Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/R20069/01
Title:	The Human Resource Management Implications of Lean Construction
Principal Investigator:	Green, Professor S
Other Investigators:	Newcombe, Mr R Gray, Professor C
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers Arup Group Ltd Atkins Confederation of Construction Gardiner & Theobald Jones Lang LaSalle M41 - Movement for Innovation Mace Pearce (Retail Services) Ltd R G C M Ltd Reid,Geoffrey,Associates Ltd Sir Robert McAlpine Taywood Engineering Ltd The Chartered Institute of Building Union, Const'n. & Allied Trade Technicia Wembley National Stadium Ltd
Department:	Construction Management and Engineering
Organisation:	University of Reading
Scheme:	LINK
Starts:	01 May 2001	Ends:	31 December 2001	Value (£):	118,577
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Construction Ops & Management
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Construction Technical Consultancy
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
The research will investigate the human resource management (HRM) implications of lean construction. Several previous studies have contended that the dominant culture of the construction industry consistently emphasises the hard model of HRM based on a philosophy of command and control. Whilst the high degree of sub-contracting in the industry may account in part for this approach, other research indicates that the hard model of HRM dominates not only for the construction labour force but also for professional and managerial staff. The current enthusiasm for introducing lean thinking into the construction industry has not considered the dominant 'industry recipe' of HRM, which will inevitably shape the way that lean methods are implemented. If lean construction is to be implemented in accordance with 'soft' HRM principles, it may well be necessary to challenge the ingrained HRM policy that prevails within the industry. The research methodology will comprise a combination of methods to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Different techniques will be applied as appropriate at three levels of analysis: the policy level, the operational level and the individual level. Participation from a range of industrial partners has been secured to support the selected methodology. The sample will include both the advocates and the recipients of lean construction. The research team has extensive experience in lean construction (the Reading Investigators) and HRM (Professor Morris of Imperial College.)
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Organisation Website:	http://www.rdg.ac.uk