Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Construction Professionals’ Skills: A Case Study of Chile
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Literature Background
2.1. Challenges of COVID-19 for Construction Professionals
2.2. Studies Related to the Skills of Construction Professionals
3. Methods
3.1. Identification of Skills of Construction Professionals in Literature
3.2. Data Collection: Interviews with Construction Professionals
- Before the arrival of the pandemic, what would you consider to be the skills required for a professional to perform well in the construction industry? (Indicate at least ten skills).
- Once the pandemic started, indicate which skills for the performance of a construction professional were enhanced.
- How and why do you think this occurred among the skills that were enhanced?
- In a post-pandemic context, what skills do you consider necessary for a construction professional’s good performance?
3.3. Qualitative Analysis of Interviews
4. Results
4.1. Construction Professionals’ Skills
4.2. Construction Professionals’ Skills and the COVID-19 Pandemic
5. Discussions
5.1. Pre-Pandemic Period
5.2. Pandemic Period
5.3. Post-Pandemic Period
5.4. Main Findings and Contributions
5.5. Limitations and Recommendations
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Appendix A. Interview Questions
- (1)
- Indicate your profession.
- (2)
- How many years have you been working in the construction industry?
- (3)
- Within the construction industry, what is your specialty?
- (4)
- During your professional career, what positions have you held?
- (5)
- Before the arrival of the pandemic, what would you consider to be the skills required for a professional to perform well in the construction industry? (Indicate at least ten skills).
- (6)
- Once the pandemic started, indicate which skills for the performance of a construction professional were enhanced.
- (7)
- How and why do you think this occurred among the skills that were enhanced?
- (8)
- In a post-pandemic context, what skills do you consider necessary for a construction professional’s good performance?
Appendix B. Skills Dictionary with Definitions and Examples
Category | Id | Skills | Description | Example |
Interpersonal Skills | S1 | Effective communication | Ability to express ideas clearly and understandably, convey messages effectively, and adapt the communication style according to the audience. | “We had to communicate better, both because of people’s emotional charge and the new forms of (virtual) communication.” |
S2 | Teamwork | Ability to collaborate and work effectively in groups, taking advantage of individual strengths, and respecting the opinions and contributions of others. | “It’s a crucial skill for a professional, as you have to work with different teams and people, suppliers, customers, clients, principals, etc., and you have to make the project work.” | |
S3 | Listening skills | Ability to pay active attention to others, understand and process information received, and respond appropriately. | “In the online format, it became more important to be able to listen to each other and wait your turn.” | |
S4 | Writing skills | Ability to write and convey ideas coherently and persuasively in writing. | “During the pandemic, information in written format (e-mail, messaging applications) was more frequent, good writing was essential for good understanding.” | |
S5 | Empathy | Ability to understand and share the feelings and perspectives of others, showing consideration and compassion. | “It’s always important to be empathetic with each other, especially your team; you never know when they’re having a hard time.” | |
S6 | Oratory | Effective public speaking skills, with the ability to communicate in an impactful and persuasive manner with an audience. | “To motivate them and talk to them, I had to enhance my public speaking skills to make myself understood much better.” | |
S7 | Speaking in public | Ability to communicate and present oneself to a group of people effectively, conveying the message clearly and confidently. | “It is important to know how to express instructions correctly, especially to the workers, and to do it so that they can listen to you and understand.” | |
S8 | Negotiation | Ability to seek mutually beneficial agreements and constructively handle differences of opinion or interests. | “It became essential mainly to reach agreements with suppliers and customers.” | |
