Ofori, G; Leong, C and Pin, T E O (2002) Impact of foreign contractors on Singapore construction industry: A qualitative study. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 9(1), pp. 16-28. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
The literature suggests that developing countries must use foreign construction enterprises to undertake much of the building and infrastructure projects which they require for their economic development. Authors suggest that foreign firms can have various impacts, both positive and negative, on the construction industries of the host countries. This study examines the effect of the operations of foreign contractors in Singapore on their local counterparts and on the nation's construction industry. The study assesses the extent to which Singaporean construction companies have grown during the past two decades, and investigates the influence of foreign firms in this growth process. It is based on interviews of prominent construction practitioners and administrators. It was found that Singapore firms grew considerably during the period under review, and that foreign firms contributed to this growth. It is concluded that there is scope for mutually beneficial co-operation among foreign and local contractors.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | co-operation; foreign contractors; growth; influence; policies; Singapore firms |
| Index terms: | foreign firm, local contractor, interview, economic development, foreign contractor, developing country, construction practitioner, construction company, infrastructure project, construction industry, Singapore, qualitative study |
| Subjects: | development economics, professional development, Geography, economic development, industry analysis, infrastructure and transport systems, practitioner, business, organization, research design and methodology, data collection methods, strategic management |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Sustainability, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Information Management, Engineering Principles, International Construction |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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