Annotated Bibliography: Masters of Management in Construction HR

This annotated bibliography focuses on the construction sector, addressing challenges in public sector construction, particularly in attracting and retaining skilled labor. It reviews five peer-reviewed journal articles, examining topics such as skill shortages, the role of HR departments in educating construction workers, strategic human resource management, key challenges faced by construction companies, and effective recruitment processes. The articles analyze the causes of labor shortages, the importance of worker safety and training, the benefits of strategic HRM in construction companies, challenges related to employment laws and immigration, and strategies for successful employee recruitment. The bibliography aims to provide insights into improving labor management, workforce development, and overall sustainability in the construction industry, highlighting the critical role of HR in addressing these challenges and fostering a more productive and secure work environment.

MASTERS OF MANAGEMENT FOR ENGINEERS
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
[Pick the date]
INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATION(S)
STUDENT NAME

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Introduction
In this annotated bibliography, construction sector is the major of my study. The
reason behind choosing this topic is that in last few decades many challenges in public sector
have been identified. While going through the articles in general, I found that almost every
country along with the U.K public sector and Australia public sector are facing difficulties in
their public sector. All countries faced some or the other issues in attraction and retention of
public sector and construction industry seemed to face more challenges among all others. The
labour market and human resource development in this sector requires more attention and
thus this annotated bibliography will help me in making research about construction sector by
reviewing five peer reviewed journal articles.
Article 1: Agency Central Ltd. (2018). Is there a skill shortage in the Construction Industry?
Retrieved from https://www.agencycentral.co.uk/articles/2015-11/skill-shortages-in-
construction-industry.htm
Key words: Skill, rigid market, labour.
This article examines the shortage of labour and scarcity of skilled professionals in
construction sectors. This article focuses around the job functions in this public sector as
demand for skilled labour is increasing in past few decades. The research question in the
article is “What is the construction industry worth to the UK economy?” In this article,
research methodology undertaken is gathering of information relating causes of shortage in
skilled labour and reasons behind it. By making graphical representation of the analysis, this
article has made clear about the changes occurred in last few years. This article not only

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shows gap in literature, but also provides with possible remedies to reduce those gaps. Due to
fluctuations in market and job security, more labours tend to leave construction relating jobs.
Since marketplace does not allow keeping permanent employees, professional gets restrained
in another sector. The article concludes with study about current imbalance in construction
industry and reasons behind pitfalls in labour market along with showing concern for
construction market as this issue will hamper overall economy of the country.
While this study applies to the public sector, its findings are useful in my study of
construction sector as this article will explain the main cause behind downfall in this sector.
The initial research made in the article gives an insight on the present market scenario where
labour are facing issues relating job and permanency in it. The overall GDP calculated and
presented in the survey also reveals the urgency in looking at the matter along with getting
superior background to solve them. The article suggests in retaining and attracting new talent
for which employers need to make investment in there recruitment and HR processes.
Although many people are trying to enter this industry, ageing workforce is highlighted as
imminent problem. Here the article suggests in making considerations by taking a toll on the
basis of experience and thereby showing respect for senior staff and professionals. The
findings in the article will also give strong grounds for my research by analysing root of
shortfall in construction labours. This article will help me in analysing my sector by giving
facts and relation between current and previous affairs.
Article 2: Construction World. (2018). The Role HR Departments Play in Educating
Construction Workers. Retrieved from http://www.constructionworld.org/role-hr-
departments-play-educating-construction-workers/
Key words: HRM, educating employees.

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This article examines various ways through which workers and employees can get
more secured and healthy work environment. In this article the role of hr does not limits to
selection and recruitment only but also training and other health care programmes for labours.
The purpose behind this article is to give importance to benefits and other advantages to
construction labours so that they get more attracted towards this sector. The research
methodology is making a brief investigation on present scenario. By educating workers
about ways to prevent risks and other site dangers, labours can feel respect for their company
as care for them is seen. Danger chemicals and other hazardous materials have often resulted
in occurring accidents in construction sites. But if labours are trained with the ways of
avoiding them, security in work environment will be created. The article finds out ways in
which HR departments can provide education to educate construction labours. Technology
can also be utilised for training programmes and thus maximum work potential can be
recognised from individuals.
While this study applies to public sector, the findings of this article will help me in my study
of construction industry as this will give me information’s about ways in which labour
management and their safety can be incorporated. Generally labours comprise of people with
less or uneducated background due to which they are unable to make out complex procedures
in construction phase. Here appointing specialised team who can convey complex procedures
in simpler manner to them can prove beneficial. This article also mentions different possible
situations under which accidents occur for which hr departments needs to make special health
care plans for their workers. Information sessions can be made mandatory for each worker so
that information regarding their health and safety is made clear to them. Moreover, this article
also suggests hr teams incorporating special programmes for making job availability for the
workers at the time when construction of particular project is over. Therefore this article will
be utilised in my further study to analyse complex situations in depth. While considering

