Tan, W and Elias, Y (2000) Learning-by-doing in Singapore construction. Journal of Construction Research, 1(2), pp. 151-158. ISSN 1609-9451
Abstract
The significance of learning-by-doing is examined in the Singaporean construction using the production function approach. Learning was found not to be significant, possibly as a result of the industry's high dependence on imported construction technology, industrial fragmentation as well as transient, and largely unskilled, foreign workers. Learning is socially rather than technologically driven and occurs at individual, project, corporate and industry levels. Since learning-by-doing is an important determinant of productivity, measures should be implemented at all levels to encourage it. In particular, the fragmentation of the industry is a serious impediment to learning since small firms generally do not have adequate resources to learn effectively.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | learning-by-doing; productivity; Singapore |
| Index terms: | fragmentation, foreign worker, determinant, construction technology, Singapore, productivity |
| Subjects: | Geography, digital engineering, management, business, risk assessment |
| Topics: | Organizational Design, International Construction, Digital Applications, Business Strategy, Risk Management, Geographical Context |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 PC |
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