S9 | Conflict management | Ability to manage differences and disputes effectively, promoting communication, negotiation, and peaceful problem-solving. | “You will have conflicts everywhere, but knowing how to deal with them is very important in this field.” | |
S10 | Assertiveness | Ability to express opinions, desires, and needs clearly, respectfully, and assertively without being aggressive or passive. | “You had to be careful what you said; people were under more pressure than before.” | |
Leadership Skills | S11 | Leadership | Ability to express opinions, desires, and needs clearly, respectfully, and assertively without being aggressive or passive. | “It was important to have the ability to lead well during this period; everyone had their internal struggle, but you had to finish the project.” |
S12 | Delegation skills | Ability to effectively assign responsibilities and authority to team members, considering individual strengths and skills. | “Overwork is never good; learning to delegate and trust your team will improve things.” | |
S13 | Planning | Ability to develop strategies, set goals, and create action plans to achieve desired objectives. | “Planning was crucial for both on-site planning and your planning.” | |
S14 | Establishment of objectives | Ability to define clear and achievable goals, both individually and as a team, and communicate them effectively. | “The project’s success is closely linked to being clear about your objectives and how to reach them.” | |
S15 | Change management | Ability to effectively lead and manage change in the organization or team. Addressing resistance, fostering adaptability, and managing emotions and concerns of team members during the process. | “A team, a company that does not change and does not adjust to the new reality, can be detrimental.” | |
S16 | Motivation | Ability to inspire and stimulate team members to do their best. Includes recognition and positive reinforcement and the creation of a motivating and rewarding environment. | “Construction is a complicated industry, and with the pandemic, it was worse; keeping your team and workers motivated was very important.” | |
S17 | Team management | Ability to organize and synchronize the activities and efforts of team members, ensuring effective collaboration and efficiency in achieving common objectives. | “During the pandemic, coordinating work, especially administrative work, was complex, as some were on-site, and others were teleworking.” | |
S18 | Decision-making | Ability to analyze situations, evaluate options, and make informed and effective decisions, considering different perspectives, manage risks and consequences, and assume responsibility for decisions. | “The ability to make decisions in times of stress will always be welcomed in a professional; it is crucial to their development as a professional.” | |
Technical and Analytical Skills | S19 | Computer skills | Ability to efficiently use computer tools and software for data management, reporting, information analysis, and other related tasks. | “Many of the processes went digital, and there were significant challenges at the beginning in knowing how to use the new platforms.” |
S20 | Problem-solving | Ability to identify, analyze, and find effective solutions to challenges and obstacles in the work environment. | “Construction is always full of decisions and problems; knowing how to handle them and bring them to a successful conclusion is fundamental for a professional.” | |
S21 | Critical thinking | It consists of objectively analyzing and evaluating information and arguments, identifying assumptions, detecting inconsistencies, and making informed decisions. | “The ability to think critically before problems or options is super important for a builder.” | |
S22 | Creativity | Ability to generate novel ideas, find original solutions, and think outside the box. Proposes non-traditional approaches to address problems or challenges. | “In this complex time, we had to be creative for the problems we faced, and doing what you could with what you had was critical to getting by.” | |
S23 | Organization | Ability to structure and efficiently manage information, resources, and tasks. It includes establishing priorities, planning, setting goals, and maintaining an orderly and systematic approach to work. | “It was essential for critical moments, mainly when there were quarantines or suspension of activity or delays.” | |
