Pub Date : 2022-12-02DOI: 10.1080/01446193.2022.2154040
Paul W. Chan
When I took on the role of Editor-in-Chief for Construction Management and Economics in January 2020, I argued in the opening editorial that there is room for the journal to feature studies that tackle important and interesting questions surrounding the grand societal challenges of our time (Chan 2020). Thus, it gives me great pleasure to share my final editorial reflections at the back of the special issue of “Transforming Construction”, one of several special issues commissioned during my tenure as Editor-in-Chief that focus on some of the key ongoing challenges confronting researchers and practitioners in construction management and economics. The other issues included “Construction Defects, Danger, Disruption and Disputes” (Volume 39, Issue 12, 2021); “Sustainable Building Renovation” (Volume 40, Issue 3, 2022), and the Festschrift issue in honour of Dr. Glenn Ballard and his contribution to the field of lean construction (Volume 40, Issues 7–8, 2022). Still in the pipeline is the special issue on grand challenges facing our cities, as well as one based on the lessons learnt from the Covid-19 global pandemic. When thinking about grand societal challenges at the time of writing the opening editorial, I could not have imagined the onset of the Covid-19 global pandemic and its impacts on academic life. While analyses of the impacts of the global pandemic are still ongoing and will likely continue for some time, the Editorial Team has nevertheless experienced impacts of delays to the editorial process. Our average turnaround time for making editorial decisions over the past three years has crept up slightly to just over 33 days, indicating perhaps the challenges arising from increased workload and time pressures in academic life. At the same time, the Editorial Team also made decisions on 1,760 manuscripts over the same period with an acceptance rate of 13.3%, representing an increase in submissions to the journal and a slightly lower acceptance rate than the previous three years. In any case, there is a silver lining in the horizon where the turnaround time for an editorial decision is concerned; this appears to have reduced to just under 27 days on average over the past 11 months in 2022, which is in line with pre-pandemic levels. The Editorial Team is therefore grateful for the support given by the peerreviewers, a list of which is appended at the end of this issue. Forty years of Construction Management and Economics: a moment to celebrate, commemorate and reflect for the continuity of the journal
{"title":"Reflections from the Editor-in-Chief: confronting emerging challenges with important and interesting research in Construction Management and Economics","authors":"Paul W. Chan","doi":"10.1080/01446193.2022.2154040","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2022.2154040","url":null,"abstract":"When I took on the role of Editor-in-Chief for Construction Management and Economics in January 2020, I argued in the opening editorial that there is room for the journal to feature studies that tackle important and interesting questions surrounding the grand societal challenges of our time (Chan 2020). Thus, it gives me great pleasure to share my final editorial reflections at the back of the special issue of “Transforming Construction”, one of several special issues commissioned during my tenure as Editor-in-Chief that focus on some of the key ongoing challenges confronting researchers and practitioners in construction management and economics. The other issues included “Construction Defects, Danger, Disruption and Disputes” (Volume 39, Issue 12, 2021); “Sustainable Building Renovation” (Volume 40, Issue 3, 2022), and the Festschrift issue in honour of Dr. Glenn Ballard and his contribution to the field of lean construction (Volume 40, Issues 7–8, 2022). Still in the pipeline is the special issue on grand challenges facing our cities, as well as one based on the lessons learnt from the Covid-19 global pandemic. When thinking about grand societal challenges at the time of writing the opening editorial, I could not have imagined the onset of the Covid-19 global pandemic and its impacts on academic life. While analyses of the impacts of the global pandemic are still ongoing and will likely continue for some time, the Editorial Team has nevertheless experienced impacts of delays to the editorial process. Our average turnaround time for making editorial decisions over the past three years has crept up slightly to just over 33 days, indicating perhaps the challenges arising from increased workload and time pressures in academic life. At the same time, the Editorial Team also made decisions on 1,760 manuscripts over the same period with an acceptance rate of 13.3%, representing an increase in submissions to the journal and a slightly lower acceptance rate than the previous three years. In any case, there is a silver lining in the horizon where the turnaround time for an editorial decision is concerned; this appears to have reduced to just under 27 days on average over the past 11 months in 2022, which is in line with pre-pandemic levels. The Editorial Team is therefore grateful for the support given by the peerreviewers, a list of which is appended at the end of this issue. Forty years of Construction Management and Economics: a moment to celebrate, commemorate and reflect for the continuity of the journal","PeriodicalId":51389,"journal":{"name":"Construction Management and Economics","volume":"40 1","pages":"1003 - 1005"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2022-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44013037","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-11-29DOI: 10.1080/01446193.2022.2151025
Natalie R Galea, Abigail Powell, Fanny Salignac
Abstract Over the last few decades, research has largely focused on the processes and practices that act against women in male-dominated industries and the effect this has on their career progression. However, men’s careers are under analysed. This paper flips the gaze, applying a feminist institutionalist lens to examine the practices and rules that shape and enable men’s career progression. This is critical if we are to understand how men’s power in organizations is maintained and perpetuated, arguably at the expense of women’s careers. It draws on data from a rapid ethnographic study of the Australian construction industry, specifically of construction professionals working in two multinational Australian construction companies. The paper finds that men’s career progression routinely operates through homosociality, instrumentally and expressively, via a “sponsor-mobility” principle whereby selected individuals receive higher levels of guidance, access to opportunities and advocacy from their managers.
