Hu, Y; Liu, M; Le, Y and Skitmore, M (2022) External consultant involvement for organizational capability building in complex construction projects: A perspective from interorganizational learning process. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 148(1): 04021181, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
External management consultants have been increasingly employed by owners of complex construction projects (CCPs) to foster management innovation and improve their organizational capability. However, the dynamics of the owner-consultant collaboration process in such projects are still unknown. To bridge this gap, this paper explores the roles of external consultant involvement in fostering management innovation and developing an organizational capability in CCPs. Based on survey data collected from 102 such projects across different types in China, the partial least square-structural equation modeling analysis results uncover the positive effect of external consultant involvement in creating management innovation and building organizational capability. In particular, the mediating role of management innovation is identified in the exploration and transformation learning processes with external consultants involved. The findings of this study provide a novel explanation for the creation of management innovation in CCPs through external consultant involvement and useful guidance to project owners to better identify and utilize external consultants in the future.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | complex construction project; external consultant; management innovation; organizational capability |
| Index terms: | structural equation modelling, survey, China, partial least square, organizational capability, collaboration, construction project, exploration, owner, transformation, interorganizational, dynamics, management innovation |
| Subjects: | systems engineering, statistical analysis, sociology, Geography, production management, management, environmental resource management, business, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Organizational Design, Engineering Principles, Project Management, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Sustainability, Stakeholder Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
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