Critical Success Factors (CSF) for the future economic and developmental needs of the South African engineering industry

Abstract

It is identified that training and development of young engineering professionals and retention of skilled engineers are urgently required. The study therefore aimed to identify the critical success factors in the engineering industry and the development of a conceptual framework to meet the future economical and development needs of South Africa. Firstly, a suggested conceptual framework using the Engineering Systems Framework as a theoretical base was developed through a review of the literature. An exploratory analysis was conducted to understand the variety of connections and relationships between independent and dependent variables, focusing on dependent variables where a significant difference in opinion between groups exists. A conceptual framework was derived from a Component Factor Analysis which produced four (4) latent constructs and 14 observed variables. Lastly, a Structural Equation Model illustrating the directional relationships between the latent and observed variables as the conceptual model for the future economic and developmental needs of the South African engineering industry.