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The research process is planned to pursue the aim of this study: to assessing the skills and knowledge needed in the Iraqi construction industry. In order to achieve this aim, seven research objectives, as stated in Chapter 1, section 1.8, were formulated and the overall research process is developed. Firstly, a literature search was made to review the skills and knowledge needs in the construction industry and the concept of training needs assessment. The survey studies approach was used to investigate the current practices in TNA and skills and knowledge gaps in the Iraqi construction industry. The next stage of the research process is to develop a model for each group of construction engineers (site managers, civil engineers, project leaders and architects). The formative and summative evaluation is used to determine the appropriateness of functionality of the developed model systems in conducting questionnaires and interviews with expertise in construction field. Brief descriptions of the research methods adopted are provided in detail in the following sections.

3.4.1 Literature Review

The literature review is a very important part of every research project (Blumberg et al., 2005). Sekaran (1984) said that a literature review is comprised of citations from a wide- ranging review of published work from secondary sources of data in the areas of specific interest to the researcher. The main idea behind a literature review is to make sure that no important variable, that has in the past been found repeatedly to have caused problems, is neglected or ignored (Sekaran, 1984). Hence, the literature should not only be quoted and reviewed, but it is also important that the body of relevant literature from previous research should be critically analysed (Fellows and Liu, 1999). For this research, the literature review was conducted by searching the existing literature on skills and knowledge and TNA in 1

construction projects. In this research, the main role of the literature review is to find a gap in the existing theories, thus providing potential new areas of research. In general, researchers in Arab countries, particularly in Iraq, in the TNA field have not investigated the implementation of the process at all levels. Also, they have not conducted much research on TNA in the context of the construction industry. This is why the journals and reports related to needs assessment for skills and knowledge are valuable to this effort. The task of searching the published literature is made easier through the existence of computer databases, electronic resources portals , electronic journals, computerised catalogues and searches on the internet (i.e. Google scholar). In order to achieve the first, second and third objectives of the research, two main topics were selected to be reviewed; as illustrated in Figure 3-5.

 Current skills and knowledge needs with a view to identifying current problems in site management practices.

 A review of training in the construction industry and TNA concepts, methods and techniques.

Figure 3-5 A Literature Review Search

The literature reviewed on these two subjects helped the researcher to provide a theoretical model for integrating the process of needs assessment for skills and knowledge into construction management practices. The literature review is a continuous process, which will 1 0 6

Literature review of TNA

Literature review of Skills and knowledge In construction

Theoretical model for integrating skills and knowledge needs assessment

be carried out concurrently with the survey, model development and evaluation stages to highlight new issues or gaps in the current literature.

3.4.2 Survey Questionnaire

The use of a survey approach in this study allows an understanding of how different employees perceive their influence on the process of determining training needs and how they would identify the skills that need to be gained in construction organizations in Iraq. Surveys usually take the form of a questionnaire filled out by a respondent alone, or by interview. There are other ways of collecting data: via the internet or other transactions, electronic or otherwise. These data are often used to construct a ‘digital persona’- an electronic copy of a person’s behaviour and preferences - for marketing and other purposes. This is also a form of ‘surveying’, but large data sets do not necessarily guarantee meaningful results. In the present study a survey was conducted to identify the training needs of construction employees in Iraqi organizations and also to investigate whether there is a skills and knowledge gap that need to be addressed by training programmes. The findings could contribute to the development and recommendation of solutions to enhance construction skills and knowledge competencies amongst Iraqi engineering employees.

3.4.3 Model Development

Model is considered as basic designs for visualising objects, processes, and concepts too complex to grasp (Fellows and Lui, 1997). The model must capture and represent the reality being modelled as closely as practical and include the essential features of the reality whilst being easy to use (Fellows and Lui, 1997). The current research method adopted in the study is based on the theoretical model (see figure 3.6) of Sleezer (1993), which supports a holistic approach to training needs analysis. The model requires analyses at the organisational, task, and person levels.

