Zika-Viktorsson, A (2002) The industrial project. Studies of the work situation of project members. PhD thesis, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden.
Abstract
The aim of the thesis was to investigate and analyze how project members at operative level experience industrial project work. The project goal, alongside the time limits, methods applied, and cooperation, were envisaged to set the prerequisites for the work situation. Four empirical studies, based on both qualitative and quantitative methods, are encompassed by this thesis. In total, 31 companies and 298 respondents were involved in the studies. The studies were performed in product-development and construction settings within the mechanical engineering industry. The analysis shows that project work is characterized by: 1) Goal-focused cooperation in flexible and changeable work groups. Demands competence for cooperation; interaction and communication constantly adjusted to problem-solving processes; and joint activities for goal definition. 2) Treating time as a resource. A fast pace of work demands shared responsibilities in a team; unconstrained interaction and communication; and social support. Scarce time resources give rise to the risk of neglecting needs for long-term knowledge development. 3) Development and insecurity. Development makes contingency-based supervision and planning needed, together with team-based planning and goal formulation. High levels of development stimulate knowledge and improvements to routines and practices. Technological development also entails insecurity, which requires the ability mentally to cope with flexibility and continuous adjustments.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | project organisation; project work; project management; product development; psychosocial work environment |
| Index terms: | cooperation, product development, competence, quantitative method, project organization, routine, mechanical engineering, interaction, supervision, project management, operative, empirical study, work environment |
| Subjects: | data analysis and analytics, psychology, innovation studies, practitioner, control systems, mechanical systems, behavioral psychology, sociology, personnel development, project management theory and practice, organizational theory, research methods, management |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Organizational Design, Human Resources, 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