Tennant, S and Langford, D (2005) Construction management teams & project performance: A diagnostic toolkit. In: Khosrowshahi, F (ed.) Proceedings of 21st Annual ARCOM Conference, 7-9 September 2005, London, UK.
Abstract
Team theory is a resilient management theme, its academic and practical contribution to human resource management has been the subject of countless studies. Over the last decade corporate team philosophy has shifted the team paradigm away from a traditionally tactical purpose towards an increasingly strategic perspective. The research programme investigates the relationship between construction site management team efficiency and project performance. Ten construction project case-studies have been undertaken to assess levels of site management team working with the results evaluated against project performance. The case-study has two principle data collection methods. The team rating is assessed using an attitude questionnaire completed by all participating site team members. The individual responses are collated, averaged and presented as a percentage rating on a team radar chart. Project performance is calculated by applying Kaplan and Norton's balanced scorecard template together with seven key performance indicators endorsed by the DTi's Constructing Excellence initiative. The KPI's are collated, benchmarked and presented on the appropriate axis of a project radar chart. Analysis of the results suggests a significant strength of relationship between the construction site team rating and project performance. Various statistical configurations have also been identified, indicating possible weaknesses within the team dynamic that may be addressed in an effort to achieve improved project performance. Further research has the potential for the development of a diagnostic toolkit that may reveal some of the behavioural and contextual barriers associated with construction site management teams.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction; management; performance; teams |
| Index terms: | toolkit, questionnaire, project performance, configuration, paradigm, construction project, site management, philosophy, programme, human resource management, construction site, key performance indicator, efficiency, balanced scorecard |
| Subjects: | work location, project delivery, construction operations, data collection methods, project controls, systems engineering, philosophical studies, software systems, performance management, management, education and knowledge transfer, performance measurement, project management theory and practice, production management |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Human Resources, Time Control, Site Management, Research Practice, Project Management, Engineering Principles |
| 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