Measuring Productivity of Labour-Intensive Work Practices in Road Construction in Africa

This book examines an issue of constant concern in the construction industry, that of productivity. Using data from Ghana and South Africa, it presents research into the productivity of local contractors in these countries whilst examining the predominance of labour-intensive production methods.

The book begins by considering the theoretical and conceptual perspectives on labour productivity in the construction industry in the existing literature, before reviewing current productivity measurement frameworks. The book then explores the productivity of labour-intensive public works projects in South Africa and Ghana alongside a general discussion of key factors affecting construction productivity in these countries. Whilst the focus is on road construction, the framework developed can be applied to any number of construction projects to measure, and ultimately improve productivity.

This book is useful reading for researchers and practitioners looking to understand the factors influencing labour productivity in construction at both the industry and the project level, including construction managers, quantity surveyors, cost engineers and project managers.

Emmanuel Bamfo-Agyei is the head of the Department of Environmental Management Technology; a senior lecturer at the Building Technology Department at Cape Coast Technical University, Cape Coast, Ghana; and a professional member of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors. He is also a Research Fellow with the Department of Civil Engineering, College of Science, Engineering, and Technology, University of South Africa (UNISA), South Africa.

Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa is a Professor in the Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying and Director of cidb Centre of Excellence & Sustainable Human Settlement and Construction Research Centre, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Before entering academia, he was involved as a quantity surveyor on several infrastructural projects in Nigeria and South Africa. He has published several research papers and more than ten research books in housing, construction and engineering management and research methodology for construction students. He is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Construction Project Management and Innovation.

Wellington Didibhuku Thwala is a Research Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa (UNISA), South Africa. He has varied research interest, including project management, construction management, supply chain management and leadership in the construction industry, construction digitilisation, Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and smart cities. He is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Construction Project Management and Innovation. He has more than 300 published and peer-reviewed journals, chapters in books and conference proceedings locally and internationally.