Osman, A M and Liu, Y S (2023) Critical determinants of the competitiveness of the Ghanaian construction industry. Journal of Construction in Developing Countries, 28(1), pp. 267-291. ISSN 1823-6499
Abstract
Construction industry’s contribution to the development of nations has been well documented in the literature. Some authors argue that the construction industry offers one of the most significant avenues through which infrastructure is provided for almost every sector of economy. Yet, studies focusing on the development of the construction industry are replete with problems regarding the numerous competitiveness determinants to consider, not only from where and whom to collect the data but also the type and range of data. This study investigates the essential factors influencing the competitiveness of the Ghanaian construction industry (GCI) using Michael Porter’s Diamond Model. Factor analysis revealed four underlying constructs that determine the competitiveness of the GCI. These include industrial resources availability, construction business strategies and project management, stakeholders' demands and performance and government role and industry development policy. The study highlights that more emphasis should be placed on macro-variables of GCIs at the national level and senior managers in GCI should integrate advanced management processes and techniques in construction business management to improve upon their performances. In addition, the results from the current study may help inform and direct government policies towards repositioning and engendering the competitiveness of the GCI, while providing international construction firms entering the GCI with first-hand information about the performance of the GCI.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | competitiveness; construction firms; international construction; government; industry development; policy; factor analysis; stakeholder |
| Index terms: | manager, business strategy, construction firm, business management, industry development, government policy, competitiveness, international construction, factor analysis, construction industry, determinant, project management |
| Subjects: | market analysis, industry analysis, statistical analysis, project management theory and practice, public policy, risk assessment, strategic management, business, organization, practitioner |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Project Management, Business Strategy, Governance, Risk Management, Roles and Professions, International Construction |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here