Human resource development of professionals in an emerging economy: the case of the Tanzanian construction industry

Abstract

The issues pertaining to human resource development (HRD) of professionals1 in emerging/developing economies have not received sufficient attention in the literature. This is in spite of the strategic importance of the role of competent professionals in economic development. Using the construction industry in Tanzania as a case study, this study provides a review of the extent of the neglect of HRD for professionals in emerging/developing economies and what needs to be done to address the problem. In particular, it explores why there is no systematic integrated industry-wide training programme for professionals in the industry. It reveals that the existing programmes are fragmented and lack overall strategy and continuity, coordination and sustainable funding. The lack of sustainable funding is identified as the main obstacle to both the creation and sustainability of a training programme for professionals. To overcome this problem, the study suggests the establishment of an industry-specific training levy for professionals. But it warns that in an emerging/developing country environment there is the need to ensure that both the training programme and the administration of finance are not derailed by bureaucratic bottlenecks and other constraints, such as corruption. This study is of both organization and public policy relevance and, in additions, attempts to fill the gap (indicated above) in the HRD literature.