Factors affecting construction productivity: Newfoundland versus rest of Canada

Abstract

The decline in construction productivity across North America since the mid 1970s has been reported by many researchers. The potential exists to achieve major cost savings if the factors underlying this decline can be identified and quantified and solutions are found. The issue is complex, but it is generally acknowledged as an axiom that it is a management problem and within the control of management to rectify. This paper describes the results of a survey of the attitudes of construction professionals across Canada toward factors affecting construction productivity. Special emphasis is made to the differences between Newfoundland and the rest of Canada. Findings for different regions of the country are presented and contrasted. For the purpose of this study, the factors have been classified into six groups: (i) contract environment, (ii) planning, (iii) site management, (iv) working conditions, (v) working hours, and (vi) motivation. Major factors affecting productivity are identified. The survey questionnaire addressed these factors within the groups indicated. Respondents commented freely on factors that they considered to be of great importance to construction productivity, such as quality of labor skill, project communication, timeliness, and equipping of crews. Key words: construction productivity, Canadian construction, unemployment insurance benefit.