Faulkenberry, L M (1993) Impact of emerging contract employment patterns on training, competitiveness, and company operation in the electrical construction industry. EdD thesis, Texas A&M University, USA.
Abstract
This study verifies the trend toward using contract employees in the electrical power design and construction industry and the impacts of that trend upon the industry in the following areas: (a) The companies and the contract employees, (b) The contract agencies, (c) Job upgrade training (who does it and how), and (d) The competitiveness of the industry. The causes and limiting factors on the trend are also explored. The study was done using the naturalistic inquiry paradigm. It was determined that the use of contract designers, engineers, and managers had a generally positive effect on the industry competitiveness. The contract employees are lower in overall cost than direct employees, and provide flexibility in meeting personnel needs as well allowing reduced direct employee turnover while generally producing high quality work. The negative effects of contract employees include: (a) The possibility that they may leave without warning, (b) The possibility of inadvertent compromise of company confidential information as they move from job to job, and (c) The difficulty of including them in company quality improvement efforts. Special classes are offered by the companies, primarily for direct employees, and classes by equipment vendors are frequently held for both direct and contract employees. On the job training, which is provided by lead personnel, was found to be a very significant part of training in the industry. Contract agencies currently have little involvement in training, but it may be expanded by the need for contract employees to keep up with rapidly changing computer software. The better contract agencies are expected to perform well the function of supplying competent contract employees on a timely basis at a reasonable cost. Contract agency management does need to be knowledgeable of their customers industrial niche. Contract and direct employees must be treated as alike as possible, with each group periodically reminded by management of its special contributions, to maximize morale. General competitiveness has suffered by a lack of knowledge by upper level management of their companies products and the industry in which their companies compete.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Clark, D L |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | competitiveness; employee; employment; equipment; flexibility; morale; personnel; training |
| Index terms: | employee turnover, construction industry, design and construction, competitiveness, paradigm, designer, quality improvement, morale, employment, engineer, agency, personnel, manager |
| Subjects: | profession, project delivery, management, education and knowledge transfer, sociology, industry analysis, practitioner, contractual arrangements, market analysis, leadership |
| Topics: | Organizational Design, Human Resources, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Quality Management, Procurement |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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