{"title":"The role of homosociality in maintaining men’s powerfulness in construction companies","authors":"Natalie R Galea, Abigail Powell, Fanny Salignac","doi":"10.1080/01446193.2022.2151025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2022.2151025","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Over the last few decades, research has largely focused on the processes and practices that act against women in male-dominated industries and the effect this has on their career progression. However, men’s careers are under analysed. This paper flips the gaze, applying a feminist institutionalist lens to examine the practices and rules that shape and enable men’s career progression. This is critical if we are to understand how men’s power in organizations is maintained and perpetuated, arguably at the expense of women’s careers. It draws on data from a rapid ethnographic study of the Australian construction industry, specifically of construction professionals working in two multinational Australian construction companies. The paper finds that men’s career progression routinely operates through homosociality, instrumentally and expressively, via a “sponsor-mobility” principle whereby selected individuals receive higher levels of guidance, access to opportunities and advocacy from their managers.","PeriodicalId":51389,"journal":{"name":"Construction Management and Economics","volume":"41 1","pages":"172 - 182"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2022-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47614577","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-11-29DOI: 10.1080/01446193.2022.2151024
T. Coenen, K. Visscher, L. Volker
Abstract Due to the large use of resources and waste generation, the transition to a circular economy (CE) has become a major sustainability-related topic in construction. Intentions to achieve circularity are shared widely, but developments are slow in practice. This study identifies systemic barriers to the circularity transition from a social-technical systemic perspective. We used the Mission-oriented Innovation System (MIS) framework to provide insights into the problems and potential solutions underlying the circularity mission, the structure of the system and the system dynamics. Based on the analysis of a wide range of policy documents and twenty in-depth interviews with stakeholders in the Dutch infrastructure sector, three vicious cycles were identified that form persistent barriers to the transition: (1) the CE contestation cycle given the contested nature of the circularity mission; (2) the knowledge diffusion cycle given the need to adopt and diffuse knowledge; and (3) the innovation cycle when it comes to procuring and upscaling circular innovations. These barriers all relate to processual, organizational and institutional challenges rather than to technological ones. This indicates that construction managers, policymakers and researchers in the field of infrastructure circularity should shift their focus from specific circular solutions to creating appropriate conditions for changing current and introducing novel processes that facilitate circular ways of doing things.
