Evaluating Management Competencies for Sustainable Architectural Practices among Nigerian Architects | Chapter 1 | Science and Technology: Developments and Applications Vol. 2

Architecture is a profession and business outfit that is facing Management-related challenges at all levels. Global practice of Architecture today is broad merging various disciplines, technologies, products, websites, software, networks etc. but the profession as a whole is losing value and esteem due to management-related challenges faced by architectural education and practice. These problems manifest themselves in various forms ranging from inadequate curriculum coverage, insufficient literature, professional ineptitude, and leadership management competencies flaws to globalization challenges as well as low Architects population ratio among others. This paper evaluated the competencies of Nigerian Architects for sustainable practices by looking at their management-related knowledge, skills and abilities. The paper employed the use of the Relative Importance Index to determine areas in which Nigerian Architects have competitive advantages or disadvantages. A structured survey questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale was manually administered to a sample of 122 randomly selected Architects, while descriptive statistical analysis provided answers to the research questions and hypothesis postulated in 20 management needs areas. The paper used the Relative Importance Index (RII) to know the areas that Nigerian Architects have competitive management advantages and areas they are lacking in. The findings of the paper revealed that Nigerian Architects have competitive Management skills advantages in Design, Time and Project management but are lacking in Maintenance, Property and Enterprise Management to bring about Sustainable Architectural Practice. The result of the study also upheld the null hypothesis that the Management Knowledge, Skills and Abilities of Nigerian Architects do not depend on their Academic Qualifications but rejected the null hypothesis that Professional classifications of Nigerian Architects do not influence their Management Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. The paper concluded that Nigerian Architecture curriculum and practice are deficient in essential areas to bring about sustainable Architectural Management practice in the country. The implication of the study on curriculum changes is that it will bring about student Architect’s acquiring more management-related knowledge for post-graduation application in the wider world. The paper, therefore recommends that the curriculum and practice of Architecture be rich in management theories and practices for a Sustainable Architectural practice in the country.

 

Author (s) Details

H. I. Kwami
Department of Architecture, College of Environmental Studies, Kaduna Polytechnic, Nigeria.

 

B. Hassan
Department of Architecture, College of Environmental Studies, Kaduna Polytechnic, Nigeria.

 

Faiza Abdullahi Alhassan
Department of Architecture, College of Environmental Studies, Kaduna Polytechnic, Nigeria.

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/stda/v2/3585