Hamouda, H and Abu-Shaaban, N (2014) Enhancing labour productivity within construction industry through analytical hierarchy process, the case of Gaza Strip. In: Raiden, A and Aboagye-Nimo, E (eds.) Proceedings of 30th Annual ARCOM Conference, 1-3 September 2014, Portsmouth, UK.
Abstract
Construction sector plays a leading role in economic growth for countries all around the world. Since construction is a labour intensive industry, productivity is considered a primary driving force for economic development. In the Gaza Strip, the economy is severely challenged by the combined effects of rapid population growth and the closure policy imposed on the area since 2007. Owing to this situation, construction projects are characterized by low profit margin, time and cost overrun making labour productivity a key component of companyÕs success and competitiveness. Although, labour productivity has been subject of study by many researchers, a deeper understanding is still required to improve labour productivity. The main aim of this study is to identify key factors affecting labour productivity in the Gaza Strip. It also aims at formulating a labour productivity baseline model using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). By reviewing the literature and conducting depth interviews with experienced engineers, thirty critical factors related to labour productivity were identified and categorized into six groups: psychological, experience, supervision and leadership, physical, time and workload, and external factors. Based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process approach, a questionnaire was designed and delivered to sixty contractors to elicit the view on how labour productivity might be affected. A total of 56 feedbacks were analyzed through the AHP. The results indicated that Job satisfaction& security, lack of incentive scheme, skill& experience, drug use, overtime and weather changes have a significant impact on labour productivity in GS. In addition, the developed AHP model provides a framework that can assist managers in evaluating multiple factors and hence effectively improve labour productivity.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | analytical hierarchy process; Gaza strip; productivity |
| Index terms: | engineer, productivity, cost overrun, job satisfaction, critical factor, workload, profit, manager, interview, economic development, Gaza Strip, construction industry, economic growth, construction sector, analytical hierarchy process, weather, supervision, population, construction project, competitiveness, labour productivity, questionnaire |
| Subjects: | production management, physical geography and landforms, economic development, management, industry analysis, decision-making and optimization, market analysis, demography, practitioner, control systems, air quality, profession, risk assessment, data collection methods, economic analysis, financial and cost management |
| Topics: | Risk Management, Roles and Professions, Sustainability, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Project Management, Geographical Context, Site Management, Urban Studies, Human Resources |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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