Han, Y; Li, Y; Rao, P and Taylor, J E (2021) Global collaborative network of skyscraper projects from 1990 to 2010: Temporal evolution and spatial characteristics. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 147(8): 0002096, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
With architecture, engineering, and construction projects tending to be larger and more complex, their participating organizations are becoming more diversified and internationalized. This is particularly true for megaprojects that require higher levels of specialized workforces and exhibit more complicated organizational relationships. To examine the characteristics of megaproject collaboration from a dynamic network perspective, this research selected skyscraper projects as a featured megaproject field. A total of 422 completed skyscraper projects over 250 m in height that were built from 1990 to 2010 worldwide, as well as more than 1,100 participating organizations, were analyzed using social network analysis. Increasingly tight and interwoven collaborative relationships in the discrete-time global skyscraper networks were found, and design firms played a vital role by holding central network positions over time, indicating the importance of the design phase in skyscraper projects. The distinctive interregional and/or intraregional collaboration features were revealed at different geographical settings. Designers, especially those from North America, Europe, and Oceania, were also more active and thus successful in participating in skyscraper projects abroad, mostly in Asia and the Middle East, whereas the general contractors were more generally involved in local projects. The identified preferential attachment phenomenon and regional collaborative features led to the network topology dynamics. This study not only contributes to an holistic understanding of the status quo and development trends of the skyscraper industry integrating network theory with megaproject management, but also provides a reference for corporate practices and decision making in the specific megaproject field.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | megaproject collaborative network; skyscraper; social network analysis; spatial characteristics; temporal evolution |
| Index terms: | Middle East, general contractor, social network analysis, evolution, Asia, decision-making, construction project, collaboration, megaproject, topology, design firm, becoming, Europe, skyscraper, designer, design phase, dynamics |
| Subjects: | production management, geometry and topology, research methods, management, physical geography and landforms, systems engineering, philosophical process, decision analysis, practitioner, construction type, profession, regions and continents, strategic project management, environmental science, professional practice |
| Topics: | Project Management, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Construction Technology, Sustainability, Roles and Professions, Risk Management, Design Practice, Organizational Design |
| 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