Stress Management in the Construction Industry


Book Description

This systematic review of stress management in construction will help an understanding of the issues and theory as well as offering practical recommendations. addresses the growing concern to make work in construction healthier, safer, and more productive integrates research results, survey statistics and scenario analyses to reveal underlying causes of stress offers recommendations for reducing Stress







Strategies for the European Construction Sector


Book Description

Construction is back on the agenda after two decades of declining markets. Environmental concerns, the building of European infrastructure networks, solving housing problems, reconstruction in Eastern Europe, and the return to more rapid economic development in many parts of the third world mean there is much to do and many markets to win. There is however a danger of failing to grasp these opportunities, and of allowing the markets in Europe and the quality of construction to decline. This report deals with the long-term strategies required to improve the construction sector's competitiveness amd quality, and to raise the level of construction output. It is intended to stimulate debate. There will not be universal agreement with the consultants' views of the future and the strategies pursued. The initiative for action should be expected to come from the firms and their representative in the sector, with support and legislation from national governments and from the Community where necessary.




Construction Project Management


Book Description

Construction Project Management: An Integrated Approach is a management approach to leading projects and the effective choice and use of project management tools and techniques. It seeks to push the boundaries of project management to take on board future needs and user issues. Integration of the construction project, meaning closer relations between the project team, the supply chain and the client, is long overdue; however, despite some signs of growth in this area, the industry nonetheless remains fragmented in its approach. The role of the project manager is to integrate diverse interests and unify objectives to achieve a common goal. This has now broadened to include a responsibility, on the parts of both client and team, to ensure that construction addresses current and future societal needs. From an economic perspective, a great deal of waste is connected with conflict, thus a holistic approach that increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the task at hand will inject energy into project management. This third edition now takes on board the impact of technology in building information modelling and other digitised technologies such as artificial intelligence. Together, they open up avenues for more direct and incisive action to test creative design, manufacture directly and communicate spontaneously and intuitively. In time, such technologies will change the role of project managers but will never take away their responsibility to be passionate about construction and to integrate the team. A new chapter has been added that considers future societal needs. This edition is also reordered to make the project life cycle and process chapters clearer. This book combines best practice in construction with the theories underpinning project management and presents a wealth of practical case studies – many new. It focuses on all construction disciplines that may manage projects. The book is of unique value to students in the later years of undergraduate courses and those on specialist postgraduate courses in project management and also for practitioners in all disciplines and clients who have experienced the frustration caused by the fragmentation of construction projects.




Work Stress Induced Chronic Diseases in Construction


Book Description

This book aims to fill a gap in the current construction health and safety research and discover new knowledge about work stress induced chronic diseases among construction industry professionals. In achieving these aims, the book investigates: the nature and extent of psychosocial stressors experienced by construction professionals, stress management tactics applied and the impact on mental health the prevalence and occurrence patterns of serious chronic conditions such as insomnia, obesity, musculoskeletal disorders and vision impairment aetiological pathways from job stressors through chronic diseases to job performance. While there are many studies, policies and regulations aiming to look after the health of construction workers, little attention is paid to construction professionals. By applying advanced analytical methods to data collected in a national survey of construction professionals in Australia, the author presents new scientific evidence which can be used to help establish equitable workers' compensation treatments and outcomes for construction professionals in line with other professions. Moreover, the research and analysis are underpinned by theories and literature from public health and epidemiological disciplines in addition to literature from construction, and work health, safety and wellbeing domains. It is essential reading for any health policy makers and researchers in the fields of health and safety and construction management.







Innovation in Construction


Book Description

The authors deserve credit for their collection and skillful processing of qualitative data from five European countries, which have enabled them to identify similarities and differences in the functioning of national construction industries. . . Innovation in Construction is an important contribution to increasing one s understanding of innovation in the construction industry. Ina Drejer, Building Research and Information This book deals with some of the most important questions in innovation research such as the role of corporate governance, national systems of innovation, and government regulation in the development and adoption of innovations. In particular, it presents new evidence on the factors which shape innovation in construction by drawing on extensive interviews with construction firms across Europe. The authors offer broad lessons for the systems of innovation approach and suggest that particular structures of ownership and management, and inter-organisational relations are responsible for variations in the economic performance of the construction industry in different European countries. The particular challenges posed by the adoption of sustainable technologies such as natural thermal insulation and active solar heating systems are also explored. These environmental innovations are expected to have an impact on sustainable building and regeneration, and at a more general level can help identify the factors which can facilitate or inhibit the innovation process. Importantly, the book does not simply focus on the relationship between technology, firm organisation and competitiveness, but also considers the social and institutional aspects which affect the construction sector s ability to innovate. The extensive case studies from 5 European countries allow the reader to analyse innovation performance from an international comparative perspective. Innovation in Construction represents an important contribution to the theoretical debate on innovation. It will be highly useful to scholars and students interested in innovation studies, environmental management, and construction management and economics.




The International Compendium of Construction Contracts


Book Description

This book examines how the most commonly used construction project contracts are applied in a range of countries around the world. The specific situation of each of the almost 40 countries studies is dealt with in a dedicated chapter, allowing for easy comparison between differing legal and commercial environments. Each chapter contextualizes the relevant contracts within the legal and commercial systems prevalent in a particular country and examines a number of common issues impacting construction projects around the world. This unique book will be an essential resource for construction law specialists around the world because of its focus on commonly used contracts and the contextualizing of these contracts into the legal and commercial environment of each studied country. All contributions are from practicing construction project lawyers ensuring that the quality of the information and analysis is of the highest standard.




Managing Workplace Stress


Book Description

`Written primarily for the employee, this book is a gold mine of easily assimilated information and ideas which should also be of value to anyone working in human resources' - Personnel Today`Much of the literature on stress tends to be either academic or research-based, or otherwise focuses on the more practical aspects of stress management. Managing Workplace Stress strikes a balance between the two in providing background and discussion that puts many areas of work-related stress into context, as well as giving helpful practical advice on managing particular stressors' - People ManagementStress in the workplace is an ever-increasing problem and its consequences, such as higher rates of absenteeism, reduced productivity and increased health compensation claims, are widespread. This book examines the causes of the increase in work-related stress.Susan Cartwright and Cary L Cooper focus particularly on the stress created by organizational changes including job redesign, reallocation of roles and responsibilities, and the accompanying job insecurities. They highlight the everyday stressors likely to impact upon managers and employees - for example, working with difficult people and managing increased work loads - and offer useful strategies for dealing with these various situations.