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Although the quantity surveyors had laid their claim to the building industry for more than a century, poor scientific knowledge analyses with reference to the professional communication capabilities and communication instruments in the construction industry still exists. The aim of this thesis is to measure the determinants of a communication maturity model in respect of the communication capabilities of the profession. The proposed most important determinants used were brought to light through research undertaken by the University of the Free State in collaboration with the Wirtschafts University in Vienna, Austria in 2005/6. The results of the survey indicate that respondents were positive with regard to professional communication in general. This can influence the construction industry with continuous advantages for the property development environment. The survey results indicate that the determinant contractual communication of the quantity surveyor is experienced the most positive. The determinant leadership communication of the quantity surveyor is experienced the least positive. A model of the most important determinants for effective communication was used to measure the maturity of the professionâs communication capabilities in the construction industry.

The use of project management has expanded and is used in many industries. The generic component of project management across all industries without the necessary technical knowledge has been debated. This study investigates the knowledge base of construction project management and the need for industry specific knowledge. The study includes a literature and also empirical research section. The empirical study made use of interviews, a case study and questionnaires. A construction project management knowledge model was developed based on the research and research findings. The research findings suggest that a project manager in the built environment requires various types of knowledge â project management knowledge, industry specific knowledge and knowledge gained through experience. The project management knowledge includes the 13 areas from the construction extension to the PMBOK guide, the industry specific knowledge is divided into four main areas that are knowledge of construction science, knowledge of construction processes, knowledge of design processes and knowledge of financial cost factors and the knowledge through experience is gained through time spent working in the industry. The construction project management knowledge model aims to contribute to improving the project management environment, aiding in awareness of the various knowledge areas and subareas that are important and the NQF level that is suggested. This could contribute to sufficient education by creating awareness of the level of education a project manager in the built environment requires. Organisations could use the model as reference to determine which areas their project managers could improve on in order to develop and increase project management maturity in the organisation. The project management construction model also offers tertiary institutions a framework for syllabus planning of constructions project management courses. Further research is welcomed and may include improving the model, or using the model as foundation to develop a measuring instrument to determine the knowledge of a construction project manager.

Integrating learning and work has become important for several reasons. The recognition that the key resources for wealth creation, knowledge and ideas are embedded in human capital. Furthermore, fast-paced advances in knowledge, technology, and access to information ensure that capabilities rapidly become obsolete. Continuous learning and workplace learning have therefore become essential. These developments have highlighted the pivotal role of learning in individual career development and organisational performance and the construction industry needs to address these issues. The construction industry, however, continues to report skill gaps suggesting that construction businesses need to consider creative ways to deliver skill-enhancing opportunities for their workforce. The challenge is global but has added significance for African emerging economies considering their developmental needs. Integrating workforce learning and development key practices into construction business was therefore the crux of this research which was aimed at developing a conceptual learning model that will enable construction firms to optimise performance in line with their business goals. Given the complexity of the construction domain and the need to allow integration of diverse processes, perceptions, experiences, practices and interactions, a pragmatic philosophical lens was employed allowing for a mixed methods research approach. A social constructionist ontology and a largely interpretivist stance was adopted. Surveys and case studies were conducted employing questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions for data collection. Data analysis methods used were relative importance, correlational and constant comparative analyses. The research investigated the two main elements of learning systems the learner and the learning environment. The learner aspect found that emotional and social attributes were significantly associated with the performance of intermediate construction skills while key workforce practices emerged from the learning environment studies. These findings were integrated to develop the construction learning and development optimising model (CLEARDO). The research was limited to Nigeria because of its current focal position in the African economy.

