Relationship Networks in Construction Coalitions

by Pryke, Stephen

• ISBN13: 9781405141734
• ISBN10: 1405141735
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-06-26
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc

Summary

Increasingly demanding and knowledgeable clients in construction require an approach to project management that recognises the important role played by the client in the definition of large and often lengthy projects.The objective of the book is to show how social network analysis (SNA) is used to observe, monitor and analyse the complex relationships in major construction project coalitions.The author has brought together mathematical and sociological methods, and major project relationships with clear explanation and relevant illustration to inspire both academic interest and a practical application of these concepts and techniques to live construction projects. Case studies are taken from BAA, Slough Estates, UK Ministry of Defence, Network Rail and Peugeot Europe.

Table of Contents

Chapter One - Introduction Aim of the study Context for the study Problems with existing forms of analysis and visualisation Solutions to the problems Structure of the book Chapter Two - Establishing the Need for a New Analytical Approach A review of existing approaches to the analysis of management systems Graphical approaches to analysis and presentation of management concepts Difficulties encountered in formulating a means of presenting the governance of major projects A systems analysis approach to project management Process protocol Overcoming the problems identified A social network analysis approach to the analysis and visualisation of organisational forms Chapter Three - Theoretical Framework Developing a theoretical framework Adaptation or transformation Five basic premises for taking a network perspective Types of network actor relations Density or cohesion of contractual, performance incentive and information exchange networks Point centrality within networks Other issues relating to the relevance of centrality as a measure Network densities and actor centrality measured jointly What might we gain from the adoption of a network perspective? Chapter Four - Methodology Research in construction project organisations The choice between qualitative and quantitative research methods On case studies A profile of case studies for this research project Gaining access to the case study projects Criteria for selection of case studies Data collection and analysis Data collection and use of questionnaire Chapter Five - Outline of the Four Case Studies Description of the construction works Project actors Methodological issues Data gathering Interpretation of interviewee comments Case study selection criteria General observations Analysis of data Observations arising out of the analysis Chapter Six - Conclusions Conclusions Future research.