
Title

Making Sense of Construction Improvement,Used
Delivery time: 8-12 business days (International)
The book sets out deliberately to challenge the current construction improvement debate and the way in which it is conducted. It confronts the supposedly neutral nature of construction 'best practice' and demonstrates that that the advocated recipes seldom stand up to critical scrutiny. It further argues that commonly accepted components of best practice such as lean construction, partnering and collaborative working rarely live up to the claims made on their behalf. Such recipes invariably suffer from definitional vagueness, and are constantly reinterpreted to suit the needs the different audiences.Making Sense of Construction Improvement argues that construction sector improvement techniques cannot be understood in terms of their substantive content, and are best understood in terms of the rhetoric within which they are presented. The author also contends that the persuasiveness of such recipes depends upon the extent to which practitioners can adopt them for the purposes of making sense of the changes they observe happening around them. To be accepted as 'best practice' construction improvement techniques must also resonate with broader agendas of sociotechnological change.The author charts how the best practice debate has developed from the aftermath of the Second World War through to the election of David Cameron's coalition government in 2010. Attention is given to the way in which the improvement debate throughout the 1960s and 70s was shaped by the broader aspirations of the postwar social consensus and the associated desire for a centrally planned economy. Attention thereafter is given to the way the construction sector was radically reshaped by the advent of the enterprise culture. The privatisation of the sector's client base, coupled with the withdrawal of the state as a provider of mass housing, caused a significant and longlasting shift in the construction landscape. Private sector clients similarly experienced extensive downsizing while outsourcing their procurement capabilities. Such strategies were frequently justified by mobilising the rhetoric of business process reengineering (BPR). Contracting firms simultaneously faced unpredictable workloads and increasing market competition. In response, the sector at large chose to base their competitive advantage on leanness and agility. Hence the emergence of the hollowedout firm as the dominant form of organising. These structural trends combined to provide the backcloth to the industry improvement agenda throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Making Sense of Construction Improvement argues that the popularity of improvement recipes such as partnering, collaborative working and integrated teams can be understood as strategies for overcoming the loss of control associated with downsizing and outsourcing.In contrast to other textbooks, Making Sense of Construction Improvement does not offer advice on how to manage construction projects more effectively; the aim is rather to understand the forces which have shaped the construction sector improvement agenda over time.
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⚠️ WARNING (California Proposition 65):
This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
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Shipping & Returns
Shipping
We ship your order within 2–3 business days for USA deliveries and 5–8 business days for international shipments. Once your package has been dispatched from our warehouse, you'll receive an email confirmation with a tracking number, allowing you to track the status of your delivery.
Returns
To facilitate a smooth return process, a Return Authorization (RA) Number is required for all returns. Returns without a valid RA number will be declined and may incur additional fees. You can request an RA number within 15 days of the original delivery date. For more details, please refer to our Return & Refund Policy page.
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Warranty
We provide a 2-year limited warranty, from the date of purchase for all our products.
If you believe you have received a defective product, or are experiencing any problems with your product, please contact us.
This warranty strictly does not cover damages that arose from negligence, misuse, wear and tear, or not in accordance with product instructions (dropping the product, etc.).
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What is the main focus of 'Making Sense of Construction Improvement'? A: The book critically examines the construction improvement debate, challenging the notion of construction 'best practices' and arguing that commonly accepted methods often lack clarity and fail to deliver on their promises.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author of 'Making Sense of Construction Improvement' is Stuart D. Green.
- Q: What topics are covered in the book? A: The book covers the evolution of construction improvement techniques, the impact of socio-technological changes, and critiques of popular strategies such as lean construction and collaborative working.
- Q: What is the publication date of 'Making Sense of Construction Improvement'? A: The book was published on June 20, 2011.
- Q: What is the condition of the book being offered? A: The book is listed as a 'Used Book in Good Condition'.
- Q: How many pages does 'Making Sense of Construction Improvement' have? A: The book contains 392 pages.
- Q: Is there any advice on managing construction projects in this book? A: No, the book does not provide direct advice on managing construction projects more effectively; instead, it focuses on understanding the historical context and rhetoric of improvement techniques.
- Q: What category does this book fall under? A: The book is categorized under 'Design & Construction'.
- Q: What type of binding does this book have? A: The book is available in paperback binding.
- Q: Does the book discuss the impact of the post-war social consensus on construction practices? A: Yes, the book discusses how the improvement debate was influenced by the post-war social consensus and the shift towards an enterprise culture in the construction sector.