Enhancing Construction Project Labor Productivity in Kenya

Abstract

The effectiveness of labor productivity determines whether building projects are successful locally and internationally. It has proven difficult to increase Construction Project Labor Productivity (CPLP) in both developed and developing countries. This has been largely due to lack of standardized metrics, inadequacy of CPLP management models, lack of CPLP improvement frameworks and complexity of the concept. Without the aforementioned, it becomes difficult or impossible for consumers and suppliers to estimate the precise cost of a project, which can cause project stalling, cost escalation, profit loss, and a loss of confidence in the construction sector. This study was a quantitative cross-sectional survey of a sample of 129 ongoing building projects in Nairobi City County. It measures and relates CPLP and its determinants, develops a CPLP predictive model and synthesizes a framework for enhancing CPLP. The study establishes that two attributes, Project Information Flow (PIF) and Project Materials Flow (PMF), account for 83.5% of the variability of CPLP.  Finally, it sheds light on the use of the framework for CPLP enhancement. The study concludes that better managing the PIF and PMF may significantly enhance construction project labor productivity