Emotional intelligence and British expatriates’ cross-cultural adjustment in international construction projects

Today’s internationalized business demands global mindset, intercultural sensitivity and the ability to skilfully negotiate through cross-cultural interactions. Therefore, the overall aim was to investigate the influence of emotional intelligence (EI) on cross-cultural adjustment (CCA) of British expatriates working on International Architectural, Engineering and Construction assignments in Sub-Saharan Africa, China, Middle East and Indian Sub-Continent. Specifically, the causal relationship between EI and three facets of CCA i.e. work, general and interaction adjustment was explored. A sequential exploratory mixed methods design was adopted. These include extensive review of existing literature, eighteen unstructured interviews, and questionnaire survey of 191 British expatriates operating in 29 different countries from the four regions under investigation. Structural equation modelling was used to assess the causal relationship between EI and CCA. Results show that EI accounted for 91, 64 and 24% of the variance in work, interaction and general adjustment respectively. Overall, the model was able to explain 60% variance in CCA, suggesting that EI competencies play a huge role in facilitating an expatriate understand and adapt to host country culture. The findings would help decision-makers (HR managers) during expatriate selection process, in understanding that along with technical skills, it is the emotional competencies that are crucial in assisting expatriates adjust to foreign way of life.     

Exploring social capital in the construction firm

Social capital, which derives from the network of social relationships in which people are embedded, has increasingly been seen as a resource that firms can use and which enables them to tap into and exploit their intellectual capital and, thus, release the firm's innovative potential. Yet, in project-based organizations, there remain many barriers and pitfalls in any attempt to exploit human resource potential in this way. In particular, the one-off nature of project tasks and teams and the importance of individuals' embodied knowledge and learning ensure that while social capital may assume greater importance, at the same time its capture becomes more problematic. This paper presents findings from a research project undertaken in the UK that explores knowledge management for project-based learning across a range of industrial sectors, including construction. Drawing upon a case study analysis of project-based learning in a construction firm, it applies an already established framework to examine the paradoxes that arise when attempts are made to mobilize social capital.     

Risk management in software projects through Knowledge Management techniques: Cases in Brazilian Incubated Technology-Based Firms

In businesses such as the software industry, which uses knowledge as a resource, activities are knowledge intensive, requiring constant adoption of new technologies and practices. Another feature of this environment is that the industry is particularly susceptible to failure; with this in mind, the objective of this research is to analyze the integration of Knowledge Management techniques into the activity of risk management as it applies to software development projects of micro and small Brazilian incubated technology-based firms. Research methods chosen were the Multiple Case Study. The main risk factor for managers and developers is that scope or goals are often unclear or misinterpreted. For risk management, firms have found that Knowledge Management techniques of conversion “combination” would be the most applicable for use; however, those most commonly used refer to the conversion mode as “internalization.”     

Working overseas: a fascinating professional challenge

This article dispels some of the myths surrounding employment as an expatriate engineer in the developing world. While the article focuses primarily on generalities applicable to most assignments, elaboration by the author of his own experience as the chief executive of an independent power company in Pakistan illustrates the type of situation senior expatriate engineers may face on acceptance of an overseas position. The construction of a power plant overseen by the author is discussed     

Understanding employee resourcing in construction organizations

In recent years the literature on employee resourcing has consistently advocated the importance of adopting a holistic, strategic approach to employee deployment decision making rather than adopting a reactive needs‐based approach. This is particularly problematic in construction where the multi‐project environment leads to constantly changing resource requirements and to changing demands over a project's life cycle. This can lead to inappropriate decisions, which fail to meet the longer‐term needs of both construction organizations and their employees. A structured and comprehensive understanding of the current project team deployment practices within large construction organizations was developed. Project deployment practices were examined within seven case study contracting firms. The emergent themes that shaped the decision‐making processes were grouped into five broad clusters comprising human resource planning, performance/career management, team deployment, employee involvement and training and development. The research confirms that a reactive and ad hoc approach to the function prevails within the firms investigated. This suggests a weak relationship between the deployment process and human resource planning, team deployment, performance management, employee involvement and training and development activities. It is suggested that strategic HR–business partnering could engender more transparent and productive relationships in this crucial area.     

