Thomas, H R (1992) Effects of scheduled overtime on labor productivity. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 118(1), pp. 60-76. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
This paper reviews the construction literature on the effects on labor productivity of scheduled overtime. The literature is organized into three groups: studies based on data from project records, studies in which the sources of data are unknown, and studies done in the manufacturing sector. Analyses are also performed on the influence of the number of days per week and the number of hours per day. The literature on scheduled overtime was found to be very sparse; dated to the late 1960s and earlier; based on small sample sizes; and largely developed from questionable or unknown sources. The analysis reveals very few original data. Many studies reference other studies, giving the false appearance of originality. The analysis of data shows general consistency with respect to overall losses of efficiency. However, with respect to the loss of efficiency as a function of the number of hours per day and the number of days per week, many studies show that the effect of these two variables is negligible. The paper concludes that these studies provide strange and largely unbelievable results.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Index terms: | efficiency, sample size, labour productivity |
| Subjects: | research design and methodology, performance management, management |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Quality Management, Site Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 2 CA |
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