A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Working in a loosely coupled system: exploring practices and implications of coupling work on construction sites
The conceptualization of construction as a loosely coupled system has been widely used to explain behaviour within the industry. In this article, we revisit the concept by exploring what it means to work at the micro-level within this system. Adopting a practice lens, this study focuses on the daily work of site managers, a category of workers who often have been described to have a hub-like role in construction projects. The findings highlight how their work consists of activities that can be seen as mundane, yet simultaneously fill an important coupling function in the projects, which we conceptualize as coupling work. Coupling work denotes a managerial work practice through which site managers use slack from the parent organization to tighten site-activities. However, they do so in a particular way that tightens the projects closer to their own authority which, in turn, sustains organizational loose coupling. The study contributes to debates on change and development in construction by showing how coupling work is produced and reproduced to preserve the autonomy and control of site managers.
Working in a loosely coupled system: exploring practices and implications of coupling work on construction sites
The conceptualization of construction as a loosely coupled system has been widely used to explain behaviour within the industry. In this article, we revisit the concept by exploring what it means to work at the micro-level within this system. Adopting a practice lens, this study focuses on the daily work of site managers, a category of workers who often have been described to have a hub-like role in construction projects. The findings highlight how their work consists of activities that can be seen as mundane, yet simultaneously fill an important coupling function in the projects, which we conceptualize as coupling work. Coupling work denotes a managerial work practice through which site managers use slack from the parent organization to tighten site-activities. However, they do so in a particular way that tightens the projects closer to their own authority which, in turn, sustains organizational loose coupling. The study contributes to debates on change and development in construction by showing how coupling work is produced and reproduced to preserve the autonomy and control of site managers.
Working in a loosely coupled system: exploring practices and implications of coupling work on construction sites
Sandberg, Rikard (author) / Löwstedt, Martin (author) / Räisänen, Christine (author)
Construction Management and Economics ; 39 ; 212-226
2021-03-04
15 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
Unknown
The construction industry as a loosely coupled system: implications for productivity and innovation
| Online Contents | 2002
The construction industry as a loosely coupled system: implications for productivity and innovation
| British Library Online Contents | 2002
Achieving the unlikely: innovating in the loosely coupled construction system
| Online Contents | 2004
Achieving the unlikely: innovating in the loosely coupled construction system
| British Library Online Contents | 2004