Barton, D A (1988) The effects of step changes on the construction industry: A study of the reaction of construction industries to change. PhD thesis, University of Reading, UK.
Abstract
This thesis considers the effect of macroeconomic changes in the level of interaction between countries and their effects on construction. A theoretical model of the construction industry is built and the properties of change within construction systems are investigated. From these hypotheses are developed. The dynamics of construction output are also studied with Catastrophe Theory being employed to model the response characteristics of the industry. The study continues with an in depth investigation of Gibraltar's sovereignty and its relationship with Britain and Spain. The changing levels of interaction between Gibraltar and Spain are considered and the effect on construction demand, output and construction systems are looked at over a twenty year period. Observations based on the study of Gibraltar are used as the basis for the testing of the hypotheses derived earlier. This data is also used to demonstrate the power of Catastrophe Theory. The thesis concludes with a description of other areas of interest, including those consequences of rapid physical development on economies. Suggestions are made for future research.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction demand; construction systems; Gibraltar; Spain; UK |
| Index terms: | construction system, construction output, step-change, dynamics, construction demand, investigation, interaction, construction industry, testing, Gibraltar, Spain, catastrophe theory |
| Subjects: | building construction, market analysis, behavioral psychology, systems engineering, industry analysis, Geography, operations management, professional practice, mathematical modelling, data collection methods, innovation studies |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Geographical Context, Project Management, Research Practice, 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