{"title":"A systemic perspective on transition barriers to a circular infrastructure sector","authors":"T. Coenen, K. Visscher, L. Volker","doi":"10.1080/01446193.2022.2151024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2022.2151024","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Due to the large use of resources and waste generation, the transition to a circular economy (CE) has become a major sustainability-related topic in construction. Intentions to achieve circularity are shared widely, but developments are slow in practice. This study identifies systemic barriers to the circularity transition from a social-technical systemic perspective. We used the Mission-oriented Innovation System (MIS) framework to provide insights into the problems and potential solutions underlying the circularity mission, the structure of the system and the system dynamics. Based on the analysis of a wide range of policy documents and twenty in-depth interviews with stakeholders in the Dutch infrastructure sector, three vicious cycles were identified that form persistent barriers to the transition: (1) the CE contestation cycle given the contested nature of the circularity mission; (2) the knowledge diffusion cycle given the need to adopt and diffuse knowledge; and (3) the innovation cycle when it comes to procuring and upscaling circular innovations. These barriers all relate to processual, organizational and institutional challenges rather than to technological ones. This indicates that construction managers, policymakers and researchers in the field of infrastructure circularity should shift their focus from specific circular solutions to creating appropriate conditions for changing current and introducing novel processes that facilitate circular ways of doing things.","PeriodicalId":51389,"journal":{"name":"Construction Management and Economics","volume":"41 1","pages":"22 - 43"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2022-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44026253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-11-29DOI: 10.1080/01446193.2022.2151022
Morwenna F. Fellows, F. Phua, Dylan E. Tutt
Abstract The construction industry (CI) employs significant numbers of migrant workers, making construction sites multilingual spaces. Workers who do not share a common language work alongside each other, posing issues for safety, integration and productivity. Methods used to overcome these language barriers include the use of bilingual workers as informal interpreters. The prevalence and importance of informal interpreters is recognized in the literature. However, their language work is not well understood, and hence, the research question addressed is: what language work do the informal interpreters do and how? This study uses the theoretical lens of translanguaging to conceptualize communication onsite between speakers of different named languages, emphasizing the flexible and multimodal nature of language in use. An ethnographic approach is adopted, comprising 40 international informal interviews, and observational field notes and material data from the UK. The language work of the informal interpreters is explored through this data and theoretical lens; their language tasks and the nature of their language work is identified, including the use of visuals, gesture, and technology. Far from being straightforward and predictable, the findings show that the scope of their language work varies considerably. In this informal language work, the boundaries between languages and of what constitutes interpretation are blurred. A novel aspect of language work emerges from the data, showing that this often includes mediation. This study clarifies understandings of communication and informal interpretation on multilingual construction sites and these findings could contribute to future best practice on the use of bilingual workers as informal interpreters.
{"title":"Building bridges: the bilingual language work of migrant construction workers","authors":"Morwenna F. Fellows, F. Phua, Dylan E. Tutt","doi":"10.1080/01446193.2022.2151022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2022.2151022","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The construction industry (CI) employs significant numbers of migrant workers, making construction sites multilingual spaces. Workers who do not share a common language work alongside each other, posing issues for safety, integration and productivity. Methods used to overcome these language barriers include the use of bilingual workers as informal interpreters. The prevalence and importance of informal interpreters is recognized in the literature. However, their language work is not well understood, and hence, the research question addressed is: what language work do the informal interpreters do and how? This study uses the theoretical lens of translanguaging to conceptualize communication onsite between speakers of different named languages, emphasizing the flexible and multimodal nature of language in use. An ethnographic approach is adopted, comprising 40 international informal interviews, and observational field notes and material data from the UK. The language work of the informal interpreters is explored through this data and theoretical lens; their language tasks and the nature of their language work is identified, including the use of visuals, gesture, and technology. Far from being straightforward and predictable, the findings show that the scope of their language work varies considerably. In this informal language work, the boundaries between languages and of what constitutes interpretation are blurred. A novel aspect of language work emerges from the data, showing that this often includes mediation. This study clarifies understandings of communication and informal interpretation on multilingual construction sites and these findings could contribute to future best practice on the use of bilingual workers as informal interpreters.","PeriodicalId":51389,"journal":{"name":"Construction Management and Economics","volume":"41 1","pages":"153 - 171"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2022-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46324484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-11-28DOI: 10.1080/01446193.2022.2151023
Carlos Andres Zapata Quimbayo, Carlos Armando Mejía Vega
Abstract The purpose of the paper is to provide a method to estimate the credit risk in infrastructure public–private partnership (PPP) projects by using a structural model, the Real Options approach, and the Monte Carlo simulation technique. To do that, previous models are extended under a structural framework for credit risk where the embedded options in the credit agreement such as the option to renegotiate and the option to exit are introduced as well as the uncertainty of the cash flows. In that sense, all the components of expected loss (EL) such as the probability of default, the exposure, and the recovery rate for lenders are modelled and estimated in a PPP toll road project by considering the embedded options as well as the default events. Consequently, it is found that the embedded options improve the recovery rate for lenders and their EL. Additionally, practical insights about the effects of the embedded options in the credit agreement and the probability of default are provided.