资源约束下的海外工程项目进度风险因素分级研究

目前国内对外承包企业“走出去”步伐日益加快,项目规模、类型、分布有了很大的变化,进度风险日益加剧,受资源约束影响日益显著,承包企业管理难度加大。通过对实施项目的资源种类、重要性、特殊性进行分析,说明资源对海外工程项目实施的重要性。通过文献调研、专家调查等方法,从承包商角度对资源约束下海外项目进度风险因素进行识别、分类,采用层次分析法对各影响因素权重进行分析、排序,建立资源约束下海外项目进度风险影响因素的分级体系,为承包商进行海外工程项目进度风险管理防范提供指导。     

“扁平化”管理模式在国际工程管理中的实践与探索

目前中国施工企业在国际工程项目管理中普遍采用＂金字塔＂型管理模式,造成资源成本浪费,管理效率低下。在竞争日益激烈的国际承包市场中,如何提高项目的管理水平,以增强竞争力,是中国施工企业普遍面临的一个挑战。文章结合某国际工程案例推行＂扁平化＂管理模式的探索,提出＂扁平化＂管理模式相对于＂金字塔＂型管理模式的优点以及成效。指出在国际工程管理中采用＂扁平化＂管理模式是提升企业竞争力的有效途径之一。     

The internationalization of British construction companies 1990-96: an empirical analysis

The internationalization of British construction companies is not a new phenomenon. A recent stated aim of some of the larger companies has been to increase their overseas activities in an attempt to counteract some of the problems within the domestic construction market. This paper examines the international performance of British construction firms during the period 1990–1996, and is based on a questionnaire survey of senior executives of the largest British construction companies in an attempt to analyse their perceptions of the overseas market. The survey was concerned with the companies' general views, reasons, objectives, conditions, location and future expectations with regard to their overseas operations. The principal findings indicate that British firms had increased their overseas activities during the study period. However, despite theory to the contrary and relatively high levels of construction demand in some developing countries, they had tended to conduct the major share of their overseas work in developed countries. The reasons given for this bias were that developed countries provided: a secure environment in which to evaluate risks; financial security; and less corruption. The results suggest further that shareholder influence is an important factor affecting the respondent companies location overseas. It was concluded that while market demand is a factor for overseas location by British construction companies, it is only one of many.     

Organization and managerial environment of the Korean construction industry

In 1983, Korean construction contractors captured over 11% of the overseas market and twenty-five of them were listed in the top 250 international contractors. However, they have struggled against the inefficiency of their organizations, accelerating competition, and the rapid changes in the managerial environment. Although the various features of the environment had required variety in strategy and organization structure, the managers of construction firms have not kept pace with the requirement, but have shown an inability to predict what kind of influence the changes will have on their organizations and what kind of response is proper to the environmental changes they confront. These problems are mainly caused by a lack of understanding of the suitability of their organization's structure and managerial environment. The present research shows that: the functional structure is the archetype of the Korean construction organizations; direction and delegation are the mainstream in corporate management; the critical factors for corporate management are accelerating competition, inconsistent government policy and the pressure of rising costs; and most of the contractors, except the top 5% large-sized firms, have little capability to respond to a new environment.     

浅谈日本工程项目管理模式在国内工程中的应用

随着建筑产业的迅速发展,传统的工程项目管理模式已经不再具备竞争优势。建筑工程管理模式需要进行改革与创新,才能与国际接轨。许多建筑企业通过引进国外先进的管理模式来提高自己的竞争力,但真正意义上实现国外模式中国化还需要面临很多挑战。本文根据成都万科金色海蓉项目部日式管理的实例,简要介绍日本工程项目管理在国内工程中的应用。     

The influence of personal characteristics on effectiveness of construction site managers

It has been suggested that construction site managers' career progression may be affected because of the existence of certain personal characteristics that conform to industry stereotypes. These stereotypes need to be identified and examined in a systematic manner to ensure that the rationality of human resource management policy is indeed justifiable. A set of 26 personal characteristics believed to influence the effectiveness of construction site managers is identified by senior construction managers using the nominal group technique. These characteristics are tested for correlation with effectiveness using a non-results-based effectiveness index. A questionnaire survey was completed by 61 site managers for this purpose. The results suggest that of 26 identified personal factors believed to be important the only ones which may actually be related to effectiveness are: involvement in continuing professional development, number of firms worked for, use of addictive substances, education level, membership of professional bodies, job satisfaction, motivation level, career aspiration, stress level, leadership style and the need to work. The findings will assist those recruiting, retaining or promoting site managers to make a more informed judgement of key factors influencing effectiveness.     

