Impact of Monitoring and Evaluation System Factors on Labour Force Management Practices Among Indigenous Construction Firms’ Projects in Ghana.

Abstract

The Monitoring and Evaluation System (MES) is part of the life cycle of a construction project, which aids in tracking labour job performance and productivity at any given time, as well as provides reasons for any observed project position. It is also a project management function. This study aimed to determine the impact of monitoring and evaluation system factors on labour force management practices in indigenous construction firms’ projects in Ghana. A questionnaire survey was used as the instrument for this study, and the respondents consisted of project managers, engineers, contractors, and consultants in the Ghanaian construction industry. The analysis was carried out using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results showed that, the approach to M&E, M&E information system, Budgetary allocation for M&E, Stakeholder involvement in M&E, Technical capacity and training of the M&E team, Organisational guideline and capacity for M&E, M&E logical framework, Management skills in M&E, Evaluation of labour plan, Labour participation in the M&E process, and Labour plan implementation M&E are the most important factors that affect construction firms labour force management practices in Ghana. It was also gathered that M&E data quality and communication of M&E findings are acknowledged as crucial monitoring and evaluation system factors but with slightly lower average ratings. It can be concluded from the findings that, all the M&ESF considered in this study have a high influence on LFM practices in indigenous construction firms project delivery. Construction project managers and other relevant stakeholders should understand that these significant factors are likely to help the labour force perform extremely well when they use the principles of LFM in their various construction firms. Project managers and engineers should be responsible for creating an environment that can naturally foster M&ES in their labour force operations to enhance LFM practices and thereby achieve excellence in their construction firms.