Herrera, R F; Mourgues, C; Alarcón, L F and Pellicer, E (2020) Understanding interactions between design team members of construction projects using social network analysis. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 146(6): 04020053, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Social network analysis (SNA) has not been used to study design project teams in which the full interactions have become more complex (formal and informal) because the team members are from different companies and there is no colocation. This work proposes a method to understand the interactions in the design teams of construction projects using SNA metrics and the sociograms generated within temporary organizations. This study includes three stages: (1) a literature review of the dimensions of interactions within work teams and the application of SNA to the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry; (2) a proposal of an interaction network method for construction project design teams; and (3) an analysis of a pilot project. Interaction networks were defined in two categories: general interactions and commitment management. For each network, metric indicators were defined for the analysis. The pilot project showed high levels of consistency among team responses. The proposed method allows an analysis of the entire work team and of each individual team member. The method also makes it possible to analyze the work team from a global perspective by carrying out a joint analysis of two or more networks.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | design teams; information flow; interaction; interaction metrics; social networks; sociograms |
| Index terms: | project team, literature review, design team, social network, interaction, proposal, dimension, commitment, information flow, social network analysis, temporary organization, construction project |
| Subjects: | professional practice, project planning, sociology, organizational theory, psychology, research methods, data analysis and analytics, health monitoring assessment and metrics, information systems, project delivery, production management, behavioral psychology |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Research Practice, Design Practice, Organizational Design, Project Management, Health and Safety |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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