Turkish Construction Sector, 2010

Abstract:It has been known that, the two-way interaction between the construction sector and the construction management companies should be examined in order to generate more effective solutions to get proper and real outcomes at the end of the process of any construction. Although the Turkish construction industry produces around 6% of the GNP and is responsible for approximately 46% of fixed capital formation, the construction industry of turkey is not developed in terms of construction management and its some subparts. TurkMMMB was established in 1980 in Ankara, which has still approximately 200 members and the companies have 350 million dollars annual giro and more than 5000 technical personnels. The aim of this paper is: the causes of professional construction management companies are not adequately employed in Turkey and causes of that in terms of technical, social, cultural and legislative standpoints and to examine these standpoints in terms of professional construction management companies’ and owners’ perspectives. Introduction:Many Turkish construction companies are trying to expand beyond their product and market boundaries by following the most recent IT trends for possible development at all areas. Especially, Turkish construction companies are trying all ways to obtain profitable jobs as changing their sector in construction industry without a cohesive strategy. These attempts frequently fail to achive the desired results because they cannot be integrated into a cohesive strategy. Very small number of construction companies need to have an interaction with professional construction management companies along the process of construction in Turkey. As is known in Turkey, Construction companies generate all parts within their structure about the process of construction. However, each of the numerous participants in the process of planning, designing, financing, constructing and operating physical facilities has a different perspective on project management for construction. Specialized knowledge can be very beneficial, particularly in large and complicated projects. However, to understand the consequence of the different parts of process fit together should be initial task for owners and companies. Waste, excessive cost and delays can result from poor coordination and communication among specialists.(Birgonul,2003) In this case, professional construction management companies has a so important role in the process of planning, designing, financing, constructing and operating facilities as a responsible part from project management. By adopting the viewpoint of the owners, the professional construction management can focus their attention on the complete process of project management for constructed facilities as providing planning, scheduling, financing plan, technical assistance etc.(http://pmbook.ce.cmu.edu/) Improvement of construction management not only can aid the construction industry, but may also be the engine for the national and world economy. However, if the members of the sector are to make meaningful improvements, they must first understand construction industry, its operating environment and the institutional constraints affecting its activities as well as the nature of construction management. However, the importance of construction management was become to understand at the 1990’s in Turkey but this sector is not adequately employed. There are various reasons as legislative, cultural, social and technical about not adequately employed. Public institutions and other private companies do not need the professional construction management companies in Turkey, but with new 9. Development Plan (2007-2013), use of the professional construction management company will be achieved. Public and private sector can provide all services as technical on their own. This situation can be related used technology and lack of advanced technological technics, when the sector are examined, basic production technics, which is generally used by the companies except specific firms, can be recognized . Because of this, Public and private sector’s companies cannot be able to prefer working with construction management companies. This view point is also related to cultural and social structure of the country. Social sustainability can only be achieved by increasing social equity. Social equity will affect the education system and this situation will generally form new view point against the affairs. The desire of getting information and to reach the IT (information technology) is so important to develop the current technology. Cultural sustainability has to become a priority, taking into account two distinctive elements: cultural identity and diversity, and respect fundamental human rights. To gain a vision and shape the cultural identity can be provided with international interaction and integration and this will be related to social situation. There are so many differences between Turkey and Europe, USA, Asia in terms of some implementations about site applications and human rights and safety. This is related to view points to the construction area and general behaviours of Turkish people. All of these small details can be associated with institutional structure of construction area and the place of professional construction management companies in this sector. The activities of the Turkish construction industry can be grouped under two main headings, namely: domestic and international construction. Turkish construction sector has no rules about the compulsory of working with construction management companies during the construction process, but new regulation, 9. Development Plan will necessarily achive to use construction management companies in the future. In the rest of the paper, special features of the Turkish construction industry will be presented, professional management companies’ place in the Turkish construction industry will be discussed in terms of technical, social, cultural and legislative standpoints. İnş.Müh. DENIZ AKYUREK