CHARACTERISTICS OF SITE SUPERVISION TASK OF PROFESSIONALS IN NIGERIAN CONSTRUCTION FIRMS

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the prevalence of task characteristics in construction professionals’ task in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach: Based on Hackman and Oldham job characteristics theory, the task characteristics profile of construction professionals employed as site supervisors in construction firms were determined. A descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. Using 218 copies of questionnaire distributed randomly to professionals in construction firms, the prevalence of task characteristics in professionals’ task was investigated and the hypothesis which states that there is no significance difference in task characteristics among construction professionals was tested. Kruskal Wallis H test was used to test the hypothesis. Findings: The results of the analysis indicated that there is prevalence of task characteristics in construction professionals’ task and that there is no significant difference in task characteristics among construction professionals. Research limitations/Implications: The copies of questionnaire were self-rated by site supervisors. Practical implications: Construction professionals should work in construction firms that allow them to use variety of skills, make decisions, use their discretion, execute task that are significant to people, environment and the world at large and finally firms that give information and feedback on the task carried out. Originality/value – The result of this study makes a contribution to knowledge in that task characteristics are prevalent in site supervisory task and professional categorization of site supervisors do not affect the characteristics of site supervisory task in construction industry.