The Role Of Career Development In Improving Quality Of Consultancy Services In Ghana

Abstract

Career development practices in the workplace help companies attract and retain high performing employees. Effective career development practices such as employee growth and development can facilitate healthy organizations. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of career development on quality of consultancy services in Ghana. The study adopted a quantitative research approach involving the administration of survey questionnaires to a simple random sample of 218 Architectural and Quantity surveyors firms. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics involving mean and standard deviations, spearmen’s correlation and two sample t-test and Levene's test. The findings revealed the 5 most highly ranked influential factors to be considered as effective career development strategies within consulting firms in Ghana are; resource management, infrastructure development for large-scale projects, strategic planning to align the organisation on key priorities, due diligence and transaction support for investors including infrastructure funds and private equity and products/service branding and packaging. The findings further revealed there exist no significant correlation between career development practices and quality of service. The findings further revealed 5 key challenges that confronts consulting firms in Ghana, they include; insufficient capital, bribery and corruption, favouritism, nepotism and lack of motivation. Again, the study concluded on the following; almost all career development practices offered by architects and quantity surveyors do not have any impact on the quality of service and also the 5 key challenges that confront consulting firms in Ghana are; insufficient working capital, bribery and corruption, favouritism, lack of motivation and bad company organization and policy regulation. Based on the findings, the study recommends that there should be frequent training on career development practices for the various consulting firms to abreast with their job. Government should assist the various firms get affordable loans from the various financial institution, workers at the various consulting firms should be motivated enough to give their best and to deal with favouritism, the government should strengthen procurement in the country. Contracts should be advertised for qualified applicants to apply