Alternative pathways to management competence: housing construction

A national report on the management skills for the future of the housing construction industry in Australia suggests a number of innovative management training pathways. Three pathways are considered here as alternatives to traditional MBA courses: using portfolios for accrediting workplace competences in management development; coaching and mentoring through networks or learning partnerships with master builder; and adapting models of “action learning” in the workplace as practical means for gaining formal, management qualifications. The challenge facing the building industry (particularly housing construction) is finding flexible modes of delivery of management training that will attract the majority of small builders and contractors. Alternative pathways must also be integrated into a national management development framework. One key, therefore, is to construct workable, alternative models that can be supported by all stakeholders in this industry.