Determining Construction Management Education Qualifications and the Effects of Construction Management Education Deficiencies on Turkish Construction

Gülden Gümüşburun Ayalp,Mehmet Emin Öcal

doi:10.4236/ce.2016.72024

Abstract

Being uninformed about construction management as a result of deficiencies in civil engineering and architecture educational programs has negative effects on the quality and cost of construction projects. Therefore, this study attempts to determine the failures of civil engineers and architects as they relate to the sources of their insufficient management knowledge in construction management. A questionnaire survey method was used to collect data. Data representing civil engineers and architects in Turkey were collected from 1555 architects and civil engineers mainly employed in construction-related activities. The study found that, according to the surveyed engineers and architects, construction management courses were rarely included in undergraduate civil engineering and architecture programs in Turkey. A large number of participants stated that construction management course offerings were not sufficient during their education. A lack of construction management knowledge creates serious problems that affect the success of construction-related activities during these architects’ and civil engineers’ careers. Most civil engineers and architects wish they had taken courses on cost and time management, contract management, health and safety and quality management.

Highlights

The preparation and management of contracts, the preparation and monitoring of work schedules, source planning and maintenance of interdisciplinary collaborations are activities performed by engineers and architects
This study examined which subjects relating to construction management are included in architectural and civil engineering education programs
For the aforementioned reasons, the participants of the survey believe that courses related to cost and time management, contract management and administration, health and safety, preparing bills of quantities, performing computer-supported scheduling, quality management and legislation should be provided in educational programs

Summary

Introduction

The preparation and management of contracts, the preparation and monitoring of work schedules, source planning and maintenance of interdisciplinary collaborations are activities performed by engineers and architects. There is currently increasing demand for well-educated construction managers with a substantial amount of project and construction management knowledge to address the complexities found in construction projects This increased need for a focus on project management during the education of both undergraduate and graduate students began in civil engineering programs in the late 1950s and in architecture programs in the 1930s in the United States (Oglesby, 1990; Willenbrock & Thomas Jr., 2007; Tucker, 2007, Levitt, 2007; Rinker, 2014). A continuous increase in the number of graduate construction management programs was observed between the 1960s and 1970s (Atalah & Muchemedzi, 2006) Most of these programs stemmed from civil/architectural engineering master’s programs (Oglesby, 1982)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion