Longstaff, D and Johansen, E (2009) Mobile phones in project management: The pendulum of professionalism. In: Dainty, A R J (ed.) Proceedings of 25th Annual ARCOM Conference, 7-9 September 2009, Nottingham, UK.
Abstract
Instant electronic communication has become a regular feature on many construction projects in recent years. However, the use of the mobile telephone for instant vocal communication, as opposed to more structured strategies for mobile computing, may produce problems. Anecdotal evidence suggests that there is concern about the instantaneous nature of this form of communication, its affect on behaviour and what constitutes professional practice in its use. The opportunity has been taken here, through the use of a questionnaire survey of project managers mainly from the construction process industry, to discover something about the use of mobile telephones in projects and the opinion of those who use them. Initial research suggested that the use of mobile phones did not have the planning, financial investment and in-use training support which are given to mobile computing tools. Some people in the construction team appear to have different approaches to mobile phone use and this may be age related. Positive and negative issues are identified which are associated with aspects of mobile phone use classified as professional [more formal and organised where high levels of understanding are generated and issues are clarified if necessary] and unprofessional [a more relaxed approach where understanding is not fully generated and issues are not fully clarified]. Further research on a longitudinal basis is strongly recommended to investigate these issues.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | project management; communication; mobile phone |
| Index terms: | professionalism, project management, professional practice, construction process, construction project, questionnaire, evidence, strategy, construction team, survey, mobile computing, electronic communication, project manager |
| Subjects: | evaluation and assessment methods, data collection methods, profession, digital technology, project delivery, management, production management, professional development, project management theory and practice, building construction, information systems |
| Topics: | Site Management, Digital Applications, Roles and Professions, Information Management, Research Practice, Project Management, Business Strategy |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
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