Prince, M W (1992) Implications of perception and strategy for engineers in construction management. Construction Management and Economics, 10(2), pp. 93-105. ISSN 01446193
Abstract
It is suggested that strategy of the firm is a result of both an objective and subjective evaluation of the environment and the subjective perceptions of the environment are a function of the cognitive style of the individual. Engineers are said to have distinctive cognitive style preferences. In this study, a sample of owners and managers of firms in the non-residential contract construction industry have been grouped according to whether or not the individuals have an engineering background. A comparison is then made of certain cognitive characteristics, perceptions of the business environment, and their choice of competitive strategies. The analysis suggests that cognitive style is related to environmental perceptions and strategy, but no differences in cognitive style were evident between the groups of executives. There were, however, differences in environmental perceptions and selections of strategy. The implication is that engineers may need to be more aware of the pitfalls of their cognitive style, and be more broadly developed in order to increase their awareness of strategic options, thus enhancing the opportunities of success for their firms.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | environment; perceptions; psychological type; strategy |
| Index terms: | strategy, environmental perception, manager, preference, competitive strategy, engineer, owner, construction industry, option, cognitive style, executive |
| Subjects: | practitioner, profession, economic analysis, environmental behaviour, decision-making and reasoning, management, industry analysis, decision analysis, sociology, cognitive psychology |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Business Strategy, Sustainability, Risk Management, Stakeholder Management, Roles and Professions |
| 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