not important; 2 somewhat important; 3 not sure; 4 important; 5 very important

To what extent do engineering groups have these skills?

Skills type Frequency of responses of the extent to which they have these skills.

T. test

P

Training need gap mean score 1 2 3 4 5 M R Project management 56.9% 41.4% 1.3% 0% .4% -.621 535 1.46 1 Interpersonal Skills 10.9% 66.1% 22.2% .8% 0% -1.432 142 2.13 2 Enterprise skills 12.1% 56.5% 30.1% .8% 4% -8.963 .000 2.21 3 Technical skills 20.5% 32.6% 25.9% 20.5% 4% 12.542 .000 2.48 4 Conceptual skills 20% 25.5% 65.3% 4.2% 0% -6.592 000 2.69 5 Business skills 3.3% 20.9% 49.0% 25.1% 1.7% -6.443 .000 3.01 6

(1 - Poor 2 - Fair 3 - Average 4 - Good 5 - Excellent)

From Table 4-26 it can be seen that the most important skills with the highest mean scores, are project management (very important 78%; important 21%; mean 4.78), followed by technical skills (very important 56%; important 40%; mean 4.54). Conversely, it also shows that the skills actually possessed by employees that scored lowest, was project management with a mean score of (poor 56%; fair 41%; mean 1.46), followed by interpersonal skills with a mean score of (poor 10%; fair 66%; mean 2.13). Therefore, the training needs gap was greatest in the area of project management skills followed by that of interpersonal skills. Table 4-27 indicates that the most important knowledge needed by construction employees was site management administration, (very important 77.2%; important 22.8 %; mean 4.78), followed by construction knowledge of process (very important 50%; important 45.5%; mean 4.54). However, data showed the knowledge least possessed was site management administration (poor 60%; fair 39.1%; mean 1.40), followed by knowledge production on site (poor 28%; fair 56%; mean 1.87). Therefore, the training needs gap is relatively larger in site management administration, followed by in construction knowledge production on site processes; these areas need more attention in terms of training. The training needs gap was smallest in the area of design knowledge, followed by that of quantity surveying.

Table 4-27 Mean scores of training needs gaps of different knowledge needs and the independent sample t-Test on the importance of knowledge needs

Knowledge type Frequency response of the importance of

knowledge T. test P Training needs gap mean score 1 2 3 4 5 M R Site management, administration 0% 0% 0% 22.8% 77.2% -.936 .350 4.78 knowledge of process 0% 0% 4.5% 45.5% 50.% 1.680 .095 4.54 Knowledge Production on site 0 0 16% 52.8% 30.5% 1.042 .029 4.17 Construction technology 0% 0% 25.2% 54.7% 20.1% 3.732 .000 3.90 1 7 6

Quantity surveying 0.0% 2.1% 38.9% 54.0% 5.0% 3.814 .000 3.62 Design knowledge 0.0% 5.4% 57.3% 33.9% 3.3% 4.036 .000 3.35

1- not important; 2- somewhat important; 3- not sure; 4- important; 5- very important

Knowledge type

Frequency response of the extent to which they have that knowledge

(1 - Poor 2 - Fair 3 - Average 4 - Good 5 – Excellent)

T. test P Training needs gap mean score 1 2 3 4 5 M R Site Management, administration 60.4% 39.1% 0.4% 0% 0% -3.504 .001 1.40 1 Knowledge Production on-site 28.5% 56.2% 15.3% 0% 0% -.144 .885 1.87 2 Construction technology 31.1% 26.0% 32.3% 10.6% 0.0% 8.840 .000 2.23 3 Construction knowledge process 8.5% 51.5% 37.4% 2.6% 0.0% -2.794 .000 2.34 4 Design knowledge 11.1% 44.3% 30.2% 14.5% 0.0% -2.794 006 2.48 5 Quantity surveying 3.4% 39.1% 40.2% 17.5% 0% -6.752 .000 2.71 6

