Revolutionizing worker productivity through empowerment-driven motivation in South Africa’s construction industry

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the empowerment-driven motivational factors that influence the productivity of construction workers in South Africa with a focus on evaluating effective empowerment strategies to guide the industry towards the efficiency of productivity. A quantitative research approach was employed, and data were collected using an online questionnaire administered to randomly selected construction professionals in the South African Construction Industry. A total of 263 respondents comprising construction professionals and contractors registered with CIBD Grades 1-9 were surveyed. The data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as the mean ranking technique and exploratory factor analysis (EFA), respectively. The top-ranked motivational empowerment factors influencing workers' productivity were good supervision, access to information needed to perform the job effectively, and trust and communication with the management. Using EFA to reduce the factor loadings in the rotated component matrix, the results showed that a six-factor structure was obtained for motivational empowerment and classified as ‘enabling work environment and intrinsic motivation’, ‘employee advancement packages’, ‘productivity enhancement’, ‘workplace stability’, ‘team building of workers’ and ‘leadership style’. This study adds to the body of knowledge by providing empirical evidence and insights in terms of how empowerment-based motivation strategies can assist in addressing common productivity challenges in construction businesses.