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Construction firms face considerable problems and risks. Thus, there is a high rate of mortality ... more Construction firms face considerable problems and risks. Thus, there is a high rate of mortality among such firms. On the other hand, in each country, these companies undertake the projects which are required to provide a basis for economic growth and development, and enhancement of the quality of life of the populace. Small and medium-sized construction enterprises (SMEs) undertake the large number of projects dispersed throughout the country. They form the bulk, by number, of companies in each industry, and offer operational flexibility to the larger firms in their role as sub-contractors. Therefore, in many countries, there are programmes to support the development of construction SMEs. The main components of these programmes are financial assistance schemes, initiatives to support the acquisition of equipment, and training. With regard to training, the concentration has been on imparting managerial and technical skills. However, there is a consensus that there is a difference be...
Business Review
A project manager wears many hats including project leader, project facilitator, project mediator... more A project manager wears many hats including project leader, project facilitator, project mediator, project coordinator, project communicator, project promoter, project motivator and project controller. Complying with all these roles and sometimes reconciling with the competing demands of project stakeholders is not easy. Hence, for construction work, project managers must develop necessary skills to cater to the intricate and tricky situations for different construction projects. Many project managers pay a lot of focus on keeping the project on time and within budget leaving design problems to the architect. Managing design is a challenging job which tests technical, personal, interpersonal, team building, management, and business skills of the project manager. However, a good project manager has an important role in design management of the project. The project manager must ensure that a clear and comprehensive brief is well established that can lead to an end product that satisfies the myriad requirements of aesthetics, functionality, economics, constructability, energy conservation and maintainability. Though not the designer, the project manager has to ensure the effectiveness of design and competence of the whole team involved in the design process. This article presents an overview of the role of the project manager with regard to design management for a project, particularly during the design stage. Discussion here also emphasizes the understanding of the design logic on part of the project manager for successful accomplishment the project.
Leadership in the Construction Industry
Leadership in the Construction Industry
Leadership in the Construction Industry
Leadership in the Construction Industry
Leadership in the Construction Industry This book presents a new framework for leadership in the ... more Leadership in the Construction Industry This book presents a new framework for leadership in the construction industry which draws from the authentic leadership construct. The framework has three major themes: selfleadership, self-transcendent leadership, and sustainable leadership. Despite its significance, leadership has not been given due importance in the construction industry as focus is placed on managerial functionalism. At the project level, even with the technological advances in the industry in recent years, construction is realized in the form of people undertaking distinct interdependent activities which require effective leadership. The industry faces many challenges including: demanding client requirements and project parameters; more stringent regulations, codes and systems; intense competition in the industry; and threats from disruptive enterprise. In such a complex environment, technology-driven and tool-based project and corporate management is insufficient. It must be complemented by a strategic, genuine, stakeholder-focused and ethical leadership. Leadership in the Construction Industry is based on a study on authentic leadership and its development in Singapore. Leadership theories and concepts are reviewed; the importance of leadership in the construction industry is discussed; and the grounded theory approach which was applied in the study is explained. Many eminent construction professionals in Singapore were interviewed in the field study. Emerging from the experiences of the leaders documented in this book are three major themes (1) selfleadership: how leaders engage in various self-related processes such as self-awareness, self-regulation, and role modeling; (2) self-transcendent leadership: how leaders go beyond leading themselves to leading others through servant leadership, shared leadership, spiritual leadership, and socially-responsible leadership; and, finally, (3) sustainable leadership or the strategies leaders employ to make the impact of their leadership lasting. A synthesis of these themes and their implications for leadership development is presented before the book concludes with some recommendations for current and aspiring leaders about how they can engage with them. This book is essential reading for all construction practitioners from all backgrounds; and researchers on leadership and management in construction.
