M.Ing. / Recent studies in developed countries such as the United States of America and United Kingdom proved that the design-build procurement method experiences extraordinary growth. In the Far East this approach is also gaining in popularity. The recently completed 414 million pound Pergau Hydroelectric Project in Malaysia, is an excellent example, where design-build was used most effectively to the benefit of all role players. This research seeks to determine the position of design-build in the building and civil engineering fields in South Africa. Questionnaires and personal interviewing were used to collect the primary data. The main findings of this South African research are: (1)Approximately 29% of building and civil engineering projects are delivered by the design-build approach; (2)Design-build was overwhelmingly preferred as procurement method; (3)Design-build can lead to: shorter project duration; reduction in cost; enhanced constructability of the design; better relations and less disputes and claims; (4)This concept also has the advantage of single-point responsibility; (5)It can be used on any size project; (6)The main concerns were: high cost for bidding, especially of the design function; lack of an appropriate form of contract; a well-defined scope of the work is essential; (7)Respondents perceived a bright future for design-build in South Africa. Design-build has the potential to integrate the functionally separate groups of the traditional project team, which can lead to better co-operation and relations. This can ultimately result in an improvement in the three critical project performance criteria, i.e. time, cost and quality.

A project report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering / The rapid advances in technology and the greater complexity of projects generate an ever-changing environment within which the civil engineering consulting firms have to survive and grow. This changing environment increases the necessity both for greater specialisation_ (differentiation) and for. tighter co-ordination (integration). Abbreviation abstract) / Andrew Chakane 2019

A nine (9) point project report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering / The successful execution of urban development projects in South Africa's developing comunities is not, as recent experience has amply demonstrated, solely a matter of resolving the technical difficulties. This report motivates the opinion that other matters outside the traditional responsibility of the civil engineer are vital to successful urban development. These matters include planning for economic development. urban managerial and financial matters as well as peripheral project related issues. The report identifies and reviews the most important issues in each of the above mentioned categories, and, based on the author's experience in practice, suggests approaches to these matters. The report concludes that civil engineers, and particularly project managers, should reconsider their role in urban development, A need exists is in this field for project managers to broaden their scope to the management of development in its widest sense. Should timeous action not be taken by the engineering profession to prepare their members for this new role, the void is bound to be filled by another discipline. / Andrew Chakane 2018

Submitted in fulfillment of the academic requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Durban University of Technology. Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Insolvency may be broadly defined as an inability of business entity to meet pending financial commitments. For a construction firm, such a situation creates conditions whereby a business entity is unable to fulfill its contractual obligations with regard to work in progress or creditors owing. There are indications to suggest that during periods of adverse conditions the occurrences of insolvencies are mutually exclusive and remain a subject of debate. The occurrence of these financial failures adversely affect business concerns operating within the civil engineering construction industry. In South Africa, figures released by the South African Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors (SAFCEC) in 1992 suggested an expected general decline in workload handled by this sector. This was a result of scaling down of heavy infrastructure projects because of government shifting focus to housing and other related projects mainly towards meeting the needs of the previously disadvantaged communities. During that period large contractors suffered financially and some went through insolvency. The government had also put emphasis on transformation of the sector to allow participation of emerging and small contractors, but this was not properly regulated, so most of these contractors did not have the experience and skills to operate sustainable construction firms. The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) was established in 2000 as a statutory body to provide leadership to stakeholders and to stimulate sustainable growth, reform and improvement of the construction public sector for effective delivery and the industry’s enhanced role in the country’s economy. The CIDB’s regulations were implemented after 2003 and are continuously improving the construction public sector’s growth. This research study investigated and evaluated the factors associated with insolvencies amongst civil engineering contractors in KwaZulu-Natal. The study investigated the hypotheses that “the prominent factors associated with civil engineering contractors insolvencies are related to managerial/operational issues”, the prominent factors associated with civil engineering contractors insolvencies are related to financial issues”, “South African government initiatives create an environment for small to medium contractors to develop through their implementation”, and good management and operation of small to medium construction companies reduce insolvency in construction”. Operational management and strategic factors were found to be amongst the leading causes of companies failures. The study also made some recommendations from the research findings. The findings are relevant to the South African government infrastructure service delivery programs and the general issue of affordable infrastructure services. / M

