Love at first site?

I write in response to your ‘Masters of the Universe’ article on page 36 of the July/August 2004 edition. I believe it is high time people and organisations understand that construction management is not a career that one simply picks up during the course of one’s studies, but is a career from the heart. One cannot endure the challenges in the industry and fight for progress if he/she was not ‘born with’ construction.

It is therefore important that companies put in place strategies to discover the ‘lovers of construction’ beside the tailor-made postgraduate degrees, diplomas and other development schemes. The industry is known for standing still in promoting staff, which often breeds boredom.

During a ‘strategy’ period management could identify those who love the profession and those who got into it to compensate for failure to succeed in another career. Managers and operatives who love the industry will always look for opportunities to progress, thus construction organisations should be able to understand and appreciate individual effort for further studies in Masters or professional courses.

Although some of them do it for the sake of promotion, the faithful and passionate ones should be encouraged, directed and supported to reach their full potential. In doing so the industry shall not only be equipped with competent and skilled managers, but also construction managers who work with passion and love for the industry.