Faculty Publications
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Item Enhancing SMCs’ competitiveness through improving material supply chain management practice(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2025) Bekele, A.; Mahesh, G.; Ingle, P.V.Construction material shortages have emerged as a critical issue in developing nations, resulting in increased project costs and delays. This situation strains the construction industry’s (CI) ability to meet growing demands and remain competitive in the global market. Small and medium contractors (SMCs), who heavily rely on the availability and accessibility of construction materials, are disproportionately affected by this challenge, making it a matter of utmost concern. This study aims to identify the challenges faced, develop management mechanisms to enhance the supply chain management (SCM) of construction materials in the Ethiopian CI and provide a comprehensive improvement framework. The study employed semi-structured interviews to collect the perceptions of key industry stakeholders. Thematic analysis was utilized to facilitate a holistic understanding of the participants’ viewpoints. The findings reveal major challenges such as inadequate supply chains, poor communication and coordination, and lack of standardization and certification practices. Furthermore, the importance of collaboration among diverse stakeholders, research and development, and the adoption of standardization and certification practices was highlighted. The proposed framework underscores the roles of stakeholders and offers valuable insights by delineating areas for improving SCM within the CI. © 2024 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Item Impact of Contractor Development Programs on the Competency of Small and Medium Contractors in Ethiopia(Routledge, 2025) Bekele, A.; Mahesh, G.The Ethiopian government has implemented Contractor Development Programs (CDPs) to tackle the challenges faced by small and medium contractors (SMCs) to enhance their competency. However, the effectiveness of these programs in improving their competency needs to be assessed, and areas for improvement identified. As part of a broader research, this study aims to assess the effectiveness of the CDPs in imparting knowledge and skills to SMCs, measure the overall satisfaction of CDP participants and identify the challenges and barriers encountered. A questionnaire survey and interviews were utilized to gather participants’ views. The findings indicate that the program fell short of its intended goals, as the majority (85.71%) of participants reported only moderate or low satisfaction with the knowledge and skills gained from the CDPs. Furthermore, the program faced challenges, including poorly designed training and technical support schemes; absence of appropriate recording, monitoring, and evaluation systems; and unsatisfactory supply chain management. The effectiveness of the CDP depends on the quality of training provided by the facilitators, the availability of resources, and the level of engagement and participation from the SMCs. Hence, the study highlights priority areas of improvement for policymakers and regulators and can serve as a benchmark for future research. © 2024 Associated Schools of Construction.Item Understanding the key factors of operating environment for small and medium contractors in the developing economies: the case of Ethiopia(Emerald Publishing, 2025) Bekele, A.; Mahesh, G.Purpose: Small and medium contractors (SMCs) play a significant role in socioeconomic development. Their strong links with other sectors of the economy have a multiplier effect on any country’s growth. However, the construction business, especially for SMCs, is not an easy business as several roadblocks affect their sustenance. This study aims to examine the factors affecting the sustainable competency of SMCs emerging from the business environment in which the Ethiopian construction industry (CI) operates. Design/methodology/approach: A literature review was conducted to identify 39 factors arising from five core sources (i.e. government policies, regulatory frameworks, industry networks, competitive bidding culture and construction technology and innovation). A questionnaire survey was conducted to gather industry stakeholders’ perceptions of the identified factors, and the results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings: Findings indicate 37 significant factors affecting sustainable competency arising from five sources, and the top factors from their respective sources were unfavorable financial policy; unfavorable economic regulatory framework; lack of trust between parties in the industry; inability of SMCs to compete with bigger construction companies; and poor linkages between CI and research and development institutions. Furthermore, factor analysis identified 12 components, and the top ones were competition and uncertainties in the supply chain; unsuitable bidding environment; and ineffective industry networks. Originality/value: The findings will contribute to the body of knowledge on the factors affecting the sustainable competency of SMCs in the Ethiopian CI. They also indicate priority areas of competitiveness improvement and have implications for decision-makers. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.