Helen, C L; Francis, V and Turner, M (2010) The rhythms of project life: A longitudinal analysis of work hours and work-life experiences in construction. Construction Management and Economics, 28(10), pp. 1085-1098. ISSN 1466433X
Abstract
A diary data collection method was used to collect data from project-based construction workers in a large civil engineering construction project in Melbourne, Australia. Data capturing the number of hours worked, satisfaction with work-life balance and capacity to complete required tasks at work and at home were collected for 21 consecutive weeks. A strong correlation was found between hours worked each week and participants' work-life experiences. Data were subjected to time series modelling procedures and weekly work hours were found to significantly predict participants' capacity to complete tasks at work and at home, but not their satisfaction with work-life balance. The impact of work leading up to a major project milestone was found to increase the predictive capacity of the time series models, indicating that project events have a significant impact upon the work-life experiences of project-based workers. The period of intense work prior to the milestone (the opening of a new ramp on to an operating freeway) contributed significantly to an immediate reduction in capacity to complete tasks at home. Further time series modelling revealed that recovery opportunities associated with workers taking a short, temporary break from work can also contribute to improved work-life balance. It is proposed that construction organizations use the naturally fluctuating workloads implicit in project work to 'build' recovery opportunities into project schedules.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | diary studies; project work; work hours; work-family balance |
| Index terms: | Australia, major project, satisfaction, recovery, construction organization, work-life balance, construction worker, modelling, diary, workload, longitudinal analysis, time series, construction project |
| Subjects: | data collection methods, organization, practitioner, operations management, data science, data analysis and analytics, project delivery, analytical methods, strategic project management, management, production management, Geography |
| Topics: | Human Resources, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Project Management, Geographical Context, Engineering Principles, Roles and Professions |
| 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