Abstracts – Browse Results
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Ali, S (2022) Identification of key factors that aid the decision on whether to refurbish-reuse or demolish-rebuild existing and newly designed buildings and highways, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , London South Bank University.
Barrett, P (1989) Practice management in selected construction-related professions, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , London South Bank University.
Daoud, A O E (2021) Materials procurement conceptual framework for minimising waste in the Egyptian construction industry, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , London South Bank University.
Dejahang, F (2004) Determinants of productivity on construction sites, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , London South Bank University.
Ganiyu, S (2021) Developing a Bim-Knowledge (Bim-K) framework for improved decision-making in building construction projects, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , London South Bank University.
Ibrahim, M N (2022) Risk management in construction of megahousing projects in Egypt, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , London South Bank University.
Islam, M Z (2018) Resourcing for post-disaster housing reconstruction: the case of Cyclones Sidr and Aila in Bangladesh, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Law and Social Sciences, London South Bank University.
Kolawole, O M (2023) A model for improving ethics in construction materials and products supply chain using blockchain, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , London South Bank University.
Madanayake, U (2021) Digitalisation to improve organisational competitive advantage: a study on BBI exploitation, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , London South Bank University.
Mansell, P R (2021) Measuring infrastructure projects sustainable development goals impact (MISI), Unpublished PhD Thesis, , London South Bank University.
Onyia, U (2019) Improving the supervisory and managerial skills and competences required in construction management in Nigeria, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of the Built Environment and Architecture, London South Bank University.
Oyenuga, A (2016) Economic and environmental impact assessment of construction and demolition waste recycling and reuse using LCA and MCDA management tools, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of the Built Environment and Architecture, London South Bank University.
Poh, Y P (2005) Knowledge-based integrated project duration-cost risk simulation model, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of the Built Environment and Architecture , London South Bank University.
Pritchard, C R (1999) Access to construction work and resources in Zimbabwe: An institutional analysis of the development of the construction industry, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , London South Bank University.
- Type: Thesis
- Keywords: competence; competition; government; joint venture; private sector; skills; contractor; professional; economic development; Zimbabwe
- ISBN/ISSN:
- URL: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.310063
- Abstract:
The construction industry provides buildings and physical infrastructure that are the basis for Economic development in most countries and generates wealth for those undertaking available construction work. This thesis contributes to the understanding of construction activity, through an empirical study of access to construction work in Zimbabwe, a country in southern Africa with a history of racial division and tension. The first objective of the thesis is to analyse factors influencing who gains access to available work and resources needed to undertake this work. The thesis finds that there are technical, legal and social factors that structure and determine which individuals and enterprises can gain access to the construction industry as professionals and contractors. The structure of access seldom changes significantly without government intervention that is itself constrained by resource limitations. The second objective is to study factors affecting access to construction work and resources in Zimbabwe. The thesis finds that legal considerations profoundly influence who can participate in construction as professionals but not as contractors. There are many indigenous black professionals and technical skills among indigenous black contractors have been increasing. However, whites and foreign enterprises dominate in high value and specialist construction work because they have established networks and contacts that can generate continuous and improving streams of work and resources. This is also evident among thriving indigenous enterprises. Survival and growth in the industry depend on the ability of enterprises, established and new, to create networks and relationships in both the public and private sectors. Enterprises enhance networking ability if they build reputations of competence and ability, by specialising and accumulating resources, all of which occur over a long period. Networks and relationships are not easily broken without state intervention which, in Zimbabwe, has had a limited impact due to lack of public resources and absence of support from those already in the industry. Government support for indigenous black newcomers to the industry seemed to reinforce historic divisions when the white-dominated private sector sided with established white and foreign enterprises. Some black and white firms attempted to overcome these divisions, that limited their opportunities of gaining access to work, by forming joint ventures and collaborating to maximise chances of getting work from both the public and private sectors, effectively diffusing any efforts at exclusively targeting one group. Clearly, industrial development in construction cannot easily be achieved by focusing only on marginalised groups. Change is a slow process due to inertia from the industry's institutional framework and the need for new enterprises to build networks and expertise both of which take a long time and can be enhanced through joint ventures and cross pollination between groups. In situations of economic decline, increased competition for scarce available work, make reform and restructuring even more difficult to achieve. Even then, the restructuring and organisational arrangements that emerge are always hybrids, reflecting benefit maximisation of existing and new participants.
Robinson, H S (2000) A critical systems approach to infrastructure investment and resource management in developing countries, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , London South Bank University.
Shahparvari, M (2023) Minimisation of rework in UK housing construction: contribution of subcontractors, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , London South Bank University.
Tam, G C K (2018) Managing project sustainability: a study of the construction industry in Hong Kong, Unpublished PhD Thesis, LSBU Business School, London South Bank University.
Thompson, E T (1997) A rational approach to computer integration in construction, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , London South Bank University .
Umar, T (2020) Developing toolkits and guidelines to improve safety performance in the construction industry in Oman, Unpublished PhD Thesis, School of Built Environment and Architecture, London South Bank University.
Walker, G (1999) A critical analysis into the factors that determine project management success: The case in railway engineering projects, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , London South Bank University.
Wirba, E N (1996) An object-oriented knowledge-based systems approach to construction project control, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , London South Bank University.
Wong, F K W (2000) Construction safety in Hong Kong: The development of models for the safety performance assessment of major contractors, Unpublished PhD Thesis, , London South Bank University.