An assessment of the evolution of housing policy framework

Abstract: Globally, housing policies have been used as an attempt to try and address housing problems, particularly in respect to the low-income earners, with the view of helping them access better housing. The evolution of housing policy in developing countries has been studied and identified in different ways, however, this paper present a robust theoretical background of the developments in housing policy framework. The data used in this paper were derived from secondary sources only; through a detailed review of related literature on the subject to meet the research objectives. The study is an in-depth literature exploration of the theoretical perspective of the housing studies framework. The literature reviewed found that the theory of housing had its origin in the Paleolithic period when homo-sapiens began to use natural materials like stone, wood, leaves, animal skin and other similar items to create shelter from elements of weather. It was also found that there are various theoretical perspective frameworks that have been used in the study of housing, such as political; social; developmental; institutional; and radical perspectives amongst others. This study provides a robust theoretical framework used in housing study

Measuring housing satisfaction through the use of structural equation modelling

Abstract: Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is a technique that effectively incorporates a whole range of standard multivariate analysis methods, including regression, factor analysis and analysis of variance. SEM underlies much of what sustainable human settlement (SHS) researchers do on a daily basis. SEM provides an opportunity to hypothesise models of human behaviour, and to test or confirm these models statistically. This article present how SEM can/ was used to study and to understand issues encircling SHS issues with a specific emphasis on housing satisfaction in South Africa low-income housing. Secondary research materials within and outside the field of the built environment were reviewed and in relation to the study objective. With the use of content analysis, the reviewed data were classified to meet the research objective. The researcher found that SEM using EQation modeling software (EQS) was the most appropriate technique for sustainable human settlement research studies. Because of the numerous benefits and advantages of the analysis produced by SEM through the EQS platform, such as the model estimation, and model fit attributes amongst others. The study further recommended the use of the process because of the Satorra-Bentler scaled statistics (S – Bχ2), use of appropriate cut-off values for the generated model analysis / fit Indices for various required goodness-of-fit tests of SEM model as applicable

Low-income Housing Residents’ Challenges with Their Government Install Solar Water Heaters: A Case of South Africa

This paper investigate the challenges faced by the occupants’ of low-income housing with their government installed solar water heaters in South Africa, Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. The paper primarily investigates the challenges faced by the housing occupants since the solar heaters were installed in their low income houses. The data used in this paper were derived from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data was obtained through the survey method, while the secondary data was derived from the review of literature. The primary data for the study was collected through a structured questionnaire survey distributed to a sample of low-income households in a metropolitan municipality in South Africa. The household survey revealed that the low-income housing residents’ occupants’ faces challenges with regards to the leakage of the solar heaters and the noise from the heaters whenever the hot water taps are opened. The study gives an insightful view of the importance of using solar water heaters in energy conservation and lessening electricity financial constraints on the low-income households. The study adds to the knowledge on low income housing solar water heating in South Africa, with specific emphasis on the challenges faced by the occupants’. Further, findings from the study could be used for the development of sustainable structures in order to give access to energy and hot water to the poor and providing a better path to the improvement of life and empowerment through alternative energy usage in low-income households’ in South Africa

A Delphi technique approach of identifying and validating subsidised low-income housing satisfaction indicators

Abstract: This paper reports on the practical experience of the researchers on the adoption of the inductive approach to knowledge diffusion through the use of the Delphi technique approach. The Delphi method is an essential technique of reaching consensus by experts on issues that cannot be resolved in a once off discussion. The research commenced with an extensive review of existing literature in order to identify the core and sub-variables which depicts housing satisfaction, to develop a Delphi questionnaire that was used in the Delphi study. A three iterative round Delphi technique was conducted to attain consensus of the identified housing satisfaction indicators. The experts used for this study were identified from different sources. The sources included the South African institutions of higher learning faculties, research institutes, the South Africa Department of Human Settlement, conference keynote speakers related to housing and human settlement issues in workshops, and individuals who have committed their lives working on the area of sustainable human settlement and housing related issues in South Africa. After three iterative Delphi rounds, consensus was achieved on the identified core-and sub-indicators identified from the literature and other added variables as suggested by the experts during the Delphi process. This study encourage the use of the Delphi technique as a method to achieve consensus in areas where consensus has not been reached such as in housing satisfaction studies to identify indicators for subsidised housing development in South Africa. The author argues that the Delphi method is a comprehensive method of attaining consensus on challenging issues of housing satisfaction; however, the technique requires proper communication management in order to achieve the required results

