The importance of professionalism within the construction industry - Essay Example

The importance of professionalism within the construction industryIntroductionAccording to Chan and Cooper (2010), in the construction industry, professionalism is in a mixup. Why is this so? It is so because the conventional worker employed on the basis of skills is being replaced by a modern worker who is educated but lacks in technical skills. The learned non-skilled worker, if he or she may be called so, may be given the name professional manager. Nevertheless, it is through these changes that professionalism has become a fundamental aspect of the construction industry.

Thus, the paper seeks to look at the importance of professionalism in the construction industry.For the construction industry, professionalism is important as it avails self-identity. The self-identity stems from the professional firms that personnel within the industry have created. For example in the engineering and architecture industry that have professional bodies, which act as reglators of the graduates who wish to be recognised as qualified, trusted, and capable professionals. The self-identity is also created through professionalism by the belief that exists among the public domain and the community at large that members of these bodies work to serve them (Murray & Dainty, 2013).

Professionalism in the construction industry has also aided in ensuring that the experts in this industry are not money-minded, but work to ensure that their customers get the best and serve the needs that the society wants to be addressed and solved. Hence, an aspect of discipline is instilled in the industry through professionalism. Without discipline, any profession is bound to fail in the long run. Hence, the durability of the construction industry is fortified by professionalism (Murray & Dainty, 2013).

Through professionalism, the corporate social responsibility of the construction industry is enhanced. The enhancement of the corporate social responsibility serves to boost the function-ability and delivery of the industry. Delivery is of great importance to any industry, without it, the industry cannot function. It is through this responsibility that targets are set and met, which ensures that the professional conduct within the industry is maintained. Through the maintenance of the professional conduct, the delivery of the industry is sustained to satisfactory levels for the corporate world (Murray & Dainty, 2013).

Moreover, professionalism in the construction industry helps create the Professional Codes of Practice. These Codes of Practice are agreed to by all members of the professional firm within the industry. It legally binds them to certain requirements and standards. Hence, it ensures that standards within the industry are kept high. Through these professional codes, the conduct of workers within the industry is regulated to acceptable levels. It ensures that enforcement and accountability ensue (Fellows, 2003).

Quality is a fundamental attribute in the construction industry. Through Professional Codes of Conduct, the quality in the industry is upheld. Aspects of quality in the construction industry include the construction economics, design conformity, operational ease, and the ease of comprehension of the design (Abdul-Rahman, et al., 2010).ConclusionProfessionalism is important in the construction industry as it ensures that there rules, controls, standards, quality, and responsibility. All of these are geared towards service to the clients, be it the corporate or an individual.

The current composition of the industry is one teaming with professionals. These professionals need professionalism to ensure that the industry’s aura is not damaged but it is enhanced.ReferencesAbdul-Rahman, H., Wang, C. & Yap, X. W., 2010. How professional ethics impact construction quality: Perception and evidence in a fast developing economy. Scientific Research and Essays, 5(23), pp. 3742-3749.Chan, P. & Cooper, R., 2010. Constructing Futures: Industry leaders and futures thinking in construction.

West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons.Fellows, R., 2003. Professionalism in Construction: Culture and Ethics. [Online] Available at: http://www.irbnet.de/daten/iconda/CIB9171.pdf[Accessed 19 February 2015].Murray, M. & Dainty, A., 2013. Corporate Social Responsibility in the Construction Industry. Abingdon: Routledge.