Managing Change in Construction Projects: A Knowledge-Based Approach
January 2011, Wiley-Blackwell
Through this knowledge-based approach, construction teams can successfully resolve and learn from change events, leading to an overall improved performance of the industry.
The book will make a significant contribution to our understanding of construction project change by offering new theoretical and practical insights and models grounded in results of case studies conducted within two collaborative construction project team settings.
By demonstrating how the social construction of knowledge works in construction settings, the authors challenge the prevailing change management solutions based on ‘hard’ IT approaches. They put forward a balanced view that incorporates both IT–based and socially constructed approaches to effective management of construction project change.
- helps construction managers to improve and learn through the process of construction project change
- presents new theoretical models and offers practical guidelines
- first research-based book to directly address project change from a knowledge-based perspective
- draws on detailed studies with construction companies, including Ballast Construction and Kier Construction
- encourages a move from the information driven, process integrated approach to a knowledge-based view
Chapter 1 Introduction.
1.2 Need for the Investigation.
1.3 Questions to Research.
1.4 Summary and Link.
Chapter 2 Key Issues from the Literature.
2.2 Construction Project Environment.
2.3 Construction Project Change Management.
2.4 Knowledge Management Perspective.
2.5 Role of Knowledge During Reactive Change Process.
2.6 Towards a Knowledge-Based Reactive Change Process.
2.7 Summary and Link.
Chapter 3 Research Methodology.
3.2 Case Study Research Design.
3.3 Data Collection Process.
3.4 Data Analysis Process.
3.5 Summary and Link.
Chapter 4 Case Study Results.
4.2 Case Study: Project A.
4.3 Case Study: Project B.
4.4 Summary and Link.
Chapter 5 Cross-Case Analysis.
5.2 Contextual Factors of Change: P1 Discussion.
5.3 Knowledge Properties During Change: P2 Discussion.
5.4 Knowledge Identification and Utilisation During
Change: P3 Discussion.
5.5 Intra-Project Knowledge Creation During Change:
5.6 Inter-Project Knowledge Transfer During Change:
5.7 Summary and Link.
Chapter 6 Conclusions.
6.2 Summary of Propositions.
6.3 Comment on the Conceptual Model.
6.4 Conclusions about the Overall Research Problem.
6.5 Implications for Theory.
6.6 Implications for Practice.
Appendix A Interview Guidelines.
Appendix B Example of an Interview Transcript.
Appendix C Comparison Between Propositions and Codes.
Research Director of the department research unit - Building Economics and Management Research Unit (BEMRU) and the leader of BEMRU research group on 'Knowledge management and Organisational Learning.' Main contact from University of Moratuwa for the institutional membership of CIB – (International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction).
Professor Martin Sexton, Director of Research, School of
Construction Management and Engineering, University of Reading,
Director of Research for the School of Construction Management and Engineering. Leads the 'green innovation and transition management' research theme across the School. Joint Coordinator of the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB) Working Commission 65 (Organisation and Management of Construction). The CIB is the leading world wide network of approximately 7000 researchers in the built environment discipline with over forty working commissions. WC 65 is one of the CIB's largest groupings with around 150 members from 45 countries.
• presents new theoretical models and offers practical guidelines
• first research-based book to directly address project change from a knowledge-based perspective
• draws on detailed studies with construction companies, including Ballast Construction and Kier Construction.
• encourages a move from the information driven, process integrated approach to a knowledge-based view
“Managing Change in Construction Projects is a book that seems not to know its purpose. It is a beautifully written research publication, but one that presents in the style of a PhD or major research project, and seems well described by the abstract for the first author’s thesis, although no such acknowledgement or reference is givens.” (Construction Management and Economics, 1 February 2012)
"This volume will appeal to advanced students of management theory and high level planners in the building industry." (Book News, 1 March 2011)