The Contribution of Workers’ Attributes on Sustainability of Construction Project Realization Goals—Survey on the Impact on Productivity in Croatia

Držislav Vidaković, Marijana Hadzima-Nyarko and Saša Marenjak
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Držislav Vidaković: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 3, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Marijana Hadzima-Nyarko: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 3, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Saša Marenjak: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Vladimira Preloga 3, 31000 Osijek, Croatia

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 23, 1-28

Abstract: The work of workers is still dominant in the realization of most construction projects and therefore has a great impact on the productivity of contractors and, thereby, on the sustainability of realization of the goals of contractors and clients. This article provides an overview of the results of more than 100 studies from the previous decade on the impacts of factors related to the personal attributes of workers on the productivity and performance of construction projects. Based on the reviewed literature and semi-structured interviews with experienced professionals in the construction industry, the relation between worker characteristics and other influences on labor productivity is defined and a list of worker characteristics suitable for research in Croatia is compiled. A survey of 262 workers, engineers, and managers from construction industries of Croatia’s eastern region, Slavonia and Baranja, showed that the worker characteristics that most influence labor productivity are experience and dexterity. It was also noticed, with a high correlation between the different groups of respondents, that physical strength and morale and morality of the workers were rated as highly influential, while education level was rated as the least influential. The research results are useful because they indicate the possibility of significantly improving the productivity of construction contractors by selecting workers with appropriate physical abilities and cognitive and non-cognitive skills, as well as developing a suitable system for training and motivation of employees.

Keywords: labor productivity; attributes of workers; project realization goals; impact rank; survey; Croatia; improvement measures (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:23:p:9946-:d:452477

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