The propensity for participation in mechanical and electrical sub-contractors in the British construction industry

The aim of this research is to determine whether the potential for participation exists in the construction industry and particularly in the operations of mechanical and electrical sub-contractors. There is growing recognition in all sectors of industry of the value of human resources in the competitiveness and success of organisations which has resulted in various schemes of participation, however there are no detectable schemes of participation operating in the construction industry. The research set out to determine the participative potential, or if there are fundamental reasons why participation cannot work in the construction industry. A conceptual model of participation was developed with the major variables of Environment, Organisation, Task and Workers, each variable composed of a number of contributory factors. Workers and Task emerged as the most significant and direct variables in the propensity for participation in work situations, whilst Environment and Organisation were shown to be essentially contextual. The participative potential of mechanical and electrical sub-contractors was determined by testing the firms and their work situations against the conceptual model of participation, recognised as the crucial variable was determined using an extensive attitude survey of mechanical and electrical workers in-situ. The findings showed that there is a significant propensity for direct informal participation within the industry. Workers showed a high propensity for participation, whilst the tasks in which they were engaged displayed considerable potential for participation. The Environment and Organisation were supportive of direct participation but not of indirect participation. Overall no fundamental reasons that would prevent the application of participation in the construction industry were found.