Psychological Capital or PsyCap has gained prominen ce as an important construct in leadership re... more Psychological Capital or PsyCap has gained prominen ce as an important construct in leadership research. Comprising four factors (selfefficacy, hope, optimism, and resiliency), PsyCap is considered to be a vital factor for both leadership development and influence. The current study reports the results of a questionnair e survey that was conducted in the construction industry of Singapore. The survey expl ored the correlations of PsyCap with various form of leadership and leadership outcomes. The results show that PsyCap significantly correlates with transformational lead rship and leadership effectiveness. The discussion in the paper also considers the implicat ions of PsyCap for leadership development and effectiveness.
Leadership is important in all fields of human endeavour. Features of the construction process an... more Leadership is important in all fields of human endeavour. Features of the construction process and construction projects render leadership even more essential. Construction projects are expensive and technically demanding and the project teams are large and diverse. The process is long and involves a large number of discrete and interrelated tasks. Because constructed products influence long-term socioeconomic development in developing countries, poor performance on projects can have severe implications for the nation and its citizens. Thus, the need for effective leadership in construction is even more acute. It may be argued that "effective leadership" is one of the primary answers to the problems of the construction industry, including (and perhaps, especially) problems in developing countries. To this end, greater attention should be given to leadership development. The following questions are addressed in this study. What is leadership? How important is it in construc...
The construction industry now faces greater leadership challenges while it continues to suffer fr... more The construction industry now faces greater leadership challenges while it continues to suffer from a poor social image and poor record of ethical and moral practices. Construction professionals are more concerned with the job accomplishment and less apprehensive of ways and means through which they accomplish the jobs. In doing so, they tend to overlook the needs of their fellow employees, the organizations they work for, and the society they live in. Also, the usual performance criteria in the construction industry promote profit enhancement rather than improving employee satisfaction and well-being, ethical and moral practices, and a culture where authenticity of actions is valued. This study aims to gauge the satisfaction of construction professionals with the authenticity and ethics of the leadership under which they operate on construction projects. For this purpose, preliminary results of a global survey are presented here which sought to measure the authenticity and satisfac...
Construction firms face considerable problems and risks. Thus, there is a high rate of mortality ... more Construction firms face considerable problems and risks. Thus, there is a high rate of mortality among such firms. On the other hand, in each country, these companies undertake the projects which are required to provide a basis for economic growth and development, and enhancement of the quality of life of the populace. Small and medium-sized construction enterprises (SMEs) undertake the large number of projects dispersed throughout the country. They form the bulk, by number, of companies in each industry, and offer operational flexibility to the larger firms in their role as sub-contractors. Therefore, in many countries, there are programmes to support the development of construction SMEs. The main components of these programmes are financial assistance schemes, initiatives to support the acquisition of equipment, and training. With regard to training, the concentration has been on imparting managerial and technical skills. However, there is a consensus that there is a difference be...
Business Review
A project manager wears many hats including project leader, project facilitator, project mediator... more A project manager wears many hats including project leader, project facilitator, project mediator, project coordinator, project communicator, project promoter, project motivator and project controller. Complying with all these roles and sometimes reconciling with the competing demands of project stakeholders is not easy. Hence, for construction work, project managers must develop necessary skills to cater to the intricate and tricky situations for different construction projects. Many project managers pay a lot of focus on keeping the project on time and within budget leaving design problems to the architect. Managing design is a challenging job which tests technical, personal, interpersonal, team building, management, and business skills of the project manager. However, a good project manager has an important role in design management of the project. The project manager must ensure that a clear and comprehensive brief is well established that can lead to an end product that satisfies the myriad requirements of aesthetics, functionality, economics, constructability, energy conservation and maintainability. Though not the designer, the project manager has to ensure the effectiveness of design and competence of the whole team involved in the design process. This article presents an overview of the role of the project manager with regard to design management for a project, particularly during the design stage. Discussion here also emphasizes the understanding of the design logic on part of the project manager for successful accomplishment the project.
