Mahalingam, A and Levitt, R E (2007) Institutional theory as a framework for analyzing conflicts on global projects. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 133(7), pp. 517-528. ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Global construction projects that involve collaboration between participants from multiple countries often result in unique challenges, and costs due to cross-national interactions. Case studies performed to investigate the cross-national interactions and tensions present on global projects suggest that institutional differences-differences in workplace norms, legal regulations, and cultural values-contribute to these costs. We demonstrate how institutional theory-a branch of organizational theory-can comprehensively describe the cross-national challenges on global projects. We show how this theory can help practitioners to more accurately classify the cross-national issues they encounter, determine the causes behind the conflicts, and judge the relative ease with which each type of conflict can be resolved. However, there are gaps in the extant application of institutional theory that prevent us from predicting institutional conflicts on global projects and devising solution strategies. These gaps are identified and a research trajectory to understand them is proposed. This paper is aimed at starting a much-needed dialogue on the mitigation of cross-national issues on global projects, and not as a demonstration of methods to eliminate all cross-national conflicts.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | case reports; conflict; international factors; organizations; project management |
| Index terms: | mitigation, interaction, global construction, strategy, institutional theory, project management, practitioner, organizational theory, regulation, case study, collaboration, norms |
| Subjects: | sociology, data collection methods, practitioner, strategic management, financial risk, management, behavioral psychology, political science, business, project management theory and practice |
| Topics: | Project Management, Governance, Cost Management, International Construction, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Organizational Design, Business Strategy |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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