Management education and training for refurbishment work within the construction industry

Egbu, CO

Abstract

The study is concerned with the management of refurbishment work within the UK
construction industry, from a contractors' perspective. It investigates the main
difficulties and problems which managers face in refurbishment work, together with
the management skills and knowledge which they need and bring to their work.
Management education and training needs of the organisation is also considered.
The methodology is a combination of both semi-structured interviews and a postal
questionnaire. A total of 142 completed questionnaires from senior, middle and
junior managers of 32 large refurbishment (general and specialist) organisations,
formed the data base for the quantitative analysis. The quantitative data was
augmented by qualitative information derived from semi-structured interviews with
32 training officers and 22 refurbishment managers.
Analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data determined the relative degree of
difficulty associated with managing refurbishment tasks, and the qualities and
attributes associated with successful management of refurbishment projects. It also
allowed for the evaluation of management education and training provisions within
refurbishment, together with education and training backgrounds of managers.
Course duration, location and factors affecting their selection and attendance also
received consideration. The major characteristics and difficulties associated with managing refurbishment
works have been established. Results of the study show that refurbishment work is
complex, highly specialised and contains elements of work which are unique to the
refurbishment sector.
The educational background of refurbishment managers indicates that majority of
refurbishment managers have a trades background, coming through the ranks mainly
as joiners and bricklayers.
A skills and knowledge inventory for refurbishment management has also been
devised.
The study also demonstrates that there is little, if any, management courses, inhouse
or external, directly geared towards refurbishment.
The study recommends that guidelines advocating "how best" to overcome
refurbishment problems and difficulties" for different types of refurbishment
projects, and refurbishment works across industrial sectors, i.e. defence, hotel and
health service sectors, be produced. Similarly, research to establish the core
management skills/knowledge associated with successful accomplishment of the
various types of refurbishment projects, and refurbishment works across industrial
sectors is needed. Further research needs to be conducted on personal qualities and attributes of
refurbishment managers who are associated with successful accomplishment of
various types of refurbishment projects.
Research to establish the extent and degree of involvement of the client, contractor
and the rest of the design team, especially refurbishment managers, in carrying out
refurbishment work is recommended. Further research to establish management
education and training needs of medium and small size refurbishment organisations
is suggested.
Following the development of a model for postgraduate and continuing professional
development (CPD) management education and training programmes, research into
"how best" refurbishment management education can be successfully and widely
introduced into undergraduate curricular is needed.

Citation

Egbu, C. Management education and training for refurbishment work within the construction industry. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Sep 22, 2011
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 22, 2011
• Award Date: Jan 1, 1994