight. These groups are: manpower, environmental, material/ equipment, motivation, safety, managerial and quality groups. They concluded that out of these eight groups, motivation group has the highest impact on variation of labour in enhancing productivity. They recommended that managers should make the welfare of their workers a priority through motivation schemes in order for them to put in their best in improving productivity. Kazaz et al. (2008) did similar work in Turkey. They classified productivity factors into four groups. These groups of factors include organisational, economic, physical and socio-psychological, and motivational factors. The second most

 

• STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Construction craft workers’ low productivity and poor quality of work in Nigeria as professionals have continuously indicated result from many factors. These limiting factors range from improper planning and control, inadequate training, lack of motivation, poor welfare management, complexity of work, unavailability of materials, malnutrition, poor leadership, sickness, absenteeism, labour turnover, poor communication and supervision, adverse environmental and climatic conditions etc. All these factors exert varying degrees of limitations and influence on the output of the craftsmen. In this research, the most critical factors affecting the productivity and quality of work of these craftsmen employed in Nigerian indigenous construction companies were investigated.

 

• AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study is aimed at evaluating the factors influencing construction craftmen productivity in Jos.

 

• OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The following are the objectives of this study

1. To identify motivation factors influencing construction craftsmen productivity in Jos, Nigeria.
2. To determine the relationship between motivation and productivity of craftsmen in construction firms in Jos, Nigeria.
3. To create the foundation for further study of construction productivity measurement and improvement in Jos.
4. • Research questions
5. Can improper planning and poor supervision greatly affect the productivity of construction workers in our indigenous construction companies?
6. Can poor wages and absent of motivational incentives significantly affect the productivity of construction workers in indigenous construction companies?
7. Will inadequate education and vocational training greatly affect the quality of work and output of craft workers in indigenous construction companies?

 

• Significance of the study

1. The completed study will highlight the importance for managers of the indigenous construction companies to continually apply modern planning, supervision and control techniques in the management of craft work force for higher productivity.
2. The study will intimate indigenous contractors the relevance of training and retraining of craftsmen as a sure way to increase their productivity and quality of work.

• It will give credence to the success associated with adequate incentives packages to motivate crafts workers for higher productivity and quality of work in construction projects. Our local contractors have not been using incentives for motivation, unlike the multinational construction firms.

1. The study will add to the body of knowledge on the factors that can really affect productivity and quality of work in Nigerian construction industry.
2. It will encourage building and civil engineering scholars to research further into other factors that tend to limit or affect the productivity of craftsmen.
3. Finally the study will provide probable solutions to the worrisome problems of poor quality of work and low output pledging our local construction firms.
   • RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H₀₁: Improper planning, supervision and control of craft workers activities on construction site significantly affect their productivity and quality of work in indigenous construction companies in Nigeria.

H₀₂: Poor wages and inadequate motivational incentives significantly affect the productivity and quality of work of craft workers in indigenous construction firms in Nigeria.

H₀₃: Inadequate education and vocational training of craft workers significantly affect their quality of work in indigenous construction companies in Nigeria.

 

• SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This study on appraisal on the factors influencing construction craftmen productivity in Jos will however be limited to only construction industries in Jos.

LIMITATION

FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS: – Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

TIME CONSTRAINT: – the researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.