Thesis (MCom)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The construction industry is a large, diverse and complex industry. In recent times, this industry has experienced a long-lasting period of inactivity. One sector that forms part of the construction industry is the civil engineering sector. This sector is the largest contributor to the income of the industry as a whole. Recent reports indicate that the construction companies within this industry are experiencing many challenges in both the internal and external environments. A preliminary discussion with a number of engineers indicated that these individuals felt as if they were required to do more than what was expected of them in terms of their job requirements. These expectations not only include being expected to voluntarily work overtime and to be tolerant of non-ideal site conditions, but also to informally develop the interpersonal skills necessary to minimise conflict and to motivate and support each other. The majority of the participating companies admitted to having a lack of such voluntary behaviour, namely organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB), amongst their engineers on site. It is for this reason that the core objective of the study was to develop and empirically study a structural model that explains the antecedents that contribute the most to the variance in OCB amongst civil engineers on various sites within South African engineering companies. During the preliminary discussion and subsequent literature review, the main antecedent found was personality. A quantitative research method with an ex post facto correlation design was utilised, where primary data was collected from a sample of 119 site employees of a number of South African construction companies. The self-administered questionnaire consisted of four sections, three of which were an amalgamation of the three valid and reliable measuring instruments that reflect the central focus of the structural model, i.e. personality, job satisfaction and organisational citizenship behaviour. The collected data was then analysed by means of Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling. The results of the study indicate that certain personality characteristics do contribute to the occurrence of organisational citizenship behaviour amongst site employees. Within the areas of personality and job satisfaction theories, this research adds to the existing literature on OCB. In order to assist South African industrial psychologists within this industry, managerial implications and suggested interventions pertaining to the research findings are provided. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die konstruksiebedryf is 'n groot, diverse en komplekse bedryf. Gedurende die afgelope tydperk, het hierdie bedryf 'n voortdurende tydperk van onaktiwiteit ervaar. Een sektor wat deel vorm van die konstruksiebedryf is die siviele ingenieurswese sektor. Hierdie sektor is die grootste bydraer tot die inkomste van die bedryf as 'n geheel. Onlangse verslae dui daarop dat konstruksie maatskappye in die bedryf baie uitdagings in beide die interne en eksterne omgewings ervaar. 'n Voorlopige bespreking met 'n aantal ingenieurs het daarop gedui dat hierdie individue voel asof dit van hulle verwag word om vrywillig oortyd te werk asook verdraagsaam te wees van die nie-ideale werksterreine en omstandighede. Hulle voel dat die informele ontwikkeling van die interpersonlike vaardighede wat nodig is om konflik te verminder, asook mekaar te motiveer en ondersteun, ook vrywillig verwag word. Die meerderheid van die deelnemende maatskappye het bevestig dat daar ‘n gebrek is aan vrywillige gedrag, naamlik organiesatoriese burgerskap, onder die ingeniers op die werksterrein. Dit is vir hierdie spesifieke rede dat die kern doel van hierdie studie was om ‘n struktrele model te ontwikkel en empiries te bestudeier wat die geskiedenis uiteensit wat die tot die wisseling in OCB onder siviele ingenieurs op verskillende werksterreine in die Suid-Afrikaanse ingenieurs maatskappye. Tydens die voorlopige besprekings en die daaropvolgende literatuuroorsig was persoonlikheid die kern voorafgaande kenmerk. 'n Kwantitatiewe navorsingsmetode met 'n ex post facto korrelasie-ontwerp is gebruik, waar primêre data vanuit 'n steekproof van 119 werknemers van 'n aantal Suid-Afrikaanse konstruksie maatskappye versamel is. Die selftoegepaste vraelys het bestaan uit vier afdelings, waarvan drie 'n samesmelting was van die drie geldige en betroubare meetinstrumente wat die sentrale fokus van die strukturele model, naamlik persoonlikheid, werksbevrediging en organisatoriese burgerskaps-gedrag weerspieël. Die ingesamelde data is deur middel van Parsiële Kleinste Kwadrate Struktuurvergelykingmodellering ontleed. Die resultate van die studie het getoon dat sekere persoonlikheidseienskappe bydra tot die voorkoms van organisatoriese burgerskaps gedrag onder terreinwerknemers. Binne die gebiede van die persoonlikheid- en werkstevredenheid-teorieë, dra hierdie navorsing by tot die bestaande literatuur oor OCB. Ten einde Suid-Afrikaanse bedryfsielkundiges binne hierdie bedryf te help, is bestuurs-implikasies en voorgestelde ingrypings met betrekking tot die navorsing voorskaf.