A dialogue on the genesis of housing problems in South Africa

Abstract: A shallow synopsis of the current South Africa housing backlog crisis points straight at corrupt practices, the inefficiency and lack of capacity of the present and previous post-apartheid government to adequately address the maddening housing problem in the country. But a sincere overview will reveal that the present housing crisis has its origin in the 1913 Natives’ Land Act that severely limited the land that those previously classified as natives in South Africa could own. The Native’s Land Act, though now abolished, entrenched a land tenure system and limited the alienability of land to 13% for the natives who are the majority of the South Africa population. Today, millions of South African households live in slum housing patterns, hostels and crowded houses in marginalised townships and informal settlements awaiting access to government-availed land and houses because of consequences of the formerly enacted Natives’ Land Act of 1913. Though the South African government and other stakeholders, since the attainment of democratic governance in 1994, have been creating and implementing various housing delivery programmes to speedily meet demand. This study is conducted with reference to existing theoretical literature, published and unpublished research. It is mainly a literature review on the role of the colonial edicts that fostered a culture of housing under-development and eventually an enormous housing shortage that the present government is battling to eradicate. Findings from the study reveals that since 1910 to the end of the segregation rule in 1994, various approaches were used to advance the inhumane idea to restrict a majority of South Africans from owning properties. With a particular emphasis to the Native Land Act 27 of 1913; this Act was concerned with land issues, and since land and housing issues are inextricably linked, this affected the provision of housing for Blacks and other disadvantaged ethnic groups. Further findings revealed that the enactment of the Native Land Act 27 of 1913, cemented housing policy issues in the apartheid era, which created the divide in housing issues which have not be completely reversed till date. However, apartheid policies alone cannot be held responsible for the housing backlog in South Africa, but equally no account of housing backlog and conditions can be credible if we do not take into account the history of South Africa and its colonial policies

Geographical diversity and students’ housing satisfaction in South Africa

Abstract: This article examines how students’ geographical background influences their satisfaction with university hall of residence. The reason for this study is bore out of the fact that the diversity of geographical background is a major issue in post-apartheid South Africa as most students’ comes from diverse background. Moreover, few studies have been conducted to explore relationships between cultural differences and the housing satisfaction of university students in South Africa. The primary data for the study was collected through a structured questionnaire survey distributed to a sample of 60 occupants’ from a female hall of residence at the Doornfontein campuses of the University of Johannesburg. The findings from the survey revealed that 26.67% of the students reside in urban areas while 73.33% of the students reside in rural areas, township and informal settlement. Further findings revealed that the urban students were less satisfied with specific features in the hall of residence while student’s who reside in the rural area, ‘location’ and informal settlement were more satisfied. However a unified finding in the study revealed that students’ from different geographical background were satisfied with the neighbourhood facilities. Diversity of geographical classification is a major issue in many societies as no society is mono-ethnic. Hence there is a need to determine the influence of geographical diversity in students housing so that universities can better serve students’ needs

Stakeholder engagement and participation in monitoring and evaluation of construction projects in Ghana.

