Abstract
SYNOPSISOur research adds to the client-side project management body of literature by demonstrating that these professionals display all the characteristics of Design Thinking Mentalities, Thinking Styles and Practices as identified by Hassi and Laakso (2011a) and that they utilize a broad range of the Design Thinking tools identified by Liedtka (2015) and Johansson-Sköldberg et al. (2013) when they deliver construction projects.RELEVANCE FOR PRACTICE/EDUCATIONOur findings indicate that client-side project managers should view their role differently to what has been traditionally accepted. The use of Design Thinking within the project management construct highlights that practitioners need to develop skills and tools that address, not just the compliance and control elements of project management, but also information gathering and problem solving techniques. This change of perspective creates opportunities for project managers to broaden their skill set in order to be able create further value in the Construction process.RESEARCH DESIGNOur research uses a Grounded Theory methodology to explore the ‘lived experience’ of client-side project managers to determine if they utilize Design Thinking when managing Construction projects. This is achieved by creating a framework from the work of Hassi and Laakso (2011a), Johansson-Sköldberg et al. (2013) and Liedtka (2015) to guide semi-structured interviews with a cohort of ten client-side project managers.MAIN FINDINGSOur research provides evidence of Design Thinking Mentalities, Thinking Styles, Practices and Tools being utilized by client-side project managers when delivering Construction projects. Our findings also identifies 15 project management tools used by client-side project managers when delivering Construction projects and highlight that the practice of client-side project management should not be viewed exclusively as part of the ‘Implementation’ process. RESEARCH IMPLICATIONSOur results support existing research on client-side project management and expand the Project Management body of literature by demonstrating how client-side project managers employ Design Thinking to handle poorly-defined projects.
Highlights
In 2006, the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council commissioned the Rethinking Project Management Network to investigate future avenues for project management research
Our research has added to the body of literature by demonstrating that client-side project managers display all the characteristics of Design Thinking Mentalities, Thinking Styles and Practices as identified by Hassi and Laakso (2011, p. 6) and that they utilize a broad range of the Design Thinking tools identified by Liedtka (2015, p. 928) and Johansson-Sköldberg et al (2013, p. 125)
Our research finds that client-side project managers utilise Design Thinking when delivering Construction projects
Summary
In 2006, the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council commissioned the Rethinking Project Management Network to investigate future avenues for project management research. One of the Network’s findings was the need for project management research to find new ways of conceptualizing the social processes of project management Our research seeks to address both the need for new conceptualizations regarding the practice of project management and the need for new empirical research into the applications of Design Thinking. This is achieved by investigating whether client-side project managers utilize Design Thinking when managing Construction projects. 10) findings regarding the use of Design Thinking by client-side project managers. By demonstrating how client-side project managers have informally adopted Design Thinking to manage Construction projects. Our results provide a foundation for future investigation into the practice of client-side project management
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
