Construction Management Essay Example
Part A
“If history is our teacher then managers in the construction industry of today needs to reflect upon the evolution of management thought and practice and learn from this.”
Discuss this statement in the context of the historical development of management theories and their significance, if any, for the construction industry.
Throughout the last century, management theories have been developed, adapted and changed over time. Management theories have been studied and used in all different organisations. Management is essential in the construction industry in delivering timely, well planned, quality jobs.
Management theories are important as they have helped managers develop leadership skills and information to achieve, good productivity and organisation in businesses. There are a number of published managerial approaches and some have developed as common practises.
Below is the time line for published management thinking;
Figure 1 – ‘the development of management thinking’- The practise of construction management, Barry Fryer.
One of the first significant management theories recognised was the ‘Classical Approach’, In 1916 H. Fayol produced and explored this type of management theory, this was about the same time F. W. Taylor also produced a similar theory. This theory is also known as scientific management. The basic of this theory is five main functions to be thought about and actioned in management.
These basics are: plan, organise, command, co-ordinate and control.
These are important factors found and used widely in the construction industry today in a manager’s role.
Although these five basic principles are still looked at today in management as what managers should do, the classical approach was mainly focused on efficiency and the labour (work) of an organisation. Not much thought about the employees themselves was developed. Organisation and management was not really focused on. ‘Taylor’ was more interested in the
“If history is our teacher then managers in the construction industry of today needs to reflect upon the evolution of management thought and practice and learn from this.”
Discuss this statement in the context of the historical development of management theories and their significance, if any, for the construction industry.
Throughout the last century, management theories have been developed, adapted and changed over time. Management theories have been studied and used in all different organisations. Management is essential in the construction industry in delivering timely, well planned, quality jobs.
Management theories are important as they have helped managers develop leadership skills and information to achieve, good productivity and organisation in businesses. There are a number of published managerial approaches and some have developed as common practises.
Below is the time line for published management thinking;
Figure 1 – ‘the development of management thinking’- The practise of construction management, Barry Fryer.
One of the first significant management theories recognised was the ‘Classical Approach’, In 1916 H. Fayol produced and explored this type of management theory, this was about the same time F. W. Taylor also produced a similar theory. This theory is also known as scientific management. The basic of this theory is five main functions to be thought about and actioned in management.
These basics are: plan, organise, command, co-ordinate and control.
These are important factors found and used widely in the construction industry today in a manager’s role.
Although these five basic principles are still looked at today in management as what managers should do, the classical approach was mainly focused on efficiency and the labour (work) of an organisation. Not much thought about the employees themselves was developed. Organisation and management was not really focused on. ‘Taylor’ was more interested in the