The motivation of construction supervisors in Botswana

Abstract

In common with other Third World nations, Botswana has not often been the setting for research studies in the construction industry. There are obvious reasons for this, foremost is the absence of an information infrastructure to provide building blocks for research. Little encouragement is given for companies to collaborate with research projects, which further hampers data collection. But more subtle explanations may be sought. Imbert (1987) sees the “pseudo-transfer of know-how” as one of the major barriers to the development of skills (including research). He argues that, despite aid-aided development over the last few decades, little has been achieved in the transfer of skills and knowledge to local populations. Thus researchers have communicated Western cultural forms, social information and research methods to the developing world. This research sought to break free of these constraints by undertaking some research in the field of motivation of construction supervisors in Botswana. The reason for this study was the view that practically all of the known motivation studies have taken place in developed countries, where a materialistic culture predominates, whereas in developing countries this may be tempered by religious beliefs, social norms, status within groups, family and tribal structures or the importance of gaining favours from traditionally paternalistic or authoritarian leaders. These economic, social and cultural differences are likely to shape the issues which motivate workers in general and those in construction in particular. Consequently, a small research project was established which hypothesised that: