Determination of the key operational variables of construction companies that impact on their corporate performance

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorWindapo, Abimbolaen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorCattell, Keithen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorTucker, George Cyril Daudaen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-07-01T08:46:18Z
dc.date.available2015-07-01T08:46:18Z
dc.date.issued2014en_ZA
dc.descriptionIncludes bibliographical references.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractSmall building contractors in South Africa often struggle to produce quality work on time and have a high rate of business failure. In an effort to improve the effectiveness and viability of smaller construction firms in South Africa, this research investigates key operational variables affecting their corporate financial performance. Operational variables relevant to financial performance were identified through a literature review. A questionnaire was then designed to assess the extent to which these variables are perceived to influence the financial performance of construction companies. The study participants were technical and management staff at small and medium-sized building and civil engineering construction companies categorized from grades 2 to 6 on the South African Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) registers, in four provinces of South Africa. Sixty-two valid responses were received. Based on how the respondents rated the variables in the study, it appears that contractors generally perceive four factors as having the greatest impact on corporate performance: technical ability (the possession and effective use of plant and equipment), financial management skills (in order to accumulate financial capital), training of staff in organizational knowledge in skills transfer and networking with industry stakeholders. Contractors across the five cidb grades did not differ significantly in their ratings of the importance of the operational variables and their indicators. The study also found that the perceived importance of three key operational variables (technical ability, financial capacity and networking) was positively related to the actual financial performance of companies, as measured by turnover, net assets and profit margin. The study concludes that construction companies need to prioritize the development of these key factors to improve their corporate performance. The findings will be of significance to contractors, industry practitioners, project managers and members of the research community in understanding the key operational variables that are crucial to construction firms’ success and effective project delivery.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationTucker, G. C. D. (2014). <i>Determination of the key operational variables of construction companies that impact on their corporate performance</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Construction Economics and Management. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13200en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationTucker, George Cyril Dauda. <i>"Determination of the key operational variables of construction companies that impact on their corporate performance."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Construction Economics and Management, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13200en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationTucker, G. 2014. Determination of the key operational variables of construction companies that impact on their corporate performance. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Tucker, George Cyril Dauda AB - Small building contractors in South Africa often struggle to produce quality work on time and have a high rate of business failure. In an effort to improve the effectiveness and viability of smaller construction firms in South Africa, this research investigates key operational variables affecting their corporate financial performance. Operational variables relevant to financial performance were identified through a literature review. A questionnaire was then designed to assess the extent to which these variables are perceived to influence the financial performance of construction companies. The study participants were technical and management staff at small and medium-sized building and civil engineering construction companies categorized from grades 2 to 6 on the South African Construction Industry Development Board (cidb) registers, in four provinces of South Africa. Sixty-two valid responses were received. Based on how the respondents rated the variables in the study, it appears that contractors generally perceive four factors as having the greatest impact on corporate performance: technical ability (the possession and effective use of plant and equipment), financial management skills (in order to accumulate financial capital), training of staff in organizational knowledge in skills transfer and networking with industry stakeholders. Contractors across the five cidb grades did not differ significantly in their ratings of the importance of the operational variables and their indicators. The study also found that the perceived importance of three key operational variables (technical ability, financial capacity and networking) was positively related to the actual financial performance of companies, as measured by turnover, net assets and profit margin. The study concludes that construction companies need to prioritize the development of these key factors to improve their corporate performance. The findings will be of significance to contractors, industry practitioners, project managers and members of the research community in understanding the key operational variables that are crucial to construction firms’ success and effective project delivery. DA - 2014 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2014 T1 - Determination of the key operational variables of construction companies that impact on their corporate performance TI - Determination of the key operational variables of construction companies that impact on their corporate performance UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13200 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/13200
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationTucker GCD. Determination of the key operational variables of construction companies that impact on their corporate performance. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Construction Economics and Management, 2014 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13200en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Construction Economics and Managementen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherConstruction Economics and Managementen_ZA
dc.titleDetermination of the key operational variables of construction companies that impact on their corporate performanceen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMPhilen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
thesis_ebe_2014_tucker_gcd.pdf
Size:
1.19 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Masters