Swan, W; Cooper, R; McDermott, P and Wood, G (2001) A review of social network analysis for the IMI Trust in Construction Project. In: Akintoye, A (ed.) Proceedings of 17th Annual ARCOM Conference, 5-7 September 2001, Salford, UK.
Abstract
The issue of trust has been raised as a "gatekeeper" to problems of improving construction procurement (Latham 1994). The IMI Trust in Construction Project is an attempt to evaluate the levels of trust between individuals working together on construction projects. The project is currently undertaking pilot case studies applying Social Network Analysis. This approach has already been demonstrated as useful in reflecting the structure of construction teams (Pryke 1998). The Trust in Construction approach seeks to expand this to include cognitive and behavioural data based on the ideas of a Trust Inventory (Bromily and Cummings 1996). The first stage of the Trust in Construction project is to develop networks built on objective measures, based on questionnaires and documentation (Scott 1991), to evaluate structure and information flow. The data collection methodologies are presented as a central factor in evaluating relationships and, ultimately, trust. Social Network Analysis gives a number of analytical approaches to attempt to understand the data collected. The data allows the analysis of structural, transactional and linking concepts (Tichy 1979). Concepts such as distance and centrality can show roles and participation within the network providing a basis for further analysis. Cliques, clusters or cores can shows how individuals or groups of individuals operate within the context of the whole construction project (Scott 1991).
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | networks; social network analysis; supply chain; trust |
| Index terms: | questionnaire, construction procurement, construction project, methodology, documentation, information flow, construction team, social network analysis, Latham, case study, inventory |
| Subjects: | professional development, inventory management, production management, research methods, information systems, industry policy reports, data collection methods, project delivery, contractual arrangements |
| Topics: | Procurement, Governance, Project Management, Research Practice, Information Management, Supply Chain Management, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here