Review of Absorptive Capacity in Small and Medium Sized Construction Firms in Nigeria

The concept of Absorptive Capacity has been identified as an important tool for firms to sustain, grow and compete in their markets. A few authors have adopted the concept in their study in various dimensions. However, many of the researches emphasized on big firms with complex operating structures and strong research and development background. Not much research has addressed the theory in the perspective of Small and Medium Sized Construction Firms. Construction has been referred to as transaction-oriented business changing from the normal design-bid and builds process, to performance and innovative capacity based business. Due to the urge for Small and Medium Sized Construction Firms to acquire competencies and capabilities required for their sustenance in the face of increased competition by absorbing new skills, knowledge and technology through the recognition of valuable external information, acquiring and translating them through innovation to be able to successfully attain competitive advantage over others. The purpose of this study is to carry out a detailed literature review aimed at understanding the Absorptive Capacity of Small and Medium Sized Construction Firms as presented by earlier previous authors in this area of research. This study adds to existing body of knowledge on Absorptive Capacity by pointing out some important dimensions that are connected to the concept and adoption of new techniques in the perspective of Small and Medium Sized Construction Firm

Small and Medium Sized Construction Firms Job Satisfaction and Performance Evaluation in Nigeria

Small and medium sized construction firms, job satisfaction and job performance of employees are key issues when studying the human behaviors and attitudes. The nigerian construction industry is faced with challenges of employee performance which is affecting the organization’s productivity, quality of work, duration of projects and finally on firm’s profits. This paper aims to perform job analysis of personnel in the Nigerian construction industry, identify the level of job satisfaction of employees in small and medium sized firms, and examine the level of job performance of personnel, to investigate the relationship between job satisfaction and job performance of employee. Data was collected from employees in Nigerian small and medium sized construction firms through questionnaire to access the perception towards the level of satisfaction and performance. The questionnaire is a modified version of the job satisfaction index questionnaire (JSI) and performance rating index questionnaire (PRI). The mean score analysis identified ranking for the factors significant to job satisfaction and performance, which found that satisfaction with co-workers ranked highest with a mean score of 3.62 while satisfaction with pay ranked the lowest with a mean score of 2.56. The Job performance ranking found that personnel appearance ranked highest with a mean score of 3.70 while satisfaction with propensity to leave the company ranked the lowest with a mean score of 2.46. The paper also found that there is positive relationship between overall job satisfaction and job performance in small and medium sized firms. Several variables on Job management showed significant difference

Sudanese Small and Medium Sized Construction Firms: An Empirical Survey of Job Turnover

In construction industry, job satisfaction and job performance are important issues when studying the human behaviours and attitudes of personnel. This research is very important so as to understand what management needs to do in order to avoid personnel job turnover in the organization. The construction industry in Sudan faces a variety of problems relating to human resource efficiency which in turn affect the entire productivity in the industry. The objectives of this study are to view the job analysis of personnel in the Sudanese construction firms, identify the level of job satisfaction of personnel, and identify the level of job performance of personnel and to investigate the relationship between job satisfaction and job performance of personnel. Data was collected from personnel in six Sudanese construction firms through survey packets including a data form and modified version of the Job Satisfaction Index questionnaire (JSI) and Performance Rating Index questionnaire. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software and also Average Index. The study shows that there exist weaknesses in the job analysis of personnel. The level of job satisfaction and performance of personnel in Sudan was found to be on the ‘average’. The study also shows a positive relationship between personnel job performance and job satisfaction

Review of Shortage of Skilled Craftsmen in Small and Medium Construction Firms in Nigeria

Craftsmen in the construction industry play a very crucial role to the survival and growth of the industry as they are mostly engaged in the practical realization of construction projects. As a country endowed with skilled manpower, the construction industry in Nigeria can best be described as ironic. Though on the one hand, it was acclaimed to be the highest employer of the nation’s workforce after agriculture, while on the other, it is faced with challenges in technical skilled craftsmen shortage which affects organization’s productivity, quality of work, duration of projects and on firm’s profits. Not much research has examined the shortage of skilled workforce in the perspective of small and medium construction firms (SMCFs) in Nigeria. Majority of earlier research has focused mainly on large construction firms. The purpose of this study is to carry out a detailed review of archival documents aimed at examining the shortage of skilled craftsmen in the construction industry, particularly in small and medium construction firms in Nigeria. This study adds to existing body of knowledge by exposing the reasons for shortage of skilled craftsmen in the construction industry in the perspective of small and medium construction firms in Nigeri

