Rooke, J A (2001) Researching culture on construction projects. PhD thesis, University of Birmingham, UK.
Abstract
This thesis is concerned with methods of investigating the culture of the construction industry. Initially, two kinds of method are identified: formal and informal. The relationships between methods, purposes, definitions and findings are explored. It is shown how formal methods are underpinned by informal ones. Criteria for the adequacy of informal methods are identified. In the light of these criteria, an ethnography of an aspect of industry culture is presented. Dubbed the 'claims culture', this aspect is explored to show how planning for claims is an integral part of project management in the industry. Practical, moral and emotional aspects of the claims culture are investigated. Two sets of recommendations are derived, one set for managers, the other for researchers. The recommendations for managers include advice on avoiding and managing claims, as well as comments on the feasibility of transforming the claims culture. The recommendations for researchers summarize the central argument of the thesis, offering an account of the adequacy of various types of research reports.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | claims culture; culture; ethnography; research methods; formal research methods; informal research methods |
| Index terms: | claims culture, manager, construction project, ethnography, project management, construction industry |
| Subjects: | contractual relationship, practitioner, project management theory and practice, production management, qualitative and interpretive research, industry analysis |
| Topics: | Project Management, Research Practice, Roles and Professions, Contract Administration |
| 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