STAFFING IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT COMPANIES IN OVERSEAS PROJECTS

On an overseas project, the staff resource is the one which determines the competitive ability of companies. Assets such as construction plant are purchased on the international markets and usually, in the case of large projects, sold at the end of contracts. Labour is substantially, if not entirely, local and in countries such as in the Middle East where labour has to be imported, it is usually obtained from developing countries. The quality and care of staff is the difference between successful and unsuccessful companies. The maintenance of this quality and the creation of an effective working environment in often difficult conditions is the prime task of management. In the home base involvement of the employing company with its staff is usually confined to the worksite and the time spent there. Overseas and particularly in a developing country, this involvement spans not only the whole of the period in the territory but also all the accompanying dependents of the employed person. The Project Manager on an overseas project must be an effective leader of his community.