Ch 1	Ch 3	Ch 5	Ch 7	Ch 9	Ch 11	Ch 13
Ch 2	Ch 4	Ch 6	Ch 8	Ch 10	Ch 12	Ch 14

 

This chapter has examined both the science and art of organizing and leading a construction project. The numerous challenges the construction industry and the typical construction project face necessitate a well thought out scientific plan. History and academia provide industry with the background theory and workable models that can help them structure a typical project. As was explained in this chapter, material order and social order are important to success and companies can find numerous organization examples to guide them.

For efficiency's sake, companies need to arrive at the correct level of centralization and give their project leaders the appropriate level of organizational support. Projects and project leaders need to begin with a stated organization mission and with adequate authority to direct their project teams and successfully complete the project.

Organizational design and structure, however, do not guarantee success. Projects need leaders, people whom the team can rally around and trust to bring the project success. When times get tough and the unexpected occurs, the leader takes charge and makes the hard decisions. Leaders keep the team focused and establish and maintain a positive team attitude. Leaders watch out for their people and support them subordinates' personal and professional growth. Leaders coach their people and are always looking for opportunities to pat them on the back and build their confidence.

Leaders are patient and recognize that every person is different. Because every worker operates under a different value system and brings to the project different strengths, leaders must know how to meld this talent to get these disparate workers to function as one. Leaders establish and insist on a unity of direction for their project They are strong, effective, honest communicators and have an excellent sense of timing. They know how and when to motivate and provide corrective criticism. A perfect leader is almost impossible to find, a good leader a rarity, but maybe possible.

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