Critical factors which govern labour productivity in building construction Industry in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The concept of construction productivity began in the early 20th century with a series of time and motion studies to improve bricklaying operations. However, it remains an interesting and a dominant issue in the construction industry, promising cost-savings, timely delivery and efficient usage of resources. Productivity is directly linked to motivation, and motivation is in turn dependent on productivity. Suitable motivation is therefore a contributor to maximizing workers’ productivity. The low motivation of construction workers has contributed significantly to the declining productivity that cannot be determined in the construction industry. The study seeks to unravel the factors that affect construction workers’ motivation and the corresponding effect of the identified motivational factors on workers’ performance and overall productivity. Fifty factors, which usually affect motivation and productivity were obtained from preliminary survey and reviewing literature. A total of 352 questionnaires were administered for the survey. The survey revealed that, among the 50 factors considered, Medical care, Overtime, Social activity opportunities, Job security, On-time payment, Canteen for employees, Supervision, Accommodation, Communication, and Love and belongingness are the most critical factors that can be used to improve the construction productivity.