Andrew W Gale

Women in construction: the untapped resource

Currently there are over 11 million women employed in the UK, accounting for 49.5% of the workforce. However, despite increases in the number of women employed in the construction industry over the past decade, they still constitute only 13% of the industrys workforce. This means that construction continues to be the most male dominated of all the major industrial groups. A review is presented of the literature relating to the current position of women in the construction industry. It identifies and examines the barriers preventing womens entry into the industry, the subsequent barriers faced by those working within the construction industry, and initiatives committed to promoting equality for women and men in construction. These barriers arise from a number of sources including: the construction industrys image; career knowledge amongst children and adults; selection criteria and male dominated courses; recruitment practices and procedures; sexist attitudes; male dominated culture; and the work environment.

Women in Non‐traditional Occupations: The Construction Industry

Discusses a recently completed research project on women in construction management occupations. Focuses on the issues generated by the research and main conclusions. The methodology is briefly discussed and the sequence of the investigation outlined. Presents the problem of the under‐representation of women in the construction industry with statistical evidence. Issues raised include the image of the construction industry, knowledge as a determinant of career choice and organizational culture. States conclusions and implications for practice.

Women, equality and construction

Examines the situation faced by women in the UK construction industry. Finds that women are confronted by a significant number of barriers, beginning with difficulties in joining the industry. In addition, the administrative or human resource management roles traditionally occupied by women do not lead to mainstream roles and senior management roles. To increase prospects, women need to able to take on the more mainstream roles in the industry such as design, engineering and construcition iteself. The main investigation of the article is therefore into the barriers preventing women from taking these roles. Conclusions and suggestions for reform are made.

Women in construction: a comparative investigation into the expectations and experiences of female and male construction undergraduates and employees

nvestigates whether career expectations of women in construction change once they begin working in the industry, in comparison to men. Focus group interviews and a literature review formed the basis for developing a survey questionnaire. The results revealed that professional women had higher expectations and were more committed to remaining in the construction industry than female students. Female students had significantly higher financial expectations than male students, while male students had significantly higher expectations in relation to the number of people they expect to supervise. Professional men were responsible for supervising significantly more people than professional women. The findings also suggest that there are fewer women in the construction industry over the age of 36 years, in comparison to men. It is recommended that this area of research should be developed further.

Factors affecting construction joint ventures in China

Abstract Since the early 1990s, construction joint venture companies have been developing and evolving rapidly in the Peoples Republic of China. However, entering the Chinese construction market is still seen as exciting but difficult by many foreign contractors and consultants. This research involved a full population survey of 160 Sino–foreign joint venture project based construction companies in four provinces. It investigated key factors for the success at the formation stage of joint ventures, comparing perceptions of Chinese and foreign executives from Sino–foreign joint ventures. The results inform potential foreign and Chinese firms seeking to establish successful construction joint ventures. The authors argue that there is no significant difference in the perceptions, between Chinese and foreign partners, of the importance of key factors leading to the success of joint ventures at the formation stage.

Project Management: Different gender, different culture? - A discussion paper on gender and organizational culture Part II

Considers the gendering of organizations and contends that gender, as a dimension of organizational culture, is a factor responsible for the limited participation of women in project management. Continues the argument presented in an earlier article published in this journal and proposes an agenda for future research in this area.

Women in project management: entry into a male domain?

Deals with the under‐representation of women in management and project management. Discusses the issue of women as a “special case” critically. Draws on recent research relating to work patterns of men and women. Argues that women′s advancement and participation in project management is a function of the type of organizational culture which has traditionally characterized the industry sectors which employ the skills and techniques of project management. This is the first of two articles which develop this argument.

Project Management Professional Development: An Industry Led Programme

This paper reviews a recently developed closed modular masters programme on generic project management as a project management case study of academic‐industrial collaboration. Literature on some educational issues is reviewed. Particular attention is paid to the management of the development of the programme and the delivery phase. The linkage between return‐on‐investment, project management competencies and learning outcomes in the context of industrial‐academic partnerships are explored. The paper also includes a discussion on the drivers, development and implementation of a managed learning environment, using a software package called WebCT. Discussion and conclusions focus on lessons learnt from the development and delivery of the programme.This paper reviews a recently developed closed modular masters programme on generic project management as a project management case study of academic‐industrial collaboration. Literature on some educational issues is reviewed. Particular attention is paid to the management of the development of the programme and the delivery phase. The linkage between return‐on‐investment, project management competencies and learning outcomes in the context of industrial‐academic partnerships are explored. The paper also includes a discussion on the drivers, development and implementation of a managed learning environment, using a software package called WebCT. Discussion and conclusions focus on lessons learnt from the development and delivery of the programme.

The importance of human skills in project management professional development

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into the importance of human skills in project management success and the apparent emphasis placed on this within the context of university education.Design/methodology/approach – An investigation into the effectiveness of a British Project Management Professional Development Programme (PMPDP) case study is reported. Using as a benchmark, the core behavioural competencies outlined in the International Project Management Association (IPMA) International Competence Baseline version 3, the paper investigates the extent to which the knowledge gained from the PMPDP effects the behaviours of delegates and graduates. The soft skills of a control group are also explored.Findings – The results deal with certain improvements in most of the behavioural competencies of delegates and graduates which the control group could not develop in the same way.Research limitations/implications – The sample is drawn from the PMPDP consortium comprising companies from the...

Laser surface colouring of titanium for contemporary jewellery

Abstract This paper describes work which emerged through a need to understand more about the potential of laser surface engineering for use in the creative industries. The method of creation of contemporary jewellery pieces and the resultant ‘Ocular’ jewellery series are described from the creative point of view. The work demonstrates how laser controlled oxide growth on Ti–6Al–4V alloy under ambient conditions can be used as an artistic tool by producing precisely defined colours. Use of the method to produce regular areas of even colour and to reproduce freehand drawings on a titanium alloy surface is described. Analysis highlights interference as the main colouring mechanism and suggests a graded surface layer, progressing from an outer layer of TiO2 to lower layers rich in TiO and Ti2O. The model of research by practice presented in this paper offers a contribution to the current debate on partnerships between art and science and engineering.