Management issues affecting emerging contractors in the Northern Cape

• Main Author: Kumalo, Sepheka Ishmael
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Nelson Mandela University 2019
• Subjects: Building trades > South Africa > North Cape; Project management Construction industry > South Africa > Northern Cape; North Cape
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/40478; https://corycommons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:36169

The research is aimed at identifying factors that impact on the performance of contractors during the implementation of construction projects and identify interventions to address poor performance. Eleven project parameters, eleven resources, nine functions in an organisation, and five functions and activities of management work from construction industry literature studies were used to determine the current practices by the contractors involved in the construction projects the study was undertaken in the Northern Cape Province among contractors registered on the CIDB database in Grades 1 to 5. A research questionnaire was used for the collection of data. Closed-ended questions were primarily used. The study recorded a number of significant findings. Forty-seven per cent of Northern Cape construction business owners have a high school education (matriculation), 20% a technical school qualification, and 13% a university qualification; 51% of businesses used personal savings as a source of funding for their projects. In addition, it was found that unless contractors perform relative to the eleven project parameters, they are unlikely to succeed in the workplace, or progress in terms of their registration with the CIDB. The study confirms the importance of business environmental factors which is found to contribute to the success of the emerging contractors if not properly analysed prior to engage in construction business practices. It is evident from the empirical study that emerging contractors do not have knowledge of the following: strategic leadership; the promotion of sustainable growth of emerging contractors; the promotion and improvement of performance and best practice, and the improvement of procurement and delivery management. Recommendations include the CIDB must perform its mandate by providing strategic leadership to all stakeholders involved within the construction industry, encourage best practice and provide guidance in terms of performance improvement of contractors, and provide a platform for ...