Patricia Tzortzopoulos

Organizational learning: conceptual challenges from a project perspective

Organizational learning has been widely acknowledged as holding the key for companies to survive and prosper and has, in recent years, gained currency in construction management research. Much research centred upon the study of organizational learning as a process, as well as the view and understanding of companies as learning organizations. However, non‐construction management researchers have recently begun to recognize the incoherence of the concepts presented in the literature and identified a lack of a solid theoretical and empirical foundation. To further exacerbate the challenge of embracing organizational learning in construction, the industry is largely project‐based, thus increasing the difficulties for organizational learning to occur. Past research into organizational learning has also mainly concentrated on an intra‐organizational perspective and where construction is specifically concerned, on project partnering. However, we regard such a focus to be myopic as a means of exploring organizational learning at the construction project level. As such, a number of research challenges are recommended including the need to examine organizational learning beyond project partnering; an emphasis on the inter‐organizational dynamics involved in both the process and outcomes of organizational learning and the investigation of construction projects as learning networks.

Process models implementation in the construction industry: a literature synthesis

Purpose – Different process models have been developed by academia and industry to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the design and construction activity in response to the need for improving performance. However, the effective and widespread adoption and use of process models have been limited, and the benefits resulting from these endeavours have been ambiguous at best and non‐existent at worst. This paper synthesises the key general and construction‐specific literature related to process model implementation around a generic model, providing a systematic picture on the current knowledge on implementation.Design/methodology/approach – Secondary data sources were reviewed, criticised and synthesised. The books and academic papers identified focused on the areas of process management in construction and manufacturing, change management and knowledge/technology transfer.Findings – The paper concludes that the body of literature related to process model implementation lacks an integrated focus and...

Design management from a contractor’s perspective: the need for clarity

Abstract Over the past 40 years, a concern with the adoption of business methods to support successful design development has emerged. Design management as a discipline addresses such concern through two central schools of thought. The first focuses on organizing the design firm, and the second aims to better understand the design process (its nature, stages and activities) and to propose improved communication and coordination mechanisms. Both schools of thought have taken essentially a design professionals perspective to analyse design. Nevertheless, the recent adoption of procurement routes in which contractors are responsible for design, construction and facilities management has imposed on contractors the need to manage design to maintain competitiveness. This paper presents results from two case studies investigating the contractors role in managing the design process. Research results are presented in terms of the problems contractors face in managing design, the necessity for appropriate design management and the skills contractors believe are required for effective design management. The paper concludes by advocating a need for clarity in the definition of design management from a contractors perspective.

Improving Healthcare through Built Environment Infrastructure

Healthcare service provision is increasingly becoming a complex and dynamic process affected by myriad causes that cut across socio-techno-economic boundaries. The fast pace of policy and structural changes across private and public organisations, combined with an accelerated change in technological innovations, have challenged traditional viewpoints and paradigms in both how health and care services are conceived, designed, implemented and sustained in what has become a very expensive and resource intensive environment. Innovation is no longer an optional extra but part of the essence of any changes suggested for now and the future – innovation needs to be normal practice.

Using the physical properties of artefacts to manage through‐life knowledge flows in the built environment: an initial exploration

Effective through‐life management of built facilities requires effective through‐life knowledge management to support it. The KIM (Immortal Information and Through‐Life Knowledge Management) project attempted to develop such an approach, based on a dichotomy of knowledge and information. Knowledge is conceived in terms of communities of practice. An initial philosophical analysis demonstrates deficiencies in this conception. Drawing inspiration from production theory, a tripartite analysis is offered, suggesting that knowledge flows consist of: social practices, information and physical properties. Literature on physical properties from design studies, production management and ethnomethodology is briefly reviewed to demonstrate the information bearing functions of physical properties. Fieldwork conforming to the unique adequacy requirement of methods was carried out on construction sites, in hotel and hospital facilities during the use stage of their life cycles. Safety barriers on construction sites were found to have informational properties beyond their function as a physical barrier. The quality of information delivered by wayfinding signs was found to depend upon both the physical placement of the signs in relation to the surrounding environment and the physical layout of the sign itself. It was found that social practices are institutionalized to repair the knowledge flow when the physically instantiated wayfinding system breaks down. Finally, through the investigation of practices surrounding emergency resuscitation equipment, it was found that if the physical properties of information are not designed to mesh with the work practices of the setting, this will lead to a breakdown in the knowledge flow. It is suggested that elements of knowledge management, ethnomethodology, production management and design studies might be integrated to form the basis of a hybrid discipline.

The Aristotelian Proto-Theory of Design

In comparing deliberation to the analysis of a geometrical figure, Aristotle made a highly significant theoretical statement on design, which has largely gone unnoticed. Through an interpretation of the accounts given by Aristotle and the Greek geometer Pappus, seven features of the method of analysis can be identified, concerning the types of analysis, its stages, its start and end points, the types of reasoning involved, the relation of the two directions of reasoning, the strategy of reasoning and the targeted outcomes. This proto-theory is compared to the current theoretical landscape of design; also it is applied to clarify a current approach to conceptual design. Based on all this, the proto-theory as a theory of design is evaluated. It is concluded that the proto-theory fulfils several of the functions of a theory in a superior and fertile way. Thus, this proto-theory is not only of historical interest, but also provides a contribution to the theoretical knowledge on design.

Redefining Healthcare Infrastructure: Moving Toward Integrated Solutions

Currently in the United Kingdom there is a trend to broaden the scope of service provision in the healthcare sector. Not only are new healthcare-related services being provided to the community, but also there is increasing concern for providing services to extend the life cycle of built facilities. This trend is similar to what has been observed in manufacturing, where different approaches are used to combine products and services, generating high-value integrated solutions. This article analyzes integrated-solution approaches that have been adopted in the manufacturing sector and compares them to trends that are emerging in the healthcare sector. The practical implications of these trends in the UK healthcare sector are also pointed out. This study discusses how to improve value generation by combining products and services; it also addresses the need for a value-creating system that is capable of developing and sustaining new healthcare infrastructures. Some of the major changes needed to achieve fully integrated solutions in healthcare—such as supporting policies for innovation and stakeholder engagement—are pointed out. However, understanding the theoretical concept behind such approaches (and thus how value can be generated) and the challenges associated with introducing them into practice seem to be the first steps toward achieving integrated solutions in the healthcare context.

Evidence-based design of health care facilities

The last 15 years have witnessed large investments in health care in the UK. These investments have been made with the aim of improving a system which was considered to be slow, inefficient and below international standards. A wide range of problems were experienced, among them unacceptable levels of health care associated infections and inappropriate work environments.

An investigation on the implementation of product development process models in construction companies

Process models have been developed by academia and industry to enhance design and construction activities. However, effective and widespread adoption and use of such models in practice has been limited. This research investigated the dynamics of product development process (PDP) models implementation in construction companies. Four case studies were undertaken, and key findings emphasize the need to consider the design and implementation of PDP models in an integrated fashion within the organizational context in which it takes place; and the need for a shift in the role of PDP models from a rational ‘planning and control’ perspective to a softer ‘learning’ approach.

Waiting times in design process: a case study

This research focuses on identifying waiting times in design process. This comprised the application of value stream mapping to identify existing flows and design waiting times. From this diagnosis, it was possible to propose recommendations reducing identified waste of time. This study demonstrates the viability of using the value stream mapping and to improve the architectural design process.