Team-Building in Construction

Abstract

The way people interact, collaborate, learn, and improve can have a profound impact on an organization's efficiency, performance, productivity, and return on investment. This is the motive behind corporate efforts today to replace traditional hierarchical structures with team-oriented organization. Teamwork is an integral part of the construction process, and construction companies have pioneered “partnering” and subcontracting as a standard way of doing business. Still, the typical construction company today adheres to hierarchical management approaches that inhibit open communication, trust, collaboration, and the rapid response to change that is necessary to sustain a competitive advantage. Transforming hierarchical management structures into efficient, process-oriented organizations can be implemented through thoughtful, well-planned reorganizational strategies, beginning with (1) a commitment to change; (2) companywide adoption of mutual values and agreed behaviors; (3) a team-building strategy; (4) commitment to learning and knowledge transfer; and (5) training to improve technical breadth, teamwork, and leadership skills. The ultimate goal is a dynamic team culture where manager and employee grow and prosper together.