{"title":"Credit risk in infrastructure PPP projects under the real options approach","authors":"Carlos Andres Zapata Quimbayo, Carlos Armando Mejía Vega","doi":"10.1080/01446193.2022.2151023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2022.2151023","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The purpose of the paper is to provide a method to estimate the credit risk in infrastructure public–private partnership (PPP) projects by using a structural model, the Real Options approach, and the Monte Carlo simulation technique. To do that, previous models are extended under a structural framework for credit risk where the embedded options in the credit agreement such as the option to renegotiate and the option to exit are introduced as well as the uncertainty of the cash flows. In that sense, all the components of expected loss (EL) such as the probability of default, the exposure, and the recovery rate for lenders are modelled and estimated in a PPP toll road project by considering the embedded options as well as the default events. Consequently, it is found that the embedded options improve the recovery rate for lenders and their EL. Additionally, practical insights about the effects of the embedded options in the credit agreement and the probability of default are provided.","PeriodicalId":51389,"journal":{"name":"Construction Management and Economics","volume":"41 1","pages":"293 - 306"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2022-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42543655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-11-15DOI: 10.1080/01446193.2022.2137882
Zhenshuang Wang, Feng Han, Bo Xia, Jingkuang Liu, Chengyi Zhang
Abstract The reduction of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) has a significant impact on the sustainable development of the construction industry. Differentiated reduction management policy is the key to C&DW reduction management. Based on the calculation of C&DW generation, this paper studies the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics, heterogeneity of C&DW with economic growth, and driving factors of C&DW generation in 30 provinces from 2007 to 2018 by using the methods of standard deviation ellipse model, environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) and geographic detector. The results show that the C&DW generation in China shows an increasing trend, “low in the west, and high in the East” and “high in the South and low in the north,” with significant regional differences. The temporal and spatial distribution of C&DW generation shows a “northeast southwest” trend, and this pattern has a trend of changing to “due north - due south”; C&DW generation increases with the economic growth, and the proportion of “inverted N” provinces is large, which is in the stage of continuous increase in the C&DW generation; The economic output effect of construction industry is the most important factor affecting the spatial distribution of C&DW generation. The impact of C&DW generation in each province has shifted from the single core driving effect of economy to the common guidance of economy and environmental protection. The interaction of different factors has a greater impact on the spatial distribution of C&DW generation than that of each factor alone.
{"title":"Regional differences and heterogeneity of construction and demolition waste with economic growth: evidence from China","authors":"Zhenshuang Wang, Feng Han, Bo Xia, Jingkuang Liu, Chengyi Zhang","doi":"10.1080/01446193.2022.2137882","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2022.2137882","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The reduction of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) has a significant impact on the sustainable development of the construction industry. Differentiated reduction management policy is the key to C&DW reduction management. Based on the calculation of C&DW generation, this paper studies the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics, heterogeneity of C&DW with economic growth, and driving factors of C&DW generation in 30 provinces from 2007 to 2018 by using the methods of standard deviation ellipse model, environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) and geographic detector. The results show that the C&DW generation in China shows an increasing trend, “low in the west, and high in the East” and “high in the South and low in the north,” with significant regional differences. The temporal and spatial distribution of C&DW generation shows a “northeast southwest” trend, and this pattern has a trend of changing to “due north - due south”; C&DW generation increases with the economic growth, and the proportion of “inverted N” provinces is large, which is in the stage of continuous increase in the C&DW generation; The economic output effect of construction industry is the most important factor affecting the spatial distribution of C&DW generation. The impact of C&DW generation in each province has shifted from the single core driving effect of economy to the common guidance of economy and environmental protection. The interaction of different factors has a greater impact on the spatial distribution of C&DW generation than that of each factor alone.","PeriodicalId":51389,"journal":{"name":"Construction Management and Economics","volume":"41 1","pages":"44 - 59"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2022-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42659004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-11-04DOI: 10.1080/01446193.2022.2135748
P. Dallasega, Felix Schulze, A. Revolti
Abstract Visual Management (VM) is an important Lean method to enhance information flow and reduce waste in construction. However, its adoption is hindered by several barriers. Scientific works mention that emerging technologies can support or replace conventional VM practices, but empirical evidence is missing. Based on an in-depth literature review, we derived the research questions (RQs), arguing if Augmented Reality (AR) could mitigate VM implementation barriers. Thus, a corresponding AR measurement model was developed. Through a case study of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) installations in a multi-story apartment building, the RQs were answered using an AR head-mounted display (HMD). To gather the necessary empirical evidence, the data was collected through direct observations on-site and through semi-structured interviews. The study findings show that (1) AR provided time savings and generally satisfactory accuracy levels. (2) AR demonstrably reduced the training effort to better support MEP marking work. (3) The use of AR reduced the resistance to change to adopt VM practices, although concerns were raised about poor ergonomics and work safety risks. Future research activities should consist of investigating the potential of other emerging technologies to overcome the common Lean implementation barriers in construction.
