Understanding the Dynamics of Construction Decision Making and the Impact on Work Health and Safety

Abstract

Decisions made during the design stage of construction projects can impact work health and safety (WHS). Design decisions arise as the result of social interactions and information exchanges between project actors. Interactions can be studied using social-network analysis (SNA). The patterns of social interaction that underpinned key design decisions with the potential to impact construction WHS were investigated in an Australian case-study project. SNA was applied longitudinally to capture network information for 42 sequential design decisions. Changes in network density were examined over time, and networks were compared before and after a contractor was engaged. In-depth interviews explored differences in design and WHS outcomes. The results revealed changing social networks over the study period. Furthermore, improvement in WHS-related design outcomes was observed as participants with relevant construction knowledge joined the social networks and moved to prominent positions. It is argued that understanding how social networks change and play out to produce project outcomes (e.g., WHS) can help project leadership teams to develop communication networks that are more likely to support effective decision making and performance.