Structural Equation Model of the Factors Affecting Construction Labor Productivity
Publication: Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 144, Issue 4
Abstract
Construction sector productivity is of great importance for the government and policymakers because it determines a nation’s future living standards and creates a competitive business environment. Addressing the factors influencing labor productivity is crucial for improving the productivity performance of the sector. A theoretical structural model is developed to understand the influence of six key factors on construction labor productivity and their links to labor productivity performance on a project. A structural equation modeling technique is used to analyze data collected via a questionnaire survey of 185 respondents consisting of government authorities and construction actors. The final model adapts 29 attributes across six labor productivity factors, namely, management and control, workforce, financial, external, project, and material and equipment. The outcomes of the final structural equation model confirm the significance of management team competency level and workforce quality in enhancing labor productivity. Moreover, client support and efforts by government authorities are found to be significant for labor productivity improvements. Despite the limitations of the study, it is hoped that the research outcomes will significantly contribute to improve the labor productivity performance in the Malaysian construction industry for faster delivery of construction projects with lower cost and higher quality.
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Data Availability Statement
Data generated or analyzed during the study are available from the corresponding author by request. Information about the Journal’s data sharing policy can be found here: http://ascelibrary.org/doi/10.1061/%28ASCE%29CO.1943-7862.0001263.
Acknowledgments
The support of the Department of Engineering and Architectural Studies, Ara Institute of Canterbury is acknowledged. Appreciation is also given to the key professionals from the construction industry in Malaysia for providing their opinions, support and assistance.
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Published In
Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Volume 144 • Issue 4 • April 2018
Copyright
©2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 11, 2017
Accepted: Sep 22, 2017
Published online: Jan 18, 2018
Published in print: Apr 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Jun 18, 2018
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