Construction management teams & project performance: A diagnostic toolkit

Team theory is a resilient management theme, its academic and practical contribution to human resource management has been the subject of countless studies. Over the last decade corporate team philosophy has shifted the team paradigm away from a traditionally tactical purpose towards an increasingly strategic perspective. The research programme investigates the relationship between construction site management team efficiency and project performance. Ten construction project case-studies have been undertaken to assess levels of site management team working with the results evaluated against project performance. The case-study has two principle data collection methods. The team rating is assessed using an attitude questionnaire completed by all participating site team members. The individual responses are collated, averaged and presented as a percentage rating on a team radar chart. Project performance is calculated by applying Kaplan and Norton's balanced scorecard template together with seven key performance indicators endorsed by the DTi's Constructing Excellence initiative. The KPI's are collated, benchmarked and presented on the appropriate axis of a project radar chart. Analysis of the results suggests a significant strength of relationship between the construction site team rating and project performance. Various statistical configurations have also been identified, indicating possible weaknesses within the team dynamic that may be addressed in an effort to achieve improved project performance. Further research has the potential for the development of a diagnostic toolkit that may reveal some of the behavioural and contextual barriers associated with construction site management teams.