Kashiwagi, D T and Massner, S (2005) Solving the construction craftperson skill shortage problem through construction undergraduate and graduate education. International Journal of Construction Education and Research, 1(2), pp. 89-101. ISSN 1557-8771
Abstract
This research paper identifies construction undergraduate and graduate education as the only solution to the problem of craftsperson shortage in the construction industry. The paper first identifies the craftsperson shortage problem and easily identifiable problems of low pay, no career incentives, and minimized training. It then analyzes the construction industry structure. Using Information Measurement Theory, it identifies the environment required to increase the number of skilled craftspeople. The analysis identifies the real source of the craftsperson skill shortage in the construction industry as the industry structure, the low-bid procurement system, and the lack of performance information. The current industry structure and procurement systems identify craftsperson skill as a need and not a requirement. It identifies the construction education system as the only way to change the craftsperson skill shortage problem. It proposes that certain topics (industry structure, change mechanisms, performance information, business processes, organizational optimization) must be introduced in construction education and given to facility owner representatives, designers, and construction management to change the industry structure from within and without.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | craftperson shortage; industry structure; low-bid procurement; performance information |
| Index terms: | graduate education, construction industry, owner, procurement system, construction education, skill shortage, undergraduate, research paper, career, designer |
| Subjects: | professional development, profession, contractual arrangements, management, curriculum development, professional education, higher education, sociology, industry analysis, research dissemination and communication |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Procurement, Stakeholder Management, Education, Information Management, Roles and Professions, Human Resources |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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