2016 Honours Reports

Permanent URI for this collection

https://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/handle/10539/25135

Browse

Recent Submissions

Now showing 1 - 5 of 15
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    An evaluation of the applicability of the extended situational leadership model to lower level management in the South African construction industry
    (University of the Witwatersrand, 1990-08-10) Cocotos, George
    The vast majority of theories and models that have been developed around the concept of leadership have been conceptualized, and tested in the USA and other countries outside South Africa as discussed in the literature survey, Chapter 2 of this dissertation). Furthermore, the models developed have largely been theoretical models aimed to help leaders only to identify the most appropriate leadership style to use. None have however attempted to develop a model that leaders can use to implement the most appropriate leadership style once it has been chosen. Consequently, A D Jaff, using the most integrated and recently developed Situational Leadership Theory and Mode 1 of Hersey and Blanchard as a data base, developed the first leadership implementation model - The Extended Situational Leadership Model. Since AD Jaff's implementation model is a combination of various other leadership mode ls and theories, in order to fully understand the development of the Extended SL Model, all the relevant models are researched in this dissertation (see Chapter 2). This dissertation attempts to test the applicability of the Extended SL Model in a practical construction environment in South Africa. It further attempts to make adaptations to the model where relevant, after testing its performance value through the administration of 3 questionnaires to a sample of potential/practising black leaders (on-site construction managers). (This lS surveyed in Chapters 3 to 6 of this dissertation). The objective of this dissertation is therefore to attempt to test, and where necessary, to adapt AD Jaff's Extended SL Model so that : 1) this theoretical model may be implemented practically in a South African construction working environment (i.e. to prove that the mode 1 does work in practice) ( see Chapter 4). and to test whether 2) the adapted mode 1 is applicable for the training of future black Low-Level leaders in the South African construction environment. The adapted form of the model will, I believe, prove to be a useful tool for the training of black leaders within the South African construction organisations, where the volatile industry and changing economic and political environment of South Africa with ensure the emergence of black South African Low Level leaders in the construction industry in the near future.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Investigating gender sensitivity regarding health and safety provisions within the South African construction industry
    (University of Witwatersrand, 2016-10) Jameson, Destiny; Wray, Kathryn; Moolla, Riyaadh
    The purpose of this research report was to investigate the extent to which current health and safety provisions are inadequate in gender sensitivity, and whether this increases the vulnerability of women leading to incidents and long term health implications on South African construction sites. Factors affecting women’s health and safety were analysed and possible recommendations on how to remedy and improve these factors were made. This research provided a platform for both female operative and managers on site to express their perspectives and factual experience regarding issues on site, with particular attention paid to the availability and adequacy of PPE and sanitary facilities and the provisions, both locally and internationally, that govern these. The physical and, perhaps to a lesser extent, psychological consequences of these health and safety concerns are explored in our research. The research design adopted was that of a positivist research philosophy, which utilised a mixed methodology approach and incorporated the usage of two instruments namely; a semistructured questionnaire, utilising both open and closed-ended questions, aimed at female site operatives and, secondly, interviews aimed at managerial personnel of the corresponding construction sites. In particular, 32 female site operatives participated in the study and a further 6 managerial personnel. Field data collection was limited to construction sites within the Johannesburg region and encompassed both commercial building sites and civil.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Investigating quality in construction in the residential sector around the Gauteng region
    (University of Witwatersrand, 2016-10) Mulla, Mohamed; Crossman, Richard; Nyalunga, Sikhulile
    According to the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), quality in the residential sector in South Africa is the least satisfactory among all sectors. It is therefore important to research further into this sector to establish the current state of quality and factors that affect it from homeowner’s perspective. The key purpose of this study is therefore to investigate the level and factors that affect the quality of construction in recently developed (in the 12 last years) private estates in Johannesburg, South Africa. Literature was used to determine factors that affect quality in residential properties. These factors were then used to design a questionnaire that helped to determine the level of quality in estates in the Johannesburg region. Quality has been found to be of a satisfactory level however some notable points were raised from respondents regarding some underperforming aspects. These factors are floor finishes, running costs, outside area of the home, general aesthetics of the home, ambient temperature, natural lighting, parking area, air conditioning and delays in construction These factors are analyzed and recommendations for future studies have been made.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The effectiveness of construction management in improving labour productivity
    (University of Witwatersrand, 2016-10) Mayet, Uzair; Phakathi, Sidumo; Lelosa, Jeremia
    Management is one of the major key performance indicators that influence labour productivity of construction projects. Mismanagement of construction activities leads to poor construction labour productivity which has a negative impact on a project’s time, cost and quality. The aim of this study is to investigate management factors that have an influence on construction labour productivity and also provide measures that can help improve labour productivity in the South African construction industry. The research instrument adopted in this research is a survey utilising a questionnaire that consists of sub categories of factors that influence construction management. The sampling plan that was adopted during this research study is a purposive sampling technique. The questionnaire survey involves distributing an online questionnaire to construction managers that are “professionally” accredited to the South African Council for Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP). A likert scale was used to rank the results of the fifty-eight valid responses. The top three main factors that were found to be most effective in improving construction labour productivity were communication, planning and scheduling and motivation. The researchers then recommended a productivity management framework in order to measure and improve labour productivity. Further research can be done to improve the framework by considering the perceptions other site orientated construction professionals and relevant stakeholders.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Investigating how ICT affects the performance of geographically dispersed construction project teams within South Africa
    (University of Witwatersrand, 2016-10) Cele, Sibhekiwe; Mashao, Morongwa; Mokoka, Wilheminah
    This study examines how information and communication technology (ICT) affects the performance of geographically dispersed construction project teams within South Africa. It focuses on how project team dispersion due to the geographic separation of the project location from the construction teams’ primary facility affects performance and how the project teams make use of information communication technology (ICT) to address the challenge of executing the project. This will be done by looking at the means in which the ICT is used, the seven ICT perspectives and how they are applicable to the project teams, the processes and mechanisms in place to deal with the communication requirements to performance and, as such, attempt to measure the perceived performance of the construction project teams. The mixed method research methodology is adopted in the study in order to fulfill its objectives that span the collection of primary and secondary data. The limitation of the study is that data collection is limited to addressing and questioning potential respondents only within the in the Gauteng province - predominately in Johannesburg, South Africa. As a result, findings from this study cannot be freely generalized beyond the Metropolitan or provincial sample group. Nonetheless, the findings will form a basis for a future research. Undertaking this study will shed light to project parties about the importance of incorporating information communication technology processes to manage and alleviate the challenges faced with handling the performance of geographically dispersed construction project teams.