Project Management in Construction [Paperback]

Anthony Walker (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 063205736X | ISBN-13: 978-0632057368 | Publication Date: April 22, 2002 | Edition: 4

The management of construction projects continues to be problematic as the complexity of projects themselves and the environments in which they are constructed increasingly challenge project organisations to deliver effective projects within cost and time constraints. Appropriately structured organisations are essential for the delivery of effective projects, the design of which requires an in-depth knowledge of the organisation theory applied to the definition, design and construction of projects.

This book adopts an essentially systems approach to organisation analysis and design from the initial concept of the project. It enriches this approach by incorporating both other relevant organisation theory and transaction cost economics. It is concerned particularly with the integration of the contributors to the process and the way in which decisions are made.

The fourth edition extends considerably the application of transaction cost economics to project management to explain how construction project organisations are formed. It incorporates the partnering phenomenon which is also explained using transaction cost economics. Organisation culture is included as a complement to other organisation theory and in addition contributes to the explanation of partnering.

The book has been updated generally in terms of both organisation theory and advances in the project management field itself and the references have been considerably expanded.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"There is no doubt that this work is at the forefront of project management today......It takes project management theory onto other plane better populated by academics and researchers, its use to the pragmatic project Manager in the field may be somewhat limited" Ian Cowling, Civil Engineering Surveyor, July 2002

Review

"There is no doubt that this work is at the forefront of project management today......It takes project management theory onto other plane better populated by academics and researchers, its use to the pragmatic project Manager in the field may be somewhat limited" Ian Cowling, Civil Engineering Surveyor, July 2002

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 289 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 4 edition (April 22, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 063205736X
• ISBN-13: 978-0632057368
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,683,407 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good for the undergrad. archit.and civil eng. students, July 25, 1999

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[e-mail] (Istanbul, Turkey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Project Management in Construction (Paperback)

1.I find it very important that Mr. Walker has emphasized the importance of teaching general management before entering into the realm of the complicated teaching of construction management. Constr. Mgt. is not an independent teaching, but a very special case of management. It has naturally to be based on the foundations of the GENERAL MANAGEMENT. Congratulations.. 2. He makes some original definitions of management. I highly appreciate his definitions like "Management is the dynamic input that makes the organization work.". However, I expected to find several chapters in this book, explaining the basic activities, general principles and the elements of management, EXACTLY what Henri Fayol has mentioned 100 years ago. 3. IEEE has updated Fayol's terminology at 1984, printed and distributed to its members, who lead the world's most important sector, electronics and computer industries, as a study of Prof. Irwin Gray from NewYork Inst. of Technology. This gives a very good idea about the freshness of Fayol's teachings. The, in construction mgt.mostly referred, famous Proj.Mgt. Institute is the worldwide known sub-org. of the IEEE, Inst. Of El.and Elktron. Eng.s in USa. 4. Every student of technical schools should be taugth management completely from Fayol's teachings,as they learn physics from Newton and Planck directly. I hope that the Author forgives the harsh expression of a veteran construction man: Anybody who teaches management should not attempt to find the definition of management from the "Shorter Oxford English Dictionary' 100 years later than Fayol's excellent definition; no need to explore America again. 5. I congragulate the Author for mentioning H.Mintzberg in his book.. His analogy of construction projects with Mintzberg's configurations Professional B-aucracy and Ad-hocracy, is to be blessed. This analogy gives a good idea about the complexity of the construction, but underestimates the complicated task of management of construction projecst. I kindly remind that there is not a real management in adhocracy, and is very little in the professional b-racy. Management of a construction site of average size can only be compared with the most complex configuration of H. M-berg: THE DIVISIONAL FORM, with its numerous crews, subcontractors of various contracrs, its logistics, accounting, perfformance evaluations, etc. 6. I expected the Author of this valuable book would teach organization to the technical u-grad students directly from the teachings of Mintzberd and save several chapters for his teachings.. 7. This book is one of the best of its category I have ever read, on construction mgt, keeping Dennis Lock's place at the top, I hope the Author finds my comments not more than a few constructive remarks, and may take them into consideration for the further editions. Dr. Kirhan Dadasbilge, MSc.CE