Syben, G (1998) A qualifications trap in the German construction industry: Changing the production model and the consequences for the training system in the German construction industry. Construction Management and Economics, 16(5), pp. 593-601. ISSN 01446193
Abstract
German construction companies traditionally rely on qualified workers. This has influenced both their production model (work organization on site) and their policy towards training and education. Due to the massive inflow of workers from countries with low labour costs, firms may fundamentally change this model to a new one which is distinguished by the combination of less qualified workers with a larger number of managers for instruction, supervision and control. This change is initially likely to have a considerable knock-on effect on the training system. However, what is even worse is that the new model is not likely to work in the long run. To date the construction industry has acquired its site managers and supervisors directly from the pool of qualified workers. By reducing training it produces a shortage of the very resource inevitably needed to be able to reduce training. The industry will fall into a qualifications trap. What is more significant is that this trap is shown as a first step towards lowering corporate image, quality of human resources, productivity and, in the end, competitiveness.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Germany; labour market; training |
| Index terms: | manager, construction company, Germany, human resource, qualification, productivity, competitiveness, labour market, site manager, labour cost, supervision, construction industry, supervisor |
| Subjects: | organization, practitioner, control systems, management, economics, educational resources, Geography, market analysis, industry analysis, cost management |
| Topics: | Geographical Context, Project Management, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Procurement, Roles and Professions, Human Resources, Supply Chain Management, Education |
| 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