Bronke, J (2023) Exploring on-site institutional logics and contradictions: How institutions are reproduced on the construction site. In: Tutesigensi, A and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 39th Annual ARCOM Conference, 4-6 September 2023, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Abstract
Construction projects are often depicted as temporary project-based organisations with a high level of conflicts. These organisations are compositions of several firms and professions who mobilise different institutional logics in their everyday work. However, it is not clear whether these conflicts stem from competing and potentially contradictory institutional logics. To better understand whether conflicts on the construction site result from incompatibilities between logics, this paper investigates the presence of logics on construction sites in Denmark. The study uses a sample of 10 semi-structured interviews conducted with site managers and craftsmen. The findings suggest that conflict arises due to competing institutional logics. For example, at the level of the craftsmen, the focus is on self-interest, while at the level of the managers, the focus is on the general project. This demonstrates that multiple competing institutional logics exist on the construction site and trigger conflicts during the everyday work. The study contributes to the construction management literature with insights on how contradictory logics affect construction site activities.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | conflicts; construction site; institutional contradictions; institutional logics; professional relationships |
| Index terms: | Denmark, profession, manager, construction site, institutional logic, construction project, site manager, interview, presence, project-based organization, craft worker, professional relationships |
| Subjects: | organization, theoretical framing, data collection methods, work location, practitioner, institututions, Geography, sociology, production management, environmental science |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Organizational Design, Geographical Context, Sustainability, Site Management, Research Practice, Project Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
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