4.7 Summary

This chapter has presented the quantitative data analysis using descriptive and other analytical statistics to address the research problem and meet its objectives. Descriptive statistics were employed; including frequencies and measures of central tendencies where appropriate. It was found that descriptive statistics are the most appropriate because of the nature of the study objectives to identify TNA in the Iraqi construction industry, and in addition, to explore the nature of TAN in Iraqi construction companies. Other inferential statistics were used in this study, such as: the One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test, the Kruskal-Wallis H test, Chi-Square, ANOVA and the Post-Hoc- test. These were employed as the researcher decided to test the significant differences between construction engineering groups. Thesis statistics tools helped the researcher to compares the sample means of the 1

groups: the results which emerged from quantitative data analysis (Bryman &Cramer, 2001, p. 134). The results of the One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test for site management problems, training indicators and barriers for all four groups are listed in the appendices (see appendices 5, 6 & 7), illustrate that there were significant differences between scores for each variable in the groups. As for ANOVA, it shows that each variable for construction site management problems, training indicators and barriers was analysed and the p-values for each of the questions were lower than the acceptable threshold of 0.05. This indicates that the mean is significantly different among all groups. However, there were no significant differences for some variables. For example, for training barriers, there was found to be no significant difference for lack of expertise and lack of employees interested in a skills development programme. Post hoc multiple comparison testing was needed to establish exactly where the differences between groups were (see Table 2 in appendix 2; Table 3 in appendix 3 and Table 4 in appendix 4). This test examined all group results for differences between means and all possible combinations of means. Kruskal-Wallis H test, Chi-Square was run for TNA methods and it was found that there were no differences between all groups regarding performance appraisal and site visits.

This study was undertaken to understand needs assessment in the Iraqi construction industry and to observe existing skills and knowledge gaps in the construction industry. The study highlighted the key problem areas in conducting TNA, as well as the drivers for TNA. The study findings revealed that ‘on-site management and administration' are the areas where problems occur most frequently on construction sites. Therefore, the construction companies should be prepared to deal with on-site problems by providing proper TNA in systematic and efficient methods. The results also revealed that the current TNA practices in the Iraqi construction industry are assessed on an ad-hoc basis, i.e., TNA is only conducted if there are performance problems detected using performance appraisal and direct observation; this is not a surprising result as the researcher feels that the workforce’s needs in Iraqi construction companies are often neglected, and attention is only paid to the company’s needs. The TNA processes can be effectively used on the construction site to enable employees to gain skills and knowledge to be used in the future.

Regarding skills and knowledge needs in the Iraq construction industry, it appeared that the majority of respondents from all different groups are aware of the importance of project management skills and knowledge for site admin. However, a significant number shows there 1 7 8

is a shortage of skills and knowledge in those areas (construction management skills and knowledge for site management), therefore the study also reveals that training is evident and very necessary for Iraqi construction engineers for those skills and knowledge. It comes also as surprise a findings from the study that although there is great need for skills and knowledge in construction industry, but the Iraq construction industry still does not have any systematic methods for the assessing employees’ needs. To sum up , There is some evidence, however, both of lack of expertises and lack of top management support to TNA in Iraqi construction industry (where there is a lack of appropriately qualified staff available to assess companies employees needs, and lack of support of top managers in conducting needs assessment in their companies ) and also problems of skill and knowledge gaps (where there are particular deficiencies in the skills and knowledge for those four construction engineers groups that are available) in the Iraq construction industry .In terms of skills and knowledge needs, the research indicates certain disciplines, including project management skills and knowledge for management site admin are seen as particularly likely to be the top priorities in terms of future skills and knowledge needs in Iraqi construction industry .

The next chapter is devoted to the development of such models for this

research, and indeed for any other systematic research into the TNA of

the Iraq construction industry; research that is essential in the search for skills and knowledge improvement in the Iraq construction industry. The integration of TNA models into the Iraqi construction industry will address the skills and knowledge problems, and result in significant benefits to the construction companies.

Chapter 5: Key Findings and the Development of