Labour productivity in Australian building construction projects: a roadmap for improvement

Abstract

Labour productivity is a key factor affecting the performance of construction projects. This research adopts a systems perspective to investigate and analyse various factors affecting labour productivity in Australian multi-storey building construction projects. The factors affecting labour productivity are identified based on the opinions of experts. The complicated interrelated links between influencing factors are drawn using cause and effect feedback loops. These factors are then modelled and analysed taking into account their interactions using the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method, and the most significant factors affecting labour productivity are determined. These factors include level of skill and experience, fatigue, inadequate supervision, award rates and communication problem with foreign workers. The influencing factors are then divided into cause and effect groups and project size, level of skill and expereince and communication problem with foreign workers are identified as the most impressive factors that affect labour productivity. The proposed method offers a more precise and accurate analysis of various factors affecting labour productivity since the complex inter-related structure of influencing factors is taken into account. The output of this research will give project managers a roadmap for improving labour productivity through the selection and adaptation of most efficient strategies.