| Author: | Ren, Xue |
| Title: | Strategies for managing construction workers with different ethnic backgrounds |
| Degree: | M.Sc. |
| Year: | 2013 |
| Subject: | Construction industry -- China -- Hong Kong -- Employees. Construction industry -- China -- Hong Kong -- Management. Construction workers -- China -- Hong Kong. Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | Faculty of Construction and Environment |
| Pages: | x, 83 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | Construction workers with different ethnic backgrounds have been widely employed in the Hong Kong construction industry. Project managers in Hong Kong have endured many problems in managing construction workers with different ethnic backgrounds. Researches on construction workers with different ethnic backgrounds are limited. Urgent aging problem and labor shortage of construction workers have beset the construction industry in Hong Kong for a long time. The current study aims to provide project managers with effective strategies in managing construction workers with different ethnic backgrounds. The objectives are to determine the obstacles of project managers in managing construction workers with different ethnic backgrounds; to identify the current working conditions of construction workers with different ethnic backgrounds; and to recommend effective strategies for managing construction workers with different ethnic backgrounds for project managers. Original data are obtained by both interviews and questionnaire surveys. In this study, the major obstacles of managing construction workers with different ethnic backgrounds are identified. The working condition related factors which are extracted from 16 variables are identified by exploratory factor analysis. The four key grouped working condition related factors after factor analysis are presented as follows: (1) unfair company treatment, (2) cultural differences and communication barriers, (3) site management and group coordination, and (4) safety awareness and work discipline. Four strategies for project managers have been recommended based on management difficulties and working conditions related to construction workers with different ethnic backgrounds. The four practical strategies include: (1) training programs for better communication, (2) implementing an effective evaluation system, (3) introducing more different cultures to construction workers, and (4) establishing teamwork system. The current study has explored how to manage construction workers with different ethnic backgrounds effectively. This study makes the contribution to fill the research gap resulting from limited studies in the ethnic minorities sector. The identification of the four critical working condition related factors enables the project managers to know the actual feelings of construction workers with different ethnic backgrounds. Finally, management strategies are also recommended for project managers to improve the management performance of construction workers with different ethnic backgrounds. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b26468232.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 1.72 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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