S24 | Time management | Ability to plan and use time effectively, establish priorities, avoid procrastination, and optimize productivity in completing tasks and projects. | “Shortages of materials, poor productivity, and delays in general required an ability to manage your times and those of the site.” | |
S25 | Cost management | Ability to control and optimize financial resources allocated to projects, tasks, or activities, ensuring efficient use of resources and minimizing un-necessary costs. | “Everything went up due to shortages, and labor became more expensive; no doubt projects had to take more notice.” | |
S26 | Financial management | Ability to manage and make decisions related to the financial aspects of a project, department, or company. Includes financial concepts, budgeting, cash flow management, and analysis of economic indicators. | “The financial problems were more than known in construction; those who did not know how to manage it had complex problems.” | |
S27 | Risk management | Ability to identify, assess, and manage potential risks associated with projects, concessions, or work situations. | “Construction is risky, but the appearance of the virus added a new variable to cover, and we had to deal with it.” | |
S28 | Productivity management | Ability to optimize efficiency and performance in executing tasks and projects, using techniques and tools to improve processes and projects. | “Companies failed to realize the serious productivity problem that workers and their direct staff were having.” | |
Individual Skills | S29 | Responsibility | Ability to assume the responsibilities of assigned tasks and meet commitments. Includes being reliable, meeting deadlines, and delivering quality results. | “It is a skill not only for the construction industry but for life in general, to be responsible for your actions and words; it speaks well as a person and professional.” |
S30 | Adaptability to change | Ability to adjust and thrive in new or changing situations. Includes willingness to learn, flexibility, and openness to face and adapt to new challenges. | “The pandemic was full of changes and new challenges never seen before; whoever did not adapt was left behind.” | |
S31 | Willingness to learn | The attitude of being open to continuous learning and personal development. Includes intellectual curiosity, active pursuit of knowledge, and willingness to acquire new skills and competencies. | “This capability should be important for those who are just starting as well as those who have been around for years.” | |
S32 | Flexibility | Ability to adapt to different circumstances, perspectives, and requirements. Includes the ability to adjust plans and approaches, find creative solutions, and work effectively in changing environments. | “The new normal experienced in the pandemic required people who were flexible to this new scenario.” | |
S33 | Patience | Ability to remain calm and composed in challenging or frustrating situations. Includes tolerance for delay and the ability to handle pressure. | “Construction is a stressful environment, and living with different people is difficult; you must learn to develop it as much as possible.” | |
S34 | Reliability and honesty/ethical issues | It involves consistency and integrity in personal and professional conduct. It includes reliability in keeping promises, honesty in communication, and adherence to ethical and moral principles. | “Communicating problems or difficulties is important in a project; it speaks very well of you.” | |
S35 | Determination | Ability to stay focused, persist, and overcome obstacles to achieve goals and objectives. It includes motivation, resilience, and the willingness to continue to strive. | “During the pandemic, determination in your actions and moving the company or the project forward was critical. | |
S36 | Stress management | Ability to effectively manage emotional pressures and tensions. Includes stress management techniques, emotional self-control, and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations. | “Now you had to deal with more than your normal burden, the health checks, the contagions, and the financial burden.” | |
