Construction workers Motivation and Skill Development: A strategy for improving Construction Produtivity in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Human factors are important sources of increasing efficiency and performance in the construction industry which contribute to project success Human resource today has a strategic role for productivity increase in construction projects and this makes it superior in the industrial competition. This stems from the limited success in terms of completing projects in time, within approved cost and to a satisfactory quality. The study examines motivation and skill development factors as a strategy for construction productivity in Sri Lanka, whilst there are other human behaviour factors that could influence construction productivity. Descriptive research methodology using questionnaires to collect data was used. 35 behaviour factors of motivation and skills development were identified and investigated for improved construction productivity. The results showed that although all 35 factors are very significant and are more likely to exert a higher influence towards positive behaviours, there were 4 factors found to be extremely significant and the highest ranked factor was a motivation factor; on-time payment. Only one skill development factor was identified as exteremely significant according to respondents’ perspective. Conclusions drawn from this study are that when the 35 sub factors are present in a construction environment, they influence worker behaviours, thus improving construction productivity. Therefore it may be necessary to consider these factors as a way of increasing success and productivity. Investigating these factors could thus be seen as a way of unlocking human potential to enhance productivity because these factors reinforce behaviour that in turn contributes to project success.