Bronke J, F N (2023) Perceptions and understandings of construction site productivity: Insights from the Danish construction industry. In: Tutesigensi, A and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 39th Annual ARCOM Conference, 4-6 September 2023, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Abstract
Productivity has been a recurrent topic in construction management research for decades. While an impressive number of inquiries have explored construction sector productivity from an ex-post perspective by measuring inputs and outputs of resources in construction activities, less attention has been invested in understanding construction site perceptions of productivity and understandings of how to improve productivity. The aim of the study is to contribute to existing literature in two ways. First by providing insights into the different perceptions of productivity among craftsmen and construction managers. Second by demonstrating how ambiguous understandings of productivity adversely affect the planning and execution of construction activities and thus complicates productivity improvements. The empirical material conducted through semi-structured interviews is analysed through a theoretical framework based on extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. The findings show that the construction managers embrace the idea of monetary rewards as an approach to address productivity issues. Analogously, the craftsmen request and highlight better communication between construction managers and craftsmen as well as increased influence on the planning and execution of construction activities as ways to improve productivity.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | category; construction management; motivation; productivity; qualitative research |
| Index terms: | qualitative research, construction manager, construction industry, craft worker, construction sector, interview, management research, construction activity, productivity, construction site, motivation |
| Subjects: | construction operations, work location, psychology, practitioner, research design and methodology, data collection methods, profession, industry analysis, management |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Site Management, Human Resources |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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