<Title of the Research Project
The title of your topic should be succinct. Less than 15 words is the rule of thumb. >
<Student Name>
<Student Number>
A Literature Review submitted for BLDG4010 Construction Research Methods
in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
<Insert your course name>
Supervisor: <XXX>
School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment
Western Sydney University
<Month Year>
This template sets a guideline to help keeping your work in a proper format. The body texts use Times New Roman, 12 point font with 1.5 spaced lines and extra spacing between paragraphs (no need for hard carriage returns).
You may delete the instruction text and type in your proposal contents.
Chapter 1: Introduction
<Insert your revised Assessment 1 Research Topic report here - not word counted>
IntroductionBackgroundResearch Problem/ Question(s)
Aim and Objectives
Scope
Work Plan/Timeline
<Do not put Assessment 1 reference here. Merge with References at the end of this report>
<Copy and paste from your original assessment 1 is not plagiarism>
Chapter 2: Literature Review <4000 words>
Introduction
Your introduction should
Define your topic and provide an appropriate context for reviewing the literature
Outline why you are writing a review and why the topic is important
State the scope of the review
Explain the criteria used for your literature selection
Explain the organisation i.e. sequence of the review
2.X Body paragraphs/sections (3200 words)
Rather than writing one paragraph for each piece of research being discussed, literature reviews are usually organised so that each paragraph/section covers one theme or sub-topic.
Each body paragraph/section should deal with a different theme that is relevant to your topic. You will need to synthesise several of your reviewed readings into each paragraph/section so that there is a clear connection between the various sources. You will need to critically analyse each source for how they contribute to the themes you are researching.
2.X+1 Conclusion
Your conclusion should give a summary of:
the important aspects of the existing body of literature
the main agreements and disagreements in the literature
any gaps or areas for future research
your overall perspective on the topic
References <not word counted>
Attach a list of references using Harvard style of which a guide can be found at:
https://library.westernsydney.edu.au/main/sites/default/files/pdf/cite_Harvard.pdf
Appendices (if any) <not word counted>
Crew management and labour hire shortage in the construction industryDylan Odisho
20461010
A Research Topic Report submitted for BLDG4010 Construction Research Methods
in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Construction research methods
Supervisor: Matt Stevens
School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment
Western Sydney University
April 2024
Background
The construction industry works within an ever-changing environment defined by contradictory demands, workforce challenges, and evolving technology. One of the most persistent difficulties the construction industry is faced with not only nationally but globally is the management of labour resources. A Labour shortage is caused due to various characteristics consisting of economic fluctuations, changes in immigration policies, and demographic shifts. Consequently, businesses within the construction industry must adapt and adopt new and effective crew management strategies.
The labour shortage has had a detrimental impact not only on the quality of the job, but also on the safety standards, the level of satisfaction experienced by customers, and finally, the timelines for the projects. Additionally, it has the potential to cause delays in the execution of projects, which can lead to large losses, disagreements over contractual obligations, and damage to reputation. Considering this, it is of the utmost importance for companies operating in the construction industry to solve the manpower shortages and optimise crew management in order to preserve their competitiveness and guarantee their long-term viability.
This research paper will thoroughly investigate and carry out a deep understanding of many of the difficulties and problems that come up when managing a building crew by focusing on the issue of a lack of workers. By looking at how things are done now, suggesting new ways to do things, and finding any underlying reasons.
Research Problem
In the construction sector, the scarcity of workers frequently makes it difficult to develop crew management procedures. This is generally the case. This difficulty is then made even more difficult by the fact that the techniques of crew management might alter in a variety of different ways. In situations where there are insufficient workers, it is difficult to strike a balance between the requirements of projects, the availability of workers, and the allocation of resources. In order for projects to be successful, construction companies need to be able to handle the challenges that they encounter. In addition to this, they need to exert considerable effort in order to minimise the detrimental consequences that workforce shortages have on both production and profits.
Research Questions
What are the current primary causes of the labour shortages in the construction industry, and how do they vary across different geographical regions and market sectors?
How are labour shortages impacting the project timeline, productivity, project outcomes and also completion quality, and what are the significant implications for construction firms?
