Manchidi, T E and Rwelamila, P D (2019) A state legitimation approach of reserved built environment professional work: A case for South Africa: part 1. Journal of Construction Business and Management, 3(2), pp. 35-48. ISSN 2521-0165
Abstract
This paper borrows from the lenses of the sociology of professions, sociology of science and temporary project organisations and construction reform to examine state legitimation of reserved built environment (BE) professional work as the first part of a two-part study. In doing so, it examines the growth of professions as a consequence of the division of expert labour evolving to fill in knowledge gaps created by emergent social forces as other knowledge areas are rendered less relevant. It shows how professional work negatively impacts on the delivery efficiencies in the project as a temporary organisation. In making this argument, it draws on the jurisdictional theory of professions to illustrate the relational and interactional relationship of professions in construction projects. To help focus on collaboration, a preliminary conceptual model for the legitimation of professions at the macro (policy) level is developed to explain how boundary margins keep professions relational, and how the dynamics of boundary work unfold in a territorial space in a project (meso) environment. Finally, it provides the scope of the second part of the study (the field study) by formulating the main research objective and research question and their respective specific research objectives and research questions, respectively.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | collaboration; division of expert labour; jurisdictional boundaries; legitimation; professional work; temporary organisations |
| Index terms: | built environment, dynamics, profession, efficiency, temporary organization, professional work, sociology, collaboration, construction project, division of expert labour, South Africa, jurisdictional boundary, field study, project organization, construction reform, science, legitimation |
| Subjects: | systems engineering, infrastructure and transport systems, sociology, professional development, social theory, production management, Geography, organizational theory, research methods, performance management, management, property law, institututions, specialized education, business |
| Topics: | Engineering Principles, Information Management, Geographical Context, Project Management, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Urban Studies, Legal Issues, Quality Management, Organizational Design, Education |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
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