Figure: 3-6 TNA model development

1 Event

TNA levels

1-Organisational analysis

2-Task analysis Identify skills _{and knowledge} needs

Training needs

Adopted by researcher

Figure 3-7 Sleezer’s three levels of analysis

This model is based on three levels of analysis: Organisational analysis investigates the organisation’s objectives, goals and resource needs in order to determine where training is needed within the organisation. Task analysis examines what tasks must be performed for standards to be achieved, how tasks are performed and what knowledge and skills are needed to perform those tasks, in order to determine training content. Finally, through person analysis the organisation identifies who should receive the training. This is achieved by establishing the level at which each employee is performing in relation to performance standards, usually through performance appraisals (Sleezer, 1993; Miller & Osinski, 1996).

1 0 8 No Training Training needs outcome

To develop a model for needs assessment in the Iraqi construction industry is to fulfil the seven objectives of this research. Four models were developed for different construction engineering groups such as: site managers, civil engineers, project leaders and architects. These models were achieved through survey study results and are supported by a wide- ranging literature review on TNA and skills and knowledge to facilitate TNA practices on construction projects. The survey study has helped the researcher to identify aspects of skills and knowledge needs in construction management practices. The key findings from the survey are as follows:

 Training is evident in the Iraq construction industry.

 TNA is not constructed comprehensively and needs to be reconsidered.

 A great need exists for construction project management skills and site administration management knowledge.

A needs assessment of construction engineers is made in this study, by considering the skills and knowledge requirements of Iraqi construction organizations. According to the requirements, the following conceptual model is designed for a needs assessment to identify skills and knowledge gaps for all participants in construction engineering groups, such as; site managers and project leaders, civil engineers and architects. The study reveals that a large majority of particpants could benefit from TNA and that there is a skills and knowledge shortage especially in construction management, management and administration of sites by construction organizations. Therefore, the engineering workforces do perceive the importancce of TNA and they do feel the need for training to fill the skills and knowledge gaps in their organizations. To overcome this deficiency in skills and knowledge a conceptual model has to be put in place and to be followed for the training needs programme to be emperical. In this study attempts have been made to propose a TNA model for construction engineering that is based on emperical evidence. The model is divided into Four phases: trigger , input, procccesses and output. Details of these phases are given below.

3.4.3.1 Trigger event

The main purpose of the this phase is to anlyse the existing situation and identfiy the deficency for construction engineering. It starts with an analysis triggering factor, such as: a 1

site management admininstration problem, a commincation problem, a lack of skills or knowladge or a technical problem. At this stage, a diagnosis of construction site management administration problems in consrtruction engineering is made to determine the TNA process. The appropriate model for a training needs gap in construction engineering may be designed based on some empirical evidence regarding skills and knowledge needs. Based on data collection for the respondents, findings and conclusions were drawn; therefore, the model, which is designed, based on identified needs would be the appropriate model for training needs for construction engineering companies.

3.4.3.2 Input Phase Driver for Needs Assessment

The input phase consists of an organizational analysis, an operational analysis, a personal analysis, TNA methods, criteria and barriers. TNA methods and techniques processes help to identifying training needs.

3.4.3.3 Process Phase

In the process phase, the TNA analysis provides information on expected skills and knowledge that are needed in the Iraqi construction industry

3.4.3.4 Output Phase

The output phase is a conclusion as to whether the model indicates either training or non- training needs, and in some cases, both, and indicates the TNA outcome. This model provides a structured approach to assess skills and knowledge needs in the Iraqi construction industry. Figure 3-8 shows the connection between the literature review stage and the survey studies stage with the model development stage. Chapter 5 will provide in-detail discussion on the framework development process for this research project.

Figure 3-8 the linkage between the literature review stage and survey study stage with the model development stage

Literature review Survey 1 1 0

Literature review of Skills and knowledge In construction