Which of the strategies that are currently being practised by companies in the construction industry to manage their workforce in retaliation to the labour shortages currently being faced, and what are the strengths and limitations of these strategies.
What are the key challenges currently being faced by construction companies in productively managing and maintaining their workforce through the labour shortages, and how do these challenges manifest in different stages of the project lifecycle?
What are the best practices and most innovative solutions that can be well implemented into optimising the crew management processes and mitigate the impact of labour shortages on project performance and profitability?
Aim
The purpose of this research topic report is to look into what the best and most rewarding ways are to manage crews in the construction business, especially now that there aren't enough workers. By learning all about the problems that come up when there aren't enough workers and looking at how things are done now. The goal of this study report is to make it clear where improvements can be made and give suggestions for how to make the crew management process better.
Objectives
Analyse and determine the implications of labour shortages in the construction sector, as well as the key causes of these shortages, while taking into consideration both the external and internal factors that influence the availability of labour.
In light of the current labour shortages, it is crucial to evaluate the effectiveness of the existing crew management methods, techniques and practices that have been already established by construction companies. The sole purpose of this is to bring out their strengths and weaknesses as well as their potential areas for improvements.
Commence a thorough investigation of the current issues that are specifically being faced by construction companies when it comes to managing their employees in the midst of a labour shortage, these issues encompass training, recruitment, retention and performance management approaches.
In order to benefit the crew management process, it is crucial to include solutions that are not only inventive but also practical. These solutions should aim to alleviate the significant impact of labour shortages on project schedules while also optimising resource allocations, productivity, and overall project outcomes.
Scope and limitations
The scope of this study is confined to the construction industry and targets specifically on crew management in the area of labour shortages. It will include a wide variety of aspects in crew management, including, training, scheduling, recruitment, and performance management, with a distinct focus on addressing labour shortage scarcity challenges. Furthermore, it is important to note that this research report will not dive into broader issues unrelated to crew management or labour shortages in other industries besides construction.
Work Plan/Timeline
Weeks
1-2 Conduct and extensive literature review on crew management, labour shortages and related industry trends.
3-4 Refine objectives and research questions based on the findings of the extensive literature review
5-6 Compile primary data through interviews, surveys, and case studies from construction firms operating in different market sectors as well as different geographical locations.
7-8 Evaluate and analyse the data collected through literature reviews using appropriate qualitative and quantitative research methods, identifying trends, patterns and significant insights directly related to the research questions.
9-10 Expand on actionable recommendations and best practices based on the findings accumulated from the study and also considering the unique challenges and requirements faced by construction companies in managing labour shortages and their workforce.
11-12 Finalise and perfect the research report incorporating the feedback gained from academic advisors and stakeholders, and also prepare for the presentation of findings.
References
Healy, J, Mavromaras, K & Sloane, PJ 2015, Adjusting to skill shortages in Australian SMEs,Applied Economics, vol. 47, no. 24, pp. 24702487.
Liu, J, Love, PED, Sing, MCP, Carey, B & Matthews, J 2015, Modeling Australias Construction Workforce Demand: Empirical Study with a Global Economic Perspective,Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, vol. 141, no. 4, p. 05014019.
Mitchell, W & Quirk, V 2005,Working Paper No. 05-16 Skills shortages in Australia: concepts and reality.
Mohd Yusoff, NS, Mohd Rahim, FA & Chuing, LS 2021, THE RELATIONSHIP OF SKILLED LABOUR SHORTAGES AND PROJECT PERFORMANCE IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK,Journal of Project Management Practice, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 121.
Navaratnam, S, Satheeskumar, A, Zhang, G, Nguyen, K, Venkatesan, S & Poologanathan, K 2022, The challenges confronting the growth of sustainable prefabricated building construction in Australia: Construction industry views,Journal of Building Engineering, vol. 48, no. 2352-7102, p. 103935.
ZUO, J, ZILLANTE, G, XIA, B, CHAN, A & ZHAO, Z 2015, HOW AUSTRALIAN CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS RESPONDED TO THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN,International Journal of Strategic Property Management, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 245259.