Naas, J D (1990) Identifying and predicting present and future occupational competencies for commercial construction superintendents in Illinois. PhD thesis, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, USA.
Abstract
This study was conducted to increase understanding regarding the identity and relative importance of the tasks which constitute the occupation of commercial construction superintendent. More specifically, the study answered the following questions: (1) What tasks do practicing construction superintendents perceive as important for their occupation in 1990? (2) What tasks do practicing construction superintendents perceive will be important for the occupation of construction superintendent in the year 2000? (3) What trends, forces, issues, or events do construction superintendents perceive will have the greatest effect on their occupation? A modified Delphi Technique was used to investigate answers to these questions. It was necessary to (1) conduct a review of literature regarding existing curriculum and tasks; (2) develop a questionnaire to solicit opinions and ratings from practicing superintendents; (3) identify an expert panel of 24 construction superintendents; (4) conduct a two-round Delphi inquiry to determine additional tasks, rate the importance of tasks in 1990 and 2000, and to rate the importance of identified trends, forces, issues and events on the occupation. Results of this study revealed that superintendents ranked "Personnel Management Tasks" as the most important tasks category, and "Estimating and Cost Control Tasks" as the least important tasks category. "Quality Control and Safety Tasks" and "Job Scheduling and Planning Tasks" were predicted to show significant increases in importance by the year 2000. This study should be replicated in other states or regions, and results used to design curriculum for construction management programs, specifically courses dealing with construction superintendent training.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Thesis advisor: | Bortz, R |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Delphi technique; cost control; estimating; personnel; quality control; safety; scheduling; training |
| Index terms: | occupation, scheduling, personnel, relative importance, estimating, questionnaire, Delphi technique, program, cost control, commercial construction, quality control, identity |
| Subjects: | operations research, construction type, sociology, software systems, management, project delivery, financial and cost management, data collection methods, risk assessment |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Risk Management, Time Control, Human Resources, Digital Applications, Construction Technology, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Cost Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCA |
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