S37 | Personal Productivity | Ability to manage time and resources efficiently to achieve optimal results. | “The way of producing change. Productivity in the office was tied to protocols, and telework productivity was tied to the home context.” |
Appendix C. Category Skills Dictionary
Category | Description |
Interpersonal Skills | These skills are related to the ability to interact with others effectively and empathetically, whether in individual or group situations. These skills are related to establishing positive connections, understanding others, and working productively in teams. |
Leadership Skills | These skills are related to leading, influencing, and guiding others towards achieving goals and objectives. They include technical aspects and interpersonal and management skills, which allow a leader to motivate, inspire, and coordinate team members to maximize their performance and achieve successful results. |
Technical and Analytical Skills | These skills are related to the abilities and competencies associated with the mastery of specific technical knowledge and the ability to analyze and solve problems. These skills are critical in professional environments that require an analytical, technical, and data-driven approach. |
Individual Skills | This category refers to skills and attitudes related to personal development and management. These skills are essential for personal growth, adaptation to change, and efficiency in the workplace. |
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Id | Profession | Actual Position | Area of Expertise | Gender | Experience (Years) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
P1 | Construction Engineer | Technical Office Manager | Highways | Woman | 4 |
P2 | Civil Engineer | Project Manager | Buildings | Man | 19 |
P3 | Construction Engineer | Technical Office Manager | Buildings | Woman | 5 |
P4 | Architect | Project Manager | Design | Man | 18 |
P5 | Construction Engineer | Contract Manager | Project management | Man | 21 |
P6 | Civil Engineer | Project Manager | Buildings | Man | 28 |
P7 | Construction Engineer | Technical Office Manager | Mining | Woman | 6 |
P8 | Construction Engineer | Financial Analyst | Buildings | Woman | 5 |
P9 | Construction Engineer | Company Manager/Academic | Project Management | Man | 12 |
P10 | Construction Engineer | Project Manager/Academic | Project Management | Man | 21 |
P11 | Civil Engineer | Project Manager | Project Management | Man | 21 |
P12 | HVAC Engineer | Project Manager | HVAC | Man | 8 |
P13 | HVAC Engineer | Technical Office Manager | HVAC | Man | 38 |
P14 | Construction Engineer | Contract Manager | Demolitions | Woman | 10 |
P15 | Construction Engineer | Technical Office Manager | Buildings | Man | 6 |
Category | Id | Skills | References |
---|---|---|---|
Interpersonal Skills | S1 | Effective communication | [49,52,53,54,56,59,60,61,62,63,64] |
S2 | Teamwork | [49,50,51,52,54,55,56,58,59,61,63] | |
S3 | Listening skills | [50,55,58,62] | |
S4 | Writing skills | [50,51,55,57,58] | |
S5 | Empathy | - | |
S6 | Oratory | [51,55,58] | |
S7 | Speaking in public | [50,51,57,58,61] | |
S8 | Negotiation | [51,57,62,63] | |
S9 | Conflict management | [50,54,63] | |
S10 | Assertiveness | [50,61] | |
Leadership Skills | S11 | Leadership | [49,50,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,62,63,64] |
S12 | Delegation skills | [62] | |
S13 | Planning | [50,57,60,62,64] | |
S14 | Establishment of objectives | [62] | |
S15 | Change management | [64] | |
S16 | Motivation | [50,61,62,64] | |
S17 | Team management | [57] | |
S18 | Decision-making | [53,56,57,60,62,63,64] | |
Technical and Analytical Skills | S19 | Computer skills | [49,50,52,53,54,56,57,58,59,61] |
S20 | Problem-solving | [49,50,51,55,56,57,60,62,63] | |
S21 | Critical thinking | [50,51,56,59,63] | |
S22 | Creativity | [50,56,59,63] | |
S23 | Organization | [50,55,56,57,62] | |
S24 | Time management | [50,54,57,60,61,62,63] | |
S25 | Cost management | [57,60] | |
S26 | Financial management | [50,57,62] | |
S27 | Risk management | [53,54] | |
S28 | Productivity management | [50] | |
Individual Skills | S29 | Responsibility | [58,59,61,63] |
S30 | Adaptability to change | [51,56,58,59,61,63] | |
S31 | Willingness to learn | [50,56,59] | |
S32 | Flexibility | [50,58,63] | |
S33 | Patience | [61] | |
S34 | Reliability and honesty/ethical issues | [49,50,51,53,58,61,63] | |
S35 | Determination | [55,60] | |
S36 | Stress management | [63] | |