Evaluation of Job Satisfaction and Performance of Employees in Small and Medium Sized Construction Firms in Nigeria

Employees of small and medium sized construction firms, job satisfaction and job performance are key issues when studying the human behaviors and attitudes. The Nigerian Construction Industry is faced with challenges of employee performance which is affecting the organization’s productivity, quality of work, duration of projects and finally on firm’s profits. This paper aims to perform job analysis of personnel in the Nigerian construction industry, identify the level of job satisfaction of employees in small and medium sized firms, and examine the level of job performance of personnel, to investigate the relationship between job satisfaction and job performance of employee. Data was collected from employees in Nigerian small and medium sized construction firms through questionnaire to access the perception towards the level of satisfaction and performance. The questionnaire is a modified version of the Job Satisfaction Index questionnaire (JSI) and Performance Rating Index questionnaire (PRI). The mean score analysis identified ranking for the factors significant to job satisfaction and performance, which found that satisfaction with coworkers ranked highest with a mean score of 3.62 while satisfaction with pay ranked the lowest with a mean score of 2.56. The Job performance ranking found that personnel appearance ranked highest with a mean score of 3.70 while satisfaction with propensity to leave the company ranked the lowest with a mean score of 2.46. The paper also found that there is positive relationship between overall job satisfaction and job performance in small and medium sized firms. Several variables on Job management showed significant differences

Sudanese Small and Medium Sized Construction Firms: An Empirical Survey of Job Turnover

In construction industry, job satisfaction and job performance are important issues when studying the human behaviours and attitudes of personnel. This research is very important so as to understand what management needs to do in order to avoid pers01mel job turnover in the organization. The construction industry in Sudan faces a variety of problems relating to human resource efficiency which in tum affect the entire productivity in the industry. The objectives of this study are to view the j ob analysis of personnel in the Sudanese construction firms, identify the level of job satisfaction of personnel, and identify the level of job performance of personnel and to investigate the relationship between job satisfaction and job performance of personnel. Data was collected from personnel in six Sudanese constmction firms through survey packets including a data form and modified version of the Job Satisfaction Index questionnaire (JSI) and Performance Rating Index questionnaire. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software and also Average Index. The study shows that there exist weaknesses in the job analysis of personnel. The level of job satisfaction and performance of personnel in Sudan was found to be on the 'average'. The study also shows a positive relationship between personnel job performance and job satisfactio

Pollutant effects on genotoxic parameters and tumor-associated protein levels in adults: a cross sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study intended to investigate whether residence in areas polluted by heavy industry, waste incineration, a high density of traffic and housing or intensive use of pesticides, could contribute to the high incidence of cancer observed in Flanders.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Subjects were 1583 residents aged 50–65 from 9 areas with different types of pollution. Cadmium, lead, p,p'-DDE, hexachlorobenzene, PCBs and dioxin-like activity (Calux test) were measured in blood, and cadmium, t,t'-muconic acid and 1-hydroxypyrene in urine. Effect biomarkers were prostate specific antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen and p53 protein serum levels, number of micronuclei per 1000 binucleated peripheral blood cells, DNA damage (comet assay) in peripheral blood cells and 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine in urine. Confounding factors were taken into account.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall significant differences between areas were found for carcinoembryonic antigen, micronuclei, 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine and DNA damage. Compared to a rural area with mainly fruit production, effect biomarkers were often significantly elevated around waste incinerators, in the cities of Antwerp and Ghent, in industrial areas and also in other rural areas. Within an industrial area DNA strand break levels were almost three times higher close to industrial installations than 5 kilometres upwind of the main industrial installations (p < 0.0001). Positive exposure-effect relationships were found for carcinoembryonic antigen (urinary cadmium, t,t'-muconic acid, 1-hydroxypyrene and blood lead), micronuclei (PCB118), DNA damage (PCB118) and 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (t,t'-muconic acid, 1-hydroxypyrene). Also, we found significant associations between values of PSA above the p90 and higher values of urinary cadmium, between values of p53 above the p90 and higher serum levels of p,p'-DDE, hexachlorobenzene and marker PCBs (PCB 138, 153 and 180) and between serum levels of p,p'-DDE above the p90 and higher serum values of carcinoembryonic antigen. Significant associations were also found between effect biomarkers and occupational or lifestyle parameters.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Levels of internal exposure, and residence near waste incinerators, in cities, or close to important industries, but not in areas with intensive use of pesticides, showed positive correlations with biomarkers associated with carcinogenesis and thus probably contribute to risk of cancer. In some rural areas, the levels of these biomarkers were not lower than in the rest of Flanders.</p