Bakgrund: Bygg- och anläggningsbranschen står inför en stor utmaning med klimatreducerande åtgärder mot en klimatneutral byggprocess tills 2045. Denna studie är en uppföljning av ett exploateringsprojekt i Skellefteå Kommun med Skanska Sverige AB som entreprenör. Projektet har fått utmärkelse för årets hållbara infrastrukturprojekt samt mottagit Skanskas interna hållbarhetspris. Projektet har prisats för att ha reducerat den förväntade klimatpåverkan från masshanteringen med 93%. Nyckelord: Masshantering, Klimatkalkyl Syfte: Syftet med studien är att ta tillvara på lärdomar från det lyckade projektet Västra Eriksberg och finna nyckelfaktorer som har lett till det goda resultatet. Studien utreder också hur klimatkalkyl ska kunna användas som ett stöd i produktionen. Frågeställningar: -          Vilka nyckelfaktorer i projekt möjliggör/försvårar hållbar ”Masshantering”?   -          Kan produktionsstyrningen förbättras med hjälp av klimatkalkyl? Metod: Studien är utförd som en fallstudie. Intervjuer har utförts med nyckelpersoner kring Västra Eriksberg. Dokumentstudien har innefattat en undersökning av Skanskas produktionsverktyg. Slutsats: Det lyckade resultatet på Västra Eriksberg går att härleda till väl utförd projektledning tillsammans med en väl fungerande samverkan mellan beställare och entreprenör. Detta har tillsammans med gynnsamma geotekniska förhållanden, möjlighet till utrymme för upplag, närliggande verksamheter med behov av massor från projektet lett till ett väldigt gott resultat. För att klimatkalkylen skall kunna fungera som ett verktyg i produktionsstyrningen måste branschens fokus flyttas från den ekonomiska vinningen och låta klimatfrågan ta större plats. Vidare måste kalkylen få en närmare koppling till det verkliga utförandet och vara mer representativ för de arbete som utförs, detta kommer kräva en teknisk utveckling av produktionsverktyget för att göra arbetet med klimatkalkyl mer kvalitetssäkert och användarvänligt.

Thesis (M. S.)--Texas A&M University, 2005. / "Major Subject: Construction Management" Title from author supplied metadata (automated record created on Feb. 23, 2007.) Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

The thesis addresses the problems faced by contractors during the recovery and rebuilding process after hurricanes that struck the southeast region of the United States in 2004-2005 hurricane seasons. It also deals with the practices they normally use to solve such problems. First, through literature review, six possible problems were identified, which were then used to gather information about the major problems faced by the construction industry in post-hurricane projects. The possible problems were site logistics, material transportation, labor, political influences, building permits and site location. Data were then collected via surveys of 450 contractors involved in post-hurricane construction in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. The analysis showed that three of those problems - site logistics, labor and material transportation were identified as major problems among the respondents. The remaining were considered as problems, but not major ones in post-hurricane reconstruction projects. The study recommends practices, such as better planning, scheduling, coordination, supply chain management and use of experienced site personnel, for tackling the problems of site logistics and material transportation. Outsourcing labor was one of the methods suggested to improving conditions with regards to labor problems. The research identifies the problems and provides a list of possible solutions to these problems, as used by the contractors of such projects. Therefore, by using the suggested practices, post-hurricane reconstruction projects can be beneficial for contractors, and the outlook towards these projects as being less profitable can be changed.

Thesis (M.S.)--Texas A & M University, 2003. / "Major Subject: Construction Management." Title from author supplied metadata. Includes bibliographical references.

Ineffective project communication may lead to project failure in respect of expected outcomes. Communication in the construction industry is important even though a qualified project team and manager plan, organise and manage a project. The construction project manager needs communication skills to communicate effectively and manage projects successfully to expected completion. The aim of this thesis is to propose a communication skills and leadership model for construction project management. Management of a project can apply the model. It can also be used to determine which communication skills the construction project manager should possess or should develop to communicate effectively. The results of the research indicate that construction project managers need the basic skill of being able to communicate effectively, with decision making and problem solving as the most important communication skills. A model is proposed to assist construction project management. This model can be developed further as an instrument to measure the maturity of a project manager or team.