Abstract: Globally, the construction industry is acknowledged to be complex in its activities and processes. The need for transparency in monitoring and evaluation to promote both external and internal accountability in construction project delivery cannot be overemphasized, hence stakeholders engagement and participation. This paper reports on the level of stakeholder engagement in project delivery and participation in monitoring and evaluation of public construction projects in Ghana. Both structured interview guide and questionnaire schedule were used to collect relevant data for the study. A desk review of journal articles, conference proceedings, published and unpublished thesis work from the institutions’ database and internet sources relevant the study was adopted to underpin the study. Project implementation minutes and meeting attendance were also perused. Data was descriptively analyzed. Six key stakeholders were identified in local government project delivery in Ghana. It was evident from the study that there was a high level of stakeholder engagement in project delivery whiles participation of stakeholders in monitoring and evaluation of public projects at the local government level was very poor..

The degree of importance that built environment postgraduate students attaches to specific library services: A South Africa higher education case study

Abstract: Over 10, 000 students register each year for various postgraduate (PG) degrees across institutions in South Africa with majority of the students relying on the resources that the host universities libraries offers. This paper assesses the degree of importance that the Built Environment Postgraduate Students in a South African higher education attach to specific library services when undertaking their Postgraduate studies. The data used in this research were derived from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data were collected via an online questionnaire that was sent out to Built Environment Postgraduate students who include: Postgraduate diploma degrees, Masters, doctoral and post-doctoral students). Out of the 500 questionnaires that were sent out, an 82% response rate was achieved, representing a total of 410 collected questionnaires. The questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistic procedures. Findings from the questionnaire survey revealed that research commons, learning commons, archives and the online databases were what the PG students attached the most importance as contributory to their studies. The study does not only contribute to the body of knowledge regarding the degree of importance that built environment students attaches to library services but also assist with an understanding of the factors that higher institutions need to focus on when updating services in their Postgraduate Learning Centers; the library

AN EVALUATION OF COLLABORATIVE PRACTICES IN CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTING IN SOUTH AFRICA

Published ArticleThe purpose of this paper is to advance ways of promoting collaborative cooperation between contractors and their supply chain in South Africa. The research approach is qualitative, and the design is based on multiple case studies. It was found that collaboration in South African construction sites has taken a different form from that of the international construction community. The nature of collaboration in South African construction is one of mutual dependency as well as antagonistic relations within teams on-site. Industry professionals apply collaboration by means of incentive programmes and standard contracts. This paper reinforces the idea that supply chain management collaborative practice can be identified within the existing structures of site practices, thus showing that collaborative practices are an integrative management approach. There is a need to develop and implement alternative forms of contracts, such as negotiated and strategic alliancing contracts which are tailored to South African construction. Collaboration enablers, such as regular communication, frequent meetings, incentives, and reward programmes, can improve the morale of the construction team. Opportunities thus exist for eliminating noncollaborative tailored practices between contractors and their supply chain in South Africa

Improvement of productivity and employee performance through an efficient human resource management practices

Abstract: The role of employees within organisations are very vital in the management and survival of any organisation; this is because their performance is influenced by a set of human resource management (HRM) practices. Similarly, the process of attracting, developing, and maintaining a talented and energetic workforce to support the organisational goals and objectives is the ultimate aim of HRM. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the improvement of construction workers productivity through an efficient Human Resource Management practices. Hence, this research identified the HRM practices and comprehensively evaluated the impact of these practices on productivity and employee performance. The data used in this paper was derived from both primary and secondary sources. Twenty-eight structured questionnaires were distributed to the HR department of a construction company that was used for the study. A return rate of 100% was achieved since the respondents were purposively selected. The data received were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS). The result of the analysis showed certain HRM practices enhances productivity and employee performance in a construction company. Therefore, it is highly recommended that HRM practices are effectively implemented to enhance productivity and employee performance. Thus, obtaining and sustaining competitive advantage. Moreover, the study observed that happy and satisfied employees have higher performance, therefore making it easy for management to motivate them thus attaining the firm targets. The study contributes to the body of knowledge on the improvement of construction workers productivity through an efficient Human Resource Management practices