An Evaluation on Factors Affecting Construction Labor Productivity and their Management Solutions in Adama, Ethiopia.

Abstract

The Construction Industry Has Significant Strategic Importance To The Nation's Economic, Social, And Infrastructure Development. Despite Many Technological Advances, The Industry Continues To Be Labor Intensive. In Most Countries, Labor Represents 30% To 50% Of The Construction Project's Overall Cost. However, Poor Construction Labor Productivity Is One Of The Significant Issues In The Industry. Moreover, There Is A Study Gap In Evaluated Solutions To Mitigate The Shortcomings In The Study Area. Therefore, The Main Aim Of The Current Research Is To Study Management Practices To Overcome Factors Affecting Construction Labor Productivity In Adama, Ethiopia. Descriptive And Explanatory Research Combined With Quantitative Research Approaches Is Adopted To Address The Research Objectives. Ongoing Multistory Building Construction Projects Are The Population Of This Study. Currently There Are Thirty-Four Ongoing Multistory Building Construction Projects And Census Samples Were Used Since The Population Is Manageable To Be Studied Entirely In Terms Of Cost And Time. The Primary Data Were Gathered From The Resident Engineers, Site Engineers And Project Managers Through Questionnaire And Secondary Data From Past Studies. Before And After The Data Collection, The Reliability Of Questioner And Validity Of The Collected Data Were Checked, Respectively. The Data Analysis Is Conducted In Three Phases By Excel. In The First Phase, Shortage Of Construction Material, Old And Inefficient Equipment, Poor Site Management, Lack Of Safety Tools, Poor Planning And Scheduling, Incomplete Facilities, Payment Delay, Lack Of Inspiration Of Workers, Delay In Decision Making, Shortage Of Tools And Equipment, Poor Quality Of Materials, Confined Working Space, Low Labor Wage, Lack Of Skilled Labor And Violation Of Safety Precautions Are Determined The Most Significant Factors Affecting Construction Labor Productivity Through Relative Importance Index, And Pareto Principle. The Most Significant Factors Are Weighted Through The Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchical Process In The Second Phase. From The Final Phase, Through Fuzzy Technique For The Order Of Preference By Similarity To The Ideal Solution, Stable Organizational Structure, Coordination Between All Stakeholders, Proper Site Administration, Regular And Effective Communication, Proper Project Financing, Enhancing Leadership And Decision Making Of Supervisors, Short Interval Plan, Project Completion Plan, Effective Supervision And Quality Control And Hold Regular Meetings With Labors Are Determined The Most Significant Management Practices To Overcome Factors Affecting Construction Labor Productivity. Finally, It Recommends To Take Construction Labor Productivity Issues Into Consideration And Implement The Determined Management Solutions