Communication in Construction: Theory and Practice

by Dainty; Andrew

• ISBN13: 9780415327220
• ISBN10: 0415327229
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-01-13
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Communication within project-based environments presents special challenges. This is especially true within the construction industry. Many of the problems that develop in construction projects are a result of both the temporary and inter-disciplinary nature of project teams - each player having a different employer compounds this arrangement. Practical guidance is provided on possible solutions to communication problems, and a number of examples and case studies are presented, especially with relation to the construction industry. Several non-typical perspectives on the process of communication are introduced, to encourage the reader to think about communication in a more innovative manner. "Thinking with diagrams," for example, is useful for those, such as architects, who work primarily with visual communication media. This can be contrasted with the "visual perception" approach, which emphasizes the rational and scientific aspects of human biology. The combination of differing perspectivesillustrates the diversity of communication problems facing those working within project-based environments.

Author Biography

Michael Murray is a Lecturer in Construction Management within the Department of Architecture at the University of Strathclyde.

Table of Contents

List of figures	ix
List of tables	xi
About the authors	xiii
Preface	xv
Acknowledgements	xvii
PART I Communication concepts and contexts	1	(72)
Introduction	3	(16)
Defining communication	3	(3)
The importance of effective communication	6	(4)
The principles of effective communication	10	(2)
The role and importance of effective communication to the project manager	12	(2)
The aims, focus and structure of this book	14	(1)
Part I: communication concepts and contexts	15	(1)
Part II: from individuals to corporations: communication types and techniques	16	(1)
Part III: future directions for construction communication	16	(1)
Summary	17	(1)
Critical discussion questions	18	(1)
The challenges of communicating in the construction project environment	19	(34)
The nature of project-based working	20	(5)
The communication imperative for construction organisations	25	(10)
New communication challenges for the contemporary construction industry	35	(5)
Communication challenges for the construction project manager	40	(2)
Summary	42	(1)
Critical discussion questions	42	(1)
Case study: the importance of effective communication: the design and construction of the New Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh 1997--2004	43	(10)
Theoretical perspectives on construction communication	53	(20)
The development and value of communication theory	53	(2)
Theoretical models of communication	55	(4)
Applying communication models to construction	59	(5)
Communication media	64	(5)
Barriers to effective communication	69	(2)
Summary	71	(1)
Critical discussion questions	72	(1)
PART II From individuals to corporations: communication types and techniques	73	(116)
Interpersonal communication	75	(21)
Defining interpersonal communication	75	(1)
The nature of effective interpersonal communication within construction	76	(1)
The importance of effective interpersonal communication for construction project performance	77	(2)
Verbal interpersonal communication in construction	79	(5)
Non-verbal interpersonal communication in construction	84	(2)
The interplay of verbal and non-verbal forms of interpersonal communication	86	(3)
Summary	89	(1)
Critical discussion question	89	(1)
Case study: inter-professional communication	90	(6)
Group and team communication	96	(32)
Group development and team roles	96	(5)
Factors shaping the success of communication within construction project teams	101	(9)
Inter-group communication	110	(11)
Summary	121	(1)
Critical discussion questions	122	(1)
Case study: developing high performance teams: soft and hard communications initiatives at the Simons Group	122	(6)
Organisational communication	128	(32)
Introduction	128	(1)
The organisation as an arena for communication	128	(3)
Communication as a determinant of organisational structure	131	(1)
Understanding communication within organisations	132	(5)
The nature of communication within construction organisations	137	(5)
Managing communication within construction organisations	142	(4)
Developing an organisational communication strategy	146	(3)
Some caveats to improving communication within the temporary involvement climate of the construction project	149	(1)
Summary	150	(1)
Critical discussion questions	151	(1)
Case study: community relations at HBG Construction Ltd: internal and external communications	151	(9)
Corporate communication	160	(29)
Introduction	160	(1)
Defining corporate communication	160	(1)
Stakeholder theory	161	(1)
Principles of mass communication	162	(5)
Managing the corporate image of a construction organisation	167	(7)
Managing the corporate image of the construction industry	174	(3)
Communicating corporate and social responsibility	177	(2)
Summary	179	(1)
Critical discussion questions	179	(1)
Case study: corporate communication in relation to sensitive projects: the Yangtze Three Gorges Project	180	(9)
PART III Future directions for construction communication	189	(43)
Information and communications technology	191	(29)
Introduction	191	(1)
The utilisation of ICT in the construction industry	192	(1)
Virtual working as a driver for ICT innovation	193	(1)
The evolution of ICT in construction	194	(2)
Some examples of ICT innovations in construction	196	(5)
Potential barriers to the uptake of ICT in construction	201	(4)
Explaining the industry's reluctance to embrace ICT: differential adoption	205	(1)
Realising the potential of ICT in the future	206	(6)
The limitations of ICT	212	(1)
Summary	213	(1)
Critical discussion questions	214	(1)
Case study: an innovative application of ICT in the construction process: the Stent Handheld Electronic Piling Assistant (SHERPA)	214	(6)
Conclusions and future directions in construction communication	220	(12)
Introduction	220	(1)
The construction communication context	220	(2)
Deconstructing the construction communication challenge for the project manager	222	(1)
Future construction communication challenges	223	(4)
The role of communication in enabling change	227	(1)
The construction project manager as an enabler of communication	228	(1)
Some future research directions	229	(1)
Summary	230	(1)
Critical discussion questions	230	(2)
References	232	(19)
Index	251