Ahiaga-Dagbui, D D; Tokede, O; Morrison, J and Chirnside, A (2020) Building high-performing and integrated project teams. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 27(10), pp. 3341-3361. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: Effective inter-organisational relationships are key to engendering innovation and ensuring the successful delivery of infrastructure projects. Relationship-based contracts are thus widely used to stimulate best-for-project ideals and attenuate the otherwise adversarial relationship that often exists between clients and contractors. This study examines the effectiveness and limitations of a project facilitation model as coaching tool for developing conducive inter-organisational relationships for construction project delivery. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopts a case-study approach using evidence from triangulated data sources of focus group workshops, semi-structured interviews and document analysis. Findings: (1) The facilitation model enabled an environment for psychological safety to be developed, which engendered a platform for effective cooperation for problem-solving and achieving quasi best-for-project ideals. (2) The model provides the mechanism to develop team behaviours that support enhanced performance and create an environment less adversarial and more collaborative than traditional contracting. Originality/value: The novelty of this research is that relationship-based principles have been utilised as part of a traditional design-bid-build contract with lump-sum payment arrangements.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | coaching; project facilitation; project success; psychological safety; social capital theory; team performance; trust |
| Index terms: | interview, focus group, construction project delivery, social capital, methodology, psychological safety, evidence, cooperation, project success, workshop, platform, document analysis, traditional contracting, design-bid-build, effectiveness, infrastructure project, team performance, project team |
| Subjects: | evaluation and assessment methods, data collection methods, construction type, psychology, data science, contractual arrangements, project delivery, management, research methods, performance management, digital design, project management theory and practice, occupational health and safety management, project controls, sociology, infrastructure and transport systems |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Engineering Principles, Project Management, Research Practice, Construction Technology, Procurement, Digital Applications, Quality Management, Organizational Design, Time Control |
| 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