Leadership in the Construction Industry
Leadership in the Construction Industry
Leadership in the Construction Industry
Leadership in the Construction Industry
Leadership in the Construction Industry This book presents a new framework for leadership in the ... more Leadership in the Construction Industry This book presents a new framework for leadership in the construction industry which draws from the authentic leadership construct. The framework has three major themes: selfleadership, self-transcendent leadership, and sustainable leadership. Despite its significance, leadership has not been given due importance in the construction industry as focus is placed on managerial functionalism. At the project level, even with the technological advances in the industry in recent years, construction is realized in the form of people undertaking distinct interdependent activities which require effective leadership. The industry faces many challenges including: demanding client requirements and project parameters; more stringent regulations, codes and systems; intense competition in the industry; and threats from disruptive enterprise. In such a complex environment, technology-driven and tool-based project and corporate management is insufficient. It must be complemented by a strategic, genuine, stakeholder-focused and ethical leadership. Leadership in the Construction Industry is based on a study on authentic leadership and its development in Singapore. Leadership theories and concepts are reviewed; the importance of leadership in the construction industry is discussed; and the grounded theory approach which was applied in the study is explained. Many eminent construction professionals in Singapore were interviewed in the field study. Emerging from the experiences of the leaders documented in this book are three major themes (1) selfleadership: how leaders engage in various self-related processes such as self-awareness, self-regulation, and role modeling; (2) self-transcendent leadership: how leaders go beyond leading themselves to leading others through servant leadership, shared leadership, spiritual leadership, and socially-responsible leadership; and, finally, (3) sustainable leadership or the strategies leaders employ to make the impact of their leadership lasting. A synthesis of these themes and their implications for leadership development is presented before the book concludes with some recommendations for current and aspiring leaders about how they can engage with them. This book is essential reading for all construction practitioners from all backgrounds; and researchers on leadership and management in construction.
Psychological Capital or PsyCap has gained prominen ce as an important construct in leadership re... more Psychological Capital or PsyCap has gained prominen ce as an important construct in leadership research. Comprising four factors (selfefficacy, hope, optimism, and resiliency), PsyCap is considered to be a vital factor for both leadership development and influence. The current study reports the results of a questionnair e survey that was conducted in the construction industry of Singapore. The survey expl ored the correlations of PsyCap with various form of leadership and leadership outcomes. The results show that PsyCap significantly correlates with transformational lead rship and leadership effectiveness. The discussion in the paper also considers the implicat ions of PsyCap for leadership development and effectiveness.
Leadership is important in all fields of human endeavour. Features of the construction process an... more Leadership is important in all fields of human endeavour. Features of the construction process and construction projects render leadership even more essential. Construction projects are expensive and technically demanding and the project teams are large and diverse. The process is long and involves a large number of discrete and interrelated tasks. Because constructed products influence long-term socioeconomic development in developing countries, poor performance on projects can have severe implications for the nation and its citizens. Thus, the need for effective leadership in construction is even more acute. It may be argued that "effective leadership" is one of the primary answers to the problems of the construction industry, including (and perhaps, especially) problems in developing countries. To this end, greater attention should be given to leadership development. The following questions are addressed in this study. What is leadership? How important is it in construc...
The construction industry now faces greater leadership challenges while it continues to suffer fr... more The construction industry now faces greater leadership challenges while it continues to suffer from a poor social image and poor record of ethical and moral practices. Construction professionals are more concerned with the job accomplishment and less apprehensive of ways and means through which they accomplish the jobs. In doing so, they tend to overlook the needs of their fellow employees, the organizations they work for, and the society they live in. Also, the usual performance criteria in the construction industry promote profit enhancement rather than improving employee satisfaction and well-being, ethical and moral practices, and a culture where authenticity of actions is valued. This study aims to gauge the satisfaction of construction professionals with the authenticity and ethics of the leadership under which they operate on construction projects. For this purpose, preliminary results of a global survey are presented here which sought to measure the authenticity and satisfac...