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workers security as mentioned in this article, I will make further research on various health
care programmes and policies for construction labours.
Article 3: WLCI. (2015). STRATEGIC HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. Retrieved from
http://www.wlcibusiness.in/article/strategic-human-resource-management-
construction-industry.html
Key words: Strategic HR, talent management.
This article examines the methods through which construction companies can utilize
workforce in order to achieve core objectives of it. The guide for hr team will help to create
better work place and enable sound relationship among co workers to increase work
productivity. The main purpose of the article is to give value to the assets in Construction
Company and utilise manpower to its fullest. Managing complex projects require special
qualities and making strategic decisions that will avoid wastages and losses. The research
methodology is research made on construction sector to find out possible reasons for
decrement in construction sector. Organised companies comprises of hr departments who
gains knowledge and insight of present market conditions. By predicting balance sheets and
ability to provide required resources can bring efficiency in work progress along with gaining
public support. This article concludes with explaining the reason behind formulating strategic
management and hr team in Construction Company. According to the article, without
strategic human resource team, construction sector will not be able to sustain for longer
period as unplanned business has always led to unmotivated work force and even shutting of
the projects. Hr related strategies mentioned in the article like talent management,
resourcing, knowledge management, learning and developing, rewarding and employee

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relationship are some of the ways through which the quality of the construction and
operations can be elevated.
While the study applies to the public sector, the finding of this article will be used in my
study of construction sector because it will give me methods and ways through which
sustaining in construction sector will become easy. Importance of strategic HRM to employ
and recruit employees and qualified people is suggested in this article along with few
strategies that will bring a change in stance of workforce. The opportunities laid by
government can be utilised more strategically and with the raise of public fund, the cost of
project can become acceptable. Employment skill can also be fostered by enabling training
programmes and sessions along with giving fixed remuneration to skilled labours. I will use
these findings to analyse construction sector as hr strategy mentioned in the article are
integral part of business and contributes to the initial planning process of projects. If applied
and made in alignment with the purpose of the project, the principles laid in this article will
help in gaining increased profits. Although these strategies provide short term success but in
the long run, they will always prove beneficial.
Article 4: CBR. (n.d.). How Can Construction Companies Tackle Their Top 5 HR
Challenges? Retrieved from https://cbri.com/how-can-construction-companies-tackle-
their-top-5-hr-challenges/
Key words: Challenges, laws and policies.
This article examines key challenges faced by construction companies on the path of
their construction phase. Skilled worker and managers who supervise the projects reflects
their talent in constructing projects and during the working phase, many challenge are been

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faced by them. Maintaining strong work force along with scarcity of qualified staff makes
projects more challenging and thus results in generating high employee turnover. Challenges
like employment and immigrating laws are also few of them which have affected this sector
to great extent. The purpose behind this article is to get knowledge of challenges that are
usually faced during construction phase. The research methodology is identification of
several laws and conditions under which construction phase becomes difficult. The article
finds out the most common challenges faced by hr departments like recruiting qualified
employees, controlling compensation of workers along with ensuring their safety, comply
with labour laws and governmental regulations, maintaining high employee turnover and
temporary workers, and lastly dealing with immigration laws.
While this study applies to the public sector, its findings are useful in my study of
construction sector as this article explains possible challenges in this sector and reason behind
it. Construction sectors challenge to hire temporary labour has always put this industry under
pressure for giving higher wages to its employees. Workers with poor wage shows deprived
effort and also risks construction sites safety. On the other hand, maintaining law and labour
safety has always made construction companies suffer low to no profits. In this technology
developing environment, introduction of new equipments and their training is another
challenge where small construction firms have to suffer. After analysing this article, I will use
its findings to analyse the challenges faced by construction sector. This study can be
researched further by identifying various governmental laws and policies through which
selection of construction sites can prove more efficient. Many times there are government
tenders and releases where government sanctions loans and subsidy. If laws and challenges
related to it are known, possibility of gaining from public offers can prove advantageous.

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Article 5: Chisholm, K. (2011). How to Recruit Good Employees to Your Construction
Business. Retrieved from
https://www.constructionbusinessowner.com/management/workforce-management/
how-recruit-good-employees-your-construction-business
Key words: Recruitment, selection.
This article examines recruiting and hiring process in construction companies. The
shortage in supply of labours and qualified employees is predicted according to the article.
This article states several conditions under which requirements for recruitment of
construction labour can be evaluated while making selection process more statistically. The
purpose of this article is to recognise values of selection and recruitment process made by hr
of companies. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the construction industry has
seen a growth of 11.4% in the last decade thereby inviting more than one million people for
construction jobs. Despite the demand for labour, demand for primary age group people has
made selection process slower resulting in making more than three million people jobless.
This attitude of construction industry gives negative impact and makes recruitment process
more critical. The research methodology is based on facts and data collected globally and
from various construction companies. The article finds steps in recruiting process that can be
adopted before actual recruitment takes place. Organisations can perform a questionnaire or a
research before making out what they actually desire from candidates. Here HR plays an
important role since they require possessing qualities through which potential among applied
candidates can be observed keenly.
While this study applies to public sector, its findings are useful in my study in construction
sector because this will provide me with necessary procedures and processes while making
recruitment and selection of employees. I will use the findings to analyse construction sector

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by finding out practical and beneficial process during initial stages. The competencies in
position and type of applicants who possess desired skills will be identified more effectively
after evaluating findings of this article. Few criteria followed by various construction
companies are mentioned in this article like knowledge, skill, behaviour and expectation.
Along with it, employer’s expectation from labours and project also informs me about
policies of construction companies. According to the article, maintaining competitive edge
has become very crucial for construction sector as potential employees tends to lose faith in
the system due to insecurity in job. Therefore selecting construction sector has become
important for me to make further analysis on it and find out potential reasons behind
difficulties in this sector.