{"title":"Augmented Reality to overcome Visual Management implementation barriers in construction: a MEP case study","authors":"P. Dallasega, Felix Schulze, A. Revolti","doi":"10.1080/01446193.2022.2135748","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2022.2135748","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Visual Management (VM) is an important Lean method to enhance information flow and reduce waste in construction. However, its adoption is hindered by several barriers. Scientific works mention that emerging technologies can support or replace conventional VM practices, but empirical evidence is missing. Based on an in-depth literature review, we derived the research questions (RQs), arguing if Augmented Reality (AR) could mitigate VM implementation barriers. Thus, a corresponding AR measurement model was developed. Through a case study of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) installations in a multi-story apartment building, the RQs were answered using an AR head-mounted display (HMD). To gather the necessary empirical evidence, the data was collected through direct observations on-site and through semi-structured interviews. The study findings show that (1) AR provided time savings and generally satisfactory accuracy levels. (2) AR demonstrably reduced the training effort to better support MEP marking work. (3) The use of AR reduced the resistance to change to adopt VM practices, although concerns were raised about poor ergonomics and work safety risks. Future research activities should consist of investigating the potential of other emerging technologies to overcome the common Lean implementation barriers in construction.","PeriodicalId":51389,"journal":{"name":"Construction Management and Economics","volume":"41 1","pages":"232 - 255"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2022-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43705221","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-11-04DOI: 10.1080/01446193.2022.2140815
Emilia Nilsson Vestola, P. Eriksson
Abstract Inter-organizational collaboration within the construction industry consists of both engineered and emerged aspects. Engineered formal practices and emerged informal practices interplay in their influence on the overall success of client-contractor collaboration. This interplay has been recognized but is still understudied and requires further research to increase the understanding of how the interplay functions. To enable the study of the emerged aspects of collaboration we applied a practice-based approach in a longitudinal multiple case study, including four projects for operation and maintenance of road infrastructure. This paper contributes to the literature on collaboration in construction by providing detailed examples of how the interplay between engineered and emerged collaboration may unfold, showing how formal and informal practices contribute to the development of vicious and virtuous cycles of collaboration. Furthermore, our findings indicate that a virtuous cycle of only informal practices can become a weakness if unexpected problems occur. Project managers should therefore be encouraged to implement formal collaboration, even if the project team is already in a virtuous cycle of informal collaboration.
{"title":"Engineered and emerged collaboration: vicious and virtuous cycles","authors":"Emilia Nilsson Vestola, P. Eriksson","doi":"10.1080/01446193.2022.2140815","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2022.2140815","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Inter-organizational collaboration within the construction industry consists of both engineered and emerged aspects. Engineered formal practices and emerged informal practices interplay in their influence on the overall success of client-contractor collaboration. This interplay has been recognized but is still understudied and requires further research to increase the understanding of how the interplay functions. To enable the study of the emerged aspects of collaboration we applied a practice-based approach in a longitudinal multiple case study, including four projects for operation and maintenance of road infrastructure. This paper contributes to the literature on collaboration in construction by providing detailed examples of how the interplay between engineered and emerged collaboration may unfold, showing how formal and informal practices contribute to the development of vicious and virtuous cycles of collaboration. Furthermore, our findings indicate that a virtuous cycle of only informal practices can become a weakness if unexpected problems occur. Project managers should therefore be encouraged to implement formal collaboration, even if the project team is already in a virtuous cycle of informal collaboration.","PeriodicalId":51389,"journal":{"name":"Construction Management and Economics","volume":"41 1","pages":"79 - 96"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2022-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45443526","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-11-01DOI: 10.1080/01446193.2022.2135749
Marcus C. T. Fireman, T. A. Saurin, C. Formoso, L. Koskela, I. Tommelein
Abstract Although buffers of inventories, time, and capacity are commonly recommended to mitigate variability in construction, they abstract away the role played by human agency. This study argues for slack as a socio-technical complement to buffers for dealing with variability. The investigation is based on two case studies conducted in construction projects that adopted the Last Planner® System. Data collection focussed on understanding how slack practices and resources (SPR) were used in production planning and control, and was based on observations, analysis of documents, and interviews. Findings revealed 57 instantiations of slack practices and 8 types of slack resources. Several of these SPR diverge from what are traditionally called buffers, highlighting how the concept of SPR gives visibility to a wider range of variability coping mechanisms. Thus, it is important to make SPR explicit so that managers can reflect on why SPR are necessary, understand how they relate to each other, and assess their unintended consequences. Five propositions are presented, encompassing: how to identify SPR; the variety and general- or context-specific nature of SPR; and the value of maintaining SPR. These propositions contribute to risk management in production planning and control.
