Abstract:
Diversity of construction workforce is increasingly given much attention because of
global challenges in trends of employment. In developing countries, this is not seen as
an important input despite the labour intensive nature of the construction industry and
labour constituting a large percentage of total construction project costs. Therefore,
the aim of this study was to explore the implications of workforce diversity
management for construction project success in the construction industry in Ghana
using Ashanti Region as a case study. The specific objectives were to identify key
challenges to managing diversity, identify the benefits of effectively managing
workforce diversity, assess the influence of workforce diversity management
onproject success, and developing appropriate recommendations for enhancing
project performance through effective management of diversity.The study adopted a
quantitative research strategy involving the design of crossectional survey research
design. The target population for the study comprised senior (most experience in
terms of number years of working in the construction industry) site engineers and
managing directors of 60 road construction firms registered with the Association of
Road Contractors of Ghana (ASROC) in Ashanti Region. Census technique was
employed in selecting 60 senior site engineers and 60 managing directors. A total of
120 questionnaires were administered and a response rate of 85% achieved.The study
found that lack of experienced experts in managing diversity, cost of diversity
management, and absence of priority by construction firms are the key challenges to
managing workforce diversity.The study furthher revealed that, effectively managing
workforce diversity gives employees more skills, knowledge, competencies and
interest, and creates an inclusive and harmonious working environment. The study
found that project success was influenced by aspects of workforce diversity
management namely: encouraging team work at workplace, ensuring good
University of Education,Winneba http://ir.uew.edu.gh
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communication at workplace and avoiding discrimination. The study concluded that
though there was lack of well-developed policies for handling diversity challenges,
diversity management had a positive and significant influence on project success. The
study recommended that construction firms in the Ashanti Region should make and
implement policies that are geared towards managing diverse workforce in their firms.
Description:
A Dissertation in the Department of CONSTRUCTION AND WOOD
TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION, Faculty of TECHNICAL EDUCATION, submitted
to the School of Graduate Studies, University of Education, Winneba in partial
fulfilment of the requirements for award of the Master of Philosophy (Construction
Technology) degree.