Skills, competencies and knowledge for construction management graduates

Abstract

The ever-changing nature of the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry requires construction management (CM) professionals to be competitive in both theoretical knowledge and management abilities. CM programs are responsible to equip their graduates with the right knowledge and fundamental skills for their future careers. This study identifies skills, competencies and core knowledge for construction management graduates through a quantitative approach. A purposive sampling procedure targets the AEC professionals with an established academic background in the CM field. The relative importance index (RII) analysis reveals that project managers should be highly skilled in communication, problem-solving and decision-making, leadership, and ethical practices. Moreover, there is a need to demonstrate a sound knowledge of time management, project and construction management, decision-making, and cost management. A prominent finding from the Kruskal-Wallis test shows that higher-level managers considerably appreciate time management knowledge over other domains of CM. Overall, the outcomes not only guide CM programs to align their curricula with the industry requirements but also support future CM professionals to decide on the right program among numerous alternatives.