Josephson, P E and Bjorkman, L (2013) Why do work sampling studies in construction? The case of plumbing work in Scandinavia. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 20(6), pp. 589-603. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to identify reasons for doing work sampling studies in processes performed by temporary organisations. Specific questions consider if the technique can be used for measuring productivity and if it can be used to compare performances over time. Design/methodology/ approach-A work sampling study of plumbing work in eight construction projects is compared with a similar study performed 20 years earlier. Interviews are made in order to find out how the work conditions have developed over time. Findings-Work sampling studies are of little value for measuring productivity as well as for comparing performances over time. One reason is that the conditions vary to a high extent from one situation to another. Another reason is that working conditions undergo significant development over time. On the other hand, the authors experience that data from work sampling studies are of high relevance for discussions on improvement opportunities among workers as well as among corporate managers. Originality/value-The paper builds on detailed direct observations of plumbing work.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | direct observation; lean construction; productivity; resource efficiency; sub-contractors paper type case study |
| Index terms: | plumbing, manager, lean construction, productivity, direct observation, methodology, sub-contractor, temporary organization, case study, construction project, sampling, interview, resource efficiency, working conditions |
| Subjects: | mechanical systems, organizational theory, practitioner, management, data collection methods, research methods, building construction, production management, employment law |
| Topics: | Legal Issues, Roles and Professions, Site Management, Research Practice, Project Management, Business Strategy, Design Practice |
| 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