浅谈海外设计项目管理中应注意的问题

目前,国内工程公司承揽的海外钢铁建设项目,模式多为EP(Engineering and Procurement)或EPC(Engineering Procurement and Construction)模式,最常用的是EP模式,以上两种模式基于大多数在中国国内采购设备的缘故,因此,在设计方面自然规避了很多的风险,但是作为仅承担海外钢铁项目的设计管理工作,就显得风险和难度都很大。本文结合某海外工程设计项目的管理实践,浅谈海外设计项目管理中应注意的几个问题,对于有着海外项目设计业务的国内工程公司的设计管理工作会有借鉴价值和现实意义。     

建设工程项目管理人才培养的若干问题

目前我国建设工程项目管理人员的基本素质低下、综合管理能力不足,必须从提高高等教育水平入手,增强企业培养人才的管理,培养有技术支撑、经济头脑、有法律意识的优秀人才,以提高国际竞争力.     

Project managers and career models: An exploratory comparative study

Prior research has paid little attention to the careers and career models of project managers. This is troublesome for at least two reasons. First, project managers are becoming an increasingly important category of managers and today they constitute a major part of many organizations' leadership capability. Second, traditional literature on careers generally does not address project-based careers as a specific case in point, although this kind of career is unique in the sense that it is based on temporary assignments and lack of formal positions. The research presented in this paper identifies and explains patterns of similarities and differences among applied career models in ten large, mature project-intensive firms in Sweden. The paper identifies a number of factors that seem to be critical for the design of career models for project managers, including the number of levels, the complexity of assignments, and the degree of formal requirements. The paper also outlines two archetypes of career models applied by the firms under study: the competence strategy model and the talent management model.     

浅议美国建筑事务所经营管理模式

本文从人力资源管理、项目管理、服务范围、市场开发几方面简要介绍美国事务所的经营管理模式希望为我国的建筑设计企业在国际竞争形势下的发展提供借鉴。     

Organizational learning during internationalization: acquiring local institutional knowledge

Organizational learning plays an important role for firms entering new international markets. Acquiring knowledge of a foreign market helps firms to decrease uncertainties, misunderstandings and risks, allowing them to plan and achieve project expectations more accurately. Little is known, however, about how real estate developers, contractors and engineering firms initially collect important local knowledge for their international projects. This study uses qualitative research methods to explore the sources firms use to acquire different types of local knowledge. The results indicate that organizational learning is a complex process, and although similarities exist, different types of firms use different sources to collect needed knowledge. The research contributes to theory by responding to requests for additional research on how firms actually acquire and develop institutional knowledge. In addition, by understanding the sources used to acquire different types of institutional knowledge, company managers can determine the best sources to employ to acquire knowledge that is important for their specific business.     

Diversification in the international construction business

Economic globalization has created an interdependent market that allows companies to transcend traditional national boundaries to conduct business overseas. In the international construction market, companies often adopt diversification as a strategy for growth, for risk management or for both. However, the diversification patterns of international construction companies (ICCs) as a group are barely clear. The primary aim of this research is to cover this knowledge void by mapping ICCs’ diversification patterns in both business sectors and geographical dispersal. It starts from a literature review of diversification theories. Based on the review, a series of hypotheses relating to ICCs’ diversification are proposed. Data are gleaned from Engineering News-Record, i.e. Bloomberg and Capital IQ, ranging from 2001 to 2015. By testing the hypotheses, it is found that larger ICCs prefer to diversify than their smaller counterparts. Most of the ICCs tend to diversify to geographical markets with similar cultural or institutional environment. Market demands drive ICCs to diversify to different geographical markets while they are more prudential in venturing into new business sectors. The research provides not only valuable insights into diversification patterns of ICCs, but also a solid point of departure for future theoretical and empirical studies.     

基于4D-BIM的施工资源动态管理与成本实时监控

针对建筑工程施工资源和成本管理的复杂性以及工程建造成本超过预算现象,通过建立4D施工资源信息模型和系统开发,实现了施工阶段对人力、材料和机械等资源的动态管理和工程成本的实时监控,为提高施工项目管理水平和成本控制能力探索了新途径和方法。     

Knowledge management perceptions in construction and design companies

Knowledge management (KM) has been studied extensively in recent years. Some consider knowledge to be the most strategically important resource for any company, but the fragmented, project-based and task-oriented nature of construction work makes it more difficult to implement KM in this sector.This paper presents a survey of perceptions of KM implementation in the Spanish construction sector and compares the results obtained from design and construction firms. Data were collected from the leading civil engineering companies in Spain.The survey found that the Spanish construction industry is aware of the benefits of KM but that systematic KM is not generally implemented. The findings clearly demonstrate that changes in organizational culture are critical to successful KM. The survey also revealed some distinctions between the KM perception of design firms and that of construction firms.