It is absolutely fundamental that we, as an industry, learn to mangage our business in a way that maximises our output and returns. This requires a bolder attitude to the training and development of our members to enhance our interface with our clients, our management and control skills and our professional expertise. Management development needs differ from person to person depending on their particular circumstance and aspirations. In the construction industry, management has been identified in terms of twelve key roles, each comprising a varying number of elements. The elements require different levels of competence at different career stages and a set of model competencies that are representative across all sectors of the construction industry have been produced. The key roles and the associated model competencies are central to these guidelines as they provide a diagnostic tool that invites self-assessment and comparison, allowing individuals to determine for themselves their management development needs.

Although construction is one of the most labour-intensive industries, people management issues are given inadequate attention. Furthermore, the focus of attention with regards to HR has been on the strategic aspects of HRM function - yet most problems and operational issues arise on projects. To help redress these problems, this book takes a broad view of HRM, examining the strategic and operational aspects of managing people within the construction sector. The book is aimed at project managers and students of project management who, until now, have been handed the responsibility for human resource management without adequate knowledge or training. The issues addressed in this book are internationally relevant, and are of fundamental concern to both students and practitioners involved in the management of construction projects. The text draws on the authors' experience of working with a range of large construction companies in improving their HRM operational activities at both strategic and operational levels, and is well illustrated with case studies of projects and organizations.

This basic text offers a comprehensive and fundamental description of the construction industry and the construction process, citing examples from several countries at various stages of development. It considers the features of the industry, describes factors influencing the demand for, and supply of construction, problems facing the industry and ways of planning for and managing its development.The book should be a basic source of information on the construction industry for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in architecture, construction management, quantity surveying, related engineering fields and estate management. It should also be of relevance to administrators of the construction industry.