Communications in Hybrid Arrangements: Case of Australian Construction Project Teams

Authors

  • M. Reza Hosseini School of Architecture and Built Environment, Deakin University
  • Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas Department of Construction Technology and Management, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University
  • Bo Xia School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology
  • Nicholas Chileshe School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia
  • Anthony Mills School of Architecture and Built Environment, Deakin University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5755/j01.ee.28.3.13791

Keywords:

Communications, Quality, Hybrid Teams, Construction Project Teams, Australia

Abstract

Hybrid team arrangements or partially virtual teams are increasingly being utilised as the structure for construction project teams. However, little research has been conducted on the quality of the communications of these teams. To address the identified research gap, this study adopted a sequential mixed-methods approach. In the first phase, a multidisciplinary literature review identified 7 major indicators of the quality of communications. After conducting 17 interviews with construction experts, the study customised these indicators for the construction context, in form of a list that comprised 12 indicators. Based on the indicators in this list, a questionnaire survey was then designed to elicit construction practitioners’ perceptions on changes in the quality of communications in hybrid team arrangements compared to teams that were fully collocated. Data from the 285 completed questionnaires in Australia then underwent confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). In the findings, the move to hybrid working arrangements was shown to create changes in 10 of the 12 indicators. The identified list of indicators is a significant contribution to the literature, and provides construction practitioners with guidance in assessing the quality of communications in these teams. The findings also shed light on the primary changes in the quality of communications resulting from the increasing use of hybrid team arrangements.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ee.28.3.13791

Author Biographies

M. Reza Hosseini, School of Architecture and Built Environment, Deakin University

Lecturer, School of Architecture and Built Environment

Bo Xia, School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology

Dr. Bo Xia is a Senior lecturer in School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology.  His research interests are in design-build, project delivery systems, construction management, and sustainable buildings. His research findings have been published in internationally-recognized journals and presented at important conferences. Currently, Dr Xia acts as the member of Editorial Boards for the ASCE Journal of Management in Engineering, Journal of Building Construction and Planning Research, and member of Editorial Review Board for the Built Environment Project and Asset Management.

Additional Files

Published

2017-06-26

Issue

Section

WORK HUMANISM