Integrating the dancers with the dance: acknowledging the notion of construction project culture - A literature review

Abstract

The construction industry has suffered for a long time because of its poor performance in relation to employment practices and industrial relations. Construction practitioners often try to perfect technical systems and then try to fit human systems into them. In order to achieve value for the client and increase the benefits that can flow from construction projects the industry needs to substantially increase its appreciation and understanding of the cultural issues that permeate the industry. As construction is a project based industry, it is essential to look at cultural issues at the project level. However, researchers often examine culture from the organisational perspective rather than the project perspective and there are many gaps in the literature at this project level. Accordingly, the aim of this research is to develop a conceptual model that maps project culture concepts in the construction context. In order to achieve this aim, this paper reviews the literature about construction project culture and highlights the importance of acknowledging cultural issues in the construction industry at the construction project level.