{"title":"Slack in production planning and control: a study in the construction industry","authors":"Marcus C. T. Fireman, T. A. Saurin, C. Formoso, L. Koskela, I. Tommelein","doi":"10.1080/01446193.2022.2135749","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2022.2135749","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Although buffers of inventories, time, and capacity are commonly recommended to mitigate variability in construction, they abstract away the role played by human agency. This study argues for slack as a socio-technical complement to buffers for dealing with variability. The investigation is based on two case studies conducted in construction projects that adopted the Last Planner® System. Data collection focussed on understanding how slack practices and resources (SPR) were used in production planning and control, and was based on observations, analysis of documents, and interviews. Findings revealed 57 instantiations of slack practices and 8 types of slack resources. Several of these SPR diverge from what are traditionally called buffers, highlighting how the concept of SPR gives visibility to a wider range of variability coping mechanisms. Thus, it is important to make SPR explicit so that managers can reflect on why SPR are necessary, understand how they relate to each other, and assess their unintended consequences. Five propositions are presented, encompassing: how to identify SPR; the variety and general- or context-specific nature of SPR; and the value of maintaining SPR. These propositions contribute to risk management in production planning and control.","PeriodicalId":51389,"journal":{"name":"Construction Management and Economics","volume":"41 1","pages":"256 - 276"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2022-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49082752","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-10-27DOI: 10.1080/01446193.2022.2137881
A. Styhre, Sara Brorström
Abstract Large-scale urban development projects are complex economic and politically shaped activities, and such projects have oftentimes proved to be more costly and demanding more time to complete than is frequently being stipulated from the outset. Based on these conditions, urban development projects demand effective cross-organizational collaborations to optimize the use of available expertise, the capacity to process data and information, and to optimize public interests (being monitored by democratically elected entities in democratic societies). Based on a study of a major urban development project in Gothenburg, Sweden, this article introduces the concept of syndicated leadership, derived from the concept of syndicated investment in the venture capital industry. Syndicated leadership is based on the centralization of decision-making authority and resource allocation to a team of leaders, each representing (in the case examined) a private corporation, a municipality corporation, or a municipality agency having specific responsibilities in the shared urban development project, but also being dependent on the capacity to coordinate and align project activities. As the case indicates, syndicated leadership demands new expertise and communicative capacities and political skills, but when implemented effectively, it holds the promise of avoiding costly and embarrassing urban development project failures as it makes better use of the expertise of the participant organizations and better accommodate public interests.
{"title":"Syndicated leadership in urban development projects: the case of the River City Gothenburg project","authors":"A. Styhre, Sara Brorström","doi":"10.1080/01446193.2022.2137881","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/01446193.2022.2137881","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Large-scale urban development projects are complex economic and politically shaped activities, and such projects have oftentimes proved to be more costly and demanding more time to complete than is frequently being stipulated from the outset. Based on these conditions, urban development projects demand effective cross-organizational collaborations to optimize the use of available expertise, the capacity to process data and information, and to optimize public interests (being monitored by democratically elected entities in democratic societies). Based on a study of a major urban development project in Gothenburg, Sweden, this article introduces the concept of syndicated leadership, derived from the concept of syndicated investment in the venture capital industry. Syndicated leadership is based on the centralization of decision-making authority and resource allocation to a team of leaders, each representing (in the case examined) a private corporation, a municipality corporation, or a municipality agency having specific responsibilities in the shared urban development project, but also being dependent on the capacity to coordinate and align project activities. As the case indicates, syndicated leadership demands new expertise and communicative capacities and political skills, but when implemented effectively, it holds the promise of avoiding costly and embarrassing urban development project failures as it makes better use of the expertise of the participant organizations and better accommodate public interests.","PeriodicalId":51389,"journal":{"name":"Construction Management and Economics","volume":"41 1","pages":"387 - 401"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2022-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42335699","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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