Communication in Construction Teams

by Emmitt; Stephen

• ISBN13: 9780415366199
• ISBN10: 0415366194
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-09-25
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Construction teams are usually complex, interdisciplinary and temporary, and, as such, the need for effective communication is crucial. However, published data regarding the manner in which individuals interact within the temporary project team is scarce, with little other than anecdotal evidence available. Recognizing this gap,Communication in Construction Teamsprovides a comprehensive overview of the literature on interpersonal communication and delivers a critical review of various research methods previously used in and outside the construction management field. Making use of Bales' interaction process analysis (IPA), a tool used successfully in many fields to collect interaction data, the text investigates the link between successful projects and the effectiveness of communication, finding that participants in the construction process exhibit regular patterns of interaction and, most significantly, that there are different patterns of interaction associated with successful and unsuccessful projects. Putting forward a number of practical suggestions to assist all actors involved in construction projects, this insightful publication will be of interest to researchers in the fields of building design and construction management.

Author Biography

Professor Stephen Emmitt BA(Hons), Dip. Arch., MA Prof. Ed., PhD is the Hoffmann Professor of Innovation and Management in Building at the Technical University of Denmark Dr Christopher Gorse BSc(Hons), Dip. Ed., Dip (H&S), Msc., PhD., MCIOB, MAPM is a Senior Lecturer in Construction Project Management at Leeds Metropolitan University, UK

Table of Contents

Preface	x
1 The social life of construction projects	1	(12)
Communication	3	(2)
The construction team	5	(3)
Interaction during construction projects	8	(1)
Researching communication during live projects	9	(3)
Further reading	12	(1)
2 Construction communication research	13	(23)
Group development within the temporary project team	17	(2)
Communicating to achieve project objectives	19	(2)
Construction communication research	21	(6)
Professional engagement and procurement	27	(1)
Construction meetings	28	(3)
Misunderstandings and conflict: The nature of interaction	31	(5)
3 Group interaction research	36	(18)
Multidisciplinary groups and organisational communication	37	(6)
Group development and group norms	43	(4)
Bales' interaction process analysis	47	(7)
4 Group participation and interaction	54	(32)
Leadership and participation	56	(2)
Task and relational interaction	58	(13)
Social influence and persuasion	71	(12)
Group performance and outcomes	83	(1)
Summary	84	(2)
5 Collecting communication data from construction projects	86	(36)
Observing interaction	87	(1)
Quantitative observation with qualitative explanation	88	(7)
Clarifying, classifying and coding communication acts	95	(5)
Preliminary testing of data collection methods	100	(3)
Testing Bales' IPA: The pilot study	103	(12)
Research method	115	(2)
Use of the IPA method	117	(1)
Data processing and analysis	118	(1)
Coding and analysing Bales' IPA	119	(3)
6 Interaction data from construction meetings	122	(40)
Results: Case study 1	122	(6)
Results: Case study 2	128	(3)
Results: Case study 3	131	(4)
Results: Case study 4	135	(4)
Results: Case study 5	139	(3)
Results: Case study 6	142	(4)
Results: Case study 7	146	(3)
Results: Case study 8	149	(3)
Results: Case study 9	152	(4)
Results: Case study 10	156	(3)
Summary of observations	159	(3)
7 Team interaction characteristics	162	(19)
Interaction norms of construction progress meetings	162	(9)
Comparison of findings with previous studies	171	(7)
Discussion of team interaction characteristics	178	(2)
Summary	180	(1)
8 Successful and unsuccessful project outcomes	181	(43)
Different levels of interaction analysis	181	(1)
Socio-emotional and task-based interaction	182	(2)
Positive and negative socio-emotional interaction	184	(3)
Analysis of Bales' 12 categories	187	(25)
Successful and unsuccessful project outcomes: Relationships between categories	212	(1)
Contractor's representatives and interpersonal interaction	213	(9)
Summary	222	(2)
9 Discussion of the findings	224	(16)
Participation in site-based progress meetings	224	(7)
Differences between interaction in successful and unsuccessful projects	231	(3)
Summary: Task-based interaction categories	234	(1)
Interaction of contractor's representatives	235	(5)
10 Conclusions and recommendations	240	(13)
Typical management and design team meeting interaction	241	(2)
Conclusion: Hypothesis 1	243	(2)
Conclusion: Hypothesis 2	245	(1)
Limitations and recommendations	246	(3)
Revaluing communication in construction teams	249	(2)
Communication as a critical success factor	251	(1)
Recommended reading	252	(1)
Appendix 1 Definition of communication acts attributed to Bales' IPA categories	253	(10)
Appendix 2 Observer reliability: Test results	263	(5)
Appendix 3 Data collection sheet	268	(3)
Appendix 4 Number of meetings observed	271	(1)
Appendix 5 Communication models developed from this research	272	(3)
Bibliography	275	(20)
Index	295