Knowledge transfer between training supervisors and trainees of BSC Quantity Surveying undergraduates in Sri Lanka

In the history of the mankind, “knowledge” is given a higher priority in society. It has remained in this position throughout all these years, and at present rt has reached its peak. The role of knowledge in the emerging competitive environment is given a higher significance. However, there are two aspects of knowledge, namely tacit and explicit. It is necessary to denote that, tacit knowledge is developed from experience and hard o formalize, as well as difficult to communicate. Hence, tacit knowledge is gained mainly through experience by practicing skills. An undergraduate in Quantity Surveying who goes on industrial training gets the initial exposure to the construction industry and gets trained on key competencies required to practice as a Quantity Surveyor. The training organizations and the trainers play a major role in the tacit knowledge transfer to the undergraduates. This research study is focused on tacit knowledge transfer between the trainer and the trainees. First it will try to validate the key competencies and skills that have been identified in Department of Building Economics 2010 Industrial Training Guidelines on which the QS undergraduates get trained. Secondly, it tries to establish the general frequency on which these skills and competencies are practiced during the training period thus identifying e current most highly demanded skills and competencies by the Quantity Surveying practices in Sri Lanka

Use of sustainable materials in construction industry contractor’s perspective

Buildings are the largest energy consumers and greenhouse gas emitters, both in the developed and developing countries. Therefore, it is a dire need in the present status quo to shift to sustainable buildings. Sustainable buildings can be identified as a spectrum of buildings, designed and constructed using methods and materials that are resource efficient and that will not compromise the health of the environment, wellbeing of the building occupants, construction workers, general public or up and coming future generations. In the process of construction of sustainable buildings, while striking a balance between the triple bottom line, environmental, social and economic sustainability, construction material is given a higher priority. Therefore, this research reflexes the use of sustainable building materials in the construction industiy.In the research process, initially a comprehensive literature synthesis was carried out to get an insight on the concept of sustainability and sustainability construction. This was then followed by a questionnaire survey among the MI and M2 contractors of Sri Lanka. Through the study it was evident that there is perfect knowledge available on the concept of sustainability even though only 48% of the contractors have used sustainable materials in construction. It is necessaty to comment that sustainability has now become mandatory in order to tackle many environmental problems. Thus, the usage of sustainable materials in construction is at the verge of being a mandatory requirement in construction. Therefore, this research provides a firm basis to use sustainable materials in construction industiy in the perspective of construction contractors