Bowen, P; Cattell, K; Distiller, G and Edwards, P J (2008) Job satisfaction of South African quantity surveyors: An empirical study. Construction Management and Economics, 26(7), pp. 765-780. ISSN 1466433X
Abstract
A web-based national questionnaire survey of the opinions of registered South African quantity surveyors was undertaken to establish their levels of job satisfaction. Issues explored included demographic factors; factors influencing job satisfaction; choice of career; gender and race in the workplace; and harassment and discrimination at work. Generally, it can be said that South African quantity surveyors like their jobs. Respondents tended to be poorly informed about career prospects when embarking on their careers and, although salary was a main driver in respect of career choice, many quantity surveyors 'drifted' into the career. However, most respondents claimed that they would choose the same career again. Important factors influencing job satisfaction for quantity surveyors were found to include: personal satisfaction in doing the work; a low degree of supervision; participating in decision-making; undertaking challenging and creative work; and receiving recognition for achievements. Not all motivators were present in the respondents' workplaces, particularly participation in decision making and receiving regular feedback on performance. Women quantity surveyors perceive the profession to be male dominated, especially with regard to attitudes towards maternity leave and flexible working hours. The findings provide a valuable basis for indicating how quantity surveying firms can create an environment more conducive to enhancing job satisfaction of professional staff.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | job satisfaction; quantity surveyors; South Africa |
| Index terms: | South Africa, discrimination, career, working hours, decision-making, questionnaire, survey, quantity surveying firm, supervision, demographic factor, profession, empirical study, women, motivator, job satisfaction, quantity surveying, satisfaction |
| Subjects: | research methods, management, professional development, Geography, employment law, sociology, decision analysis, demography, professional ethics, profession, data collection methods, control systems, institututions, psychology, project delivery |
| Topics: | Legal Issues, Urban Studies, Human Resources, Risk Management, Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Project Management, Information Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
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