The critical success factors to construction management skills and competencies development in Nigeria

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Emerald in Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology on 17/11/2021, available online at: https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-10-2021-0546 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.Purpose Construction management skills and competencies (CMSC) are of greatest importance for the industry to succeed and thrive. Some factors are critical to CSMC development. Hence, following the restrictions occasioned by the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, this study reviewed and examined these factors to understand their level of influence in the remote development of CMSC adopted by the industry within and post the disruptions induced by the pandemic. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a quantitative and descriptive research method. Data were sourced from 155 completed and usable survey questionnaires with registered and licensed engineering and construction professionals practicing in both private and public sectors in Nigeria. Participants were drawn from the membership database of the Nigeria Society of Engineers. Findings The identified critical success factors (CSFs) are categorised into organisational factors which include leadership, engineering project networks and eLearning, measurement and review system, strategy and resources, organisational culture, tradition and structure. In addition to individual factors in this order of influence; willingness to learn, promotion and career development, obtaining certified qualification and obtaining respect of peers are CSFs of remote development of CMSC in Nigeria. Originality/value This study is the first to it identifies and examines the CSFs to remote development of construction management skills and competencies (CMSC) tailored to developing countries in Africa. It explores the two categories of CSFs in both remote and traditional CMSC developments and established that the organisational factors remain positively dominants in traditional as well as in remote development of CMSC. It further ranked the individual factors in their order of influence in Nigeria offered insights into motivation of construction management trainees in developing countries and offered areas of improvements like quality of training and certification