S37 | Personal productivity | [50] | |
S38 | Good judgment | [58,59] | |
S39 | Interpretation of contractual documents | [50,60] | |
S40 | Quality management | [50,60,62] |
Category | Id | Skills | Frequencies of Skills in the COVID-19 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Before | During | After | ||||||
n | % | N | % | n | % | |||
Interpersonal Skills | S1 | Effective communication | 6 | 40.0% | 11 | 73.3% | 7 | 46.7% |
S2 | Teamwork | 14 | 93.3% | 4 | 26.7% | 2 | 13.3% | |
S3 | Listening skills | 4 | 26.7% | 2 | 13.3% | 1 | 6.7% | |
S4 | Writing skills | 0 | 0.0% | 7 | 46.7% | 5 | 33.3% | |
S5 | Empathy | 1 | 6.7% | 1 | 6.7% | 1 | 6.7% | |
S6 | Oratory | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 6.7% | |
S7 | Speaking in public | 4 | 26.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | |
S8 | Negotiation | 5 | 33.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | |
S9 | Conflict management | 5 | 33.3% | 1 | 6.7% | 1 | 6.7% | |
S10 | Assertiveness | 1 | 6.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | |
Total | 15 | 15 | 15 | |||||
Leadership Skills | S11 | Leadership | 10 | 66.7% | 4 | 26.7% | 4 | 26.7% |
S12 | Delegation skills | 1 | 6.7% | 2 | 13.3% | 1 | 6.7% | |
S13 | Planning | 10 | 66.7% | 9 | 60.0% | 8 | 53.3% | |
S14 | Establishment of objectives | 2 | 13.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | |
S15 | Change management | 1 | 6.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 2 | 13.3% | |
S16 | Motivation | 4 | 26.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | |
S17 | Team management | 4 | 26.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | |
S18 | Decision-making | 12 | 80.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | |
Total | 15 | 15 | 15 | |||||
Technical and Analytical Skills | S19 | Computer skills | 0 | 0.0% | 11 | 73.3% | 7 | 46.7% |
S20 | Problem-solving | 12 | 80.0% | 1 | 6.7% | 1 | 6.7% | |
S21 | Critical thinking | 7 | 46.7% | 1 | 6.7% | 2 | 13.3% | |
S22 | Creativity | 0 | 0.0% | 5 | 33.3% | 2 | 13.3% | |
S23 | Organization | 6 | 40.0% | 2 | 13.3% | 0 | 0.0% | |
S24 | Time management | 6 | 40.0% | 8 | 53.3% | 5 | 33.3% | |
S25 | Cost management | 3 | 20.0% | 2 | 13.3% | 0 | 0.0% | |
S26 | Financial management | 1 | 6.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | |
S27 | Risk management | 1 | 6.7% | 2 | 13.3% | 3 | 20.0% | |
S28 | Productivity management | 3 | 20.0% | 4 | 26.7% | 2 | 13.3% | |
Total | 15 | 15 | 15 | |||||
Individual Skills | S29 | Responsibility | 7 | 46.7% | 1 | 6.7% | 1 | 6.7% |
S30 | Adaptability to change | 3 | 20.0% | 9 | 60.0% | 9 | 60.0% | |
S31 | Willingness to learn | 5 | 33.3% | 3 | 20.0% | 5 | 33.3% | |
S32 | Flexibility | 0 | 0.0% | 4 | 26.7% | 5 | 33.3% | |
S33 | Patience | 3 | 20.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | |
S34 | Reliability and honesty/ethical issues | 4 | 26.7% | 0 | 0.0% | 1 | 6.7% | |
S35 | Determination | 2 | 13.3% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | |
S36 | Stress management | 2 | 13.3% | 10 | 66.7% | 8 | 53.3% | |
S37 | Personal productivity | 3 | 20.0% | 6 | 40.0% | 4 | 26.7% | |
S38 | Good judgment | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | |
S39 | Interpretation of contractual documents | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | |
S40 | Quality management | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | |
Total | 15 | 15 | 15 |
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Araya, F.; Olivari, K.; Salazar, L.A.; Sánchez, O.; Sierra-Varela, L.; Neculman, B. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Construction Professionals’ Skills: A Case Study of Chile. Sustainability 2024, 16, 7588. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177588
Araya F, Olivari K, Salazar LA, Sánchez O, Sierra-Varela L, Neculman B. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Construction Professionals’ Skills: A Case Study of Chile. Sustainability. 2024; 16(17):7588. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177588
Chicago/Turabian StyleAraya, Felipe, Katherine Olivari, Luis A. Salazar, Omar Sánchez, Leonardo Sierra-Varela, and Briguitte Neculman. 2024. "Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Construction Professionals’ Skills: A Case Study of Chile" Sustainability 16, no. 17: 7588. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177588