Comparing Performance and Impediments of Construction and Professional Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in Transportation
Publication: Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 142, Issue 2
Abstract
Disadvantaged/Minority/Women business enterprises (DBE/MBE/WBEs) in construction and professional fields face several impediments that hinder their business growth and overall performance. In this study, a survey was conducted to compare the importance of the factors that most affect business performance of these business enterprises, the impediments they face, and the advantages and disadvantages of being a DBE/MBE/WBE; the survey was conducted with construction and professional firms in the transportation industry. When comparing responses from 259 business enterprises, the results indicated that construction firms placed significantly higher importance to financial issues and safe work practices than professional firms. In addition, construction firms ranked lack of technology, an unskilled work force, and an expensive work force as significant impediments to their business success as compared to professional firms. No significant differences were detected ranking the advantages of being DBEs. However, regarding the disadvantages of being a DBE, construction firms ranked excessive bid shopping significantly higher than professional firms. The respondents provided a set of recommendations to improve the status of DBEs for use by government policy-makers/owners and prime contractors.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank all the business firms who provided their valuable time and responded to the survey.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 142 • Issue 2 • April 2016
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 20, 2015
Accepted: Aug 13, 2015
Published online: Sep 16, 2015
Discussion open until: Feb 16, 2016
Published in print: Apr 1, 2016
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