Implementation of the integrated emerging contractor development model: Towards enhanced competition for small construction firms

Abstract

South Africa is a technology colony. A technology colony is merely a stage of technological development of a country and should neither be something to be ashamed of, nor necessarily seen as a disaster. Remaining one should not be a fate to be suffered, but an opportunity to be managed. The notion of South Africa’s “technology colony” status is explored to highlight the country’s challenges in terms of technological development. The authors suggest that an Integrated Emerging Contractor Development Model (IECDM) is a framework that effectively facilitates transfer of skills and knowledge to the construction firms in the construction sector and should therefore be exploited to address the existing technological gap. The IECDM was developed to assist in developing small construction firms to become competitive and sustainable businesses (Dlungwana, et al, (2004). The paper shares some salient aspects of the contractor development programme that was piloted in the Eastern Cape province in South Africa between 2004 and 2006. Based on this pilot programme the authors argue that the model improves the performance, sustainability and competitiveness of construction firms. The IECDM is promoted as a spring-board towards a future construction industry that will have improved profitability and general business sustainability. Based on the IECDM’s performance record, the authors explore how IECDM can become an effective vehicle for transferring technology to small construction firms. The potential role of IECDM is seen to have huge benefits for moving South Africa’s small construction sector beyond the technology colony stage into a technology-driven sector